One of the most distinguished amateur botanists from the 19th century is railway man and philanthropist William M. Canby. Over a 40-year career, Canby collected tens of thousands of wild plants, organized his own herbarium, and financed dozens of expeditions across the United States. Despite having few academic credentials, Canby earned a stellar reputation among leading contemporary naturalists of his time, including Asa Gray and John Muir, who accompanied him on many collecting trips. Even Charles Darwin was impressed by Canby’s acumen for observation, especially relating to carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap(Dionea). Modern-day citizen scientists can carry on Canby’s legacy by helping to document all 30,000 of his original plant specimens that now reside within The New York Botanical Garden herbarium.
Verify Your Email
Check your email (including spam!) and click on the provided link.
Until then, you won't be able to earn badges, or access other members-only features, but you can still browse thousands of projects and events!
