/r/botany

Photograph via snooOG

Botany is the scientific study of plants, including their biology, physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, pathology, and classification.

This sub is a place for questions and discussions of botany at any level. Beginners and experts alike should feel free to post anything that helps people learn more about plants and plant sciences!

This sub is a place for questions and discussions of botany at any level. Beginners and experts alike should feel free to post anything that helps people learn more about plants and plant sciences!

What is botany? Botany is the scientific study of plants, including their biology, physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, pathology, and classification.

If you have any questions or want to discuss the science of botany, please feel free to post a question or discussion topic.


If you need a plant ID'd, please head to /r/whatsthisplant

If you need help taking care of a plant please go to /r/plantclinic

Other Science Subreddits*





If your subreddit is not listed, or you would like to suggest a subreddit, please message the mods


Assessing botanical capacity report

Online botanical resources

/r/botany

135,976 Subscribers

11

Question: what is a good term for a plant’s “native status?“

EDIT: I don’t think I phrased my original question properly.

I’m looking for suggestions on what to title the category, as in something like “native status” or “historical range” or something like that, with whether or not it’s native after it.

I am working on a regional field guide for the area I live in northern California. Because I want to include whether or not a plant is native to the area in the box at the top of each page with basic facts about the plant, I’m looking for a term to use for whether that plant is native or not. Here’s how the profile is going to be set up:

Binomial name: Common name(s): Conservation status: (endangered, etc) Native Status: (native, naturalized, invasive) Uses: (edible, medicinal, other, pollen source, etc)

Then farther down the page, below the box with the basic profile info, more details: Description: (a brief description of the plant and its uses, growing locations, etc) Notes and warnings: (other relevant notes, references to other pages, toxicity, etc)

15 Comments
2023/03/26
16:56 UTC

9

question: can plants be inbred?

i was watching a video where a plant was introduced to an area with only a few seeds, and i wondered if plants could experience effects of inbreeding like animals do. i know asexual reproduction and creating clone offspring is simpler for them, but can plant populations ever develop weaker genetics? follow up question- do planes even have genetic defects like animals?

21 Comments
2023/03/25
16:34 UTC

67

Question: Best way to learn scientific names of plants?

Hi everyone!

I'm a biology student and I need to learn the scientific names of about 500 plants within a couple of months so that I can identify them from a picture alone. Does anyone have any tips and tricks on how you remember scientific names in the first place, let alone on a very large number of plants? I know everyone learns in different ways but someone might still have a better way than me to learn. Right now I'm looking at the pictures of the plants and their scientific names and writing short notes on the main characteristics next to their names but I feel it's not enough.

Thanks for any and all advice!

EDIT: Wow, thank you all so much for all the advice and tips on different methods of learning the names! I did not expect to get this many replies and I've definitely gotten some great options to help me out, so many resources were unfamiliar to me so THANK YOU!! Learning the names doesn't feel as hopeless anymore :)

64 Comments
2023/03/25
13:50 UTC

0

Question: Plant derived substances that cause feelings of fearlessness/pride/confidence?

This is for an art piece, not substance use

12 Comments
2023/03/24
19:54 UTC

0

Question: What are the freezing points of tetrahydrocannabinol, and Cannabidiol?

Background: I'm an endocannabinoid researcher, looking for new ways to distill plant based concentrates; for my patients. In order to make my products, I go through a solvent distillation process using ethanol. Most endocannabinoid researchers will let there plant matter steep in the high-grade ethanol, then run the saturated solvent mixture through a double boiler, and finally run your final product through a vacuum chamber, to suck off any reaming impurities.

HOWEVER!

I don't have an industrial vacuum chamber.....

Though, when you distill liquor; you can do what's called a "Freeze-Distillation.".

Simply find the freezing point of water (32 F), then the freezing point of the alcohol (Negative 173 F), and put your home-brew in the fridge at 30 F. All the water will freeze, whilst the liquor will remain a liquid.

So if I wanted to, hypothetically; I could just take my final product, after it's done on the double boiler, put it in the freezer, instead of a vacuum chamber, and freeze off the remaining impurities, right?

Well in order to do so, I need to know the freezing points of tetrahydrocannabinol, as well as Cannabidiol. Yet I can't find ANYTHING on google, in regards to a definitive answer; to that question......

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Question: What are the freezing points of tetrahydrocannabinol, and Cannabidiol?

8 Comments
2023/03/24
19:21 UTC

32

Discussion: Identifying Kentucky Coffee Trees - The Ultimate Guide

Do you want to learn how to identify one of the most unique and fascinating trees of North America? Check out my latest YouTube video, "Identifying Kentucky Coffee Trees - The Ultimate Guide." This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about identifying this beautiful tree, from its distinctive bark and leaves to its fascinating seed pods. Here is the link to learn more: https://youtu.be/NBTtQY2eKFo

8 Comments
2023/03/24
14:31 UTC

12

Question: What happened to the Orchid Telipogon Diabolicus because SINCE 2016 there hasn't been any news about it except when it was discovered and published on the phytokey document even though it is critically endangered?

I think this is the first time I am actually angry at something, firstly the document said they have only found 30 living specimens and put it on the IUCN red list......ITS NOT ON THERE, second they said that where they found the orchids, the government wanted to build a road there but if my English isn't failing me under the "Conservative status" in the phyto document it's insinuating that the road will be build and there is no clear answers to IF THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS WERE STOPPED AND THIRD , THEY HAVE no known plan to conserve and save this plant they only said that it's critically endangered BUT NOTHING more. Also the only "new information" that I have is a photo from the American orchid society 2021 September. They had almost seven years to do anything but nothing happened.

