THE UNIVERSITY OF

DUNDEE
BOTANIC GARDEN
A Guide to the Garden and its purpose
Alasdair Hood and Hugh Ingram
Edition 1 - 2003
Contents
4 Foreword
4 What is a Botanic Garden
5 History
5 The Curators
6 The founding principles and core functions
6 The site
7 Facilities
7 Refreshments
7 Opening arrangements
8 Visitor Centre
8 The collections
9 The native plant communities
10 Exotics
10 Maintenance
11 Birds
11 The path network
11 The plant beds
11 Plant labels
12 A guided tour
12 Adaptations
15 Sclerophyllous plants
15 North America
15 Australasia
17 Asia
18 Woodlands
18 Loch Machar
18 Mediterranean
18 Indoor collections
20 Education
21 Visitor and events
22 Research
22 Funding
23 The Friends
23 Acknowledgements
23 Further reading
24 Garden map
26 Contact details
28 Garden Caf advert
Foreword
We have long felt the need for a booklet that would serve
the visitor as a general introduction to the University
Botanic Garden. From this first edition the reader will
discover something of the gardens purpose together with
a sketch of its history and an outline of its facilities
including the opportunity it affords for educational
activity. There is also information about how it is
funded and used for scientific research and plant
conservation. A feature that may be welcomed by many
visitors is the guided tour beginning on page 12.
The visitor will quickly realise that the garden has more
to offer than is mentioned here. We have tried to be
concise but hope there is enough information to whet the
readers appetite. Please use the Suggestions Book in
the Visitors Centre to note possible improvements; and
do not hesitate to ask there or at the office if you wish
to consult reference books or a member of the garden
staff. Please also bear in mind that what you experience
during each visit to the Garden will be different due to
seasonal changes and variations within each season which
affect the appearance of the plants. Furthermore the
Garden is in a constant state of change caused by progress
in the way it is managed. This makes it very difficult to
keep a detailed guide fully up-to-date.
What is a Botanic Garden?
It is not easy to define what botanic gardens are because
they perform such diverse roles and functions. However,
a convenient definition would be the one suggested in
1999 by Botanic Gardens Conservation International:
Institutions holding documented collections of living
plants for the purposes of scientific research,
conservation, display and education.
4
History
The need for a botanic garden at the University of Dundee
was identified by the University botany staff in 1966. A
case was then made to the University administration, but
it was promptly shelved for lack of funding.
The botany staff had considered how a new garden could be
maintained in the longer term, bearing in mind the more
complex traditional designs which were labour-intensive
and thus costly to run. Dundees proposal was therefore
developed to allow an operation on a shoestring budget: a
policy which continues to this day. This low cash demand
has remained one of the Gardens important attributes and
was the key to reviving interest in the project.
In 1970 a copy of the founding memorandum, written in
1966 by Dr Hugh Ingram, was discovered by Professor James
Drever, first Principal of the University. The new
Principal took up the idea with enthusiasm; and detailed
planning for the Botanic Garden began.
The Curators
To date there have been three Curators of the Garden:
1971 to 1980 Edward Kemp
1980 to 1998 Les Bissett
1998 to present Alasdair Hood
The garden was well thought out at its inception. Dr Kemp
brought to the project a wealth of experience in
Horticulture and arboriculture, much of it gained when he
was curator of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. This
he applied with great conviction and forethought. Les
Bisset, who has an outstanding knowledge of plants, was
then able to bring the garden towards maturity. He was
also responsible for the existing visitor facilities.
Our current aim is to encourage more visitors to access
and enjoy the Garden; and to increase the facilities for
5
their education thus enabling them to appreciate the
vital role plants play in everyones lives.
