Botanical Art & ArtistsThroughout the history of botany, scientific illustration has been an essential component of cataloging and studying the world's plants. Botanical Art & Artists offers visitors an in-depth compendium of resources and information on botanical art and illustration that casual enthusiasts, aspiring artists, and academic botanists all can appreciate. This well-organized, comprehensive website includes informative sections on the history of botanical illustration and on the top contemporary botanical artists and illustrators from around the world (organized by continent). Those interested in acquiring botanical drawing or painting skills would do well to peruse the education and materials sections, while professional botanical artists should check out the exhibitions and groups sections. Readers from all backgrounds can benefit from the botany and gardens sections, where they will find useful information on topics such as plant morphology, ways to record or document plants, and botanic gardens and herbaria around the world. Readers will also find abundant links to other relevant external resources throughout the site. Botanical Art & Artists is created and maintained by Katherine Tyrrell, a UK-based writer and artist with a background in education.
Botany DepotScience educators looking for ways to inspire interest in their students about plants may want to check out Botany Depot. Launched in early 2018, this resource describes itself as "a global website for creative ideas and materials for teaching botany in the 21st century for all ages and levels." Botany Depot is created and run by Lena Struwe, Professor of Plant Biology and Director of the Chrysler Herbarium at Rutgers University. Here, visitors will find a wide variety of botanical teaching ideas and resources, ranging from engaging videos to interactive lesson plans, all freely available. Examples include a teacher's guide for a botanical role-playing game centered on "toxic plants in the emergency room," which includes downloadable classroom worksheets and information on 55 different toxic plants. The teacher's guide also serves as an introductory manual of plant nomenclature created for beginning and intermediate botany learners, which covers wild, agricultural, and horticultural species and also includes PowerPoint slides of the figures in the manual for classroom use. Most of the resources shared by Botany Depot at this point were developed with college students in mind, but they could also be helpful for other educational levels or for naturalists and general plant enthusiasts.
Field Museum Live Plant PhotosThe Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois recently launched a new website for their Live Plant Photos database, which contains (as of this write-up) over 20,000 photographs of flora from neotropical regions of the world. This database was established by Robin Foster and is currently headed by Nigel Pitman and Tomomi Suwa. Visitors can search this database by family, genus, species, country, or photographer. Visitors may be interested in participating in the museum's Rainforest Flowers project on Zooniverse, a citizen science project that invites people to help identify plants in this collection by tagging photographs of plants for features, such as color. In addition, visitors are invited to submit their own photographs of neotropical plants. This collection also contains a number of plant identification resources, including a series of field guides, available via a link at the bottom of the home page entitled, "About Live Plant Photos."
Kew Science BlogThe Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew publishes the Kew Science blog, a blog dedicated to the Kew's scientific research and conservation efforts around the globe. This regularly updated blog will appeal to readers with an interest in natural sciences and wildlife. As of this write up, one recent entry investigates why it is that bees tend to die when they are near lime trees. Another recent entry describes the SPARC Project, an initiative by eight institutions including Kew, to identify rare species that may be affected by climate change. Yet another post takes readers to the Julian Alps of Slovenia, where one Kew MSc student studied rare saxifrages. Each of these blog posts is accompanied by photographs and, in most cases, a reference list for those interested in pursuing further reading.
Native Plants of North AmericaThe Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has created an excellent resource in their database Native Plants of North America. Visitors can search for plants by either their common or scientific names, and the advanced search feature allows searches by combinations of fields such as light requirements, size, and bloom characteristics. This resource also features numerous helpful plant lists; for example, "Bee-friendly Plants" and "Plants for Drought," as well as lists of recommended native plants for nearly every US state and Canadian province. The listings for individual plant species include an image gallery and provide information, such as its scientific name and USDA classification, as well as helpful information for gardeners, for instance, its preferred growing conditions and maintenance tips. Each species listing also contains extensive information on the various benefits that plant offers, like whether it is resistant to deer and if it is of special value to beneficial insects (e.g. native bee species). Those interested in gardening with native flowers would do well to pay this resource a visit.
