The Saguaro Cactus: Emblematic Plant of the American…
Specimen StoriesWhat's in a name?
With its tall, columnar shape and upward-bending branches, the cactus we know…
Studying the DNA of Herbarium Specimens
Molecular biologists study the DNA of plants. They use this data to identify…
Fabian Michelangeli's field trip to Cuba, November 2013
A recent expedition to eastern Cuba took three Cuban colleagues and me…
Herbarium Specimens Show Changes in Carbon Dioxide Levels
It has been documented that since the industrial revolution there has been an…
Mums the Word
With their vibrant purples, deep reds and bright yellows, Mums (or Chrysanthemums) are always…
Milestones
Since its inception NYBG has focused on building an extensive and valuable herbarium…
View of Sítio Burle Marx
This Calathea species was collected by botanist Helen Kennedy in Roberto Burle…
Pitcher Plants
Pitcher Plants sometimes attract insects to their specialized leaves with nectar or…
The Calabash in Capoeira Music
The Berimbau is the musical instrument played in capoeira. It consists of a…
Christmas Tree Species
Though most Christmas trees are in the pine family, Pinaceae, they are…
John Torrey
John Torrey (1796-1873) is considered one of the most influential American botanists…
Surviving the Fires of Australia
Amid the tragedy of the Australian fires, the Wollemi Pine is a…
Ancient plant DNA
Using a NYBG herbarium specimen, PhD grad student Lizzie Joyce turned back…
Herbarium Specimens Show Changes in the Landscape
Changing climate means changing landscapes. Herbarium specimens document what plants are growing in…
Phenology and Herbarium Specimens
As habitats get warmer, a plant's life cycle can change. For example, when spring…
Dog Days of Summer: Good Dog!
Cabinet of CuriositiesWhat's in a name?
Dogs have a special place in our lives, as trusting companions and…
The Lackluster Major William Rich
Major William Rich was selected to be the botanist on the U. S.…
An Unrequited Botanical Love Story
The love of botany is responsible for both fostering and hindering this…
Botanical Lessons
Botany students must learn the structures of flowers in all their intricate variety.…
Venus flytrap
Even though Venus Fly Traps are widely available as cultivated plants, they…
Carnivorous plants
Cabinet of CuriositiesFocus on Science
Watch out, these plants are hungry! Most carnivorous plants grow in bogs…
The Cactaceae
The Cactaceae was a publication written by the founder of NYBG, Nathaniel Lord Britton…
Jane Colden - America's First Female Botanist
Highly respected among her male peers in the 18th century, Jane Colden…
Corpse Flower
Another famous plant in the Araceae family is the Titan Arum or…
The Lilac Collection
The lilacs are blooming here at the Garden, gracing us with their…
Art Cronquist's Tree: Japanese Wingnut
Recently walking on the NYBG grounds on a lovely spring day just…
July in the Native Plant Garden
The Native Plant Garden is looking lovely right now! Some plants that…
Snap shot of the Rock Garden, circa 1942
NYBG's Rock Garden in the spring is full of treasures that have been documented…
A World of Tulips
Tulip bulbs that have been tucked safely underground all winter are springing…
Fetid Flowers
With names like Stinking Benjamin, Corpse Flower, and Skunk Cabbage; these flowers…
Spider Plant
The spider plant is in the genus Chlorophytum which contains almost 200 species, mostly originating…
Conifers and Mistletoes
Evergreen trees and mistletoe both come to mind when we decorate with holiday…
Skunk Cabbage
Specimen StoriesFocus on Science
A locally occuring arum in the northeast U.S., skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus…
Begonias
The genus Begonia contains over 1800 species. They are native to tropical…
Flora Borinqueña
In February 1906, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Britton, founders of The New York…
David Hosack's Elgin Botanic Garden
Elgin Botanic Garden was the first public botanical garden in the United…
John Torrey on Gray's Peak
In 1861 Charles Parry was the first explorer to ascend Gray's Peak…
Where the Gold was First Discovered
Cabinet of CuriositiesExpeditions
Herbarium specimens have been collected at poignant points in history. Major William Rich was…
Climate Research and Herbarium Specimens
Climate research requires lots of data. Data about the conditions on earth now,…