Botanical Society of Scotland facts for kids
The Botanical Society of Scotland (BSS) is a special group for people who love plants in Scotland. It's like a club for botanists, who are scientists who study plants. The BSS helps people learn more about all kinds of plants, including flowers, ferns, mosses, algae, and even fungi.
They do many fun things like giving talks, holding special meetings, and going on trips to find and study plants in nature. They also have a big meeting every year called the Scottish Botanist's Conference. This is where plant experts from different areas share what they've learned. The BSS also publishes a newsletter and a science magazine about plants. They work closely with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Scottish universities.
History of the BSS
The society started a long time ago, on 8 February 1836. Back then, it was called the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Some of its first members were important scientists like Prof. Edward Forbes, Prof. John Hutton Balfour, and Dr. Richard Parnell.
In 1935, another group called the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland joined with the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. The Cryptogamic Society had started in 1875 and focused on non-flowering plants like ferns and mosses. Because of this merger, the society's name changed to include both groups. Then, in 1991, its name changed again to the Botanical Society of Scotland. The society has been a registered charity in Scotland since 1918, which means it's a non-profit group that helps the public.
What the BSS Does
The BSS is unique because it's one of the few plant societies in Britain that studies all types of plants. This includes flowering plants, and also non-flowering plants like ferns, mosses, and algae. They even study fungi!
Here are some of their activities:
- Winter Talks: During the colder months, they hold monthly talks, mostly at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. These talks cover many different plant topics.
- Summer Field Trips: In summer and autumn, members go on trips across Scotland. They explore different places to find and record all sorts of 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 conferences about specific plant topics, like how plants change with the seasons (this is called Phenology).
Famous Members
Over the years, many famous people have been part of the Botanical Society of Scotland. Some of them include:
- Albert, Prince Consort
- Queen Victoria, who was the society's first special supporter.
- Charles Darwin, who wrote the famous book On The Origin of Species about evolution.
- Alexander von Humboldt, a very famous explorer and scientist.
- 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
