Skip to content

Murray Dawson

Researcher
Biocontrol & Molecular Ecology
Murray Dawson
Location
Lincoln
Contact Murray

Research interests

  • Interactive plant identification keys
  • Horticultural and systematic botany – cultivated plants and weeds
  • Citizen science and outreach
  • Cytotaxonomy – plant chromosome studies
  • Molecular systematics

Current projects

  • Creating a smartphone app for identifying wilding conifers
  • Breeding sterile ("eco-friendly") agapanthus
  • Teaching weed identification and biocontrol in schools

Professional distinctions (also see Memberships tab)

  • 2018 John Taylor Award for Leadership in Horticulture (CHS)
  • 2015 Peter Ingram Award for achievement in pest plant advocacy, education or management (NZ Biosecurity Institute)
  • New Zealand Registrar for the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA)
  • Associate of Honour (AHRIH), Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH)

Recent websites

Recent publications

I have authored and co-authored some 40 refereed papers and more than 80 popular articles, reviews and reports. See the Publications Tab for a more extensive list.

  • Williams S, King J, Revell M, Manley-Harris M, Balks M, Janusch F, Kiefer M, Clearwater M, Brooks P, Dawson M 2014. Regional, annual, and individual variations in the dihydroxyacetone content of the nectar of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) in New Zealand. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 62(42): 10332–10340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf5045958
  • Dawson M 2014. On distant shores: New Zealand's natives as weeds abroad. New Zealand Garden Journal 17(1): 10–24. www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/NZ_Garden_Journal_index.htm
  • Houliston GJ, Dawson MI, de Lange PJ, Heenan PB 2012. Using AFLP markers to inform population management of the endemic Chatham Island toetoe, Austroderia turbaria (Poaceae). Pacific Conservation Biology 18: 33–40.
  • Paynter Q, Overton JM, Hill RL, Bellgard SE, Dawson MI 2012. Plant traits predict the success of weed biocontrol. Journal of Applied Ecology 49(5): 1140–1148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02178.x
  • Dawson MI 2012. Australian Leptospermum in cultivation: species and cultivars: the first of a two-part series. New Zealand Garden Journal 15(2): 14–22.
  • Dawson MI, Ford K 2012. Agapanthus in New Zealand. New Zealand Garden Journal 15(1): 2–18.
  • Peruzzi L, Dawson MI, Bedini G 2011. Chromosome number variation in two antipodean floras. AoB plants: 1–10.
  • Dawson MI 2010. A history of Leptospermum scoparium in cultivation: garden selections. The second of a two-part series. New Zealand Garden Journal 13(1): 2–9.
  • Dawson MI, Hobbs J, Platt G, Rumbal J 2010. Metrosideros in cultivation: pōhutukawa. The first of a two-part series. New Zealand Garden Journal 13(1): 10–22.
  • Wagstaff SJ, Dawson MI, Venter S, Munzinger J, Crayn DM, Steane DA, Lemson KL 2010. Origin, diversification, and classification of the Australasian genus Dracophyllum (Richeeae, Ericaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 97: 235–258.


Qualifications

Reading
MSc Plant & Fungal Taxonomy
1995

Cpit
NZCS Biology
1983

Publications

Dawson M 2017. Obituary - Lawrence James Metcalf QSO, AHRIH. Hebe News. Pp. 19–24.

Meurk C, Sullivan J, Orchard S, Meurk CS, Dawson M, Matthews B, Pawson S 2016. [Abstract] Can citizen science learn something from Pokemon-Go? Proceedings: Joint Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) and the New Zealand Ecological Society (NZES), Hamilton, New Zealand, 19-23 November 2016. http://www.era2016.com/images/Colin_D_Meurk.pdf

Dawson M, Gourlay H 2016. Students join the 'War against Weeds'. New Zealand Garden Journal. Pp. 10–27.

