Scientific Illustration

Rhus diversiloba or Toxicodendron diversilobum - western poison oak or Pacific poison oak.

Draft genome sequence of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis

“Hevea brasiliensis, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is the major commercial source of natural rubber (NR). NR is a latex polymer with high elasticity, flexibility, and resilience that has played a critical role in the world economy since 1876.

Results

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of H. brasiliensis. The assembly spans ~1.1 Gb of the estimated 2.15 Gb haploid genome. Overall, ~78% of the genome was identified as repetitive DNA. Gene prediction shows 68,955 gene models, of which 12.7% are unique to Hevea. Most of the key genes associated with rubber biosynthesis, rubberwood formation, disease resistance, and allergenicity have been identified.

Conclusions

The knowledge gained from this genome sequence will aid in the future development of high-yielding clones to keep up with the ever increasing need for natural rubber.”

BMC Genomics 2013, 14:75

Image source

oakapples:

Colour chart used by Austrian botanical illustrator Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826) for his field observations. His technique was to sketch a ‘painting-by-numbers’ in situ, which we he could later add colour to after returning from whichever botanical expedition he was on. The example of his painting shown here is a depiction of Grevillea banksii, named for the great Sir Joseph.

You can see a sketch with the numbers here:

http://scientificillustration.tumblr.com/post/5616283295/

(via dendroica)

Stapelia variegata by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

Nicolai Josephi Jacquin Miscellanea austriaca ad botanicam, chemiam, et historiam naturalem spectantia, cum figuris partim coloratis. Vol. I-[II]..
VindobonæEx officina Krausiana,1778-1781..
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32723152

Rhus diversiloba or Toxicodendron diversilobum - western poison oak or Pacific poison oak.

Oncidium lanceanum by Benjamin C. on Flickr.

(via mossofthewoods)

Astromelia by Benjamin C. on Flickr.

wapiti3:

Rosa rubiginosa, Rosa micrantha and Rosa agrestis (as R. sepium): Eng. Bot. 468–470, 1864. on Flickr.

The families of flowering plants
source-Delta Keys

mucholderthen:

Indian Pipes by
*Banvivirie  [Rachel Caauwe]