Bio – J. Richard Abbott

A Botanist’s Biography

Photograph of Richard Abbott in Bolivia in 1995 — Elfin forest, Bolivia, 1995

Even as a child, I was fascinated by plants, spending hours on my hands & knees in the yard, nose pressed to the clovers, sorrel, violet, grasses, dandelion, mosses, etc. As soon as I was old enough, I disappeared into the woods to explore a whole new world of plants: oaks, maples, hickories, mulberries, sedges, wild ginger, etc. Even though I could tell that they were different from each other, I didn’t actually know what most of them were called, as I had never heard of botany, knew nothing of scientific names, and had only the barest grasp of common names, with no one to teach me until I joined the scouts, at which point I learned a few common names like poison ivy and Virginia creeper. Once I realized that some plants had names, I also realized that that must mean that all plants have names, if only I could find someone to teach them to me (ignorantly unaware of the existence of botanical field guides).

Photograph of Richard Abbott — At dissecting scope (FLAS), 2003

Before I actually took my first botany course, I got a job in a herbarium, a museum of dried plant specimens. Imagine my euphoria when all the plants I had seen as a child were lying there in front of me as specimens with names on them!! My desire to see and study new plants has led me to botanize in 49 states coast to coast and 20 countries outside the US, including a term abroad in Europe and a year living in South America.

Photograph of Richard Abbott with Setaria magna. — With *Setaria magna*, FL, 2008

I was driven to eventually complete a master’s degree and doctorate in botany (at the University of Florida), because I wanted to keep learning about plants. This desire to keep learning about plants also led me to St. Louis for several years, home of the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the premier botanical research institutes in the world.

At NYBG, studying library *ex siccatae*, historical drawing of *Bruguiera*, Feb 2016

I also worked for two years as a Research Associate at the New York Botanical Garden, another premier botanical research institute, where I worked with Robert Naczi on the New Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada.

Activities

Botanizing

For more than 20 years now, plants have been the primary focus in my life both professionally and personally. In addition to my academic pursuits, I enjoy plant walks and nature hikes as well as plant photography—nature fixes are essential for my health and well-being. (See the excellent book The Nature Fix by Florence Williams.)

Photograph of Richard Abbott at Longwood Gardens — “Rabbott” in Pierce’s Park at Longwood Gardens, 2016

Photograph of Richard Abbott in Ecuador, 1994. — Ecuador, 1994

Photograph of Richard Abbott and Ipomopsis rubra — With *Ipomopsis rubra* in Florida, 1997.

Photograph of Richard Abbott taking a picture of the Cranberry Lake Preserve sign in the autumn — Cranberry Lake Preserve in Westchester, NY, Oct 2015

Photograph of Richard Abbott in Ecuador near large tree — Ecuador, 1994

Photograph of Richard Abbott in Ecuador — With *Halenia* in Ecuador, 1994.

Photography

I spent years largely avoiding cameras, as they interfered with my attention on the plants. Eventually, though, I realized that photos are excellent teaching tools, and they can document plants when specimens can not be collected. Although I rarely take a picture with ‘art’ in mind, plants are often quite photogenic and beautiful. Presented here is a tiny phylogenetic cross-section sample of the 400,000+ digital images (often tied to vouchers) I have shot (and hope to someday share with the world). Crisp, diagnostic, botanical details are usually my primary goal, but sometimes color combos and textures or soft, blurry backgrounds are beautiful.

The pictures here are reduced resolution, low quality images, but they’re still really nice, and I have no problem with you using them in the classroom or in a presentation. Please do not repost them online, do not use them in a publication, do not disseminate them in any way. If you use them in a class or powerpoint for students, please make sure to credit them to me (copyright J. Richard Abbott), as you’re earning your salary in part off my work, and especially make sure to keep them behind a password-protected site available only to your students. If you would like to use my images otherwise, please contact me.

Photograph of Tsuga canadensis — *Tsuga canadensis*, IL

Photograph of Sinocalycanthus chinensis — *Sinocalycanthus chinensis*, IL

Photograph of Sassafras albidum — *Sassafras albidum*, NJ

Photograph of Caladium bicolor — *Caladium bicolor*, Panama

Photograph of Bouteloua curtipendula — *Bouteloua curtipendula*, IL

Photograph of Sanguinaria canadensis — *Sanguinaria canadensis*, IL

Photograph of Ranunculus sceleratus — *Ranunculus sceleratus*, IL

Photograph of Aquilegia canadensis — *Aquilegia canadensis*, IL

Photograph of Enemion biternatum — *Enemion biternatum*, IL

Photograph of Parthenocissus quinquefolia — *Parthenocissus quinquefolia*, IL

Photograph of Euonymus americanus — *Euonymus americanus*, KY

Photograph of Sauvagesia erecta — *Sauvagesia erecta*, Panama

Photograph of Viola striata — *Viola striata*, IL

Photograph of Trifolium pratense — *Trifolium pratense*, IL

Photograph of Geum vernum — *Geum vernum*, IL

Photograph of Myrica gale — *Myrica gale*, NY

Photograph of Myrica pensylvanica — *Myrica pensylvanica*, CT

Photograph of Ailanthus altissima — *Ailanthus altissima*, IL

Photograph of Thlaspi arvense — *Thlaspi arvense*, IL

Photograph of Notocactus leninghausii — *Notocactus leninghausii*, IL

Photograph of Dioncophyllum thollonii — *Dioncophyllum thollonii*

Photograph of Impatiens pallida and I. capensis — *Impatiens pallida* and *I. capensis*, IL

Photograph of Gaultheria procumbens — *Gaultheria procumbens*, NH

Photograph of Trientalis borealis — *Trientalis borealis*, ME

Photograph of Calystegia sepium — *Calystegia sepium*, RI

Photograph of Cordia lima — *Cordia lima*

Photograph of Lamium maculatum — *Lamium maculatum* ‘Beacon Silver’, IL

Photograph of Fittonia albivenis — *Fittonia albivenis*, MO

Photograph of Centaurea maculosa — *Centaurea maculosa*, KY

Photograph of Hippobroma longiflora — *Hippobroma longiflora*, Panama

Photograph of Conium maculatum — *Conium maculatum*, IL

Photograph of Sambucus canadensis — *Sambucus canadensis*, IL

Gardening

I love cool & unusual plants and gardens that look full — a bit wild (and weedy-looking, to be honest, although I do try to avoid invasives), is my favorite, especially with natives. Landscape design comes second to showcasing neat and unique plants, although I do love textures that come from competing or complementary growth forms (sometimes using otherwise mundane plants). Generally, if I garden for food, it’s to grow a mean fresh salsa (peppers, onions, cilantro, and tomatoes) — so yummy! The photos are of my ex front yard back in St. Louis, initially populated primarily by doomed plants salvaged from landscaping jobs. (My primary employment was at MoBot, but I worked part-time with the awesome Brandy & Joe at Simply Sustainable Landscaping.)

Photograph of St. Louis yard — View of whole front yard; June 2013

Occasional Forays into Handicrafts

I am not an artist, but I do enjoy the occasional craft project with different media, as well as taking mini-courses (e.g., one of my favorites combined paper-making with kokedama in an outdoor setting). Ever a biologist, I favor projects featuring plants and animals, albeit usually anthropomorphized or cartoony.

Photograph of light-switch cover painted with watermelons. — *Citrullus lanatus* decorating a light-switch

Photograph of light-switch cover painted with whale. — Whale and other sea creatures on a light-switch

Photograph of light-switch cover painted with nature scene. — Nature-themed light-switch cover

Photograph of light-switch cover painted with fruit. — Nutritious and cheerful fruit on a light-switch

Photograph of light-switch cover painted with a bunny and a bear — Bear and bunny living in harmony on light-switch cover

Photograph of three fish made of plant materials — Three plant-fish sitting on a log

Fun with Friends

I enjoy spending time with friends, including group sports such as kickball and softball. I love playing racquetball and tennis (but haven’t made them happen the last few years). I miss working out with my buddy Keith (back in FL). Euchre, anyone? (or most any other card or board game also cool…) Usually, I’m engaged in the moment (so no time for cameras) or behind the camera, which is my way of apologizing to all the friends over the years with whom I have no pictures — people photography is generally not my thing… 🙂