Botany
“De Materia Medica”, compiled in the 1st century by Greek physician Dioscorides, remains one of the earliest comprehensive texts on the medicinal properties of plants. From ancient herbals and the symbolic flora of mythology, to the microscopic breakthroughs of modern plant science, the study of botany has long shaped how we understand life on Earth. In this wing, we explore the deep roots and ever-branching growth of humanity’s relationship with the plant kingdom.
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Burrs #
With their tiny hooks and barbs, burrs are nature’s master hitchhikers - ingeniously evolved to cling to fur, feathers, and clothing in a bid to spread far and wide. These small, often-overlooked seeds and pods use mobility not through motion, but by catching a ride. Their strategy is ancient, effective, and surprisingly influential: the burr-inspired design of Velcro in the 20th century is just one example of how closely human innovation can be inspired by nature’s designs. In this exhibit, we examine the structure, function, and surprising legacy of burrs, from their ecological roles to their unexpected impact on material sciences.
Samples: Agrimony (likely “Common Agrimony”)
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Milkweed #
With their silky filaments and buoyant fluff, milkweed seeds are nature’s aerial voyagers—crafted to ride the wind in a graceful drift that carries life far beyond the parent plant. Each seed comes equipped with a parachute-like tuft, allowing it to float across fields, rivers, and roads, settling wherever chance delivers it. Their strategy is both delicate and resilient, ensuring survival through dispersal. Beyond their ecological brilliance, milkweed has woven its way into human history: its fibers were once harvested for textiles and even used as buoyant filling in life jackets during wartime. In this exhibit, we document this remarkable and important plant which has been key to sustaining monarch butterflies as well as its many other uses.
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Did you know there are numerous species of milkweed?