The Founding Principles and Core Functions
The founding principles of the Garden are science, education
and conservation. Moreover the aim has always been to
bring these principles to the attention of the entire
community, and for the Garden to act as one of the main
links between the University and those who live in this
part of Scotland. Core functions have included the
cultivation of plant communities in appropriate layouts
and the supply of materials for teaching and research to
organisations that have need of them. These users greatly
influence the choice of plants grown and the groupings in
which they are displayed. At a time when the survival of
many plant species is threatened, conservation is a
necessary further aim. Increasingly important objectives
are the encouragement of visits by schools and colleges
and promoting the use of the collections for biology
classes, environmental education and instruction in the
fine arts.
The Site
In 1971 the University Botanic Garden began to be
established on a site of 9 ha facing south on a gentle
slope just north of the River Tay. The site is favoured
by a fertile but well drained soil. Indeed, it was the
last remaining suitable site left within a reasonable
distance of the University. Water that probably arises
in the deep rock of Balgay Hill, a volcanic plug, was
found in small stone conduits in the northwest corner of
the site and has been routed to form water features. The
various sources of water were fed into an arched well,
designed and built by Dr Edward Kemp, the first Curator
of the Garden. This carries an apt excerpt from Horaces
laudatory poem to Fons Bandusiae. The water is very pure
with a high magnesium content and on emerging has a
minimum temperature of 3.5C enabling climatically marginal
plants to be grown in the ornamental pool. The glasshouse
6
is sited on an area that used to be a hockey pitch.
Initially the majority of the site was virtually treeless
but the enclosed lower gardens at Cidhmore and Taypark,
which form the eastern end of the garden, already supported
mature trees.
The entrance gate carries an inscription from Virgils
second Georgic:
QUIRE AGITE O PROPRIOS GENERATIM DISCITE CULTUS
Come then and learn what tilth to each belongs according
to its kind. This acts as a welcoming invitation to
visitors to enter and learn about the ecology of plants.
Facilities
Garden facilities include parking for 50 cars, a Visitors
Centre with an audio-visual installation and toilets, and
two large glasshouses for tropical and warm temperate
exotic plants. There are three large pools for aquatics:
two outside and an indoor tropical pool in which the
centrepiece is the spectacular Victoria water-lily which
has leaves of up to 2 metres in diameter.
Refreshments
The Garden Caf offers light meals and refreshments in a
pleasant environment. It has a well stocked plant centre
and carries a range of other gifts.
Opening arrangements
The Garden is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until
4.30 p.m.from March to October and 10 a.m until 3.30 p.m.
in the late autumn and winter. There is a modest charge
for admission.
7
Visitors Centre
By 1980, the Garden was sufficiently developed to consider
increasing the provision for public amenity and education.
As the first major step, a Visitors Centre, was proposed
and adopted as one of the objectives of the Universitys
Centenary Appeal. The Centre was opened in 1984 by Alan
Devereux, Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board. This
architecturally interesting building, designed and built
by local firms, has been the recipient of several awards
including a prestigious national award by the Royal
Institute of British Architects in 1988. It was one of
only 18 buildings so recognised in that year. The Centre
houses interpretative exhibits on various aspects of plant
life and the Garden collections. It has seating for
parties of 15 to 20 people in a small audio-visual area.
It also houses the Visitors Reception Desk and is the
first place to look for information on the Garden.
The Collections
The principle upon which all genuine Botanic gardens are
established is the acquisition of plant materials for
teaching, research and public amenity. Conservation forms
part of these functions and the scope for conservation in
the Dundee Garden is increasing. The tradition of using
botanic gardens to illustrate the supposed taxonomic or
evolutionary relationships of plants has never formed
part of the policy of this garden.
The major areas of teaching and research are concentrated
on the physiological function of plants, their survival
strategies, ecology, symbiotic and family relationships.
The Garden, therefore, has no brief to make large
collections of plants based on purely aesthetic
considerations or even on grounds of botanical curiosity.
Indeed, the words of John Lindley, uttered in 1830 when
he was invited to examine the role of the Botanic Gardens
at Kew are always kept in mind when selecting plants for
this botanic garden:
8
It is little better than a waste of time and money to
maintain it in its present form if it fulfils no
intelligible purpose except that of sheltering a large
quantity of rare and valuable plants.
