Botanist

Botanist

Image courtesy of
Watershed Stewards Project "I met with a singular plant today in bloom of which I preserved a specimen; it grows on the steep side of fertile hills near this place...
~Meriwether Lewis, June 1, 1806

Responsibilities:
Your vast knowledge of plants and ecosystems has allowed you to become the botanical expert in the Corps of Discovery! There are over 122 new species of plant waiting to be discovered! Because many of the plants you will find have never been seen before, the Corps is counting on you to collect specimens and to use your knowledge of botany to identify these new species. It is your responsibility to take notes in your field journal as you travel so that you will have detailed information to bring to the scientists back East. You will also need this information to create your ten questions for the game. Be sure to answer the following questions as you travel so that your journal will be accurate!

Questions:
1. Where do you find this plant along the trail?
2. If the Indians use this plant, what do they use it for?
3. Is it a flower, a tree, or something else?
4. What does this plant look like?
5. Do Lewis and Clark use this plant for any particular purpose?
6. Specifically, what were the name of the two plants Lewis and Clark found? Describe them.

Web Sites:

You can't study plants without your tools of the trade! Find out more about one of your most important tools here.

Would you eat a plant called bitterroot? Find out if anyone did!

On their journey, Lewis and Clark came across the Pink Fairy. Click here to find out what this has to do with you!

See all the magnificent flowers that Lewis and Clark encountered on the trail.

Find out more about the The Douglas Fir Tree and Oregon Grape.

Lewis and Clark greatly influenced the future of botany. Read about why their discoveries changed science.