BSBINews103

Notices - Excursion to Andalucia / Botanical Research Fund / Plant Biographies 37The flora of Grazalema is superb, especially inspring. Of the 1400 taxa recorded, about 10%are Afro-Iberian endemics, (for example,Biscutellafrutescens, Viola demetria, Saxifragaglobulifera, Anthericum baeticum andOrnithogalum reverchonii), many more arerestricted to southern Iberia (such as Paeoniabroteri, Echium albicans and Centaureaclementei), and a dozen or so are unique to theimmediate area, including Saxifraga bourgeana,S. haenseleri, Omphalodes commutata andLinaria platycalyx. Many species of orchid canbe found here at this time of year, as well asNarcissus assoanus subsp. praelongus, Scillaperuviana and Iris xiphium. A longer trek willenable us to visit the relict Abies pinsapo(Spanish Fir) forests, of which only 1200haremain in Spain. Notable vertebrates includeSpanish Ibex, one of the largest concentrationsof Griffon Vultures in Spain, Bonelli's Eagle,Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, WoodchatShrike, Bee-eater, Spanish Psammodromus andStripeless Tree Frog, all of which are usuallyseen during our spring trips to this area. Weshall also visit the Lagunas de Espera, forWhite-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard,Purple Gallinule and Crested Coot, plus a fineselection of arable weeds.We will be staying in the family-run Casa deLas Piedras in the whitewashed mountainvillage of Grazalema itself, with all facilities ensuite. The cost will be £700 per person, plus asingle-room supplement of £95, to cover halfboardaccommodation, picnic lunches, transportby hired minibus throughout, all entry fees andthe services of the leaders (principal leaderTeresa Farino), but excluding flights and travelinsurance (obligatory). Participants must be fitfor mountain walking.An early indication of your interest is necessaryin order to secure the appropriate accommodation,preferably before October 2006.For further details, please contact Teresa at theabove address.NOTICES (OTHER)The Botanical Research FundDR MARK CARINE, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, LondonSW75BD. m.carine@nhm.ac.ukThe Botanical Research Fund is a small trustfund which makes modest grants to individualsto support botanical investigations of all typesand, more generally, to assist their advancementin the botanical field. Grants are available toamateurs, professionals and students of Britishand Irish nationality. Where appropriate, grantsmay be awarded to applicants in successiveyears to a maximum of three.The next deadline for applications is January31st, 2007.Further details may be obtained from MarkCarine at the address above marked 'BotanicalResearch Fund'.Plant BiographiesSUE ELAND, Apple Tree Cottage, Chapel Lane, Penselwood, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8LYPlant Biographies, an ongoing project, is nowavailable on the internet at www.plantlives.comfor a modest annual SUbscription. It offersdescriptions of the history and usage of over3000 species of plants from all over the worldtogether with other information such as botanicalsynonyms, common names in manylanguages, and meanings of plant names.A reduced subscription to Plant Biographieson the web of £10 (normally £15) is offered toMembers for the first year (reverting to thestandard individual subscription for the websitethereafter) provided the subscription is takenout before 1 st April 2007.BSBI Members wishing to take advantage ofthis should:1 register ONLY on the website, preceding theirusername with the letters BSBI and;2 at the same time send a cheque for £1 0 to SueEland at her address above, together withadvice of the username chosen (upon receiptof which full access to the website will bearranged immediately);3 then at the end of the year's subscriptionrenew it by re-Registering (without use of theprefix BSBI) and subscribing in the 'normal'way as explained on the website.