17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Truman's New Solar Clock Garden: Plants that Tell Time
Stacey A. Smith
Dr. Steven Carroll, Faculty Mentor
In the spirit of 18th century botanist Carl Linnaeus’s horologium florae, a combination floral clock/sundial garden is being designed for installation on Truman State University’s campus. Floral clocks arrange plants according to when their flowers open. For example, California poppy typically opens its flowers mid-morning, while moonflower opens at dusk. Visitors should therefore be able to tell time based on which blossoms are open. The garden’s main design feature will be a sundial whose “hour markers” will be formed by low walls of concrete and recycled glass. Transverse walls will indicate the dates of the equinoxes and solstices. “Cells” formed by these intersecting walls will be used as planting beds for the floral clock. Truman’s Solar Clock Garden will be installed south of the new Science Division greenhouse, and will be visible and open to the public; it will be a unique, attractive garden, like very few others worldwide.
Keywords: horologium florae, floral clock, sundial garden
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 26-44
Location: OP Lobby & Atrium
Time: 1:15