History of Plant Classification, Problematic Plant Names, and the Sexualization of Plants (The Curious Gardener Series)
October 26, 2026 2:00PM - 3:00PM
How did we decide what to call a plant—and who gets to decide?
From the origins of plant classification to modern times, the naming of plants has been filled with debates, disagreements, and cultural assumptions. In this lively and thought-provoking lecture, we’ll take a closer look at how plants have been classified and named throughout history, why some plant names have become controversial, and what the language of botany reveals about the people and cultures who created it.
We’ll also explore the fascinating—and occasionally humorous—history of the sexualization of plants. For centuries, scientist have used human metaphors to describe plant parts and reproductive processes, often employing surprisingly suggestive terms.
Part history lesson, part botanical deep dive, and part conversation about the language we use to describe the natural world, this program invites us to look at familiar plants in a whole new way.
Come curious, leave with a few new perspectives—and perhaps never look at a flower quite the same way again.
Print
Email