Plants of the Day

Lecture 1 Exam

Lecture 2 Exam

Lecture 3 Exam

Holloween BotCostumes

Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein, flannel plant, toilet paper plant These are 3 of approximately 140 common names for this species. Use internet resources to come up with at least 3 other common names for this species.

Virola sp. Myristicaceae The fruit shown here has a red aril attached to the seed. Find 3 ethnobotanical uses of the arils in the family Myristicaceae.

Phytolacca americana pokeweed This plant is highly poisonous if parts are not treated properly prior to eating. What is the actual compound that makes it poisonous to humans?

The eastern North American - eastern Asian biogeographic disjunct pattern of genera in which different species are represented in one or the other region, but not in both, is very common. It has been referred to as the "Arcto-Tertiary" pattern. Of the three genera illustrated here, one does not fit the pattern. Which one is it? Aralia Echinocystis Magnolia

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 and where it was being taken by the Bounty.

What is this plant? Shown here are the fruits that have rolled down the lawn behind the greenhouses of Birge Hall towards University Avenue. A close up of one of these "grapefruit"-like fruits is shown at the bottom right.

This plant is Exacum (persian violet) of the Gentianaceae. Note the left handed (relative to flower) skew of the style in bottom flower. Other flowers may show a right handed skew. What is this condition called and what purpose might it serve?

Eupatorium rugosum white snakeroot As the common name might suggest, this plant is highly poisonous. Humans typically are poisoned by drinking milk from cattle eating the plants. What famous person is thought to have died from snakeroot?

Lodoicea maldivica coco-de-mer, double-nut, Seychelles palm This genus of 1 species is endemic to the Seychelles and has generated a lot of interest in having the largest seed known, and in that the shape of the seed has suggested the devil's work or aphrodisiacal properties. What is unusual about how this species was first discovered?

Cucurbita maxima Dioscorea battata Gulo gulo Meleagris gallopavo Vaccinium macrocarpon Taxidea taxus Thomomys talpoides Organisms of the [holi]day! What are these organisms? Which 3 organisms would you not invite to the Thanksgiving table?

Halloween Plant Costumes by Botany 400 Students

Arctium lappa

Cucurbita pepo

Dionaea muscipula

Ficus bengalensis

Hedera helix

This could be you!

Ribes hirtellum

Juglans X Malus

Rudbeckia hirta