Botanical Society of the British Isles

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The Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) is a scientific society for the study of flora, plant distribution and taxonomy relating to Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The society was founded as the Botanical Society of London in 1836. It includes both professional and amateur members and is the largest organization devoted to botany in the British Isles.

The society publishes handbooks and journals, conducts national surveys and training events, and hosts conferences. It also awards grants and bursaries, sets professional standards (with Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC's)), and works in an advisory capacity for governments and NGO's.^[1]

The society is managed by a council of elected members, and is a non-profit British charity (no. 212560).

Contents 1 Publications 1.1 Handbook series 1.2 Publications dealing with rare plants 2 External links 3 References

[edit] Publications

The BSBI produces national atlases and county floras covering the distribution of plants. It publishes a scientific journal, Watsonia, and organizes conferences. There is a newsletter, BSBI News (ISSN 0309-930X), that is distributed to members three times a year. The society also has an education programme.

The BSBI publishes a twice a yearly scientific journal called Watsonia. The journal covers "British and Irish vascular plants, their taxonomy, biosystematics, ecology, distribution and conservation, as well as topics of a more general or historical nature".^[2]

The society published the Atlas of the British Flora, the Vice-county Census Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Great Britain in 2003, and the BSBI Handbooks series.

[edit] Handbook series

The following Handbooks have been produced, with more promised for the future. ^[3]

• Umbellifers (1980) T.G. Tutin
• Docks and Knotweeds (1981) Lousley & Kent
• Willows and Poplars R.D. Meikle
• Charophytes. (1986) J.A. Moore
• Crucifers. (1991) T.C.G. Rich
• Roses. (1993) Graham & Primavesi
• Pondweeds. (1995) C.D. Preston
• Dandelions. (1997) Dudman & Richards
• Sea Beans & Nickar Nuts (2000). E.C. Nelson
• Sedges. (2007) Jermy, Simpson, Foley & Porter

[edit] Publications dealing with rare plants

The BSBI, in 1991, publicly criticised the author John Fisher, for writing "A Colour Guide to Rare Wild Flowers", a book which gave details of the locations of a selection of rare plants, stating that it was not in the interests of conservation.^[4] Following this criticism, Fisher resigned his membership of the BSBI.

In more recent times, the BSBI has produced or supported the production of a number of County Rare Plant Registers, books which list all known locations for all rare plants in their county of coverage.

[edit] External links

• BSBI website
• Botanical Society of the British Isles, Registered Charity no. 212560 at the Charity Commission

[edit] References