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News Release DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE / July 24, 2008 Boise State Biology Department Hosts Idaho Botanical Foray, Public Invited Boise State University’s Department of Biological Sciences is sponsoring the first Idaho Botanical Foray, a four-day plant collection venture for the benefit of the university’s Snake River Plains Herbarium. The public is invited to participate. Lead by Jim Smith, professor of biology at Boise State, the collections will be conducted on the slopes of Mount Harrison in south central Idaho, south of Burley, Aug. 7-10. The purpose, in addition to making plant collections for the herbarium, is to gain an understanding of the botanical diversity found in the Mount Harrison vicinity. “Mount Harrison may be known to non-botanists as the home of Pomerelle Ski Area,” Smith said. “However, those with more of a botanical background will recognize this as the home to Castilleja christii, Christ’s paintbrush. This species is known only from the summit of Mount Harrison and should be in full flower at the time of the foray.” There will be no collection of Christ’s paintbrush during the trip to minimize damage to the population and its habitat. But other species will be collected and pressed in the field. All collections made during the foray will be the property of Boise State. Participants will collect each day in groups of five to six people and press their collections that afternoon. The pressed plants will be dried, identified and eventually incorporated into the main research collection with duplicates sent to nearby herbaria at other institutions. The public is invited to join the foray, but an RSVP to Smith (208-426-3551) is requested for preparation purposes. People are welcome to come and go as their time permits. All levels of expertise are welcome, from those who have been collecting plants for decades to those who are curious about native vegetation and simply wish to learn more. Instructions on collecting and pressing will be given each morning before groups leave for their assigned collecting sites. More information about directions, camping arrangements, options for nearby hotel lodging, needed supplies, daily schedules, car pooling and other information can be found at www.boisestate.edu/biology/idahobotforay.shtml. Questions can also be directed to Smith. -30- Media Contact: Mike Journee, University Communications, (208) 426-1517, mikejournee@boisestate.edu Boise State University is emerging as a metropolitan research university of distinction. This transformation is being powered by the university’s first comprehensive campaign to support its people, places and programs. That’s why the campaign to raise $175 million in private support is called Destination Distinction.
Last reviewed on Thursday, July 24, 2008
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