Michael Calonje is the new cycad biologist at Montgomery Botanical Center. In addition to broad experience in field botany and plant collecting, Michael has worked for various botanic gardens internationally, in management, collections, horticulture, and plant records.

Michael brings important and specific expertise to Montgomery Botanical’s cycad program. Michael’s M.S. thesis covered ex situ
conservation of cycads. Michael has a productive history of working with MBC, having interned in 2001 and 2002, and having conducted four international expeditions on Montgomery’s behalf from 2003-2006. Michael is well-known at MBC for submitting excellent data, documentation, and reports.

Examples of Michael’s work can be found in MBC 2004 and 2006 newsletters. In addition to his work with cycads, Michael has authored two botanical field guides. MBC looks forward to significant advances in the cycad program through Michael’s efforts.