Plants & PlanterHenry William Ravenel was a South Carolina field botanist, mycologist, naturalist, and author who lived during the Antebellum period and became "one of the most prominent botanists of the 19th century," with the fungi genus ravenelii bearing his name. He was also a prolific journal-keeper and correspondent, and today his journals can be read and searched online at Plants & Planter, a project hosted by the University of South Carolina's Center for Digital Humanities. In addition to Ravenel's journals, visitors to Plants & Planter will find hundreds of letters between Ravenel and other naturalists, images of plant specimens from his voluminous herbarium, and maps depicting Ravenel's travels, correspondence, and plant collections. This project also showcases all five volumes of Ravenel's book Fungi of Carolina, as well as his personal album of portraits. Launched in 2016, Plants & Planter was created in partnership between the University of South Carolina, Clemson University Libraries, Converse College, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and the A.C. Moore Herbarium, and it was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Plants of the World OnlineWith over 250 years of gathered knowledge, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the world's leaders in the field of botany. One of Kew's recent initiatives is Plants of the World Online (POWO). Launched in March 2017, POWO is a digital portal with an aim to "enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by 2020." Visitors to this project will find a well-designed, searchable database containing (at the time of this write-up) over 1.1 million plant names from around the world, more than 65,000 detailed descriptions, and nearly 200,000 images. Readers can search POWO by a plant's common, species, genus, or family name, and they can also search by descriptive words, such as colors. This ongoing project launched with an initial focus on "key tropical African Floras - Flora Zambesiaca, Flora of West Tropical Africa and Flora of Tropical East Africa specifically," with plans to have global coverage by 2020 as more of Kew's vast collections are digitized over time. POWO is led by Abigail Barker, Kew's Head of Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis.
School Gardening 101For educators interested in establishing a teaching garden at their school, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) offers a wonderful online resource to help get started. School Gardening 101 is a free online teaching resource organized into six sessions. These sessions include short videos, lesson plans, exercises for teachers to learn the necessary background material, tip sheets, and other resources. Lesson plans are available for students from kindergarten to eighth grade, and lesson topics range from persuasive writing to plant biology to nutrition. The tip sheets cover a variety of logistical aspects, such as how to manage groups of children in a garden setting, best practices and troubleshooting tips for seed propagation, and how to prepare the garden for the winter. School Gardening 101 was created to complement the NYBG's six-day professional development institute for teachers. As the NYBG states, "School gardens are a wonderful way to connect children to plants, gardening, food, nutrition, and the outdoors," and School Gardening 101 helps provide educators new to gardening with the knowledge they'll need to inspire their students.
USDA Plants DatabaseThe PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
Mycology - Websites
Fungal Diversity SurveyThe Fungal Diversity Survey coins the nickname "FunDiS," and for good reason. The group uplifts the uniqueness of the fungi kingdom, while also finding fun ways to engage citizen scientists in efforts to protect fungal ecosystems. Readers who are interested in getting involved should begin by browsing the Our Programs page, located under the Get Started tab. Here, visitors can learn about different levels of involvement before moving on to the Join a Project page to dive into the work. For a full list of all projects and locations, check out Project List (found under Sequence, FunDiS Projects, Project List). Other site highlights include the iNaturalist Database (under Observe) and Conservation Program (under Protect). Regardless of fungal expertise or scientific interests, the Resources section (and especially the Blog) likely has something of interest. After all, the fungal community interacts with many other disciplines, as exemplified by a November 2020 blog post, "Creating art from nature." The Fungal Diversity Survey is powered by its Board of Directors, volunteers, working group members, and liaisons, with support from other mycology organizations and partners.
The Fungal Mating Game: A Simple Demonstration of the Genetic Regulation of Fungal Mating CompatibilityHere is a fun(gi) fact: "Some fungi have more than 20,000 'sexes.'" While the genetics behind fungal mating can be quite complex, Lisa J. Vaillancourt (University of Kentucky, Lexington) created this game to distill some of the basics for mycology students. Educators will only need to gather a few decks of cards, the exact amount dependent on class size, to bring the activity to life. Instructions are provided for three different activities, reflective of bipolar mating and tetrapolar mating (with two species models). Vaillancourt also provides a results section with some key takeaways students should gain from the activity. This game was posted on the American Phytopathological Society's (APS) website, and readers interested in additional tools and activities from APS will want to check out their Education section. Here, teachers will find case studies, lab exercises, and lesson plans, among other resources.