In short, the ideal is that each plant grown can be
justified by its contribution to the Gardens wider aims
and objectives.
Native Plant Communities
One of the most important features of the Garden is the
Native Plant Communities Unit. Here, a series of plant
associations has been established to represent types of
vegetation that can be found in Britain. Sited in a
layout running north to south are representatives of the
mountain and uplands areas, dwarf scrub, pine and birch
forest, ash wood, oak and beech forest and, at the lowest
point, a nutrient-rich pool. These are linked by a burn,
which is fed from a spring in the North West corner of the
Garden. The woody plant elements are now sufficiently
mature to allow the introduction beneath the trees of the
associated field layers and the woodlands are already
proving a useful teaching resource for students, school
pupils and the general public. Unlike a taxonomic layout,
where plants are assembled in un-natural groupings that
show supposed evolutionary relationships, the layout of
the Botanic Garden respects the real nature of vegetation,
thereby promoting familiarity with native plants from all
over the British Isles, as well as providing a useful
guide to their ecology. Although not a substitute for
field study, this is vital where the curriculum is already
crowded. Furthermore, it has also proved an economical
method for growing environmentally demanding plants, since
landscape gardeners, and environmentalists responsible
for the rehabilitation of the countryside, have found the
methods of establishment and management of this Unit to
be of great interest and utility.
9
Exotics
The remainder of the Garden is given over to layouts of
exotic plants with a similar ecological and geographical
basis. Already there are noteworthy collections of
conifers, Australasian, Asian, North American and
Mediterranean plants, primitive flowering plants, and
aquatics. The gardens favourable climate can be judged
by the successful cultivation of plants which would normally
be considered too tender to survive in the east of Scotland.
Regnellidium diphyllum, a floating aquatic fern from Rio
del Sul in Brazil, is an example of an unusual plant which
thrives in the Garden. Normally very difficult to grow,
it seems to luxuriate not only in the temperate and
tropical glasshouses but also in one of the necklace
ponds which feed Loch Machar the exotic plant pool near
the Visitors Centre, built with funds provided by Alex
Machar, a former Curator of Grounds in the University,
who was the first to realise the potential of the site.
Other collections include examples of physiological
adaptations to wet, dry, tropical and temperate zones,
and of the strategies that plants have evolved to overcome
hostile conditions.
Maintenance
Growth in the garden is rapid, due in large measure to the
situation and climate, although the methods used to
establish and maintain the collection are also beneficial.
Because of the small number of staff (there are three
gardeners in addition to the Curator and secretary) these
methods have had to be simple and not labour intensive.
Repetitive manual tasks are kept to a minimum; very little
leaf raking is carried out and no hoeing or digging of
borders is practised after the initial plantings. The
activities of the worm population thus encouraged have
also resulted in a parallel increase in their predators,
such as hedgehogs.
10
Birds
In addition to the plants the garden is home to an increasing
range of birds. Woodcock, water rail and partridge have
been spotted from time to time, and regular visitors and
residents include heron, owl, kestrel, siskin, three species
of tit, redwing and fieldfare, as well as all the common
birds. The changes in species found, following the increase
of cover and the progressive variation in available food,
are of great interest.
The Path Network
There is a main path that runs all the way round the
garden; but if this is the only route that you use during
your visit you will miss much of the plant collection.
There is also an extensive network of smaller paths amongst
the plant beds. Please use them. The grass is also for
walking on! The philosophy of the Garden is that you are
invited to inspect every plant it contains.
The Plant Beds
The plant beds are all labelled in a sequence from A1 at
the west to N 17 at the east end. Generally A represents
the Mediterranean plants; E represents the native plants;
H represents the American section; K and L are generally
the Australasian plants and finally area N represents
plants from Asia.
