Purple Pitcher Plant
The purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) is a carnivorous plant found throughout…
False Turkey Berry
The false turkey-berry (Plectroniella armata), native to Southeast Africa, is a spiny…
Tlachichinole
Tlachichinole (Moussonia deppeana) is a shrub with a unique life cycle, beginning…
Sugar Maple
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a common tree in northeastern North American…
Riverbank Grape
Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) is a climbing vine native to North America…
Morning Glory
Morning glory (Ipomoea nil) is an annual vine known for its large,…
Small but Mite-y: Plants and Their Mite Associates
Mites are an extremely diverse group of arachnids, related to spiders, ticks,…
Pitcher plants: so nice, they evolved thrice!
Pitcher plants are famous (or perhaps infamous) for their carnivorous structures that…
The Case for Coevolution
Focus on ScienceCabinet of Curiosities
Charles Darwin’s keen observations of the natural world famously yielded predictions about…
Botany & Birds: Taking Flight
The exhibition on now at The New York Botanical Garden, is the work of…
Pilostyles
Upon first glance, this mounted specimen may seem nothing more than an…
Royal Symbols
Plants have been employed as royal symbols through time and across cultures.…
Leaves of three, let it be!
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you surely have heard the age-old…
Creepy Cultivars
The word "cultivar" is a blend of the words "cultivated" and "variety".…
Extraordinary Oak Leaves
Cabinet of CuriositiesSpecimen Stories
Oak trees are a familiar sight to people all around the world,…
No Leaves, No Problem!
Although the vast majority of plants have leaves, not all plants do,…
Seuss-ian Specimens
While the illustrations in books by Dr. Seuss depict fanciful folliage, reality…
Witches!
Cabinet of CuriositiesWhat's in a name?
Don't be too scared by these witches - just some friendly plants…
Life in Slot Canyons
Cabinet of CuriositiesExpeditions
Slot canyons are deep channels eroded into rock. They are often ten…
Alpine Adaptation: Stay Shaggy!
Temperatures may be low but sun-exposure is extremely intense at high-elevations due…
Alpine Adaptation: Red is the New Black
Hairs are one way to deflect damaging UV radiation while locking in…
Alpine Adaptation: Dig-Down & Stand Your Ground
Extreme conditions at high-elevations tend to impede the establishment of annual plants…
Alpine Adaptation: Hold Tight & Take It Slow
These prototypical "cushion plants" are extreme alpine specialists. Short and dense branching…
Extreme Alpine Plants
Cabinet of CuriositiesExpeditions
Few places on the land's surface present weather conditions that are more…
Alpine Adaptation: Duck and Cover
Leaves and flowering stems flattened to the ground and outwardly spreading from…