3,000 Plant Species On Show at Campus Greenhouses This Weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Tim Devine, Greenhouses
530-898-5229/5121
3,000 Plant Species On Show at Campus Greenhouses this Weekend
The Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico, invites you to an open house of its greenhouses on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, from 10 am until 3 pm.
The greenhouses, located next to the boiler-chiller plant southwest of Yolo Hall and near the railroad tracks, are home to a collection of more than 3,000 plant species. The plants range from the interesting to the exotic, including tobacco, passion fruit, a bo tree and a large collection of succulents, including dozens of cacti.
Tim Divine, who received his master’s in botany from CSU, Chico in 1985, is the greenhouse keeper. He was hired as a greenhouse technician in 1976. He brought 450 plants with him, and in the 29 years he has worked there, he has developed what is now an extensive collection through plant and seed exchanges with other universities and plant organizations.
Divine provides plants for lab materials in biology and botany courses, as well as tending the plant collection. Most of the plants for classes are grown in the greenhouse on the creek side of the Physical Sciences building. Plants are selected as examples of certain features, such as a leaf type, blossom or propagation method.
For more information, call the Department of Biological Sciences, 530-898-5356.
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