Botanical Society of Scotland facts for kids

The Botanical Society of Scotland (BSS) is a special group for people who love and study plants in Scotland. It's like a club for plant experts! Their main goal is to help everyone learn more about plants, including flowering plants, ferns, mosses, algae, and even fungi.

The BSS does many cool things. They hold talks, organize trips to explore nature, and work on projects to learn about different plants. They also have a big meeting each year called the Scottish Botanist's Conference. This meeting helps plant scientists from different places share what they've learned. The BSS also publishes a newsletter and a science magazine called Plant Ecology & Diversity. They work closely with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and universities across Scotland.

History of the Botanical Society

The Botanical Society of Scotland started a long time ago, on February 8, 1836. Back then, it was called the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Some of its first members were important scientists like Professor Edward Forbes, Professor John Hutton Balfour, and Dr. Richard Parnell.

Over the years, the society grew. In 1935, another group called the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland joined them. This group, started in 1875, focused on non-flowering plants like mosses and fungi. The society then changed its name to include both groups. In 1991, it became known as the Botanical Society of Scotland, which is its name today. The BSS has been a registered charity in Scotland since 1918, helping it do good work for plants and people.

What the Society Does

The BSS is unique because it's interested in all kinds of plants, not just flowering ones. This includes ferns, mosses, algae, and fungi. They have many activities throughout the year:

• Winter Talks: During the colder months, they hold monthly talks, mostly at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. These talks cover many interesting plant topics.
• Summer Field Trips: In summer and autumn, members go on trips all over Scotland. They explore different areas to find and record both flowering and non-flowering plants.
• Special Courses: The BSS also offers courses to teach people specific skills, like how to identify different types of grasses.
• Annual Conference: Every autumn, they hold the Scottish Botanist's Conference. This big event brings together plant experts from different groups to share their discoveries.
• Special Meetings: Sometimes, they organize bigger meetings or conferences about specific plant topics, like how plants change with the seasons (this is called Phenology).

Famous Members

Over the years, many important people have been part of the Botanical Society of Scotland. Some of them include:

• Albert, Prince Consort
• Queen Victoria, who was the society's very first special supporter (patron).
• Charles Darwin, a famous scientist who wrote the book On The Origin of Species.
• Paul Gordon Jarvis FRS, a plant ecologist and professor at the University of Edinburgh.
• George Lawson, who is known as the "father of Canadian botany." He used to help run the society.
• Charles Wyville Thomson, a chief scientist on a famous ocean exploration trip called the Challenger Expedition.
• Katherine Sophia Kane, who was the first woman elected as a member of the society.
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was an Honorary Fellow.

See also

• Flora of Scotland
• Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society
• Scottish Natural Heritage