FungiChapter 24 of Biology 2nd Ed, open access textbook from Openstax
FungimapBringing together both professional and amature mycologists, Fungimap records the geographic "distribution of fungal species over time around Australia." Readers may wish to begin by checking out the informational pages under the About Fungi tab, including the Glossary of Useful Terms page. The site's Blog (accessible via the Categories drop-down menu on the right-hand panel) covers topics ranging from the discovery of new species (see the January 1, 2020 post) to the impacts of natural disasters on Australian fungi (see the January 23, 2020 post). Aesthetically inclined visitors will also want to check out the Galleries tab, which contains a set of photo collections from naturalists. In 2019, the organization began creating "a new edition of Fungi Down Under," their mycological map of Australia. More information on this project is available on the FDU2 Maps page (under Fungi Down Under), including links to the test maps created by University of Melbourne postgraduate student August Hao. Australian readers who want to join in on the fungi fun can learn about contributing to the organization's database on the Record page. Fungimap is directed by microbiologist Roz Hart and receives support from Atlas of Living Australia and the Australasian Mycological Society, among other organizations.
Mushroom ObserverMushroom Observer exists to record observations about mushrooms, help people identify mushrooms they are not familiar with, and expand the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology). The site functions as a sharing space for mushroom experts and enthusiasts alike. Not only can users enjoy the existing content, but they can create a free account to add their own contributions. As of this write-up, the site has over 23,000 members who have contributed over one million images and over a quarter of a million observations. Users may want to start on the How to Use page, which provides tips for navigating and adding content, as well as a Concepts Glossary that defines terms users will encounter as they explore and contribute to the site. The site is searchable using the query bar at the top left, by clicking on the Advanced Search (where they can filter by result type, add restrictions by location, and more). Visitors can also navigate using the menu on the left-hand side. In the Indexes section (found in the left-hand menu) users will find other useful tools. For example, the Glossary page contains definitions (many with pictures) of hundreds of mycology terms and the Herbaria section contains a list of fungi collections around the world.
The Mycology WebpagesThe Mycology Webpages was created by Dr. David Malloch, renowned mycology and research associate at the New Brunswick Museum of Natural Sciences. The site seeks to celebrate "the astounding diversity of fungi and our unending fascination with them." Readers should begin on the Natural History of the Fungi page, where they can learn background knowledge on fungi, such as reproduction, construction, and classification. Under Checklists readers can view alphabetized lists of fungi and access "A Preliminary Report of the Microfungi of Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island, Florida), December 2010," which summarizes a micro fungi collection study that collected specimens now stored at the New Brunswick Museum. On the Moulds page, users can read an "Internet version" of Dr. David Malloch's book, which was created to meet the need for a "simple text demonstrating what moulds are and how they are grown and identified." The Essays on Fungi page offers eight different entries (as of this write-up), one of which is in French. Finally, on the News Brunswick Museum page, users are linked to the Museum's website, where they can learn about exhibits "that document or represent the natural and human history of New Brunswick and other related regions." The Mycology Webpages was last revised in June of 2019 and is also available in French.
North American Mycological AssociationFrom the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz to the Maine Mycological Association, coast to coast, people are keen on the study of mycology. The North American Mycological Association helps connect these enthusiasts. Launched in 1967, NAMA is a "non-profit organization of professional and amateur mycologists with over 80 affiliated mycological societies in the United States, Canada and Mexico," on a mission to advocate for sustainable studies of mushrooms and to encourage educational and scientific pursuits of mycology. Through NAMA's website, users can browse a list of affiliated clubs (alphabetized by state), as well as access a wealth of resources to further their knowledge and understanding of mycology. Teachers will want to check out the Education page, which contains both basic and complex lesson plans and resources. On the Publications page, users will find the latest editions of The Mycophile (NAMA's bimonthly newsletter) and McIlvainea (NAMA's annual journal), as well as archives of past issues. The Photography page houses images from NAMA's annual photography contest, showcasing captivating and artistic captures of fungi. For information on conferences and workshops related to mycology, see the Events section. The website also features Cultivation, Poisoning, and Art Registry pages, each with resources related to these subsections of mycology.