Plant Labels
The black labels on the plant can give you useful
information. Each is arranged in the same way:
Family name
Common Name
Scientific name
Accession number
Country of origin
11
The accession number is an important source of background
information because garden staff can use it to trace the
plants history. It gives the year of accession, when
the specimen came into the garden, together with its
position in the sequence of plants added that year. Before
the end of 1999 the number was given in the form 779/97
meaning the 779
th
plant received in 1997. Since the
beginning of 2000 the number has been given the form
20010301 meaning the 301
st
plant received in 2001. The
year number gives a good impression of the specimens
age, since most plants are received as seed.
Ideally, all our plants should be labelled. Each one
starts out with a label but over time it may break, become
lost, or covered by the new foliage on a fast growing
tree. As yet we do not have the resources to replace
labels continually but always endeavour to make sure key
specimens are labelled.
A Guided Tour
This tour attempts to increase an understanding of the
concepts mentioned earlier. It begins at the Visitors
Centre by drawing attention to some physiological
adaptations that plants show and also emphasising the key
plants to look out for whilst on your walk. The tour
starts off heading east. When following the route please
be sure to walk on the grass and on all the informal paths
running through the plant beds. The invitation to inspect
every plant is an essential part of the Gardens educational
role.
Adaptations
Plants show a wide range of adaptations that permit them
to survive in the particular environment where they
naturally occur. One simple example at the east of the
education centre is provided by the giant redwoods. These
conifers are native to the south western USA where forest
fires occur naturally. Despite this, individuals may
survive for up to 3000 years because their unusually
12
thick soft bark (try punching it) protects the delicate
internal tissues from damage by heat. The outer layers
of bark are devoid of living tissue but their spongy
texture gives excellent thermal insulation for what lies
beneath.
Nearby by you will see a group of pines (Pinus), which may
be distinguished from other conifers by their needles
(leaves) which are borne in bundles of two, three or
five.
Pines are among the commonest and most characteristic
trees of northern latitudes, where low temperatures and
weak sunshine in winter make the growing season short;
yet their woody cones are massive, demanding far more
resources for their development than the flowers of broad
leaved trees. Look out for specimens with young green
cones, older brown ones and still older ones that have
opened and shed their seed. These open cones have taken
a remarkable 4 years to complete their reproductive work.
(The youngest generation of cones is prepared invisibly
within the buds.) Compared with the slick reproductive
process found in flowering plants this process seems
extremely leisurely. Its slowness is an adaptation enabling
the large (and wasteful) cones that serve the conifers in
place of flowers to be produced in an unfavourable climate.
As you continue to walk east along the top path of the
Garden and pass into the American section, look to your
13
right for Pinus coulteri from California in bed J04.
This pine has three very long needles per bundle. The
specimen, in years to come, will make a very imposing
tree in this location. Note the very large cones and be
careful one does not fall on you! Close by there is
another impressive Pine, Pinus montezumae from Mexico.
If you hold a bundle of needles together they form a
perfect cylinder.
14
This shelters the leaf pores (stomata) from moving air
and is an adaptation to the reduction of water loss by
evaporation. In the same area look out for Crinodendron
hookeranum, the Chilean lantern tree, bearing red flowers
in May and June; also Embothrium lanceolatum, the Chilean
fire bush, with red flowers in June. You are now in the
southern beech (Nothofagus) wood. Look out for the
interesting peeling bark of Polylepis australis.
As you emerge back onto the main path you will see a group
of monkey puzzles on the north side of this path. This is
part of our conservation programme. There are more of
these trees in cultivation than there are in their native
environment. This is due to habitat destruction and the
collection of the seed for food.
Sclerophyllous plants
On the north side of the path, beds H8, 9 and 10 show a
collection of sclerophyllous plants. Sclerophyllous
literally means hard-leaved and refers to the thick
leathery texture that is characteristic of many of the
species found in parts of the world with a Mediterranean
climate (see below) where the summers are long, hot and
dry, and where woody plants have become adapted to survive
the dry conditions. Their specialised leaves often persist
for two or more years. Under the microscope they show
various anatomical peculiarities that have the effect of
reducing water loss.
