The 2nd International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae (ISFM) 5 – 8 May 2009
Guangzhou, China

FIRST CIRCULAR

Organised by:
1. South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
2. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
3. Magnolia Society (MSI)
4. Magnolia Branch, Guangdong Botanical Society

Co-organised by:
1. Guangdong Association for Sciences and Technology
2. Shenzhen Fairylake Botanical Garden
3. Shenzhou magnolia Garden and Breeding Centre, Xuwen 4. Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS
5. Yunnan Academy of Forestry

Symposium Background
The family Magnoliaceae is one of the most primitive taxa of angiosperms. Knowledge of this family is essential for researching the origin, evolution, floristic geography and systematics of the angiosperms.

Most magnolias are widely enjoyed for their beautiful tree shape, large colourful fragrant flowers and their elegance. Many species are grown as ornamentals, timber or used for medicine and perfume. Furthermore many species are dominant constituents of tropical and subtropical forests. Due to degradation of natural habitats, many magnoliaceous plants have become endangered or extinct in the wild. For these reasons, it is important to engage in multi-disciplinary plants, and rescue the rare and endangered species.

South and southwest China, and neighbouring areas, are the centre of origin and diversity of Magnoliaceae. There are more species of the family in China than in any other country. Since the 1950s, the South China Botanical Garden (SCBG) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formerly South China Institute of Botany (SCIB), have carried out significant multi-disciplinary researches on the Magnoliaceae, including introduction, propagation and conservation. A lot of work has also been done on the systematic, morphology, cytology, embryology, palynology, phytochemistry, and floral biology of Magnoliaceae. A magnolia garden with an area of 12 hectares has been established. Up to now, 11 genera and about 160 species of magnoliaceous plants are well grown in the garden. It has become one of the largest conservation centres of magnolias in the world. In May 1998, SCBG successfully organised and held The First International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae. This Symposium greatly stimulated cooperative researches on Magnoliaceae worldwide.

Since the first symposium, many important projects on Magnoliaceae have been carried out worldwide, especially in China and hundreds of scientific papers have been published. In order to exchange recent progress, enhance the conservation and sustainable utilization of magnoliaceous plants, and promote the cooperative researches worldwide. The SCBG, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Magnolia Society International (MSI) and Magnolia Branch, Guangdong Botanical Society are organising The 2nd International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae to be held on 5-9 May 2009 in Guangzhou, China.

Scientific Committee
Honorary Chairman: Prof. Zheng-Yi WU (China)
Dr Peter H RAVEN (USA)

Chairman: Prof. Nian-He XIA (China)

Vice-Chairman: Dr Hans P NOOTEBOOM (Netherlands) Mr Richard B FIGLAR (USA)
Dr Yin-Long QUI (USA)

Members: Dr Jim GARDINER (UK)
  Dr Margarita A BARANOVA (Russia)
  Prof. Soedarsono RISWAN (Indonesia)
  Dr Piya CHALERMGLIN (Thailand)
  Dr Shou-Zhou ZHANG (China)
  Prof. Qing-Wen ZENG (China)
  Prof. Feng-Xia XU (China)
  Prof. Xun GONG (China)
  Prof. Wei-Bang SUN (China)
  Prof. Nan-Jun LANG (China)
  Assoc. Prof. Yong-Kang SIMA (China)

Organising Committee
Chairman: Prof. Hong-Wen Huang (China)
Vice-Chairmen: Dr Sara OLDFIELD (UK)
  Dr Susan P TREADWAY (USA)
  Prof. De-Zhu LI (China)
  Dr Yong LI (China)
  Mr Kai-Fu ZHU (China)
Members: Prof. Jing-Ping LIAO (China)
  Prof. Qi-Gen WU (China)
  Prof. Zhong-Yi CHEN (China)
  Prof. Wei-Bang SUN (China)
  Prof. Wei-Bang WANG (China)
  Prof. Ya-Ling WANG (China)
  Dr Hong-Feng CHEN (China)

Secretary-General: Prof. Qing-Wen ZENG (China)
  Prof. Feng-Xia XU (China)

Secretaries: Miss Yan YU (China)

Miss Li-Xiu GUO (China)
Secretariat

All correspondence should be addressed to:
Prof. Qing-Wen ZENG
Secretariat of the 2nd International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae
South China Botanic garden
Chinese Academy of Sciences
No. 723 Xingke Road
Tianhe
Guangzhou 510650
China
Tel: 0086-20-37252557
Fax: 0086-20-37252557
Mob: 0086-13249764128
E-mail: zengqw@scbg.ac.cn
Website: http://ISFM.scbg.ac.cn/

Scientific Program
1) Topics
a) Systematics and phytogeography
b) Morphology and anatomy
c) Molecular biology, cytology and phytochemistry d) Conservation
e) Physiology and ecology
f) Cultivation, propagation and breeding
g) Gardening and landscaping

2) Format: The program of the 2nd International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae will include plenary speakers, oral presentations and poster sessions. Opportunities are also available for general and panel discussions. Symposium Date and Locality

The symposium will be held in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China on 5-9 May 2009

Official Language
English is the official language of the symposium

Registration Fees
The registration fees include symposium material fees, meal fees and symposium excursion fees.

Symposium Excursion
The symposium excursions are planned to visit the South China Botanical Garden including Magnolia Garden and the Nankunshan National Forest Park. You will have opportunities to see the wonderful magnolias collection in SCBG and to hunt the wild magnolias such as Tsoongiodendron odorum, Michelia maudiae, Michelia skinneriana, Mangieltia fodiana, Manglietia longipedunculata, Manglietia moto, Manglietia pachyphylla, etc. At the same time, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the southern China subtropical forest (the transport and entrance fees are included in the registration fees). Post-Symposium Excursion 1) Route 1; Excursions to Shenzhou Magnolia Garden and Breeding Centre, Xuwen and the beach scenery (3days). 2) Route 2: Excursions to Kunming Botanical garden including Magnolia Garden, Xishan Park, Shilin stone forest, Folk Museum, Folk Village and Wenshan. Wenshan is endowed with magnoliaceous plant diversity in China. After the visit you will have deep impression of Chinese Magnoliaceae. Meanwhile you would be attracted by the graceful bearing of the Chinese minorities (6 days). Abstract and Papers You are invited to submit an abstract of 500-100 words summarising original and unpublished research results on the above and other related topics before the deadline of 28 February 2009. Papers should be presented in the symposium. All submitted abstracts must be written in English and will be reviewed for quality, originality and relevance by the Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee will notify the authors of the accepted abstracts. Papers presented in Symposium will be eligible for publication in Symposium Proceedings after Symposium. Second Circular The Second Circular will be mailed in October 2008. It will include information about registration, accommodations, field trips, post-symposium excursions, and details about contributed papers. You are encouraged to return the questionnaire before 31 August 2008 to ensure receipt of the Second Circular.

First Circular Leaflet & Questionnaire PDF