Plants of the Day

 Lecture 1 Exam

 Lecture 2 Exam

 Lecture 3 Exam

 Halloween Bot-Costumes

Images of "plants of the day" mentioned in lecture will be added here as they are covered in lecture. Extra credit will be provided for solving the question given for each plant.

 

Lecture 1 plants

 

Amorphophallus titanum

titan arum

Who is this famous Dutch biologist from the early 20th century standing next to an inflorescence of the titan arum? . . . and for what is he famous?

 

Adansonia

baobabs

Who is now the world expert on the evolution and pollination biology of this genus of plants - mainly found in Madagascar - named after Michel Adanson?

Laurus nobilis

laurel

Why is the Mediterranean basal angiosperm laurel forever linked with the Olympics? Hint: the image on the right is from Greek mythology and the shrub/tree laurel is evident to the left of that image.

 

Lecture 2 plants

Artocarpus - breadfruit of the Moraceae - will be forever linked with the Mutiny on the Bounty and Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian. Breadfruit is seen on the deck of the Bounty in this scene where Captain Bligh is set adrift in a rowboat. Find out where the breadfruit came from, where it was being taken by the Bounty, and why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hura crepitans

(Euphorbiaceae)

This tropical tree is one of the most deadly sources for arrow poisons. The species possesses other features that make it a nasty plant for humans and other mammals. Find one of these.

 

Tilia europea - European basswood, lime tree, linden, or lin

The names "lin" and "Carl Linne" or "Carolus Linnaeus" appear to be derived from the same root word. What is the story connecting these two names?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Plant Costumes by Botany 400 Students

 

 

 

Halloween Plant Costumes by other Crazy Botanists

Dan Nickrent

 Sarracenia

this could be you