State of the World's FungiState of the World's Fungi is the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens 2018 follow up to their award-winning State of the World's Plants website from last year. As this resource notes, the report is "the first of its kind outlining the state of the world's fungi, [...] highlight[ing] just how important fungi are to all life on Earth." The report and interactive website are organized into ten chapters, each accompanied by beautiful photographs and intriguing graphics. These range from New Discoveries (featuring 13 examples of the more than 2,000 new fungi species that were first described in 2017) to Useful Fungi (where readers can explore an assortment of ways that humans use fungi, such as in medicine, paper manufacturing, and leather processing) to Plant-Killers (featuring an interactive map showing the spread of ash dieback due to a fungal pathogen). Interested readers may download individual chapters or the full 92-page report as PDFs for additional text, graphics, and stunning photography.
The Terracotta Fungi of Francesco Valenti Serini (1795-1872)Artistic models and mycology blend together through The Terracotta Fungi of Francesco Valenti Serini (1795-1872). This resource stems from a collaboration between researchers from the University of Siena, the University of Delaware, and Accademia dei Fisiocritici in Siena, Italy. The publication allows users to virtually enjoy a collection of life-sized terracotta models of fungal fruiting bodies, housed within the Accademia dei Fisiocritici. Originally crafted by Francesco Valenti Serini, a notable researcher and artist with a particular interest in poisonous fungi, the models featured in the publication were selected based on their visual appeal, the accuracy of their depiction, or their related narrative. Through both text and images, the publication invites readers to explore these selections and learn about some of Dr. Serinis major findings and contributions to the study of mycology. The publication concludes with information on the history and evolution of the Accademia dei Fisiocritici, which has displayed collections from various science disciplines since its founding in 1691. This resource is featured on the The American Phytopathological Societys (APS) website. APS focuses on agricultural, food safety, and food security issues, and works to advocate for increased awareness, funding, and policy surrounding plant pathology.
Rust Fungi of Southern AfricaRust disease, a plant disease caused by various species of fungi, is commonly spotted by its unique brown-hued spore pattern. Readers curious about the plant pathogens that cause the disease may enjoy this comprehensive key. Globally, thousands of species of rust fungi exist. More than 500 of these species hail from South Africa, giving the area a unique lens into rust fungi classification and identification. The key is both collaborative and on-going, inviting users to contribute specimens and resources, with a focus on adding additional taxa as available. Users may also enjoy the Identify a Rust Fungus tool, which provides various filters to narrow down different specimens one might encounter. The project is a collaboration between the Forestry Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (University of Pretoria, South Africa), the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Queensland Government, Australia), and the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (University of Queensland, Australia). The key is authored by Dr. Alistair McTaggart (University of Pretoria) and Dr. Dean Beasley (Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ecosciences Precinct) with additional contributions from other scholars.
Blogs and Podcasts
In Defense of PlantsLaunched in 2015, In Defense of Plants makes the case for the evolutionary resiliency and environmental impact of flora. Host Matt Candeias seeks to share his self-described "obsess[ion] with the botanical world," reminding listeners that "plants are everything on this planet." Throughout the show's more than 275 episodes, listeners will hear about a range of topics, such as assessing extinction risk (Episode 275 "Saving Sonora: The Green Desert" with special guest Dr. Helen Rowe) and harnessing plant-power for mindfulness (Episode 269 "Cultivating Peace" with special guest Derek Haynes). Most episodes are about an hour long, perfect for a commute or lunch break. On the Podcast page, readers will find an archive of all episodes, with descriptions of each episode's guest(s) and content. Readers will also find a frequently updated blog and embedded videos that build on some episodes' content. Beyond the website, listeners can tune in to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular listening platforms. New episodes are released weekly, so check back often or subscribe to never miss a show.
