How do we map the complex family tree of the world's 250,000 flowering plants?
In short: Gwilym Lewis, Head of Legumes at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, explores the intricate world of plant taxonomy. This video highlights the importance of understanding plant relationships and the massive effort required to categorize the vast diversity of global flora.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, maintains a collection of over 7 million plant specimens. These samples document the various growth phases and geographical distributions of approximately 250,000 known species of flowering plants.
Gwilym Lewis discusses his career-long dedication to taxonomy, emphasizing that mapping these botanical connections is not just a scientific pursuit but a vital component of our daily lives. The film provides a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work at one of the world's most significant botanical institutions.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Plant Family Tree - Gwilym Lewis on plant relationships
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/gardening-the-plant-family-tree-gwilym-lewis-on-plant-relationships.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Gardening · Latest · A–Z · All topics
