Why did the Society change its name?
The Botanical Society of Edinburgh was the first society in Scotland to be devoted entirely to botany, and today remains Scotland's national botanical society, catering for both academics and amateurs. The Society retains many of its traditional interests but its range of activities has greatly expanded.  By virtue of this expansion it was felt appropriate in 1992 to change the name of the Society to the  Botanical Society of Scotland

The Society's activities
BSS is unique in being the only British botanical society with a keen
interest in both flowering and non-flowering plants (e.g. algae, mosses, ferns and fungi).  There is also an active alpine section, while conservation of our flora has high priority in our interests.

Lecture programme
These wide interests are covered in the winter Lecture Programme. Lectures are held at six venues: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and St. Andrews.  

Symposia and conferences 
Symposia lasting several days and devoted to a 
specific topic are organised from time to time. 

Symposium Topics have included:
1989 - Scotland's Threatened Plants.
1991 - Willow Symposium.
1993 - Plants and People Symposium.
1995 - Environmental History of the Cairngorms.
1996 - Scottish Vegetation: Plant Ecology in Scotland.
2002 - Plant Conservation in Scotland
2005 - Atlantic Oakwoods
2007 - History, Evolution & Future of Arctic & Alpine Flora

Field Programme
Field meetings and excursions are held during summer and autumn to record both flowering and non-flowering plants all over Scotland.