North America
Continue east up to the far left corner and walk down the
bark paths. This area shows some plants that are native
to eastern USA and in particular the area of the Smokey
Mountains in the Appalachian chain. In years to come it
is hoped that this path will be enclosed in high forest.
As you walk down the path the vegetation changes towards
more broad-leaved plants.
15
Australasia
Continue through the gap in the dyke (wall) into the
Australasian section of the Garden. This area is known
as Cidhmore after the large house to the north. Although
it contains plants from other areas of the world it is the
species of Eucalyptus, Olearia and Hebe that dominate the
layout. Eucalyptus (blue gums etc) include some of the
largest of all broad-leaved trees. Those with very high
rates of growth are being used in forestry plantations in
regions with Mediterranean climates such as Portugal,
South Africa and southern California. In Australia,
where they are native, their leaves are eaten by koala
bears which are themselves adapted to cope with this
extraordinarily indigestible fare.
Olearia is a genus belonging
to the daisy family. Unlike
many of its cultivated
representatives which are
generally herbs, most of the
Olearia species are shrubs or
even timber trees. In the same
way, the Hebe species are woody
relatives of our herbaceous
speedwells (Veronica). In the
mountains of New Zealand, where
they take the place of our
heathers and heaths, they are
commonly found as dwarf shrubs.
Indeed the scale-like leaves
of Hebe cause the native
hillsides to look remarkably
similar to ours in Scotland.
In the south east corner of
this area there are species of
Magnolia, a genus of plants,
often considered primitive,
which flower in spring.
16
Arbutus menziesii (madroa) is a relative of heather that
produces timber and bark for tanning in western North
America. The mulberry trees (Morus alba, M. nigra) have
timber suitable for the finest cabinet making and bear
juicy edible fruits that are also the source of cosmetic
rouge.
Asia
On returning to the path continue east through the gap in
the second wall into Taypark and the Asian plant
collections. The largest group of plants in this area
belong to the genus Rhododendron and, like Arbutus, are
members of the heather family (Ericaceae). Rhododendron
has a wide distribution in the world but many of the large
species associated with our gardens come from Asia.
After exploring this area turn back and head westwards,
this time keeping to the southern part of the garden on
your way back towards the Visitors Centre.
Woodlands
On leaving Cidhmore through the gap in the dyke you enter
an area planted with patches of dense woodland. These
include examples where the principal trees in the woodland
are beech, oak, Scots pine and ash. Note the vegetation
beneath the trees and the diversity of other plants growing
in these woods. Why is the beech wood the least rich in
associated species?
Loch Machar
Once back at the Visitors Centre explore the area around
the pond. This is at its most colourful in May and June
with the distinctive Primula species and Meconopsis. In
the autumn the Taxodium, Metaseqoia, Liquidambar and
Parrotia look striking with their fine seasonal foliage
colour. The bark of the Rubus and Cornus species continue
to add colour throughout the winter season.
17
Mediterranean
Now move to the Mediterranean section of the garden which
lies to the north of the glasshouse complex. This area is
on a south facing slope but the flat ground next to the
glasshouse has been left unplanted to avoid the effect of
frosty air flowing down the slope and piling up against
the building. The plants growing here come from countries
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea where the climate has
mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Examples of this
climatic pattern are also found in four other parts of
the world: California, Chile, South Africa and Australia.
Plants which can survive the warmth and dryness have
evolved various distinctive characteristics. Some have
tough, leathery (sclerophyllous) leaves; others bulbs or
roots with a water seeking strategy or an annual life
cycle. Some even have an ability to survive fire, while
yet others are armed with spines that discourage grazing
by goats. Look round the area and see how many examples
of these adaptations you can find.
