Scott's Botanical Links--January 2005

Past links:

January 31, 2005 - California Register of Big Trees

The California Register of Big Trees is a program that recognizes and thereby hopes to protect the largest representatives of all tree species in the state. At the extreme are among the largest and oldest living organisms in the world, but some are simply noteworthy representatives of smaller or shorter lived species. Links are provided to 23 other state sites, and US & UK national sites. This effort represents joint contributions of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), the Northern and Southern California Societies of American Foresters (NorCal SAF) and numerous volunteer scouts. (***) -SR

January 28, 2005 - Organelle Genomes, Proteomes and Gene Expression

This graduate course site is an advanced reference containing in depth, up-to-date information on plant organellar biology from a researcher in this field. This provides a reasonably advanced treatment of organelle structure, function, genes, genome and evolution, including cytoplasmic inheritance, regulation of organelle gene expression and organelle signaling. Resources include references and PowerPoint presentations. This was provided by Christine Chase, University of Florida, who is author of an upcoming scholarly book on this topic. (***) -SR

January 27, 2005 - Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute

Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute is a site devoted to development and technology-transfer relating to city-based appreciation of trees, wood and forest settings. The site has a number of features including SelecTree (database of 1,481 trees & over 5,970 images), an Urban Forest Discussion Group, presentation resources on "Restoring the Urban Forest Ecosystem" and other online publications, UrbanWood (a database of wood-based businesses), a quarterly newsletter called "California Shade" and applications for grants to increase canopy. Although it is largely for California, the plant information is applicable elsewhere. UREI is based at the College of Agriculture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. (***1/2) -SR

January 26, 2005 - Cactaceae.Net

At the center of Cactaceae.Net is a database with 7932 pictures, 254 genera, 246 registered users, and 600 multi-lingual synonyms. Entries emphasize the Cactaceae, but extend to succulent plants in other families, as well. Numerous thumbnail images make viewing pages of images easy. Images excel in botanical and artistic detail with about 100 new images added each month and information on each species. The site also has a forum, email notification and RSS feeds! Site by Guido Thater. (****) -SR

January 25, 2005 - Plant Cell Biology on CD

Plant Cell Biology on CD by Brian Gunning of Australian National University, and the accompanying web resources are a very substantial resource for teaching cell biology by one of the best recognized researchers in this field. The CD includes over 1000 images, with 100 videos and animations. The accompanying web site (see "Click here to view the complete contents") provides many of these excellent images. Confocal and electron microscopy images are included with a level of depth that extends from advanced undergraduates to the research level. The content available online makes this information available to those who do not buy the CD. (****)

January 24, 2005 - Insectivorous Plants in the Wilderness

Insectivorous Plants in the Wilderness is a site by Makoto Honda that parallels his Japanese book on carnivorous plants, which was sponsored by the Insectivorous Plant Society. The contents of the website include: a preface, introduction, with chapters on Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia), Cobra Plant (Darlingtonia), Sundews (Drosera), Venus' Flytrap (Dionaea), Butterworts (Pinguicula), Bladderworts (Utricularia), references, and a copyright notice. Illustrations and write-ups (in English on the website) for each of these entries. (****) -SR

January 21, 2005 - Cal's Plant-of-the-Week Calendars

Some of you may be familiar with Cal's Plant of the Week site, which I have featured before (October 18, 2002). As part of the project, I developed some calendars that I thought some viewers of SBLD may appreciate. These are PDF files and will require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Their printed quality relies largely on the quality of the paper selected, but otherwise the calendar is free. I hope you enjoy it. -SR

January 20, 2005 - Virtual Crops: Grape - Vitis vinifera

This "Virtual Crops" site on grapes provides a worthwhile and well-illustrated perspective into the development of grape plants, from seasonal vegetation to mature grape fruits. The site also features information and links on some of the diseases & pests that attack grapes, as well as a glossary that includes some of the specialized terminology relating to this important crop. The Virtual Crops project was started in 1996 as a class project in Professor Tom Rost's Developmental Plant Anatomy (PLB 105) at the University of California-Davis. (****) -SR

January 19, 2005 - Seed Savers Exchange

According to their website, "Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations." Links on the site include an Online Seed Catalog of Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, Transplants, Books & Gifts. Their vision of retaining genetic diversity is brought into fruition at Heritage Farm, an 890-acre living museum near Decorah, Iowa. Seeds are available there, through the mail and at their Madison, Wisconsin store. It is an important concept in a world where diversity decreases everyday. (***1/2) -SR

January 18, 2005 - North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX)

North American Fruit Explorers is a 3000+ member organization devoted to "aid and encourage fruit exploration in its broadest context," with annual meetings, Pomona (a quarterly journal, sadly only the TOC is currently online). Hidden in a link called "NAFEX Fruit and Nut Interest Groups" is reasonably extensive information on figs and kiwi, less on a handful of other fruits. Membership is remarkably cheap ($13) and it includes the journal. The society takes off where yesterday's Home Orchard Society leaves off, but alas the web site does not (I will revise this if they do in the future!). (**1/2)

January 17, 2005 - Home Orchard Society

The Home Orchard Society is dedicated to "Growing Good Fruit at Home" and this website offers a wide variety of information, including articles, the newsletter "Pome News", tips (particularly useful ones for propagation), active discussion forums & news for principally hobby fruit growers. There are a few commercial links (not many), but everyone needs bees and garden supplies. The uncluttered home page is remarkably information rich and the calendar is great for those who lose track of gardening seasons. (****) -SR

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/jan05.shtml