#plantlove
Specimens contained in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium represent the endless…
A Vanilla Voyage: Exploring the Spice's Legacy in…
Vanilla planifolia, commonly known as vanilla, is one of the most instantly…
Aloe: The Plant of Many Wonders
Aloe vera is one of the over 300 species of Aloe belonging…
Ancestral Achiote
In many Caribbean and Latin American households, most of us have known…
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of living organisms to remove contamination from the…
Black Botany: The Nature of Black Experience
Black Botany: The Nature of Black Experience seeks to acknowledge the complex…
Black Pepper: King of Spices
It’s hard to imagine entering a diner, sitting down on the shiny…
Catnip: A Felicitous Herb
Focus on ScienceWhat's in a name?
Calling all cat lovers! As I was digitizing plants for the Southern…
Celebrating Pride with Flowers
As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots during…
Christmas Tree Species
Though most Christmas trees are in the pine family, Pinaceae, they are…
Cultivation and Ecology of Dates
The date palm requires ample sunlight, high temperatures (though it can survive…
Curious Indigo
Indigo: a profound shade of blue sourced from nature’s color palette; A…
Date Syrup Jallab
There are many recipes featuring dates and their byproducts across many cultures,…
Don't touch
Plants have evolved many ways to protect themselves, from growing barbs that…
Eggplant
The eggplant, also known as aubergine (Solanum melongena), has no official date…
Eight Days of Oil
Oil has a special significance for those who celebrate Hanukkah. This Jewish…
Ethnobotanical Uses of Dates
Although eating the fruit may be the most well-known use of the…
Exploring the Art of Paper Making
From its use of local and natural materials, the methods and artistry…
Exploring the Conservation Status of Jamaican Root Tonic…
Jamaican root tonics are fermented beverages composed of roots, bark, and other…
Fig family, Moraceae
Ficus carica L., the edible common fig has been cultivated for millenia.…
Fruits of Rosaceae
Flowering plants differ from all other plants by producing seeds within fruits;…
Ginger and Chiya
Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale is native to tropical climates like…
Heard it through the grapevine
Vitis is the genus of one of the world’s favorite horticultural crop:…
Lavender
Lavender has been used in traditional medicine for centuries for its soothing…
Love Potions & Charms
Love potions and charms are mentioned countless times throughout literature; from ancient…
Madagascar periwinkle
Commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle, this member of the dogbane family has…
Maize & Teosinte
Maize (Zea mays), or corn, is a domesticated cereal crop native to…
Mulled Cider
Put these fruits, seeds, bark, and flower buds together to get mulled…
Okra’s journey to the United States
Many culinary delights that Americans enjoy today, especially in the Southern United…
Old Man's Beard: A Medicinal Lichen
Usnea is a genus of lichen, commonly known as Old Man’s Beard. …
Plant Inspired Innovations: Nepenthes and Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous…
Most plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots. Carnivorous plants…