Explorer-botanists, motivated by curiosity and opportunity, scoured the American continent in search of plants.

John Ellis (1711-1776) Directions for bringing over seeds and plants from the East-Indies and other distant countries, in a state of vegetation. London: L. Davis, 1770

They often chronicled their adventures and discoveries in journals later published as books. Other scientists wrote books that described and promoted American plants as medicine, food, garden flowers, or even curiosities of nature.