Dawson M 2016. Chilean mayten (Maytenus boaria) - a ticking time-bomb? New Zealand Garden Journal. Pp. 28–32.

Dawson M 2016. NZ Orchid Key: a new smartphone app. New Zealand Native Orchid Journal. Pp. 3–5.

Dawson M 2015. Creation of the New Zealand Plant Collections Register. New Zealand Garden Journal. Pp. 9–14.

Dawson M, Rolfe J, Pratt M, St George I 2015. NZ Orchid Key: a new smartphone app for identifying native orchids. New Zealand Garden Journal. Pp. 9–19.

Dawson M 2014. New Zealand Plant Collection Register: June 2014 update. Newsletter / Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2014(2): 11–12.

Dawson M 2014. New Zealand Plant Collection Register: March 2014 update. Newsletter / Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2014(1): 14–15.

Dawson M 2014. On distant shores: New Zealand's natives as weeds abroad. New Zealand Garden Journal 17(1): 10–24.

Dawson M 2014. Two interactive keys updated. Trilepidea: Newsletter of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network 128: 7.

Williams S, King J, Revell M, Manley-Harris M, Balks M, Janusch F, Kiefer M, Clearwater M, Brooks P, Dawson M 2014. Regional, annual, and individual variations in the dihydroxyacetone content of the nectar of ma̅nuka (Leptospermum scoparium) in New Zealand. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 62(42): 10332–10340. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf5045958

Paynter Q, Overton J, Fowler S, Hill R, Bellgard S, Dawson M 2013. [Abstract] Predicting the feasibility and cost of weed biological control. Proceedings: XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds Waikoloa, Hawai'i, USA, 11-16 September 2011. Pp. 197. http://isbcw2011.uhhconferencecenter.com

Dawson M 2013. New version of native orchid key. Trilepidea: newsletter of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network 113: 9.

Dawson M 2013. Native orchid key now online. New Zealand native orchid journal 127: 33–34.

Dawson M 2013. Australian Leptospermum in cultivation: interspecific hybrids: the second of a two-part series. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(1): 2–15.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Auckland's remarkable urban forest. Tree Matters 15(2): 9.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Above the treeline: a nature guide to alpine New Zealand. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(1): 33–34.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Auckland's remarkable urban forest. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(1): 34–35.

Sallabanks L, Dawson M 2013. Profile of a horticulturist: an interview with Beverley McConnell, creator of Ayrlies Garden. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(2): 8–14.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Plant life on Banks Peninsula. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(2): 34–36.

Dawson M 2013. New Zealand Plant Collection Register: December 2013 update. Newsletter / Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2013(3): 11.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Plant life on Banks Peninsula. Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter. Pp. 64–66. http://www.asbs.org.au/asbs/newsletter/pdf/13-dec-157.pdf

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Plant life on Banks Peninsula. Newsletter / New Zealand Botanical Society 114: 22–24.

Dawson M 2013. NatureWatch NZ: a free online tool for field observations of orchids. New Zealand Native Orchid Journal 127: 37–38.

Dawson M 2013. [Book review] Latin for gardeners: over 3,000 plant names explained and explored. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(1): 36.

Dawson M, Hughes D, Stuart R, Stuart M, Stuart J 2013. [Obituary] William Ross Stewart, 7 October 1928 - 29 July 2013. New Zealand Garden Journal 16(2): 30–32.

Dawson M 2012. New Zealand native orchid key. Trilepidea: newsletter of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network 100: 8.

Dawson M 2012. New Zealand Plant Collection Register: March 2012 update. Newsletter / Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2012(1): 12.

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] Plants of Pukeiti Forest New Zealand Botanical Society newsletter 107: 23-24.

Dawson M, Ford K 2012. Agapanthus in New Zealand. New Zealand garden journal 15(1): 2-18.

Houliston GJ, Dawson MI, de Lange PJ, Heenan PB 2012. Using AFLP markers to inform population management of the endemic Chatham Island toetoe, 'Austroderia turbaria' (poaceae). Pacific conservation biology 18(1): 33-40.

