Dr. Jodie Holt applies real-life science to the fictional plantsof Avatar.

In the futuristic science-fiction blockbuster Avatar we are transported to the garden moon Pandora. The lavish and exotic flora of Pandora is a creative mix of real-life and computer generated plants. There are carnivorous plants and bioluminescent plants. There are those that spin and those that float. But if you want to imbue such fantasy flora with an air of realism and make the plants come alive, who do you turn to? To establish the authenticity of Pandora’s plants as well as how a botanist would approach the plantlife, the filmmakers enlisted the help of Dr. Jodie Holt, Professor of Plant Physiology and Chair, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

The San Diego Botanic Garden is pleased to honor Dr. Holt with the Paul Ecke Jr. Award of Excellence at our September 11 Gala in the Garden for her life’s work as a distinguished scientist and educator.

Since a major theme of the movie is the inter-connection between plants as well as between plants and the Na’vi people, Holt was asked how to best portray these relationships and how they could be studied by botanist Grace Augustine, played by Sigourney Weaver. Holt stressed that communication among plants could realistically be explained by “signal transduction,” the means by which plants perceive signals and respond to them.

Holt’s first assignment was to work with set designers to ensure that the botanist’s field and lab equipment looked credible. Her next job was to meet with and tutor Weaver on how a field botanist would study and sample plants to learn about their physiology and biochemistry.

While the designers at Weta Digital, a New Zealand visual effects company, created the jungle flora of Pandora, Holt was given the challenge and pleasure of naming them. Holt developed Latin names and descriptions of Pandora’s plants and even named its animals for a Pandorapedia book and video game. She created botanically realistic descriptions of their characteristics, including their ecology and ethobotany.For the taxonomy of Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide, Holt utilized standard rules of nomenclature. Plants that resemble those found on Earth were given similar names, such as Pseudocycas altissima for a plant that resembles Earth cycads. Others were named for their appearance, such as Obesus rotundus for the puffball tree. The luminescent Tree of Souls is much like a weeping willow. Bansheba of Paradise brings to mind salt-water tube worms but has a wild look reminiscent of a screaming banshee. Binary Sunshine glows, while Helicoradiun recoils when touched, similar to Earth plants that move, such as the Venus flytrap.

When not working in Hollywood, Holt’s primary research interest is the integration of biological knowledge with the principles and practices of vegetation management. She studies weeds and invasive species that are of serious concern in agricultural and wildland ecosystems of the southwestern US. Currently she is investigating the physiological and population ecology of the riparian invader, Arundo donax, giant reed, and the mechanisms by which it invades and dominates riparian ecosystems.

Holt is extremely pleased with the increased awareness of botany provided by Avatar. She tells of children and teens who have emailed her, once afraid to admit they like plants, now proudly boasting of their desire to become botanists.

Much like Avatar, San Diego Botanic Garden will be transformed into a wonderland of colors, lights and flora on Gala night. Adding to the experience will be the area’s finest eateries serving an assortment of their most celebrated dishes. Guests will stroll through the Garden exploring the different landscapes, dancing the night away to a live band, all while celebrating nature and conservation. The Garden has a history of leadership as one of the region’s most environmentally conscious organizations, and this year’s Gala will be even greener. Waste will be composted or recycled, carpooling will be rewarded, and energy consumption will be reduced.

Tickets are $175 per person. For information please call Sherri Johnson, Development Special Events Coordinator at (760) 436-3036 x218.