Category: Plant Families
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The Art of Identifying Plant Families
A Botanical Illustrators’ Guide to Spot Plant Patterns & Draw What You See Learning how to identify plant families is like discovering nature’s secret code, and it just so happens that observational drawing is one of the best ways to crack it. As botanical artists, we notice delicate details that many people miss: … Continued
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How to Identify & Illustrate The Nightshade Family
How to Identify & Illustrate The Nightshade Family Exploring Plants in Solanaceae By Wendy Hollender, botanical illustrator & educator The Nightshade Family Solanaceae Fun Fact: The potato is not a fruit but a tuber, part of the plant’s root system. A shout out to Tributary Farm for the majority of these wonderful vegetables. Meet the … Continued
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Mushrooms of New York 2 (July thru October 2023)
Mushrooms of New York (July thru October 2023) Fungi Kingdom Fun Fact: Mushrooms are fascinating fungi, not plants, that are more closely related to animals than vegetables. If you go foraging for mushrooms, please remember – SAFETY FIRST! Here’s what you need to know before, during, and after foraging. Consult field guides to identify … Continued
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Welcome to the (Plant) Family
Did you know that Chocolate, Cotton, Okra and Hibiscus are all related?! Plants are classified by their reproductive structures, so plants in the same family have flowers (and other reproductive parts) that look alike, but otherwise, they are free to be their unique (and delicious!) selves. Plant Awareness The more I draw botanicals, … Continued
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The Mint Family
The Mint Family Lamiaceae Fun Fact: Gill-over-the-Ground is a versatile, edible, and medicinal member of the mint family often used to support digestive health. Plants in the Mint Family share these traits: -Square stems –Opposite leaves –Usually aromatic –“Mouthy” flowers with 5 petals Learn more about the Mint Family Mint Family Portrait by Wendy Hollender (Buy … Continued
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The Amaryllis Family
The Amaryllis Family Amaryllidaceae Fun Fact: Waxed, pre-potted amaryllis bulbs can bloom indoors without any water or soil. Plants in the Amaryllis Family share these traits: Flowers -Produced on scapes –6 tepals produced in 2 whorls –6 stamens Leaves -Pungent or not –Linear parallel veining Bulbs reform annually from the base of the old bulb … Continued
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The Carrot Family
The Carrot Family Apiaceae Fun Fact: Before the 16th century, carrots were primarily purple, white, or yellow. Dutch farmers are credited with breeding orange varieties during the 17th century. Plants in the Carrot Family share these traits: -Compound Flower Umbels -5 sepals, 5 petals, usually bisexual –Usually hollow flower stalks -Pinnate leaves –Tap root –Aromatic … Continued
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The Sunflower Family
The Sunflower Family Asteraceae Fun Fact: The Sunflower Family is the largest family of flowering plants with over 30,000 individual species. Plants in the Sunflower Family share these traits: -Composite Flowerheads (center disk female flowers, florets that develop into seeds) –Outer large petals, called ligulate or ray florets, that house male ray flowers often are … Continued
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The Gourd Family
The Gourd Family Cucurbitaceae Fun Fact: Beyond food, dried gourds were essential for bowls, instruments, and water storage by ancient civilizations. They were used as currency in Haiti in the early 1800s, and the country’s currency is still called a “gourde.” Plants in the Gourd Family share these traits: -Vining plants with tendrils –Unisexual flowers … Continued
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The Magnolia Family
The Magnolia Family Magnoliaceae Fun Fact: This majestic family is one of the oldest flowering plants on the planet! Magnolia trees grow so tall and straight that Indigenous people used them to craft canoes. Plants in the Magnolia Family share these traits: Flowers Petals and sepals look alike 3 sepals 6 petals or more … Continued
