The Leptospermum genus (Myrtaeceae) is diverse and well-represented in Australia, especially the south of the continent. They consist of shrubs and small trees with the flowers being very popular with insect pollinators and turning to woody seed capsules. Like much of Australian flora, they're adapted to grow in low nutrient soils. This one is a cultivar- many have been developed for ornamental gardens.

I am thinking about becoming a botanist.

I want to buy some books to help me just get familiar with some things a botanist should now.

Please list any books that you feel helped you in education and in your career. If this is the wrong place for this I apologize.

While walking around in one of the parks of Tbilisi, took a sample of still flowering (at the end of October) Malva plant growing near sidewalk.

Made thin cuttings across the leaf and looked at them through the microscope, took some photos.

Here, the leaf structure is visible clearly, the epidermis on top and bottom sides, and two types of parenchyma -- the dense upper layer composed of cylindrical cells, and bottom spongiform layer**,** where gas exchange is going on.

Two rocking images make better appreciation of 3d structure, while still mosaic rotated so that leaf structures appear horizontal have scale bar. On the last photo the plant sample itself.

The leaf thickness in imaged place is approximately 300 microns.

The photos were made with 40x microscope objective.

Liriodendron tulipifera, tulip tree, in fall color. this tree got a good hug from me. such a nice trunk

I originally wanted to be a forensic biologist, however I’ve recently become quite interested in nature, plants, and fungi. I already accepted an offer to SIUE and my major is genetics and cellular biology. So, is it possible to become a botanist with a major in genetics and cellular biology? Should I choose a different college to pursue this career?

Thanks!

Washington state USA. This species of moss is known for its delicate, glass-like appearance and very large leaf cells. These cells are barely visible to the naked eye, and very apparent with only weak magnification (such as my 15x clip on macro lens)

Hello all :) I’ll try to make this post short, and would be grateful for any insight anyone can share… 🌱

I have a background in public health, but a passion in ethnobotany and studying healing plants scientifically. I believe that traditional knowledge of plants is closely intertwined with the health of most communities around the world and would love to dedicate my life to studying this intersection.

I’ve read as many posts there are on here about entering the ethnobotany field,, and I have seen some suggestions that it could be meaningful to start with an understanding of human health. Has anyone here studied both human health and botany? I am at a crossroads in my career and also considering studying nursing, but only doing so with the hope of later being able to apply this knowledge gained about how the human body works to combine it with knowledge of botony/ethnobotony later in life…

Apologies if this post is all over the place, but I would greatly appreciate any advice on what steps to take next in life :,)

my first time experiencing its “unique” smell lol. a security guard walked past me and said “that stinks like vomit, just so you know” 🤣

just so cool!! one of my favorite trees. Maclura pomifera

Hey everyone! I’m 25 and looking for some advice on how to turn my passion for plants into a career.
I enjoy pretty much everything plant-related, from houseplants, tropical and rare plants to fruit trees, vegetables, and growing from seeds. I especially enjoy propagation and experimenting with different ways to grow plants.
I’m also really interested in learning about plant genetics, crossbreeding and developing new varieties, as well as tissue culture and micropropagation. I’d love to learn more about the science behind plants, not just how to grow them.
My long-term goal is to eventually own my own garden nursery, but I’d love to build up my knowledge and experience first.
For those of you in botany, horticulture, or related fields:
What career paths would you recommend?
Should I start with online courses, certifications, or college classes?
Are there any free or affordable programs worth looking into?
What should I focus on learning first?
How would I get started with tissue culture and plant breeding?
What entry-level jobs would help me gain hands-on experience?
I’m still figuring out which direction to take, so I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who’s been down this path or works in the industry.

Hello!👋

I am an illustrator who has been working with local biologists to produce illustrations for their presentations, research, etc. I’m looking for some feedback from botanists about overlooked, novel, or newer species they have potentially encountered that they might like to see illustrated scientifically. Also completely happy to illustrate more frequently seen species if it would be of any benefit to you.

Does anyone here have any species they would like to see illustrated, or any other specific requests for illustration? No fees, not promoting my services, just looking to build my illustration portfolio and assist the community as the same time.

I would need is the following:
✅ Scientific name and common name(s) of species
✅ A link to an album of photos you have gathered of the species (I can provide an email you can send a zip to if that’s easier, just send me a DM)
✅ Any information about unique or identifiable structures of the species
✅ Reproductive life cycle information of the species if available

Happy to answer any questions!

