Botany in the Movies

Although they play a central role in life on earth, plants are rarely the subjects of film and the people who study them are often quirky supporting characters. Sarah Gage, takes a look at Hollywood's portrayal of botany and botanists in a recent issue of the Botanical Electronic News.

The lighthearted article begins with a test of our knowledge of botany in the movies before examining the films that feature the topic. In the early twentieth century, botanists were often depicted as less than manly men. Later the masculinity of plant scientist was less suspect, but their characters were often nervous stereotypes. Although women have been prominent in botany since the early nineteenth century, it is hard to find an example in film until the 1970s.

There are many worthy stories from the natural world that would make fascinating movies. If the film industry is looking for new ideas, it might find a rich source of stories in the passionate pursuits of botanists.

Link: Somewhere Over the Herbarium: A Botanist Looks at the Movies from the Botanical Electronic News

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 12:45 PM on March 16, 2005