Botany

Checklist of Wisconsin Bryophytes: This list was originally produced by John A. Christy in 1989 and based on the county distribution maps from Bowers and Freckmann (1979). Since then, it has been augmented by literature found after that publication, holdings at the Milwaukee Public Museum Herbarium (MIL), and one specimen housed at the Chicago Academy of Sciences (Splachnum ampullaceum).

Ethnobotany: A comprehensive database of plant specimens, tribal photos, publications and other information from Huron Smith's research and studies of various Wisconsin tribes in the early 20th century.

Our Fine, Feathery Ferns: Over 60 different kinds of ferns are native to Wisconsin. Most of our species can be distinguished from one another by the division of their leaves and the shape and location of their sori. For example, Walking Fern has undivided leaves with elongate sori whereas the Wood Fern has divided leaves with round sori.

Titan Arum: The Museum's Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is native to the rain forests of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The plant's giant tuber usually produces a leaf up to 20 feet tall. When conditions are right, it sends up a large "flower" that can reach heights of eight feet or more. The flower (technically a cluster of flowers) emits a putrid odor of rotting flesh to attract pollinators during the two days it is open. Our plant was obtained in August, 2002. It came from a seed produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison's "Big Bucky."