World-Renowned Tropical Botanist to Speak at Fairchild Garden
Peter Boyce standing next to the grave marker of German
botanist, Adolf Engler, one of the early aroid pioneers.
botanist, Adolf Engler, one of the early aroid pioneers.
by Carla V. Kostelac
Missouri Botanical Garden
Miami residents will have a rare opportunity on September 17 to hear a talk given by Peter Boyce, a botanist that is known throughout the world as a specialist in Southeast Asian Araceae (members of the philodendron or Jack-in-the-pulpit plant family). Peter has written important books on aroids, as these plants are commonly called, notably The Genera of Araceae and The Genus Arum. Unfortunately both books are now out-of-print and very hard to find, although work is well underway on an expanded and updated edition of the first. Peter has also written numerous scientific papers and semi-popular articles on aroids. As Peter currently lives in Malaysian Borneo, and is being flown in just to speak at the International Aroid Society Show (IAS) at Fairchild Garden, his talk can be considered a rather special event. He will speak about his fieldwork, and the cultivation and maintenance of the resulting living plant collections that are used to facilitate his and his students’ research.
Because they are such diverse and fascinating plants, aroids can become an addictive habit. Indeed, many people collect, grow and study these wonderful plants and also enjoy interacting with other aroid enthusiasts. So many aroiders, as the enthusiasts are nicknamed, share this mutual love and passion for aroids that in 1977 the International Aroid Society (IAS) was formed. Currently over 400 members from 37 countries make up the IAS. The Society is headquartered at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida.
Every fall Fairchild Garden hosts an annual IAS show, complete with aroids for sale, a plant competition, and a series of talks by renowned aroid experts. This year the 34th IAS Show and Sale will be held on September 17 and 18. One of the highlights of the Show, besides the aroids themselves, is an evening banquet of delicious Cuban cuisine, an entertaining auction of superb aroids, and finally a guest dinner speaker. Enter Peter Boyce.
After 15 years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, during when he produced revisions of Arum and Biarum, accounts of most other European genera, revised many of the climbing aroids of tropical Asia, and co-authored The Genera of Araceae with Simon Mayo and Josef Bogner, Peter relocated 10 years ago to Malaysian Borneo. Now concentrating on the Schismatoglottis alliance and Homalomena, together comprising in excess of 700 species, Peter also heads the soon-to-be-published Flora of Thailand Araceae project, has contributed to the recently published aroid account for the Flora of China, and has books on the aroids of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand in press and due to be published by year end. In all Peter has published over 160 scientific papers and semi-popular articles, and contributed complete or part text to five books. Peter has a long association with the International Aroid Society, has edited and is a regular contributor to Aroideana, the IAS journal, and currently sits on the Board of Governors. He is a regular contributor to aroid-l, the IAS discussion forum, and to the IAS website – www.aroid.com.
Peter currently splits his time between living and undertaking research in Sarawak and his ‘day job’ as a Visiting Lecturer in USM, Pinang.
Why would what Peter Boyce has to say be interesting to his audience? The next time that you find yourself uneasily counting the minutes to see the doctor, take a look around the waiting room. Chances are among the stacks of various magazines and rows of chairs, the lobby contains a green plant or two. Perhaps it is a tall, variegated dumb cane or a hardy, trailing philodendron. Both of these plants are aroids, which provide about 70 % of the ornamental plants which decorate offices, homes and businesses. There are about 3750 different species of aroids that vary in size, color and shape. Aroids adorn the outdoors as well. Many landscaped areas are laced with large, beautiful elephant ears and delicate caladiums. Exotic flower arrangements are often dotted with anthuriums, another popular aroid, to give the arrangements color and interesting structure. Please do not miss this exciting and rare opportunity to hear a true plant explorer share his knowledge, and buy some aroids to start your own collection!
