🌼 State flower of the week!!🌼 Myosotis alpestris (Boraginaceae) Like many members of the borage family, M. alpestris is covered in stiff hairs that can feel rough to the touch. These hairs, sometimes fortified with silica or calcium, act as a natural defense and can cause skin irritation.

Don't forget to stop by at the UT Herbarium next week for some delicious scones and engaging conversation! We will be giving tours of the herbarium while highlighting many of our amazing specimens! Fungi ✅ Flowers✅ Moss ✅ Scones ✅ Biologists ✅

The common name says it all!

Alabama’s state flower wasn’t always the camellia. Originally it was goldenrod, a native wildflower! In the 1950s it was swapped for camellia, but by the 1990s Alabama added the oak-leaf hydrangea as its State Wildflower to honor native plants.

This is no bird! The White Egret Orchid uses its "unique" shape to attract pollinators. 🐞 🦋 🐝

The partridge pea is a pollinator favorite, even though its flowers don’t produce nectar! Instead, nectar comes from special glands called extrafloral nectaries, attracting bees and beneficial insects alike. Photo courtesy of Thomas G. Barnes

Would the Bee Orchid fool you? 🐝

It’s tomato season! 🍅 Derived from a single species native to South America, Solanum lycopersicum has spread worldwide and become a favorite food for many. But this beloved fruit wasn’t always celebrated, Its toxic relatives and a few “deadly dinners” gave it a bad reputation!

Pawpaw season is here!!! Asimina triloba, or pawpaw, is a small tree in the custard-apple family (Annonaceae). These tropical-tasting fruits grow across the eastern U.S. Be sure to get out and enjoy them while you can!

Pucker up for Psychotria!

We're excited to announce this year's dates for our #Specimens & Scones events! The first date is Wednesday, October 1st, and the second is Thursday, November 13th, from 3 to 5 p.m. Please join us to learn what our #Herbarium offers while enjoying coffee, tea, and delicious scones! See you there!

Have you ever seen this plant before?

No squinting necessary to see the similarity!

Fall semester is here, and we couldn’t be happier to have our students back in action! We’re looking forward to another great semester filled with plants, people, and exciting new projects!

Check out this great video www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6-x... that @utknoxville.bsky.social graduate Cruz Gouveia put together about our US National Science Foundation funded May mini-term class (EEB 466 - Immersion in Collections Research)!

Of course I had to show my boyfriend all my new stickers 🙂‍↕️ #botany2025

Stop by the Society of Herbarium Curators booth at #Botany2025 to learn more about the society and to get some free stickers to show your support for herbaria! Not a member, join us using this link. www.herbariumcurators.org/membership/

Peak bloom time for rhododendrons is in late June! The best place to see rhododendron blooms in Tennessee is Roan Mountain State Park. The park is home to the worlk’s largest natural rhododendron garden, streatching over an increadible 600 acres! Photo curtesy of Dennis D. Horn.

Monarch caterpillars eat and rely on milkweed as a host species. In order to combat the declining populations of both milkweed and Monarch butterflies, TDOT is giving away free milkweed seeds. Get your free seeds here: tnpollinators.org/milkweed/ Photo courtesy of Thomas G. Barnes.

Did you know violets have a summer secret? While spring is the peak season for violet blooms, many species, like Viola sororia, will continue flowering through the summer in a surprising way. They produce cleistogamous flowers: small, closed blossoms that self-pollinate without ever opening.

Fleischmannia incarnata, also known as Pink Slender-Thoroughwort, is part of the Asteraceae family. This specimen was collected by Elaine Walker on August 23rd, 2023. It was located in Hawkins County, Tennessee. In terms of habitat, this species prefers moist soils and low, open fields.

Callicarpa americana, also known as the American Beauty-Berry, is part of the Lamiaceae family. This specimen was collected by V.E. McNeilus on August 9th, 1990. It was located on Jones Bluff in Knox County, Tennessee. In terms of habitat, this species prefers open meadows, woodlands and streams.

Bluebells are pollinated by butterflies, hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, skippers, and long tongued bees. Checkout our sign for more bluebell facts!

Lycopodiella appressa, also known as Southern Appressed Club-Moss, is a part of the Lycopodiaceae family. This specimen was collected by David H. Webb and Brenda S. Webb on August 11th, 1978. It was located on a wet, sandy roadside in Benton County, Tennessee.

Selaginella apoda, also known as Meadow Spike-Moss, is part of the Selaginellaceae family. This specimen was collected by R. Dale Thomas on April 4th, 1974. It was located in Jackson County, Louisiana.

Our team had a wonderful time participating in the 75th Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the GSMNP! Herbarium director Jessica Budke and lead digitizer Alex Dowd led moss walks, and collections manager Garrett Billings led wildflower walks. #SpringWildflowerPilgrimage #botany #gsmnp #NaturalHistory

Asclepias tuberosa, also known as Butterfly Milkweed, is a part of the Apocynaceae family. This specimen was collected by L. Phillippe on September 14th, 1973. It was located south-west of Rockford, in Blount County, Tennessee.

Arisaema triphyllum, also known as Jack-in-the-Pulpit, is part of the Araceae family. This specimen was collected by Dr. & Mrs. A. J. Sharp on May 1st, 1964. It was located near Calderwood in Blount County, Tennessee.

