It was SUCH a pleasure to talk with Ms. Hambrick's 6th grade classes at the Franciscan School yesterday about trees and plants! We all need reminders of why we love our work! [thread]
@NorthCarolinaEE @NCStateCNR @PlantLoveStory @WCPSS @TFSRaleigh @arborday @NCBotGarden #botany

I started by asking why we need to learn about plants, and showing them this slide. I've shown a variation of this slide to many different audiences, without explanation. Then I go to the next slide and ask them to name what they saw.

Without fail, everyone sees the animals, but no one remembers the plants. Plant blindness is real! And plants are fundamental to our existence! We need to change this!

Can you name the plants? Answers in the next tweet (don't cheat!). Each #plant has a story. #plantblindness

Left-right, top-bottom: Red buckeye produces the first available nectar for hummingbirds. Blue butterwort is a carnivorous plant that traps insects in its slick leaves. Sassafras is used to make root beer! Pawpaw is the host plant for zebra swallowtail butterflies!

Plants ROCK!

Red buckeye = Aesculus pavia
Blue butterwort = Pinguicula caerulea
Sassafras = Sassafras albidum
Pawpaw = Asimina triloba

That is your #plantlove for the day! Thanks for listening! Together, we can cure PLANT BLINDNESS!
#NCStateDendrology