Botany Links for the FTBG / Education Website • June 2014
List compiled by Chris Migliaccio, Professor of Ecology & Environmental Science,
Miami Dade College / Wolfson Campus
How Science Works
All About The Scientific Method – a BBC podcast on the history of the development of the scientific
method
The Symphony of Science - Spreading scientific knowledge and philosophy through electronic music
remixes
Understanding How Science Really Works – from the University of California/Berkley’s
Understanding Science website; loaded with grade level-specific teaching resources on the process of
science
Plant Origins and Classification
How the First Plant Came to Be – A genetic analysis reveals the ancient, complex and symbiotic roots
of photosynthesis in plants
The Evolution of Plants – a series of lectures from Yale University’s Teacher Institute
Interactive Plant Evolution Timeline – a Web tool to help visualize the circumstances and factors
contributing to plant evolution. From the University of Cambridge (U.K.)
The Carboniferous Period – Images and information from BBC Nature on a time when plants
dominated the world
The American Fern Society – One of America’s oldest plant societies, it is a wealth of information on
the biology, ecology, conservation, and horticulture of this ancient plant group.
“Living Fossil” Plants – Three species of survivors from the geologic past: Ginkgo, Metasequoia,
Wollemi Pine
What’s in a Plant Name? – a descriptive story of how the binomial classification system was developed
Evolution and Natural Selection
A Walk Through Time – An interactive walk through 4.5 billon years of Earth history
All About Apples – An encyclopedic article of everything about apples
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Evolution 101 – the nuts & bolts of the patterns and mechanisms of evolution; from the University of
California/Berkeley. The finest online resource on the topic.
Darwin & Botany – the story of Charles Darwin’s work with plants
Adaptive Radiation in the Hawaiian Silversword Alliance – From one species, 28 different species in
three genera
Plant Classification & Diversity
What is Biodiversity? – An educator’s guide to biodiversity
Why is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? – An interdisciplinary look at the value of biodiversity
Florida Natural Areas Inventory – an NGO administered by Florida State University to gather,
interpret, and disseminate information critical to the conservation of Florida’s biological diversity.
The International Palm Society – the Web’s most comprehensive source of information on palms
Introduction to the Cycads – A group of non-flowering seed plants existing from the Jurassic Period to
today. A highlighted group of plants in the FTBG living collection.
The International Aroid Society – the Web’s most comprehensive source of information on aroids
The American Orchid Society – the home page of the Society whose mission is promote orchid
horticulture, education, conservation, and research
Plant Growth & Organization
The World’s Oldest Living Things – a TED talk on a photographer’s quest to document the world’s
oldest living organisms. Minimum age is 2,000 years.
Botanical Record Breakers – biggest, oldest, heaviest (and more exceptional) plants
Principles of Dendrochronology – everything you ever wanted to know about using tree rings to learn
about trees and ancient habitats
The Cork Oak – the Mediterranean source for all things made from cork
Analogy vs. Homology – an illustrated description of how body parts of similar organisms are
structured and function
Top Ten Heaviest Woods in the World – an illustrated database of heavy wood
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Plant Adaptations
Baobabs – Gigantic tree examples of plants that thrive in dry environments
Coevolution – video lecture from Yale’s Open University
Carnivorous Plant Society of America – website loaded with carnivorous plant information including
photos and horticulture
The Growth & Ecology of Strangler Figs
Pachypodium – The conservation and cultivation of Pachypodiums
The Botany of Desire – video on the coevolution of plants and humans
Plant Functions
Plants in Motion – time lapse images of tropic movements in plants; from Indiana University
Transpiration and the Water Cycle – from the US Geological Survey
The Discovery of Photosynthesis – a short history lesson from Bill Nye
C4 Photosynthesis – animated video lesson from Khan Academy
CAM Photosynthesis – animated video lesson from Khan Academy
Proper Planting in South Florida – a how-to guide for South Florida gardeners
NASCAR and Anaerobic Respiration – how the roots of NASCAR are connected to bootlegging
Plant Reproduction & Propagation
The Story of the Fig and Its Wasp – an example of coevolution from the Ecological Society of
America
The Master Gardeners’ Handbook – extensive website from the University of Florida’s IFAS
Extension Service
Sea Beans and Drift Seeds – a guide to biology, identification, and history
Alternation of Generations – teacher resources from the Annenberg Learner website
All About Cycads – the webpage of the Palm & Cycad Societies of Australia (a center of cycad
diversity)
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The Passionflower Legend – how this family of showy flowers got their name
The Pollinator Partnership - the world’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to the protection
and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems. Lots of resources for educators
Caladiums Online – Bates’ Sons & Daughters (Lake Placid, FL) purveyors of exceptional corms for
almost 70 years
South Florida Plant Ecology & Conservation
FTBG Center for Plant Conservation’s South Florida Program - maps, monitors, and researches plants
and plant communities that are native to South Florida.
Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) - A private non-profit organization that is dedicated to the
protection, restoration, and long-term management of biodiversity on a regional basis, and to the
prevention of regional extinctions of rare plants, animals and ecosystems.
Miami Dade County Government’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program – Miami-Dade
County’s program to purchase, conserve, and manage environmentally endangered lands
Prescribed Burns for Fire Management – Fire as a land management tool; from the South Florida
Water Management District
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan – the official website
Economic Botany
Ethnobotany: Plants Sustaining People – a rich collection of resources from the USDA
FTBG’s Tropical Fruit Program
How Beer Works – from howstuffworks
How Winemaking Works – from howstuffworks
Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida – a local association of tropical fruit growers and enthusiasts
FNGLA – Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association
Plants in the Classroom
Teaching with Plants – creative ideas from the UK for all grade levels
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Primary Teaching Resources: Plants – abundant, free downloadables from the UK
Botany Science Projects – from Botany Made Simple
43 Plant Biology Project Ideas – from Science Buddies
Biology Science Fair Project Ideas – from About.com/Biology (scroll down to Plant Projects)
Inquiry-based Activities for the 12 Principles of Plant Biology – from the American Society of Plant
Biologists
C-E-L-L-O – Plant cell in a Ziploc bag – from Penn State University’s Materials Research Institute
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