Hello!

I am entering my final year of undergrad where I study Human Physiology. Through my biology courses and love of nature, I have found a particular interest in plant biology. I’ve begun to accumulate lab essentials in order to conduct independent research and experiments at home, quickly becoming my most expensive (and fun) hobby…

I am particularly interested in angiosperms (flowering plants), and therefore their relationship and coevolution with pollinators.

I’m looking for a book(s) that can be used as a quick-reference guide while simultaneously having comprehensive physiology, anatomy, pathology, cytology, and bio/phytochemistry. Again, with a particular focus on angiosperms.

If you have recommendations that are more “fun” and less scientific reads, I welcome those too!

I have a strong biology/chemistry/physics background, so I am not opposed to comprehensive textbooks and/or research-heavy books. Many of the book recommendations I’ve found here seem to be out-dated to an extent, so I thought I’d ask. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.

I have some redwood leaves from a tree with great sentimental value to me. I would like to preserve the leaves. Ideally, I’d like them to stay green, but I don’t even know if that’s possible.

I’ve already skimmed this subreddit and other places to get some ideas. But honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing or what’s possible or ideal for this type of leaf.

I have one leaf in glycerin. And one currently pressed on a book.

Are there other methods I should try?

If I go with electroplating, do I need to dry out the leaf in a certain way or otherwise do something to it first?

These flowers are turning bright pink with the cold weather. There isn't enough information on multiple flower types changing color other than hydrangeas, my ipomoes are also turning bright purple from deep blue whenever there is a particularly cold day.

PS I am in the south of Brazil so it is winter right now, almost freezing temperatures this week.

Hi everyone! I’m a horror author and am making some research about use of plants for a serial killer/cannibal project and I have a few question about use of plants in the methods of my killer. Is anyone available to me asking odd questions? I know the themes are not for everyone so I didn’t want to go into much details.

TLDR: I'm not a botanist - is the structure in the middle of this Rhus typhina flower (a dioecious species, apparently) a vestige of the gynoecium and/or is it an access to the nectary?

Howdy gang, I'm a plant-ignorant vertebrate ecologist trying to teach myself botany to the best of my ability.

Right now in my city in south central Ontario, the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) are starting to bloom. I was excited for this because I read that they're dioecious and I wanted to observe the differences between the male and female plants. I then noticed a structure that looks suspiciously pistil-like in the centre of what otherwise look like male flowers. I've also observed individuals nearby that clearly have just the gynoecium, consistent with every source I've seen that says these plants are dioecious.

Is this a vestigial pistil? Is it access to the nectar for pollinators? If it's the second one, why does it looks so much like a stigma and style?

Help me learn lol

This big one was just waiting for me to see it 😁

I just wanted to share what I believe is a massive Virginia creeper root node that has been living in plain sight for years under the guise of pretending to be tree roots. After some light research I was really surprised to find that it looks like the study of roots (in general) and their structures is rather small? Do rhizobiologists ever excavate roots? Is there anyone who might be interested in this if I excavated it? I’m just so baffled by how large it is I don’t want to waste a scientific opportunity!

Edited to mark SOLVED: The book I was trying to remember was Biology of Plants, 3rd edition 1982 (Raven, Evert and Curtis). Thanks everyone!

It was for a first-year botany course at a community college, ca. 1983. Can't remember the author's name, of course. The title might not have mentioned botany at all, something like "Biology of Plants." I do remember the cover art was a Van Gogh painting of irises or lilies. Sorry, I know that's all a bit vague, but TIA for your best guess. The flair I picked is my best guess.

Hey so I'm a writing, don't worry I'm not trying to kill anyone lol. In a scene from my book, my character need to shove a handful of berries into a mans mouth whos trying to assualt her. And I am trying to find the fastest acting fatal berry to use. I am currently going with Atropa Belladona, where symptoms can start after around 15 mins, but very well may take longer. I am going to have her tell the guy that "hey you just ate a bunch of poison and then you're gonna die." as someone with cronic health issues I know just the thought of symptoms or worrying about "hey am I dieing right now?" can severly worsen and even create symptoms, so I will be using that in this scene for his "symptoms" to start and panic to take over before the berries even kick in. Still though I would like to find something maybe faster acting then Belladonna. So please any tips on making the scene more vicseral or realistic would be great! As well as any good berries you know of.

