Exotic brain plant to fund autism research

16 November 2016

For immediate release

Exotic brain plant to fund autism research

Minds for Minds is a research partnership between doctors, researchers and the community to better understand autism in New Zealand. They have joined forces with Zealandia Horticulture Ltd, to raise funds for autism research with the launch of the crested Celosia (bot. C.argentea cristata).

Zealandia director Graham Windross, scoured the west coast of the United States to find a suitable plant he felt represented the intricacies of autism 

“I found this hybridized variety of celosia, its form looked remarkably like a brain. It looked complex, was different, unusual and a little exotic, rather like autism,” he said.

“We’re excited to partner with Zealandia Horticulture and we’re grateful for their support and commitment to our research,” says Professor Russell Snell, one of the Minds for Minds researchers at the University of  Auckland.

From February the plants will be available throughout the country and customers, when buying, will donate a percentage of the purchase price to autism research

The first blooms from the new variety of seeds will be ready for the launch of the partnership at an event on Tuesday 22 November at the Sapphire Room in Ponsonby Central. 

ENDS

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