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 (questions will be on the lecture exams).

What is the largest herbarium in the United States?

How many plant specimens does it contain (rounded to the millions)?

Helleborus (helleborine) from the buttercup family was the first plant used in chemical warfare. How was helleborine used to conquer the Corninthian city of Kirrha?

Antarctica is home to only two flowering plant species. On the left is the Antarctic hairgrass and on the right is what species from the order Caryophyllales (common name OK)?

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.

Atropa belladonna (Solanaceae)

and

Belladonna Took (Bilbo Baggins' mother)

In honor of the last installment of "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings"

"Belladonna" means "beautiful lady" . . . what is the connection between the poisonous atropa and the plant getting the name "beautiful lady"? Or, how or why do beautiful ladies use atropa?

We usually think of grasses as small in stature . . . sidewalk crack plants or blue grass lawns.

Some grasses, however, can be huge!

What is the tallest grass in the world - find its species name.