Scott's Botanical Links--April 2002

Home Page

Past links:

April 30, 2002 - Discover Life

This site helps teachers, students, scientists, and other citizens to learn about nature and report their findings on the Web. Organizers plan to integrate the myriad information and databases on the web into an integrated form. Current projects include ID nature guides, checklists of specific locations, conservation, education, and nature days. Part of these efforts represent a grassroots approach to collection of environmental data. (***) -S

April 29, 2002 - Categorical Glossary for the Flora of North America Project

The Hunt Institute hosts this database of morphological terms used in the "Flora of North America" project. As noted in the introduction, which is located at http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu:16080/HIBD/Research/DB-INTRO/IntroFNA.shtml, these terms are sometimes used in a lax sense and this glossary is meant to keep the terms more strictly defined. This database is by Robert W. Kiger and Duncan M. Porter. [I would guide all to the introduction, but it does not have a link to the actual database!] (***) -S

April 26, 2002 - Plant Hormones and Growth Regulatory Substances

This site has information on plant hormones, both in general and specifically, and their biotechnological applications. Hormones covered include auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, ethylene, abscisic acid, and other growth regulators (brassinosteroids, salicylates, jasmonates & polyamines). Each includes a chemical structure, information on mode of action and effects. References are provided for further work at the library. Site created by Ken Maas at Northern Illinois University. (***1/2) -S

April 25, 2002 - Ethnobotanical Leaflets

Ethnobotanical Leaflets contains a web journal of current articles, book reviews, research notes, ethno news & happenings, Galleria Botanica, meetings, and information on careers and policy. The current issue contains eight articles, featuring such plants as barley, Brazil Nut, Ephedra, Ginkgo biloba, Cyperus papyrus, Reishii mushrooms and St. John's Wort. There is also an archive back to Fall 1997. Interesting reading. This is published irregularly by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Don Ugent, Editor. (****) -S

April 24, 2002 - PlantFacts (OSU)

This site features a "Factsheet Database" answering plant-related questions using data from 46 different universities and government institutions across the United States and Canada with over 20,000 pages of Extension fact sheets and bulletins. There is also a database of horticulture programs in 40 university departments across the United States with pages related to admissions, degree requirements, career opportunties, research projects, and online courses. (***1/2) -S

April 23, 2002 - National Academy Press

Over 2500 books are offered free online at the National Academy Press, created by the US National Academies to disseminate reports by the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering and Institute of Medicine. Not many of the titles concern plants, but on the home page there is currently a link to "Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants: The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation" and within are "Variation and Evolution in Plants and Microorganisms: Towards a New Synthesis: 50 Years after Stebbins" and titles on global change. These are designed by these groups as authoritative treatments, available free at this site. (****) -S

April 22, 2002 - Common Weed Seedlings of Michigan

Sometimes I pick a site simply because it is useful and about plants. This is one such site. Common Weed Seedlings of Michigan is a useful one page guide to identifying lawn weeds that is packed with information and nearly 100 photos of weeds, with adherent seed coats or cotyledons showing. Although the site features 33 common Michigan weeds, most species are also found elsewhere. The page features illustrations of taxonomically important parts of grass and broadleaf weeds, a glossary, species list, and detailed plant descriptions. Of course, weeds are in the mind of the beholder and, consistent with Earth Day, I frequently enjoy the diversity of weeds more than the manicured monospecies lawn. By J. Boyd Carey, James J. Kells, Karen A. Renner, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University. (***1/2) -S

April 19, 2002 - Angiosperm Anatomy

This is a well-illustrated plant anatomy site with diagrammatic representations of the internal organization of monocot and dicot stems, roots and leaves. Although only five pages long, it is an excellent introduction, more than enough for some beginning botany classes and, overall, a nice review. The original site by Roy Volkwyn, Biology Section of the Western Cape Education Department in South Africa is currently unreachable. This mirror at Rutgers keeps it online though. (***1/2). -S

April 18, 2002 - Entrez Genome

This is the taxonomic portal to the genomes of many organisms. For plants, look for the Viridiplantae under Eukaryota. Currently Arabidopsis thaliana, Epifagus virginiana, Nicotiana tabacum, Oryza sativa, Zea mays, Pinus thunbergii and Marchantia polymorpha represent the embryophytes. Although the degree of completion is quite variable, this site contains all known coding and non-coding regions. The least sequenced portion of most chromosomes are the centromeres and telomeres; their repetitive elements are important, but essentially without genes. Hidden in the DNA sequences are promoters and control elements -- most are available in the sequence, but so far, uncharacterized. Site by NIH. (****) -S

April 17, 2002 - Donald Angus Collection of Botanical Prints

Donald Angus' botanical print collection consists mainly of published works appearing in monographs and journals in the 18th and 19th centuries. The collecton is housed at the Bishop Museum, Foster Gardens, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Hamilton Library. The images of this time often reflect the romantic popularity of tropical floras and the introduction of many striking plants into European botanical gardens. Thumbnail links at the bottom of the page assist with locating some of the more common genera. (***1/2) -S

April 16, 2002 - Linnaean Correspondence

This is a pilot site for the electronic edition of the correspondence of Linnaeus, to include texts of his letters, summaries and annotation, list of available letters, biographical glossary, bibliography of relevant work. This is a cooperative effort of the Swedish Linnaean Society, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Uppsala University (& library), Linnean Society of London, Centre international d’étude du XVIIIe sičcle of Ferney-Voltaire. Currently mainly bibiographic, it will be interesting to see this site grow. (***) -S