Indoor Collections
Now explore the glasshouse, built in 1974. There are two
large compartments, one showing tropical plants and the
other showing both temperate and succulent plants. In
winter especially it is more comfortable to begin at the
warmer end which is near the Visitors Centre.
The tropical house shows a range of economically important
plants such as coffee, sugar cane, peanuts and mahogany.
See if you can find others. Notice how varied their
countries of origin are.
Look out for the fig Ficus pumila, a climber with its
juvenile and adult foliage, the former soft, the latter
hard enabling it to survive the strong sun as it emerges
from the canopy of leaves formed by the tropical forest.
Take a few moments to consider the resources expended by
the larger trees in building a structure reaching up to
the light above the leaf canopy. Tropical forests also
18
contain a diversity of climbing plants with a much weaker
structure. What is the significance of this? Examine
the large buttress roots of Ficus sycomorus (the Biblical
sycamore) which have the effect of steadying a tree
rooted in unstable soil. Note the man made tree with
the epiphytes attached. These plants grow out of reach
of the ground using other plants as their support; they
are not, however, parasites.
As you go through the door to the temperate house you will
notice a drop in temperature. Some plants in this area,
the tree ferns for example, can survive quite successfully
outside in the mild climate of the north west of Scotland,
where frosts seldom occur.
Note the insectivorous plants on your right. In nature
they are found growing in tropical forests, mainly as
climbers or epiphytes (see above). These fascinating
plants also occur on the ground or in pools in rain-fed
peat bogs, as with the temperate examples shown here.
These habitats have in common a shortage of nutrients
such as nitrogen and phosphorus; and the insect-eating
habit of these plants is an adaptation that enables them
to survive by using resources concentrated in the bodies
of their prey. They do this by trapping the insects with
sticky hairs, slippery funnels or containers that operate
when touched. The plants then digest the insect bodies
releasing the nutrients they contain.
As you move through the house the display gives way to the
succulents: plants with few or no leaves and fleshy stems
that both photosynthesise and store water. Take a look
round and then find the Euphorbia candellabra and
Trichocereus bridgesii. Although they are similar in
form, the labels show that they come from Africa and
America respectively and that they belong to different
families
1
. This is the result of convergent evolution,
1
The Euphorbia is a member of the Euphorbiaceae: the spurge family with
many close relatives in our own native flora, while Trichocereus belongs
to the Cactaceae: the cactus family whose members nearly all come from
the New World. It is therefore incorrect to call every succulent plant
a cactus!
19
where plants that are unrelated but live in similar
environments have evolved similar adaptations in order to
survive comparable stresses. The succulents are found in
hot desert regions that are dry throughout the year.
Many are armed with spines that are unsafe to touch. How
might this be explained?
Look for the squirting cucumber, Ecballium elaterium,
also native to the Mediterranean region. As the fruit
ripens it fills with a slimy juice and eventually the
pressure inside becomes so great that the cucumber bursts
from its stalk and shoots through the air, leaving juice
and seeds trailing out behind. Please do not touch it.
Finally go out through the west door into the herb garden
where you can see a range of culinary and medicinal
herbs.
Return to the Visitors Centre along the south side of
the glasshouse and find the Caf for a well earned rest.
Education
The Garden and its resources are used by students of all
ages in Dundee and the surrounding area for a wide range
of studies. In particular its facilities have been widely
appreciated by schools.
An Education Officer
2
is employed to help to promote a
greater understanding of plants and encourage the use of
the Garden by organised parties. This is an excellent
resource available all the year round for teaching and
learning plant biology and other related subjects at all
levels. Popular features include:
Glasshouses: well established tropical, temperate and
desert vegetation, including economic crop species.
Trees and shrubs planted according to geographical
location. These also demonstrate methods of pollination,
2
Funded partly from sources out with the University.
20
seed dispersal, adaptation to environment, and basic
classification.
A miniature zonation from moorland to wood and nutrient-
rich pond, especially useful for geographical and ecological
studies.