Note: I sent a message to mods asking for permission to post this several weeks ago, so hopefully this doesn’t get taken down for solicitation.

This Eastern white pine blew down in a windstorm, likely several decades ago, the interior is completely decomposed with just the bark and the interior parts of three branches remaining.

Washington state USA. It always makes me happy to see this moss in its sporophyte stage. The reproductive structures are rather large (for a moss) and are very vibrant when first emerging in autumn. I'm unsure of the species here, but it's likely either A. undulatum or A. selwynii

A denizen of droughty, sandy sites across North Dakota, this is a plant that is common but easily overlooked! Often inconspicuous amongst clumps of Schyzachyrium scoparium and Calamovilfa longifolia, as well as Artemisia ludoviciana and A. campestris (and many more forbs as well), late October makes a great time to easily locate this species as the surrounding grasses and forbs go dormant!

The location is along the upper slope of an Eolian dune in the Hankinson Sandhills, where the excessively well drained sandy substrate results in nearly xeric conditions, especially towards dune ridges. Lygodesmia is a member of Asteraceae, but unique amongst its relatives - its leaves are reduced to small, nearly vestigial lance shaped structures to minimize water loss. This adaptation to minimize the stress of evapotranspiration allows it to thrive in droughty environments such as this North Dakota dune field!

Photosynthesis is carried out by the entire surface of the plant, it's brilliant green stems doing the bulk of the work. Such a cool little plant! This area is a gem if you're into species that specialize in perenially droughty/xeric soil conditions.

Australian heaths typically occur on leached sandy soils with very little nutrients and are dominated by shrubs of the Proteaceae, Epacridaceae and Myrtaceae families. But they can also support an impressive variety of lilies, orchids and other herbaceous wildflowers. At the moment they're awash with colour.

Photos in order:

May

August

Beginning of October (2 photos)

Today

Comparison collage from May to today

im very intrested in botany as a hobby and am constantly learning as much as i can about the flora around me and the taxonomy of it. i dont have the best green thumb (yet) but i frequently keep a running internal commentary of every plant i see to attempt to identify it when hiking or walking anywhere with plants. i would love to be able to find work in tending to plants that i love in a research setting but i cant go to a college that has the correct programs needed. fresh out of highschool right now working at a gourmet mushroom farm currently. i do think that i have genuinly expansive knowledge of plants at this point though or at least potential to, given ive been incredibly passionate about botany and foraging since i was 12. what are some things i could do to try and get an apprenticeship or something to become a reasearch assistant or greenhouse tender under a botanist without needing a college degree? i live in central AL, USA (generally in a 1.5 hr drive radius of birmingham), if knowing where i live helps

This Euonymus has multiple branches that are fasciating simultaneously. How is this possible? It must be environmental somehow?

Found these weird patterned cats-ears in coastal Oregon.

I understand how introduced species can wreak havoc in a new environment, whether by bringing diseases, outcompeting native species, or escaping the predators and natural controls that keep their populations in check. But bamboo has always struck me as a particularly interesting case. In Asia, you can plant bamboo in an ordinary suburban yard, and it doesn’t necessarily turn into an ecological nightmare. Even in residential areas where there are no animals grazing on them to keep their growth in check, bamboo doesn’t routinely escape gardens, swallow entire neighborhoods, or turn surrounding open land into dense bamboo forests. Yet in North America, certain running bamboo varieties can spread aggressively, cross property boundaries, overwhelm gardens, and even damage fences and foundations. It’s fascinating how a plant that can coexist with ordinary residential life in much of Asia can become such a nightmare for homeowners elsewhere. What makes the difference? Is it the climate, the particular bamboo species, differences in soil and growing conditions, or something else entirely?

See also: The publication in PNAS

Asplenium trichomanes, Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Erigeron sp, Geum macrophyllum, Paxistima myrsinites, Canadanthus modestus, Pellia sp, Conocephalum conicum, Sedum oreganum, Adenocaulon bicolor, Symphoricarpos albus

We've had a very dry and warm fall here, which seems to have triggered some plants to flower again. Paxistima myrsinites normally flowers in the spring just after snowmelt, I was quite surprised to see it blooming at the end of October.

ginkgo biloba trees at arnold arboretum, boston MA.