New York Flora Association Blog

The New York Flora Association is sponsoring a 2 day workshop starting Wednesday June 24th through Thursday June 25th with an optional Tuesday evening session on June 23 for work with your specimens. Dr. Tony Reznicek (University of Michigan), the renowned Carex expert and author to various FNA Cyperaceae treatments, will again lead the workshop. The workshop will be held at SUNY Oneonta. The workshop will include both lab and field exercises. All participants are encouraged to bring plant material from their areas of interest for evening id and discussions with Tony. The workshop will focus on sedges, but rushes and grasses will be discussed also. Participation is limited to the first twenty registrations received. Cost of the workshop is $125 for NYFA members and students; $165 for non-members. Questions and to reserve a spot contact Ed Frantz, 315 793-2421, efrantz@dot.state.ny.us, or Donna Vogler voglerd@oneonta.edu.

Who: Arthur Haines is a plant biologist specializing in the taxonomy and identification of New England tracheophytes. He is currently employed by the New England Wild Flower Society as a research botanist and is involved in writing a new tracheophyte flora of New England.  Lately much of his focus has been on hawthorns and he is preparing a revised treatment for New England.  Besides from being a highly recognized and astute botanist he is a skilled and approachable teacher.

What: This will be an advanced intensive weekend studying Crataegus of the central NY region. The weekend will consist of presentations, indoor study of specimens, and plenty of field work. Participants will learn the characters useful to identifying and distinguishing between the numerous species of Crataegus that occur in central New York. There will also be time to work on specimens that participants bring to study. Most of the confusion with Crataegus has been borne in the lab and not in the field (i.e. name proliferation and poor description of morphological characters) making this group inapproachable to most people. Hawthorn researchers have often used relative statements in keys, even when the features they were discussing could be objectively quantified. Using close-up  photography and clear wording, Arthur will try to help participants understand these features making it much easier to learn the species and groups within the genus.

When: Friday May 29th 7PM to Sunday May 31st 12 Noon, 2009.

 Where: Ithaca, New York. We will be based out of the Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University and will spend time both indoors and in the field in the Ithaca area.

 Cost: Cost includes the entire weekend program and a group dinner at a local restaurant Saturday evening. Other meals and housing are the obligation of the participants. Total cost is $95 for NYFA member or $120 for non-NYFA members. Participants are encouraged to become NYFA members ($20 membership/year). What to bring: a 10x hand lens is a must, field journal, appropriate clothing to be outside most of the day, Crataegus specimens, and bag lunches for Saturday (this can be purchased locally, in the morning).

 Registration: Participation is limited to only 10 so please sign up early to assure a slot. To register please send a check made out to the New York Flora Association for the full amount to the New York Flora Association / 3140 CEC / Albany, NY 12230 or if you would like to pay by credit card please request a credit card form from David Werier (see contact information below).

 In addition please send an email to David Werier (Nakita at lightlink.com) letting him know you have sent in your registration.

 Questions: Please contact David Werier / 607-273-1765 / Nakita at lightlink.com / 30 Banks Rd. / Brooktondale, NY 14817.