Our amazing volunteers transcribed 503 specimens at #WeDigBio! Thank you so much to our volunteers and our herbarium staff for making this possible. Pictured here is a beautiful specimen of Heterotheca camporum var. glandulosa collected by Frosty Levy. #CommunityScience #Herbarium #Botany #Tennessee

For our 2nd #WeDigBio presentation, TENN Collections Manager Garrett Billings walks us through the prominent collectors and species of the ETSU plant collection, highlighting some of the collection's unique localities and rare species Go Garrett! #Botany #NaturalHistory #EastTennessee #Herbarium

For our 1st #WeDigBio presentation, TENN Herbarium Assistant Tessa Nuchols takes us on a journey through the history of the ETSU Herbarium (which the TENN Herbarium acquired in spring 2024) and the plant communities of Roan Mountain in East TN. Great work, Tessa! #NaturalHistory #Tennessee #Botany

Day 2 of WeDigBio starts now! Dr. Jessica Budke, director of the Tennessee Herbarium, is giving us an intro to the herbarium and the work we’ll be doing. Soon we’ll start transcribing specimens from the ETSU Herbarium! #CommunityScience #Herbarium #Botany #NaturalHistory #EastTennessee #WeDigBio

Trillium cuneatum, also known as Little-Sweet-Betsy, belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. This specimen was collected by A.J. Sharp on April 22nd, 1949. It was located on the bluffs of Beech Creek in Wayne County, Tennessee.

Botrychium dissectum, also known as Sceptridium dissectum or Cut-Leaf Grape Fern, is part of the Ophioglossaceae family. This specimen was collected by Jesse M. Shaver on August 29th, 1937. It was located in Kelso, Lincoln County, Tennessee.

Betula alleghaniensis, also known as Yellow or Golden Birch, is part of the Betulaceae family. This specimen was collected by Michael Brandon Martin on May 31st, 2010. It was located in Roan Mountain Park, Carter County, Tennessee.

Selaginella rupestris, also known as Ledge Spike-Moss, is part of the Selaginellaceae family. This specimen was collected by A. F. Sharpe on June 30th, 1935. It was located near Richland Creek in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.

It's that time again—Time to VOTE for your favorite genera! We've made it to the ELITE EIGHT, but only YOU can decide who advances to the FINAL FOUR. Cast your vote below and shape the destiny of these glorious genera! forms.gle/yhUiz5782GSR...

Just 4 weeks left to join the UT Herbarium’s Virtual #WeDigBio event! Help us digitize herbarium specimens from ETSU’s vascular plant collection! Connect with scientists, enjoy talks, and admire stunning pressed plants! No experience needed—just curiosity & a love for plants!

Psilotum nudum, also known as Whisk Fern, is part of the Psilotaceae family. This specimen was collected by Maxwell S. Dory on March 21st, 1960. It was found along a road into Waiahole Valley, Oahu, Hawaii. This species can be found in low to mesic woods, thickets, swamps and rocky slopes.

Happy #TinyTuesday! This week we're focusing on Monarda fistulosa, a member of the mint family Lamiaceae. Here is a close up of a single bloom from the dense flower head. 🌸🔬 This photo highlights the Y-shaped stigma (look closely!) and feathery stamens. 👀

It's finally here! Our first round of Herbmadness2025 has ended, so get ready for round 2! Be sure to check out the poll in our story or the Round 2 highlights. Get acquainted with your favorite genera and make sure they make it to the final round! Round 2: March 10 - 14 Round 3: March 17 - 21

The UT Herbarium is hosting a virtual WeDigBio event on April 11-12, and we need your help transcribing and digitizing herbarium specimens from ETSU, which we are integrating into our collection. No experience needed! Join us from anywhere and contribute to botanical research! buff.ly/ONayTON

Herbmadness round two is here!! Vote on your favorite genus! Use the link below to vote!! forms.gle/ZD1EVwVgyiWk... Round 2: March 10 - 14 Round 3: March 17 - 21 Round 4: March 24 - 28 Round 5: March 31 - 4

Melampyrum lineare, also known as American Cow-Wheat, is part of the Orobanchaceae family. This specimen was collected by Frosty Levy and Elaine Walker on May 27th, 2013. It was located in the Doe Mountain Recreation Area in Johnson County, Tennessee.

Although Round 1 of Herb Madness 2025 is off to a good start, we still need YOUR help! Vote on our Round 1 Highlights on Instagram or use this link: buff.ly/jrwcijV #flattenedflora #marchmadness #botany #herbmadness2025

Hello botany enthusiasts! With March Madness right around the corner that means it's time for… Herb-Madness! 32 plant genera are set to compete in the 2025 Herb Madness Championship. We have an exciting lineup for this year’s Herb Madness, but we can’t do it without YOUR HELP. #herbmadness2025

🚨Urgent: Help Save Decades of Work by Navajo Botanists🚨 For decades, Arnold Clifford has built up the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium. Now, this collection is at risk—snowstorms are causing the roof to cave in, putting >30,000 specimens in danger. #IndigenousScience #Conservation #MutualAid #botany

Urgent support needed for a leaking roof of the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium! Digital Donations can be made through Venmo to @ShawnaB3- with the note "Carrizo Mountain Herbarium Urgent Support"

Ceanothus americanus, also known as New Jersey Tea, is part of the Rhamnaceae. This specimen was collected by Frosty Levy and Sollie Walker on June 22nd, 2013. It was located on Scioto Road in Unicoi County, Tennessee.

Monarda didyma (Scarlet Beebalm ) is a beautiful plant that also has medicinal uses. The leaves can treat bee stings, which is where the name “beebalm” comes from. Hummingbirds are drawn to its red flowers. This specimen was collected on July 3, 1976 in Johnson County, TN by David & Brenda Webb.