11/13/2023 0 Comments Fiddlehead focus![]() Typically it involves trying to identify a plant species, observing its form and structure or assessing how it survives in the landscape. Let's Botanize, Inc., CC BY-ND Tools of the trade Spores are produced in small structures called sporangia, which line the edges of the leaflets in this interrupted fern ( claytosmunda claytoniana). Instead they reproduce by freely dispersing spores. Botanizing is one simple way to inspire change in other aspects of our lives that prioritizes sustainability.įerns don’t produce flowers or fruits. Botanizing is an opportunity to take a break from these tailored worlds and deeply engage with local human and nonhuman communities.įinally, since plants form the foundation of life on Earth, caring for plants is a way of caring for our planet. As many experts have observed, online platforms have become so individually tailored by algorithms that each user participates in their own version of reality, a trend that has enabled increasingly combative and antisocial behavior. We also see botanizing as a valuable alternative to spending time on social media. Botanizing can provide a reason to get outdoors, and spending time closely observing plants’ minute structures is a great mindfulness practice. Even traditional western doctors are starting to prescribe nature walks to reduce stress and improve physical well-being. Research has shown the value of being outside in natural green areas or around plants indoors. Staghorn sumac ( rhus typhina) absorbing the last bits of nutrients from its dying leaves on a brisk fall morning as it prepares for winter dormancy. They can be good resources for learning to botanize. Today, however, many botanic gardens and arboreta – gardens that focus on trees and shrubs – have shifted their mission to public education, scientific research and biodiversity conservation. ![]() It coincided with the height of European imperialism across the globe, which included widespread collection of valuable plants from faraway places. This craze came to be known as pteridomania, or fern fever. In 19th-century England, Victorians became obsessed with plants, especially ferns. For example, in the early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company forcibly colonized the Banda Islands in what is now Indonesia in order to monopolize the cultivation and lucrative trade of nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans). When Europeans began exploring and colonizing other parts of the world, they were interested in finding plants that were useful as food, medicine or for other purposes. Humans have been analyzing and classifying plants for thousands of years, often to figure out what they can safely eat or cultivate. ![]() Getting to know your nonhuman neighbors is a way to engage with a changing planet.īotanizing has a deep and checkered history. When you botanize, a simple walk in the woods becomes an immersive experience shared with many species. From cultivating houseplants to foraging for wild foods and outdoor gardening, plant appreciation is on the rise.īotanizing is spending time alongside plants in order to observe and appreciate them as living organisms – like birding, but with subjects that stay in place. In the past several years we have witnessed a botanical boom, with participation in plant-based hobbies surging. We are plant scientists and co-founders of Let’s Botanize, an educational nonprofit that uses plant life to teach about ecology, evolution and biodiversity. Measured in total mass, plants make up 82% of all life on land across the globe. There are more species of ferns than birds, more mints than mammals, and more beans than butterflies. Among animals, only beetles can compete with that number. ![]() Our planet has nearly 300,000 species of flowering plants. When you hear about the abundance of life on Earth, what do you picture? For many people, it’s animals – but awareness of plant diversity is growing rapidly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |