US museum exhibit to focus on endangered plants

[demoleft]

Source: afp

AFP - The Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History on Saturday opens an exhibit of pictures endangered, threatened and extinct plants from around the world, officials said.

The goal is "to record the beauty of these plants that are more likely to disappear," said Carol Woodin with the American Society of Botanical Artists and the exhibit coordinator.

The 44 illustrations include detailed work from of "some of the top artists in the world," said Woodin.
...
The artists, who come from Australia, Brazil, Israel, South Africa, South Korea, Britain and the United States, were invited to choose the endangered plant of their choice to illustrate, as long as that plant was on an institutional list of endangered plants.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20100814-us-museum-exhibit-focus-endangered-plants

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"losing paradise" - the exhibit title.
wish i could be there.


(pic: afp)

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[Liberation Angel]

2. The Smithsonian is awesome, Thanks

Hope I can get to see this.

I lived in DC for three years in law school and loved to take breaks to check these things out.

The botanical gardens there are exceptional as well right in front of the Capitol Building/Congress.

K&R

[theHandpuppet]

3. Also from the article

"The US flora is estimated to encompass about 20,000 species," said Raven.

Of these, "nearly 3000 US species are in decline," he told AFP.

Wow -- that's an awfully high percentage. I wonder what plants are on the list. :-(

[glitch]

4. I wish I could see it too. I bet they put up a beautiful website though.

What a beautiful, squandered world.