… been handed down through generations, a practice that helps maintain the food crop gene pool for future generations. The Abraham Lincoln tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ‘Abraham Lincoln’) was … as the preacher bean because its abundant yield of purple-streaked green pods gives cause for thanks and praise. The nearby Painted Lady bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Painted Lady’), native …
Type: Blog
… from the fact that many of the species are dependent on one or just a few native plant species for their survival, and as a result, may serve as valuable indicators of the health of our … seek. There are day-flying moths also, like some of the hawkmoths (which are often mistaken for hummingbirds) that are seen visiting a variety of flowers in full daylight. Moths are also a … of species that emerges about every two weeks during the year, with midsummer being the peak for species and abundance. Many moth species have relatively short flight periods and can only be …
Type: Blog
… The Greeks had done it: they chose the word Hepatica (hepar = liver in Greek), as the name for plants with tri-lobed leaves that look rather like a human liver. The Romans coined the familiar name Pulmonaria (pulmo = lungs in Latin) for the perennial with spotted leaves that suggested a diseased lung. Likewise, Linnaeus named a … with a new “common” name: titan arum. Attenborough felt that the Latin name was inappropriate for television audiences. Today, as titan cultivation succeeds at more and more botanic gardens …
Type: Blog
… My work so far has investigated the consequences of climate change and species invasions for plant-pollinator mutualisms, plant populations, and plant communities. Using …
Type: Staff bio
… takes longer to recover. Why candle? The pine shoots that emerge in spring are called candles for a reason: they tend to be very tall, skinny cylinders like taper or dinner candles. If we let … who is working on it. Most of the trees at the entrance to the garden will take eight hours for some of our speedier employees. Most days, during our regular hours, you can expect to see …
Type: Blog
… to have a problem with them. Scientists have been investigating the origins of blue flowers for a long time, and it was not until recently that they came up with a result. Blue sea holly ( … colors impart red, purple, and blue in blooms, but are found much less often in flora. For anthocyanin to steer blue, complex scenarios must occur. Most often, metal atoms and ions …
Type: Blog
… sense if you have some background on the life of these two groups of prairie plants. Look for the white-and-cream wild indigos in a prairie near you—they are blooming now. Of course you … seeds. Despite their destructive nature, this plant-weevil relationship has been in place for a very long time, without the demise of either Baptisia or Silphium . Our species has had a …
Type: Blog
… either intentionally or accidentally, they can spread prolifically, out-compete native species for resources, and eventually even dominate the landscape. Biologists are studying the mechanisms … period) E Evaluate species and cultivars, then remove invasive taxa W Watch and monitor for signs of invasiveness Scientific Name Common Name Plan Removal complete? Acer ginnala Amur … but may do so in the future, particularly as the climate changes. Plan: W= watch and monitor for signs of invasiveness. Addition of Watch List taxa to the collection should be avoided. …
Type: Research
… Greg Mueller , Ph.D., chief scientist and Negaunee vice president of science at the Garden for answers. Why do mushrooms pop up out of nowhere? Mushrooms can appear magical—seeming to pop … nutrients and water. Depending on the species and its ecology, an individual may persist for weeks to more than a thousand years! When conditions are right, the mycelium produces …
Type: Blog
… are not large enough to escape the pollinarium’s grasp on its leg — an unfortunate situation for the insect! There are so many flowers in close proximity on a milkweed plant that it seems … but only one or two pollinated flowers develop into mature follicles. The energy it takes for a plant to produce a healthy follicle is considerable, so the other pollinated flowers are …
Type: Blog