In-service training sessions for teachers are run to
enhance the teaching of plant biology; and a classroom
can be booked for teaching and experimental work.
Three options should be considered when planning a visit
for your pupils:
1. Activities assisted by the Education Officer;
2. self-guided trails;
3. activities designed by you, for which a pre-visit
planning session is recommended. Please contact the
Education Officer to discuss your needs. (Staff contact
details are given on page 25.)
An innovation is the Certificate of Voluntary Attendance
which provides an opportunity for enthusiastic individuals
to gain practical experience in a botanic garden. This
certificate, although not an official qualification, will
be promoted as being of considerable value within the
horticultural industry, since practical experience is an
essential part of any horticulturists training.
We are also actively looking at partnerships with the
Scottish land-based colleges with a view to developing a
course in practical plantmanship.
Visitors and Events
The Botanic Garden is a facility provided by the University
to benefit the wider community. Thus one of our prime
aims is to increase visitor numbers
3
. One means of achieving
this is to run a programme of events throughout the year,
and to this end an ambitious scheme has been developed.
21
3
This also has the advantage of reducing the financial dependency of
the Garden on the University
Our recipe for events is to have a mix of activities from
the practical to the academic so that each event caters
for a wide range of people.
In particular, there is scope for more interpretation,
and this is being actively pursued.
Research
Whilst the Garden does not run its own research programme
it actively encourages University students to base their
honours degree project on some aspect of the plant
collections. The Curator is always keen to advise students
on projects that could be carried out using the resources
in the Garden.
Post graduate study and research are also encouraged at
the Garden.
You may see evidence of experimental work going on as you
walk through the garden. Please be careful not to interfere
with this: to do so might cause serious problems for
those involved. You are however welcome to talk with any
of the researchers to find out what they are doing.
Funding
Increasingly, the Garden depends financially on sources
outwith the University. Acquiring funds is becoming
harder and is of course very time-consuming. By becoming
more commercially orientated, it is hoped that the Garden
will generate enough funding for its continuing development,
widening the opportunities for visitors to immerse
themselves in the wonders of the world of plants.
The Garden welcomes endowments and gifts; and we are
adept at finding graceful ways to acknowledge these.
Anyone interested should contact the Curator.
22
The Friends
The Garden has an associated society called the Friends
of the University Botanic Garden, formed to help support
and finance those public amenity activities which cannot
reasonably be funded from University resources. The
Friends have helped with numerous initiatives including
the education programme and have purchased several items
of equipment for the Garden, for example a machine for
the making of plant labels. In addition, some have acted
as guides for out-of-town visitors, providing experience
enjoyed by all concerned, which has left visitors with a
very favourable impression of Dundee. The Visitors
Reception Desk is run by volunteers, to whom we are
grateful for providing a valuable link with our visitors
and for help in collecting the entry fees which are a
vital means of adding to the Gardens funds.
Acknowledgements
In producing this guide book information available in
papers, produced by Mr Les Bisset during his time as
Curator, have been used.
The sketches were drawn by Mary Benstead
Further Reading
Attenborough, D (1995) The Private Life of Plants. BBC
Books, London.
Crawford, R M M (1989) Studies in Plant Survival.
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
Dallman, P R (1998) Plant Life in the Worlds
Mediterranean Climates.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.
23
Woodlands
Red Woods
Pines
Loch Machar
Mediteranian
Plants
Pinus Coulteri
Sclerophyllous
Plants
Monkey Puzzles
Eastern USA
Cidhmore
Asian
Plants
Magnolia
Nothofagus
Contact Details
University of Dundee Botanic Garden
Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD2 1QH
Scotland
Tel:- 01382 647190
Email :- botanicgardens@dundee.ac.uk
Web:- www.dundeebotanicgardens.co.uk
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The Garden Caf
The Caf operator would like to invite
you for light refreshments and good food
at the Garden Caf.
Gifts and plants also available
Phone 01382 647193