Talk 1

Welwitschia and Beyond: A Field Trip around Namibia  

Ivo Brown & Stefano Ciabo, Kew Diploma Students

 

Ivo and Stefano visited Namibia to explore its plant endemism, rare and unique flora, biodiversity and ecology. A large part of the country is desert, with plants having to adapt to survive long spells of drought, diurnal temperature variation and over-exposure. Climate change and plant poaching are also threatening many species, impacting the entire ecosystem. Supported by local botanists, Ivo and Stefano travelled around the country to see these important plant areas and learn about ecology, safeguarding and conservation activities.  

 

Talk 2 

Costa Rican Orchids: Cultivation and Research at Jardín Botánico Lankester  

David Mullen, Kew Diploma Student  

 

David spent two weeks at Jardín Botánico Lankester, one of the world's leading orchid institutions. He worked with horticulturists at the garden cultivating their living orchid collection, collaborated with researchers to document specimens through macrophotography and took part in collection trips in Costa Rica's cloud forests. David will discuss the pollination syndromes of orchids he encountered, share insights into current research on crop wild relatives of Vanilla and provide highlights of his visits to Monteverde, Arenal and Tortuguero National Parks, including a delightfully hairy little Stelis!  

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