Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor shares an exciting find from the field. In yesterday’s post I mention a long connection I have with dawn redwoods, despite only recently becoming acquainted. The dawn redwoods themselves have a story. Scientists discovered dawn …
Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor identifies a plant he saw. Yesterday, in a sidewalk garden, I noticed a striking plant. It had big purple flowers, perhaps 8 to 10cm across, consisting of many long filaments. The flowers reminded me of …
Self-tutoring about trees: the tutor mentions a linden he’s noticed. In the northwest corner of a local sports field is a hardwood tree, perhaps 70 ft tall. Its trunk is oval; its max diameter might be 18 inches. The bark …
Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor shares an observation about a red elder. I know of few trees that produce new blooms while their fruit is on. Yet, I (and now you, too) can witness a red elder doing so. In …
Red elder tree flowers and fruits simultaneously Read more »
Biology self-tutoring: the tutor looks up the definition of sympatric. sympatric: inhabiting the same region as two distinct species. On BC’s coast, western hemlock is sympatric with sitka spruce. Source: wikipedia www.merriam-webster.com www.for.gov.bc.ca www.for.gov.bc.ca
Self-tutoring about plant identification: the tutor identifies the daisy-like plant growing in the backyard. Identifying this one took some time, but I believe it’s feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). The non-pointed, lobed leaves seem to be decisive, as many plants, apparently, have …
Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor wades into the distinctions between the European gooseberry and the American one. Ribes uva-crispa is the old world gooseberry. Its berries can be an inch (2.5cm) across – its leaves, 6cm. However, its nodal spines …
Gooseberries: Ribes uva-crispa vs Ribes hirtellum Read more »
Self-tutoring about fruit: the tutor looks up some apple morphology. The woody stem from which the apple hangs is called the stalk. Source: infovisual.info
Tutoring English, one is interested in definitions. The tutor examines the definition of invasive species in connection with the common dandelion. The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is from Europe, rather than native to North America. Although it seems to be …
Identifying plants means constant self-tutoring. The tutor shares another find: pearly everlasting. I know I’ve seen pearly everlasting elsewhere; it grows very commonly on the west coast. Yet, I’ve never thought to identify it. The flowers really are pearly white, …