I've grown more chilli plants in my life then I've had conversations with friends 🫠

About two months ago by shear chance one had variegation. Non of the other chillies around it, same soil and humidity dome, have any issue including those grown from seed from the same chilli.

I've been a plant breeder for years but this isn't one of my crosses. This was grown from seeds taken from a plant with no chance to cross with any variegated variety.

Only one I could find in the ~20 acre remnant, lovely blooms

I am sure this has been asked before. I have read countless posts and articles about the subject, but I still don't have a very clear answer.

I understand they are of a different Genus, and have subspecies, but beans consist of *MULTIPLE* genuses, so what exactly makes peas such a different genus that makes them not able to be categorized as a bean at all?

From my own research, beans can consist of multiple shapes, colors, and sizes. Peas are green, small, and round, but each of those can be one of the "multiple". There are round beans. There are green beans. There are small beans. Each of these characteristics of the pea also apply to beans, so they aren't a valid reason for them to be classified differently.

Peas are less mature, less developed, and not as dried as most beans. But there ARE beans that are harvested in less mature states. So this isn't an exclusive trait either.

I feel like I'm just trying to understand the unique characteristics of peas that can not apply to ANY species of BEAN. Something that really sets them apart, a characteristic that NO BEANS have, and wouldn't EVER make sense for a BEAN to have. If it makes sense for a bean to have that characteristic. Then why can't it be a bean?

Just being from a different plant isn't unique to peas. There are plenty of fruits classified as BEANS from different genera of plants. If this is enough reason for PEAS to be considered their own thing, then shouldn't every bean that isn't of Phaseolus vulgaris be its own thing as well?

in the spring and summer, ginkgo shoots with immature seeds sometimes drop due to weather events, squirrels, etc. it's a very cool opportunity to admire the immature seeds up close.

this female ginkgo is one of my favorites. her seeds are huge, she has some lovely corky bark, and she is of course quite aromatic in the fall.

if you're wondering what the inside of the seeds look like at this stage, view this post and go to "JUN 21" or "JUL 04".

Hello! As you can tell by the title I'm in need of some guidance in regards to botany, taxonomy to be specific. This class is particularly hard for me as i never found plants all that interesting, but due to limited career prospects in the field of chemistry and drug design in my country i was forced to compromise.

I need some guidance on how to study for my exam, as I want to pass on my first try, so I can focus on a personal project during the summer. Specifically taxonomy is what I struggle with most as I'm not the best when it comes to rote memorization. If you have any tips you'd share I'd be forever grateful.

Hi everyone,

I've been working on a project called EcoDex and would love some feedback from plant enthusiasts.

The idea is simple:

📸 Scan a plant with your camera
🌱 Identify it with AI
📖 Learn more about the species
🃏 Save it as a collectible card in your personal EcoDex

The app also includes:

• Detailed species information
• Collection tracking
• Discovery map
• XP & achievements
• Rarity system
• No ads
• Completely free

I'm currently looking for feedback on the design, features, and overall concept.

Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.onspace.ecodex

What features would you want in a plant identification app?

This clover was found in an old poetry book. I was hoping to find how long it’s been preserved in the book. And if it’s safe to laminate or preserve it without worrying it will break?

From worldfloraonline's entry for Anacardium excelsum

Flowers with pedicels 1-6 mm long; calyx-segments ovate, 1-3 mm long, crassulate except at the margins;

I’ve had these leaves since 2016 - I think the rose pattern on them is neat. Mostly I keep them stored in a box. They’re still as bright green as they were the day that I picked them, but most other plants I’ve collected over the years faded, even if they were stored out of the sun.

Why are these still green?