Posts Tagged ‘plant biology’
Seeds aren’t stupid: Midas Dekkers on nature’s patient wisdom
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 22, 1946 Dearest reader, On this day, we celebrate the birth of Midas Dekkers, a remarkable Dutch biologist and author known for his sharp wit and curious mind. Born in Haarlem, Dekkers…
Read MoreThe Pill in the Petunia Patch: When Birth Control Met Botany
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. September 10, 1981 On this day, the most deliciously scandalous horticultural revelation graced the pages of The Lancaster New Era. My dearest readers, prepare yourselves for a tale that will have tongues wagging…
Read MoreJean Senebier: The Botanist Who Revealed the Secret Life of Leaves
Finding the Purpose of Leaves May 6, 1742 Today is the birthday of Jean Senebier, a Swiss pastor and botanist. Where would we be without Senebier? Still breathing… but lacking the knowledge that carbon dioxide is consumed by plants and, in turn, that plants produce oxygen as part of the process of photosynthesis. In a nutshell,…
Read MoreFrancis Hallé: The Poet of Tropical Forests and Champion of Primary Forests
Whimsical Flora Sketches April 15, 1938 Today is the birthday of the French botanist, biologist, and conservationist Francis Hallé. Francis has spent over forty years studying the ecology of tropical forests and the architecture of their trees. These scientific areas of study have shaped how Francis views not only trees and forests but also our…
Read MoreMatthias Jakob Schleiden: German Botanist and Co-Founder of Cell Theory
The Co-founder of Cell Theory April 5, 1804 Today is the birthday of the German botanist and early evolutionist Matthias Jakob Schleiden. Along with Theodor Schwann, Matthias was also the co-founder of the cell theory. Matthias was the first person to recognize the importance of cells in plants. Later, he speculated on the role of…
Read MoreStephen Hales: The Botanist Who Measured Sap, Blood, and the Breath of Plants
The Stephen Hales Prize January 4, 1761 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English clergyman, botanist, and physiologist Stephen Hales. Stephen applied himself to many different areas of science. Stephen spent most of his life studying tree sap and blood flow. Do you know the direction sap flows in a plant? Stephen…
Read MoreMistletoe: The Hemiparasitic Plant of Tradition and Science
A Parasitic Plant December 21, 1997 On this day, The Saskatoon Sun, out of Saskatchewan, Canada, shared an article about the tradition of mistletoe. “Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it is partially parasitic. As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches of trees, sending out roots that penetrate into the branches to take…
Read MoreRudolph Jacob Camerarius: The Botanist Who Revealed Plant Sexes
Discovery of Sexes in Plants Today is the anniversary of the death of Rudolph Jacob Camerarius, the botanist who demonstrated the existence of sexes in plants. He died in 1721. Camerarius was born in Germany. He was a professor of natural philosophy. He identified and defined the male parts of the flower as the anther,…
Read MoreRemembering H.Y. Mohan Ram: A Legacy Rooted in Botanical Excellence
The Resilient Researcher It’s the one-year anniversary of the death of the beloved botanist Professor Holenarasipur Yoganarasimham Mohan Ram (H.Y. Mohan Ram). Mohan Ram Left a tremendous legacy of the faculty and students of the botany department at Delhi University. He had Published over 240 research papers get guided 32 Ph.D. students and…
Read MoreGolden Rows of Delight: Celebrating National Corn on the Cob Day
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. June 11, 2019 On this day, dear readers and fellow garden enthusiasts, we find ourselves in the midst of a most delightful celebration – National Corn on the Cob Day. As we gather…
Read MoreThe Stench of Success: Ohio’s Corpse Flower Spectacle
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. May 13, 2024 On this day in 2013, Ohio State University’s greenhouse became an unlikely pilgrimage site for botanical enthusiasts and olfactory thrill-seekers alike. The air hung heavy with an aroma that one…
Read MoreA Birthday of Botanical Brilliance: Hugo von Mohl and the Secrets of Plant Cells
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 8, 1805 On this day, dear reader, the world welcomed Hugo von Mohl—a name perhaps unfamiliar to those who merely dabble in the garden, yet one that should be etched into the…
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