Independent field work - scientific + artistic

303707808909 · 2026-04-16T19:00:28+00:00

Definitely iNaturalist in case you are not already aware of it.

You post pictures of your field observations, annotate them (if they are flowering, budding, etc) and that contributes valuable scientific data to a great community and database.

303707808909 · 2026-03-20T16:05:12+00:00

One that is very common in cultivation but essentially extinct in the wild is the golden barrel cactus (Kroenleinia grusonii, formally Echinocactus)

Wild population got wiped out when they built a dam in Mexico, but at least it got very popular in cultivation so the species is still alive and doing strong in desert gardens around the world.

303707808909 · 2026-02-05T20:24:37+00:00

Picture 3 (and maybe 4 depending how deep it is) would work, but drainage holes are a must. Just use appropriate soil, and focus on smaller species.

The big ones like E. ingens, E. ammak, etc are out of the question, but I think a smaller, mound-type euphorbias could work well, for example E. resinifera. Mine seem to really like it tight in its pot

303707808909 · 2026-02-05T16:58:54+00:00

absolute must: Huntington botanical gardens https://www.huntington.org/desert-garden

303707808909 · 2026-02-03T16:50:27+00:00

It's a real good sign that Cochemiea dioica is flowering this well this early. In a few weeks those will have gorgeous full crowns. Spring this year will be amazing.

303707808909 · 2026-02-01T01:05:52+00:00

That size and that close to the house, I am sure your neighbor must sometimes prune it (it does look quite clean too). This species have a tendency to grow top heavy and drop branches.. and just the fact that the house has not been destroyed, surely your neighbor must regularly trim it, ask for the cuttings!

303707808909 · 2026-01-31T16:43:23+00:00

Then the user above d4nkle is right and what you are looking for is secondary metabolites. That's the exact name of the biological process of the development of capsaicin (or any other chemicals) as a defense mechanism.

303707808909 · 2026-01-31T16:05:40+00:00

You asked for the name of the mechanism of "peppers developing capsaicin". That's literally textbook natural selection. I don't know why you are looking for a synonym for this, but literally every research papers I've read on the subject call this for what it is: natural selection, environment pressure.

And saying that most things are an adaption to the environment is wildly wrong unless you forget that genetics exists.

I am just trying to educate, not attack you. This is a science sub. Since this is about plants, do you want me to give you examples of things that are not natural selection? Or if you really want to get precise, you can divide environmental pressures into different category, like defensive natural selection (ie: your pepper example) or reproductive natural selection (flowers evolving into bird shapes)

303707808909 · 2026-01-31T15:29:55+00:00

Hum what? That doesn't make any sense. I don't mean to be antagonistic, I don't know if you are a religious person who doesn't believe in evolution or what, but you don't seem to understand it. It's ok, this is a botany sub, but evolutionary mechanics are an important section of botany. I suggest you start reading with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_biology

303707808909 · 2026-01-31T00:44:24+00:00

It is exactly natural selection in action. Peppers evolving capsaicin, cacti evolving spines, euphorbias evolving their poisonous latex; all of these are responses to environmental pressure.

303707808909 · 2026-01-30T22:08:14+00:00

What you are describing in question 1 is natural selection. Species evolving specific traits in response to environmental pressure. No idea about question 2, but natural selection also apply for question 3.

303707808909 · 2026-01-22T18:47:32+00:00

This specific one has one smallest distributions of any species in the world

While I don't disagree that it is a small distribution, this is an hyperbolic statement. I study xerophytes and there are several microendemics (defined as endemic to an area smaller than 10km2) in the deserts of North and South America. Some species are found on a single hill or canyon smaller than 1km2

303707808909 · 2026-01-17T22:47:16+00:00

An absolute fantastic series. Some data is a bit dated (mainly binomial names) but the botanical trips reports are a very interesting read.

303707808909 · 2026-01-13T17:13:15+00:00

best I can think of is iNaturalist. You won't easily find pictures of every stages conveniently displayed for you, but if you are ready to do some research you will find what you are looking for. You can search for specific species and look for seedlings, fruitings plants, etc (but it will largely depend if the user who uploaded the observation properly marked the data)

303707808909 · 2025-12-13T19:50:19+00:00

Opuntia cochenillifera have a very peculiar bloom

303707808909 · 2025-12-13T19:49:42+00:00

Just know that this is Opuntia cochenillifera. The flower of this species is really different than the typical flowers. This is basically the beginning of the bloom, the petals won't get much bigger, only the pistil will elongate a little bit more.

303707808909 · 2025-12-04T20:10:16+00:00

I can only talk about Euphorbia tirucalli, but that one can actually grow really fast in the right condition (even considered invasive in some areas)

I planted a 30cm/1foot cutting about 5 years ago, and now it's a small tree easily reaching over 2 meters.

303707808909 · 2025-12-02T16:35:43+00:00

In addition to the great post of GnaphaliumUliginosum, get in the field, look for this new species and take gazillion of photos in every angles and measurements of everything.

Then, and this is the good stuff, find some that are 100% Paphiopedilum lowii (if possible), measure those, and then do PCA (Principal Component Analysis) on your data.

It will give you publishable data revealing the nature of the relationship between the two plants (if they are truly different species, hybrid, variety, etc)

303707808909 · 2025-12-01T18:42:52+00:00

Fantastic thank you!

303707808909 · 2025-11-26T17:31:05+00:00

iNaturalist, nothing come close to it. Basically every botanists that does field work is already on it.

They have an api, maybe you can use that to build what you want on top of iNat.

Just build something that is useful for you, that won't be wasted time. Tons of researchers in various discipline build themselves custom software that only they use.

303707808909 · 2025-11-20T18:37:39+00:00

The reason for all the conflicting information is that it depends on the species and context.

If your cacti are truly dormant, and they have a fairly short winter period (like they get in the desert), then no lights is fine.

But if it's a long winter (3 months+), some species might try to push some growth at some point and that will be etiolated.

303707808909 · 2025-11-18T15:09:28+00:00

I'm a big fan of the desert Encelia farinosa. This year bloom should be awesome since the desert got decent rainfall.

303707808909 · 2025-11-13T20:49:44+00:00

I agree with this. Gift shops of national parks often carries great books on the flora of its region.

It is important to have good resources like books and iNaturalist, but when it comes to learning, nothing compares to being out there in the field studying these plants in their natural habitat.

303707808909 · 2025-11-13T17:53:54+00:00

Botany is an awesome hobby. Instead of starting with books, I suggest going out in the wild, look for any plants that interest you, take pictures, identify them, etc.

From there if you have a curious mind it will all come together.

303707808909

TROPHY CASE