April 15, 2002 - San Diego Fern Society

The San Diego Fern Society provides this site as an international source of fern-related information for the fern hobbyist. Resources include: Fern Growing Information, Fern Descriptions, Fern Plant and Spore Sources, Fern Societies Worldwide, Fern Book Resources, Fern Event Listings, Fern-Related Links. Their Q&A section, Fern Central, answers questions on ferns. This is a nice site with an impact that extends much wider than San Diego. Site by SDFS. (***1/2) -S

April 12, 2002 - Botany in the Curriculum: Integrating Research and Teaching - August 2-7, 2002

Botany 2002 is a joint meeting this summer of the American Fern Society (AFS), American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT), Botanical Society of America (BSA), Canadian Botanical Association / L'Association de Botanique du Canada (CBA/ABC) and the Phycological Society of America (PSA). The theme, "Botany in the Curriculum: Integrating Research and Teaching" will feature a Forum on Botanical Education & Outreach (Aug 2-4) and its Annual Scientific Conference (Aug 4-7) at the Pyle Conference Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Over 700 presentations are planned on the widest diversity of plant biology topics. This site features electronic abstracts and other enhancements as the time approaches. Registration deadlines for the lowest fees will be in June. There is still a chance to participate in a "Recent Topics" poster session (abstract submissions for this session will begin in May). Site by Scott Russell with content provided by Johanne Stogran and Jeff Osborn, BSA.

April 11, 2002 - W.P. Fraser Herbarium, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

The W.P. Fraser Herbarium of the University of Saskatchewan has provided interesting local and distance learning material. Images of herbarium sheets are available for rare plants of Saskatchewan and specimens frequently used for teaching. A dichotomous key from the Biology 202.3 curriculum to a series of herbarium sheet images of common campus plants is available along with course information for students of Biology 323.3. The site map provides access to tips on preparing specimens. Site by W.P. Fraser Herbarium. (***) -S

April 10, 2002 - Teaching & Learning Resources

This site is primarily designed for undergradates studying the history of science. Despite that, the study guides, resources, and advice on how to take notes from readings, how to take notes in class and how to study contain excellent advice. Admittedly, beginning and less erudite undergraduates may find following the advice painful. The hint that courses may not be drenched in crucial content, but may prepare one to study better is lesson many acquire after graduation. The site contains plentiful links to history of science resources and reference materials, for those who are specifically interested in that topic. Site by Dr. Robert A. Hatch, University of Florida. (***1/2) -S

April 5, 2002 - Botany of Los Amigos Conservation Area

The Los Amigos watershed area in the state of Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru, is regarded as being representative of the pristine lowland moist forest once found throughout most of upper Amazonian South America, in the Amazon rain forest. Currently, this website consists of site information, databases and image galleries (currently over 1100) of ground and satellite-based imaging. Images may be searched by category or plant family. Site by John Janovec, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. (****) -S

April 4, 2002 - Bat/Plant Interactions in the Neotropics

Bats play a critical role in pollination and seed dispersal in the tropics, as is well highlighted in these pages. In addition to an introduction, there are multipart sites on bats as pollinators and seed dispersers, a seed atlas of bat-dispersed seeds, a plant-bat database and a guide to the relevant literature. The pollination and dispersal sites are well illustrated and informative. This material was written by a number of reserchers and developed into its present form by Scott Mori, New York Botanical Garden. (***1/2) -S

April 3, 2002 - NOAA Ocean Explorer

This site reports on explorations of the oceans, the depth of which NOAA reports are more poorly know than the back of the moon. This site chronicles present and past expeditions of NOAA's research and education teams. The impressive and extensive contents include a multimedia gallery, the technology of deep sea exploration, a library of relevant documents, a calendar of events, a history of ocean exploration, as well as highlighting most of a dozen projects. This is not principally a plant site, but interesting nonetheless. Site by NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). (***1/2) -S

April 2, 2002 - University of Iowa Herbarium

This website is part of an education and outreach program, describing herbaria and their important, but obscure role, in studies of systematics, biodiversity, natural history and floristic studies. This site by Prof. Diana Horton outlines how herbariums function as a biological database and their role in biological studies. The site features many topics, including: Herbaria and Specimens: What are They?, a Collection Overview, a Collection History, Iowa's Fragile Flora, the Fragile Flora Database, Plant Check-lists, the Iowa Native Plants Mailing List, Access, Location & Hours, Staff and Acknowledgements. In addition to the condensed and well-illustrated information, this would also serve as a nice model for designing similar sites. (****) -S

April 1, 2002 - Dihydrogen Monoxide Home Page

It seems like never before has the public been more in the dark about the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide, and this website is more than willing to share them with you. This is the leading site for the National Consumer Coalition Against DHMO, with links to the EPA, Green Party of New Zealand, Centers for Disease Control, American Cancer Society, Sierra Club and Greenpeace. The site even offers an opportunity to alert your congressional representative. Except for an ad for zero volume Klein bottles, the site is entirely non-commercial; in the tradition of non-profit organizations like Consumer Reports, all that they sell are their own products. An award winning site by DMHO. (***1/2) -S

Past, past links (by date):

2006: January

2005: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2003: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2002: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2001: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2000: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1999: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1998: January*, February*, March*, April*, May*, June*, July, August, September, October, November, December   (*Leigh's links)

1997: January, February, March, April, May, June, September*, October*, November*, December*    (*Leigh's links)

1996: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Or search by: Subject Index

http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/bot-linx/apr02.shtml