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23 - 27th August 2010

The Flora Malesiana Symposium is an important forum for the exchange of taxonomic and systematic ideas and new research findings on the flora of the Malesian region. Today, it has become a large international gathering of botanists and post-graduate students who study the diversity, ecology, biogeography, evolution and conservation of plants from the region, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Papua New Guinea, as well as bordering countries.

Beginning in 1989, the Flora Malesiana Symposium has been held every three years alternating between a country in Malesia and a collaborating country outside the Malesian region. The eighth Flora Malesiana Symposium will be held in Singapore from 23 to 27 of August 2010, and hosted by the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The occasion also celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Gardens, with its historic Herbarium and botanical journal, Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore, have contributed significantly to the study of the Malesian flora.

 

For the 8th Flora Malesiana symposium, there will be special sessions on sympetalous dicots not yet treated for Flora Malesiana, Orchidaceae, Zingiberaceae, Gesneriaceae, Begoniaceae, ferns and fungi. Additionally, there will be workshops on the Red-listing of Endangered Plant Species, CBD and CITES, and How to conduct Plant Biodiversity Inventory. Five distinguished and world-renowned botanists have been invited to give plenary talks (see below).
          
Special Speakers and Tentative Titles of Their Talks:
i.     Prof. Erik SMETS, Director of National Herbarium of The Netherlands, Leiden University Branch; Chairman of Flora Malesian Foundation: “The Past, Present And Future Of Flora Malesiana”
ii.     Prof. Sir Peter CRANE (Yale University): “The Origin Of Flowering Plants”
iii.     Prof. Robert HALL (University of London): “New Data For The Plate Tectonics Of SE Asian Region”
iv.     Dr. Robert MORLEY of Palynova, UK: “Vegetational Changes In SE Asia During The Tertiary”
v.     Prof. Jan SLIKKERVEER (Leiden University): “Recent Developments In The Study Of Indonesian Jamus”