Mycology and Citizen Science with William Padilla-BrownWilliam Padilla-Brown wears many hats as "a mycologist, teacher, and social permaculture practitioner." On this episode of The Permaculture Podcast (a show that has spent the last decade connecting listeners to experts on diverse niches within natural ecosystems), Padilla-Brown discusses what sparked his interest in mycology and what the future holds for his various projects. He credits his agricultural curiosity to spending more time in nature and noticing so many different types of wild mushrooms. This led him to a permaculture apprenticeship, where he was surprised by the lack of expertise on wild mushroom cultivation. Inspired to learn more about the process so that he could share it with others, he began down the mycology career path. Now, he is a celebrated mycologist, speaker, and founder of MycoSymbiotics (a festival that brings together mycologists, artists, and more). On the podcast, Padilla-Brown explores a range of topics such as suburban sustainability (see the December 13, 2020 episodes) and natural disasters (see the November 7, 2020 episode). Padilla-Brown hopes that recent months of social distancing have offered a unique opportunity for listeners to "look outside, even in their own backyards, and see how much nature has really provided for us."
The Native Plant PodcastRooted in a friendship initiated at the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, The Native Plant Podcast has been enlightening listeners with all things conservation and vegetation since 2016. The show has grown to have a significant following, including winning a 2019 GardenComm Media Awards Silver Medal. The trio of hosts invite a variety of guests on their show (from ecotourism experts to palynology professors) to discuss relevant research and explore numerous plant-related questions. Curious how hip hop can serve as a platform for horticulture? Check out "Hip Hop Forestry" (July 11, 2019). Wondering the purpose of controlled burns? Tune in to "Scientists are burning the woods... and no one knows why!" (July 13, 2020). The show has 5 seasons and nearly 100 episodes. Readers can find all of these installments on the Archive page (categorized chronologically), as well as on Apple Podcasts.
Ologies: Mycology (Mushrooms) with Dr. Tom VolkReaders looking for a resource that puts the "fun" in "fungi" may enjoy this episode of the podcast Ologies (featured in the 8-02-2019 Scout Report) titled "Mycology (MUSHROOMS) with Dr. Tom Volk." The episode is slightly over an hour long and features a conversation between host Alie Ward, an Emmy-winning science correspondent, and Dr. Tom Volk, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse who specializes in fungi. Chocked full of jokes and insights, listeners will learn about everything from how to properly pronounce the word "fungi" to fungus reproduction and fungal genetics. In addition to a detailed fungus discussion, the podcast also features moving commentary on Dr. Volk's heart transplant surgery (which has also been featured in a TED Talk titled, "A Change of Heart: My Transplant Experience"). His key takeaway? Every day is good. Those who enjoy the podcast may also want to check out Dr. Volk's website, linked at the bottom of the page. Though not updated since 2010, it does feature archives such as "Fungus of the Month," housing over a decade of monthly posts highlighting unique species. Listeners can also find the podcast on Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify, and Omny, and may enjoy other podcast episodes covering topics such as phenology and paleontology.
Plants and Pipettes PodcastReaders curious about the world of scientific research, particularly molecular plant biology, may want to check out Plants and Pipettes. First launched in February 2019, this delightfully quirky podcast is the work of Joram Schwartzmann and Tegan Armarego-Marriott, who are respectively a PhD student and a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany. In each episode, Tegan and Joram take turns explaining and breaking down a recent scientific paper, translating the jargon into approachable language that general audiences can more easily grasp. Each episode also features the podcasters' favorite plant of the week, and they frequently discuss other aspects of research and academic publishing, as well as scientific news and fun cat facts. Episodes vary in length, but most are around an hour long. Those interested can stream and download episodes of Plants and Pipettes at the link above, and the podcast is also available via platforms such as Apple Podcasts. Readers should also check out the rest of the Plants and Pipettes website, where they will find engagingly written blog posts (found under Articles) as well as a short Glossary of scientific terms (found at the bottom).
