Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - July 08, 2005

From: Mountain Ranch, CA
Region: California
Topic: General Botany
Title: Smarty Plants on Wildflowerology
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I know there is a word for everything, but I can't find the offical word for the study of wildflowers. Wildflowerology just doesn't sound right. Can you help?

ANSWER:

How about Feraflorisology? or Indigenaphytology? OK, I just made those up. The consensus around the Wildflower Center is that there is no special word for the study of wildflowers.

Here are some accepted names for the study of plants or parts of plants:

Phytology (or Botany)--the study of plants
Dendrology--the study of trees
Dendrochronology--the study of the age of trees
Pomology--the study of fruits
Algology--the study of algae
Palynology--the study of pollen
Aeropalynology--the study of pollen grains and spores in the atmosphere
Bryology--the study of bryophytes
Phytosociology--the study of the relationship of plants

For a list of other "-ologies", you can visit Wikipedia, the free online encylopedia.

I suppose we will have to settle for Botanist, or Phytologist, who specializes in wildflowers or native plants.
 

More General Botany Questions

Plants adding calcium to soil
June 08, 2006 - Hi, I am looking for a resource to help determine the functions of native plants. For instance, nitrogen fixing can be found in Indigo, Lead plant, lupines. Are there other plants that add back cal...
view the full question and answer

Definition of a weed
April 22, 2003 - What is your definition of a weed?
view the full question and answer

Pure white primroses (Oenothera speciosa)
May 13, 2008 - Hello MS. Smarty Plants! I have wildflowers instead of grass in my backyard (mow once a year and it's spectacularly beautiful) and I noticed some pure white primroses (the rest are all pink or wi...
view the full question and answer

Plants that might absorb moisture from air
February 27, 2007 - I am searching for a plant that will reduce the relative humidity of a building. I work for a manufacturing company that is experiencing problems with water condensing on ceilings and equipment due t...
view the full question and answer

Failure of flameleaf sumacs to produce fruit
January 09, 2013 - Our two flame leaf sumacs produce none to little fruit. Both are about 4 years old, quite large, healthy looking; flowering this year was very good, but no fruit. What keeps them from producing fruit?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.