Lecture features David Fairchild's explorations

The next lecture in The Kampong's 2011/2012 Lecture Series, is Thursday, February 16 when educator and plant researcher Javier Francisco-Ortega, Ph.D. discusses David Fairchild’s exciting plant explorations in the Canary Islands, which occurred between 1903 and 1927.

Fairchild’s pioneering expeditions yielded a wealth of new information, including 73 new species and 7 publications. These trips represented the most extensive plant field trips ever undertaken by US botanists in the archipelago.

Specializing in plant systematics and tropical plant conservation, Dr. Javier Francisco-Ortega is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at FIU. Committed to plant exploration, the majority of his studies concern plants endemic to tropical and subtropical islands, and are conducted in close collaboration with colleagues working on these islands. His laboratory is located in the Center for Tropical Plant Conservation at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

“Here at The Kampong, we walk in the footsteps of David Fairchild every day – this was his private home and garden. It will be fascinating to hear about Fairchild’s trailblazing excursions in another part of the world,” said Ann Parsons, Director of The Kampong.

The Kampong (4013 S. Douglas Road) opens at 6:30 pm with a dessert reception, and the lecture begins at 7 pm.

Attendance is free to Kampong Fellows and Members; tickets for the public are $10. Reservations required: 305.442.7169 or email kampong@ntbg.org