Botanical Art by Laura Watson

  Wild Ginger Botanical Illustrations by Laura Watson Discovering the Beauty of Asarum caudatum : Western Wild Ginger Asarum caudatum , commonly known as Western Wild Ginger, is a fascinating native plant found in the moist, shaded forests of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. This intriguing plant has captured my curiosity as a naturalist and inspired my creativity as a botanical artist. In this article, I’ll share some intriguing facts about wild ginger, its habitat, and my personal connection to it—all complemented by my watercolor illustrations. Wild Ginger Botanical Illustrations by Laura Watson A Closer Look at Asarum caudatum Despite its name, Western Wild Ginger isn’t closely related to the culinary ginger we use in cooking. Instead, it belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family, which includes a variety of woodland plants with unique adaptations. The plant’s common name comes from the strong ginger-like scent of its rhizomes when crushed, a characteristic that has mad...

image generated by Laura Watson If you've ever looked at scientific plant names, you might have noticed a pattern—most plant family names end in "-aceae" (like Orchidaceae for orchids or Rosaceae for roses). But why is that? A Rule of Botanical Naming The "-aceae" ending comes from the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) , the system that regulates how plants are scientifically named. This suffix helps standardize plant classification and makes it easier for botanists to group related species. How Are Family Names Created? Plant family names are typically based on the name of a key genus within that family. For example: Rosaceae comes from Rosa (roses) Orchidaceae comes from Orchis (a type of orchid) This method ensures a logical connection between plant names and their broader family groupings. A Few Exceptions Before the "-aceae" rule was enforced, some families had different names, like Compositae ...