Adam Smith, Assistant Scientist, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Studying climate change can be bleak, but there have been a couple times Garden Scientist Adam Smith has been truly shocked with the results of his studies. Smith, Assistant Scientist in the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development (CCSD) at the Missouri Botanical Garden, uses…
Tag: research
Stop and Smell the Anthuriums
Instead of stopping to smell the roses, maybe it’s time to appreciate the aroma of anthuriums. Anthurium is a genus of plants in the aroid family, Araceae. You’ve probably seen one before, and may even have one in your house. Commercially available Anthurium are often sold as houseplants—noted for their colorful spathe, long-lasting bloom, and…
10 New Plant Species Discovered by Garden Scientists in 2019
Each year, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Science and Conservation staff discover and name about 200 plant species new to science. That’s about 10 percent of all plant species discovered by scientists worldwide annually. Discovery is the first crucial step in plant conservation. Until a species is described, we cannot think about conservation status or ensure…
Plant Profile: Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks on the planet, trailing only water and tea in global daily consumption. Although it’s a drink many people rely on for a morning pick-me-up, it can be easy to overlook the plant that produces this culturally and economically important caffeinated beverage. What is Coffee? Coffea is a…
Spotlight on Science: Training the Next Generation
As the Principal Investigator of the Garden’s Conservation Genetics Lab, Christy Edwards already has plenty on her plate. But equally important to Edwards is her work with graduate students. To her, it’s essential because despite the efforts of plant scientists, we still know relatively little about many plant species, and many are still undiscovered. At…
Collection Connection: John Muir
Through the plants Muir collected, we can catch a glimpse of the Yosemite he first experienced more than a century ago.
The Grasses of George Washington Carver
Carver’s contributions to botanical science, agriculture, and education extend far beyond the popularity of peanuts. The Garden’s Herbarium gives us a glimpse of his botanical training before that breakthrough.
Plant Profile: Holly
It’s a plant perhaps best known for decking the halls, but holly goes far beyond holiday decorations.
Spotlight on Science: Dr. Aaron Floden
Dr. Aaron Floden Assistant Scientist, Flora of Missouri When Aaron Floden first started collecting plants, he purposefully chose a geographic area with low collection numbers. In fact, the 498 square mile area only had about 300 documented species. By the time Floden finished, that number surpassed 1,500 species, including seven species not previously known to…
Back from the Brink: Saving a Species on the Edge of Extinction
On a bench in the Missouri Botanical Garden greenhouse, there sits a handful of seemingly unassuming seedlings. They are only a few inches tall and just beginning to show their true leaves. Their small stature belies the enormity of the efforts to save this plant from extinction. Karomia gigas is, after all, one of the…
Plant Profile: Corpse Flower
Perhaps one of the most sensational plants at any botanic garden, the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) always draws a crowd. This impressive species is known for its size, smell, and the relative rarity of its bloom. What is it? The corpse flower is a member of the Araceae family, also referred to as the aroid…
From Classroom to Career | 3 Teachers Who Inspired Garden Researchers to Pursue Science
As the school year starts up once again, students across the country are getting to know their new teachers. Those teachers will help students learn and grow throughout the school year, and some will likely make impacts that last lifetimes and shape careers. Many members of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s research staff were inspired by…