3 Comments
2023/03/24
00:20 UTC

6

Question: What species arefound in the Oasis Huacachina, peru?

I'm trying to build a fairly realistic 3d model of an Oasis and I'm modeling it after Huacachina.

Besides Date Palms what other plant species are common? I can't seem to find any information about the area's ecology.

For example some of the plants found in this image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeyd12/28046808547

(especially the trees)

2 Comments
2023/03/23
16:53 UTC

71

Question: What's causing these growths on this branch?

12 Comments
2023/03/23
15:52 UTC

11

Question: (stupid) should tree types be uniform in an environment?

I'm making a video game. It features a marshy forest/forested wetland type of environment.

I have lots of different tree models but they look jarring when put into an environment. I'm not exactly sure what it is but I've looked at some pictures and I'm mostly seeing the same tree type in every shot.

Is this it? Should I reduce tree variety? Maybe only have one type (different models) or maybe two, one that's near bodies of water and another more inland?

Does this make sense?

29 Comments
2023/03/23
12:47 UTC

8

question: are larkspur rashes contagious like poison ivy?

Larkspur can give you a rash if you touch it, but I'm wondering if it acts like poison ivy. If say, another person touches your Larkspur rash, will they get it too? Or only if they touch the actual source, the plant itself?

4 Comments
2023/03/22
22:39 UTC

55

Question:I have a mayana plant or also called a painted coleus. I'm wondering if the color of plant affects its herbal property.

24 Comments
2023/03/22
10:20 UTC

1

Question: How many years ago did gorse (Ulex europaeus) first evolve?

I would like to know how many years ago the gorse plant evolved

1 Comment
2023/03/22
00:58 UTC

24

question: are there species of plants where the same individual can produce different looking flowers?

just a thought that occured to me. nature can do some crazy stuff, so i was wondering if there is any known species where the same individual plant can have different branches produce flowers that look different from each other either in color or shape

24 Comments
2023/03/21
16:43 UTC

5

Question: Is there a good book to read on Batesian mimicry in plants?

Thanks!!

1 Comment
2023/03/21
12:32 UTC

0

Question: Plant Spray or Herbicide?

Is it safe to spray plants with peroxide and lemon juice? Is it safe to spray plants with alcohol and lemon juice? Is it safe to spray plants with alcohol, peroxide, and lemon juice? *All diluted

7 Comments
2023/03/21
02:36 UTC

1

Question: How will some extra hours of not-so intense artificial light affect my plants?

So, I have many plants in my study room, from succulents, calatheas, ficuses and monsteras...

Now, I often times stay up late, studying (like now, for example, it's 3 in the morning where I live). I have the main light switched off, but have an LED reading lamp, a laptop and a large monitor. None of these are directed at any of my plants, so no direct exposure.

Will such disturbance harm the plants, or affect them in any other way? They are currently all healthy and thriving.

1 Comment
2023/03/21
02:24 UTC

0

Discussion: Why Are Rhizomes So Potent?

From cooking to medicine, my favorite type of plants fall into the rhizome category. How they form the network of roots always intrigued me, and the chemicals they contain are quite a bit more pungent effects, that are desirable. Studying terpenes has led me to the rhizomes.

What are some differences from traditional plants i should know about? I'm new to this study and would like alot of information. There actually isn't much related to the Galanga species. In fact, WebMD doesn't even consider alot of the ones I know of to exist. Any medicinal uses I should know about?

My fellow rhizome biologists, let's unite!

8 Comments
2023/03/21
00:48 UTC

389

Question: What causes this strange pattern in this scarred tree root?

27 Comments
2023/03/20
12:41 UTC

9

Question: Are thorns poisonous or venomous?

I was wondering whether thorns that release a toxin on a plant are poisonous or venomous. My instincts tell me poisonous, but I've also heard that: ''If you bite it and you die it's poison, but if it bites you and you die, that's venom."

Since it's not either, but kinda closer to biting you, since it's breaking the skin barrier and releasing whatever toxin and not going through the digestive tract, I was wondering about it's classification.

A Google search told me that such thorns are commonly called "poisonous thorns" but I was wondering if that's actually true, or a misnomer.

Thanks for any replies.

21 Comments
2023/03/20
02:55 UTC

7

Question: Book to learn a plant everyday ?

So i really like plants and i will go in biology in september in hope to study botany later. Anyway i thought it could be fun to learn a new plant everyday so if you have any good book recommendations to do it, tell me plz !

Btw I know French and English ( well Im still learning english but i can read in English easily )

Thank you (:

9 Comments
2023/03/20
00:57 UTC

2

Question: do plants ever recover from viruses?

It seems like when someone has a plant with a virus, the general consensus is to toss it immediately because it will slowly die and infect all the other plants around the entire time it’s dying.

Speaking very generally, it feels like when people get viruses there’s most likely no cure, or if there are antivirals they’re very expensive like for Hep C; but it seems like we mostly just get sick for a bit and then recover. Can plants ever recover from getting a virus? Is there such a thing as a “plant flu”? If not, why not?

10 Comments
2023/03/19
21:47 UTC

9

Question:Is my orchid infected with botrytis

I think it might be infected

6 Comments
2023/03/19
11:17 UTC

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