Paynter Q, Overton JM, Hill RL, Bellgard SE, Dawson MI 2012. Plant traits predict the success of weed biocontrol. Journal of Applied Ecology 49(5): 1140–1148. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02178.x

Dawson M 2012. Ecofriendly Agapanthus – myth or reality? What's new in biological control of weeds? 61: 11.

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] “I was paid ... Three pence an hour ... when I started work aged 13.”. New Zealand garden journal 15(2): 33.

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] The cultivation of New Zealand trees and shrubs. New Zealand garden journal 15(2): 33-34.

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] Field guide to New Zealand’s native trees. New Zealand Garden Journal 15(2): 35–36.

Dawson M 2012. Australian Leptospermum in cultivation: species and cultivars: the first of a two-part series. New Zealand garden journal 15(2): 14-22.

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] An illustrated guide to common grasses, sedges and rushes of New Zealand. New Zealand garden journal 15(2): 34-35.

Sallabanks L, Dawson M 2012. Profile of a horticulturist: an interview with ornamental plant breeder Dr Keith Hammett. New Zealand garden journal 15(2).

Dawson M 2012. Native orchid key now online. New Zealand Ecological Society newsletter 142: 11.

Dawson M, Glenny D, Ford K, Heenan PD, Breitwieser I, James T 2012. [Abstract] Interactive keys to the New Zealand flora: trans-Tasman connections. Proceedings: Australasian Systematic Botany Society Conference 2012, Perth, W.A., 23-28 September, 2012. Pp. 27. http://www.asbs2012perth.com/index.php/download_file/view/157/

Dawson M, Rolfe J, Group NNO 2012. Orchid Key - interactive key to native orchids of New Zealand. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/plants/native-orchid-key

2012. Newsletter / Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2012(3). 8 p. http://www.rnzih.org.nz/Newsletter/Newsletter_December_2012.pdf

Dawson M 2012. An approachable Latin primer for gardeners. Book review of Latin for gardeners: over 3,000 plant names explained and explored. By Lorraine Harrison. Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter Pp. 59–60. http://www.asbs.org.au/newsletter/pdf/12-dec-153.pdf

Dawson M 2012. [Book review] An illustrated guide to common grasses, sedges and rushes of New Zealand. Newsletter / New Zealand Botanical Society 110: 23-24.

Dawson M, Wilson-Davey J 2011. New weed identification key online. Newsletter / New Zealand Botanical Society 104: 12-15.

Dawson MI, Wilson-Davey JRA 2011. New weed identification key online. New Zealand garden journal 14(1): 2-4.

Dawson M, Wilson-Davey J 2011. New weed identification key online. Trilepidea 91.

Dawson MI 2011. [Book review] Illustrated guide to New Zealand sun orchids, Thelymitra (Orchidaceae). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter (104): 21-23.

Show more

Memberships

  • National Executive, Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH)
  • Webmaster, Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
  • Editor, NZ Garden Journal
  • Webmaster, New Zealand Botanical Society
  • New Zealand Registrar for the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA), Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and the International Cultivar Registration Authority
  • Editor, Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Newsletter, Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
  • Member, ASBS, Australasian Systematic Botany Society
  • Member, New Zealand Native Orchid Group
  • Co-opted onto the NZBRN (NatureWatch NZ) Trust, New Zealand Bio-diversity Recording Network
  • Appointed as the key contact for Biological Heritage Challenge Project 2.1 ‘Biosecurity Network Interventions’.
  • Member, New Zealand Biosecurity Institute, New Zealand Biosecurity Institute
  • Vice President, Hebe Society (UK), Hebe Society (UK)
  • MNZM For services to horticulture, Queen's Birthday Honours 2020
  • Member, Identic Advisory Group, Identic - Lucid id and diagnostic developers, Australia
  • Webmaster, Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens