Field of Science

A New Botanical Heroine

Rarely do female botanists appear as characters in pop culture. Exceptions that I can think of are Poison Ivy from the Batman comics and movies. She was a botanist before becoming a plant-loving super villain. Also there was the horrible movie Paycheck that featured a female botanist as the love interest. This movie sticks in my mind because the portrayal of her 'botany lab' was completely fantastical and laughable.

In comparison, I have much higher hopes for the botanical heroine in Elizabeth Gilbert's new novel The Signature of All Things. Not only is the heroine a botanist, but she is a bryologist! I have heard good things about the book both through reviews in the popular media and fellow bryologists. Fortunately for me I have great friends that indulge my passion for mosses and I was gifted this book for my upcoming birthday. I will keep you posted on my reading progress and any bryological gems that I find!

For more about the book, check out Barbara Kingsolver's review in the New York Times.

4 comments:

  1. Will look forward to your updates about this book. Don't forget that Dr Grace Augustine in Avatar was a botanist and "Wrote the book on Pandoran Botany" :)

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    1. Thanks Tim! I knew there were other and better botanical heroines I was missing. I only saw Avatar once and it was overseas with english subtitles. Your reminder has me thinking that I need to watch it again!

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  2. Also, the love interest/baddie introduced in the 2nd to last season of Dexter. She specialized in...wait for it...poisoning those she didn't like with exotic toxic plants she grew in her greenhouse.

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    1. In that vein have you seen Amy Stewart's book Wicked Plants? It is a really interesting book. It is amazing how many protective and thus potentially dangerous chemicals plants produce! I tend toward botany for good, but like reading about the darker side for education and information purposes. Thanks for sharing a botanical villain!

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