Cassava: From Ancient Staple to Sustainable Super Crop
The article is about cassava—its traditional uses, global food products, industrial starch applications, biocomposites, and…
Cassava: From Ancient Staple to Sustainable Super Crop
The article is about cassava—its traditional uses, global food products, industrial starch applications, biocomposites, and bioenergy—and why this powerful root crop may be one of the most important sustainable resources of our time. “Cassava is proof that the most powerful solutions for our future are often roots planted deep in our past.” – The Economic…
Marigold: All you need to know
Scientific name: Tagetes spp. Family: Asteraceae Marigold is one of those plants that almost everyone recognizes. You have probably seen its bright orange or golden blooms lining garden beds, edging vegetable plots, or glowing in pots on a sunny porch. But marigold is much more than just a cheerful garden flower. It is a powerful…
The Red Queen Hypothesis: The Hidden Evolutionary Arms Race Shaping Plants
The article is about how the Red Queen Hypothesis explains the constant evolutionary race in plants, shaping their anatomy, species, and even the ways we use them in agriculture and industry. “Evolution isn’t about winning; it’s about staying in the race while the world keeps changing around you.” – The Economic Botanist When you think…
Lemon Balm: All you need to know
Scientific name: Melissa officinalis L. Family: Lamiaceae If you’ve ever brushed against a lemon balm plant on a warm afternoon, you know the magic. One gentle touch, and the air fills with a soft, sweet lemon scent. It’s fresh, calming, and just a little nostalgic. Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and…
Bark Cloth: The Amazing Ancient Fabric of Kings
The article is about how an ancient tree’s bark became one of the world’s oldest textiles and how that tradition is still alive today. “Cloth can tell a story, but bark cloth tells the story of a people and their land.” – The Economic Botanist Bark cloth might not be something you see every day…
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel): All you need to know
Scientific name: Hamamelis virginiana L. Family: Hamamelidaceae If you have ever used witch hazel toner on your skin or admired bright yellow ribbon-like flowers blooming in the dead of winter, you have already met hamamelis, commonly known as witch hazel. This remarkable shrub bridges the worlds of ornamental gardening, herbal medicine, and traditional botany in…
The Secret Life of Wood: Formation and Its Value for Botanical Collections
The article is about how wood is formed, what makes it unique, how we can read tree rings to find a tree’s age, and why wood matters in economic botany collections. “Wood is not just a material—it is the story of a tree’s life, written in rings and fibers that we can read if we…
Calendula: All you need to know
Scientific name: Calendula officinalis L. Family: Asteraceae Calendula is one of those plants that feels like sunshine in flower form. If you have ever seen bright orange or golden blooms glowing in a garden bed, chances are you were looking at calendula, most commonly known as pot marigold. It has been loved for centuries as…
Garlic: All you need to know
Scientific name: Allium sativum L. Family: Alliaceae Garlic is one of those plants that quietly runs the world. It’s been seasoning food, supporting health, and showing up in folk remedies for thousands of years. You’ll find it in almost every cuisine, from Italian pasta sauces to Korean marinades, from Middle Eastern spreads to simple roasted…
Floweriness Explained: Why Flowers Make You Happier, Calmer, and Healthier
The article is about how floweriness—the simple, human response to flowers—can enhance calmness, happiness, and emotional wellbeing in everyday life. “When we make space for flowers, we make space for ourselves to feel better—without needing to explain why.” — The Economic Botanist This article is about a quiet but powerful idea: floweriness. You may not…