To learn more about aroids, the IAS Show and Sale or becoming an IAS member, please visit: www.aroid.org.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, Sept.17, Show opens at 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 17, 1:00 PM, Beginning of aroid talks
Saturday, Sept. 17, 6:30 PM, Banquet Dinner
Plant Auction
Dinner Speaker, Peter Boyce
Sunday, Sept. 18, Show opens at 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Missouri Botanical Garden
Miami residents will have a rare opportunity on September 17 to hear a talk given by Peter Boyce, a botanist that is known throughout the world as a specialist in Southeast Asian Araceae (members of the philodendron or Jack-in-the-pulpit plant family). Peter has written important books on aroids, as these plants are commonly called, notably The Genera of Araceae and The Genus Arum. Unfortunately both books are now out-of-print and very hard to find, although work is well underway on an expanded and updated edition of the first. Peter has also written numerous scientific papers and semi-popular articles on aroids. As Peter currently lives in Malaysian Borneo, and is being flown in just to speak at the International Aroid Society Show (IAS) at Fairchild Garden, his talk can be considered a rather special event. He will speak about his fieldwork, and the cultivation and maintenance of the resulting living plant collections that are used to facilitate his and his students’ research.
Because they are such diverse and fascinating plants, aroids can become an addictive habit. Indeed, many people collect, grow and study these wonderful plants and also enjoy interacting with other aroid enthusiasts. So many aroiders, as the enthusiasts are nicknamed, share this mutual love and passion for aroids that in 1977 the International Aroid Society (IAS) was formed. Currently over 400 members from 37 countries make up the IAS. The Society is headquartered at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida.
Every fall Fairchild Garden hosts an annual IAS show, complete with aroids for sale, a plant competition, and a series of talks by renowned aroid experts. This year the 34th IAS Show and Sale will be held on September 17 and 18. One of the highlights of the Show, besides the aroids themselves, is an evening banquet of delicious Cuban cuisine, an entertaining auction of superb aroids, and finally a guest dinner speaker. Enter Peter Boyce.
After 15 years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, during when he produced revisions of Arum and Biarum, accounts of most other European genera, revised many of the climbing aroids of tropical Asia, and co-authored The Genera of Araceae with Simon Mayo and Josef Bogner, Peter relocated 10 years ago to Malaysian Borneo. Now concentrating on the Schismatoglottis alliance and Homalomena, together comprising in excess of 700 species, Peter also heads the soon-to-be-published Flora of Thailand Araceae project, has contributed to the recently published aroid account for the Flora of China, and has books on the aroids of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand in press and due to be published by year end. In all Peter has published over 160 scientific papers and semi-popular articles, and contributed complete or part text to five books. Peter has a long association with the International Aroid Society, has edited and is a regular contributor to Aroideana, the IAS journal, and currently sits on the Board of Governors. He is a regular contributor to aroid-l, the IAS discussion forum, and to the IAS website – www.aroid.com.
Peter currently splits his time between living and undertaking research in Sarawak and his ‘day job’ as a Visiting Lecturer in USM, Pinang.
Why would what Peter Boyce has to say be interesting to his audience? The next time that you find yourself uneasily counting the minutes to see the doctor, take a look around the waiting room. Chances are among the stacks of various magazines and rows of chairs, the lobby contains a green plant or two. Perhaps it is a tall, variegated dumb cane or a hardy, trailing philodendron. Both of these plants are aroids, which provide about 70 % of the ornamental plants which decorate offices, homes and businesses. There are about 3750 different species of aroids that vary in size, color and shape. Aroids adorn the outdoors as well. Many landscaped areas are laced with large, beautiful elephant ears and delicate caladiums. Exotic flower arrangements are often dotted with anthuriums, another popular aroid, to give the arrangements color and interesting structure. Please do not miss this exciting and rare opportunity to hear a true plant explorer share his knowledge, and buy some aroids to start your own collection!
To learn more about aroids, the IAS Show and Sale or becoming an IAS member, please visit: www.aroid.org.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, Sept.17, Show opens at 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 17, 1:00 PM, Beginning of aroid talks
Saturday, Sept. 17, 6:30 PM, Banquet Dinner
Plant Auction
Dinner Speaker, Peter Boyce
Sunday, Sept. 18, Show opens at 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM