Botany Reference Libraries
Zauschneria (Epilobium canum) is a perennial species of willowherb native to the dry slopes of western North America. It grows best in well-drained soil exposed to full sun, yet protected from wind and requires little watering. Once having many subspecies, this plant now has only three recognized subspecies. The plant is named after Johann Baptista Josef Zauschner (1737-1799), a professor of...
The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is a species of passerine bird that is found in eastern North America. It is a migratory species and winters in the southern USA and Central America. It is a rare visitor to western Europe. Its breeding habitat is open woodland, farmland, and suburbs. It is often seen near water. It is one of the last birds to leave its breeding grounds in the fall, and is...
Biology is the study of living organisms. Before the 19th century, biology was known as natural history (the study of all living things). Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus was the first person to coin the term biology. Biology comes from the Greek words bios (meaning "life") and logia (meaning "study of"). It is a common science that is a standard subject in schools and universities around the...
The Plutella xylostella is often referred to as the Diamondback or Cabbage moth. This species is has a brief lifespan of only 14 days and is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region of Europe, but has since dispersed across the world. This species is capable of reproducing quickly and can travel great distances. Diamondback are considered serious pests in warmer climates when...
Buxus sempervirens or Boxwood is indigenous to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. This small slender evergreen tree grows from 3 - 30 feet in height with a narrow trunk reaching less than 8 inches in diameter. Yellowish green oval shaped leaves grow from just over half an inch to just under one and a quarter inches in length and less than half an inch wide....
The Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla) is indigenous to Japan and Taiwan. An evergreen shrub, it only grows 6 -10 feet in height with short bright green oval shaped leaves less than an inch in length. It is grown as an ornamental plant both in its native area and in other temperate regions. Variant cultivars of this species are often used in bonsai. Photo Copyright and Credit
Bursera simaruba or Gumbo-limbo is a tree indigenous to the southeastern United States, Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela. Growing nearly 100 feet tall, this slender tree has a diameter of only 3-5 feet and features shiny crimson leaves growing in a spiral pattern. Each leaf has 7-11 smaller leaflets growing symmetrically along a center stalk. It is often referred to as the Tourist Tree because...
Brodiaea coronaria or Crown Brodiaea is indigenous to the west coast of North America growing in mountains and prairies. Blooming perennially this herb sprouts from a corm and produces tall flowers reaching nearly 10 inches in height with small stems bearing blooms that are similar to lilies. Each tubular flower opens into a corolla of six lobes each just over one inch in length boast a...
Brassica tournefortii is a species of mustard plant that is more commonly known as Asian, African and Sahara mustard. It is very similar to other mustard species blooming annually with long stems reaching just over 3 feet in length, but the flowers are a duller yellow. Indigenous to North Africa and the Middle East, this species was transported accidentally to the United States by humans. It...
Brassica rapa or Turnip Mustard is grown primarily as a leaf vegetable, root vegetable and an oilseed and is often referred to as a field mustard. Napa cabbage and turnip are members of this group. Varieties of this plant are used in experiments because they are easy to grow and require little attention and reach full maturity in 40 days. Some have even been used in botany experiments in...
