Glass Nepenthes

[dvg]

I found this thread posted on another forum.



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Here's a crazy set of botanical models all made of glass - including some nepenthes.

www.flickr.com/photos/doncoyote/3027715789/in/set-72157608820077312/

www.flickr.com/photos/doncoyote/3027712425/in/set-72157608820077312/

The collection is at Harvard University.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_Flowers

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Those glass botanical models are amazingly intricate and accurate depictions of the plants they represent.

It would be a real treat to see them first hand one day.

dvg

[unclemasa]

Thanks for the fascinating link dvg.

I have often wondered why scientists have not come up with a better way of preserving botanical specimens. I am positive we have the technology to preserve these sorts of specimens in a manner where that they retain their natural dimensions. I can only think of a couple of reasons why we don't:

• closet space ;D
  
• a requirement that somebody be willing to break with romantic tradition
  

[shawnintland]

DVG - That was a great experience in learning to 'Trust'...at very first look at those images my thoughts ran to, "No, he's got the wrong picture with his text! Those can't be the glass ones he talking about!" Man, spectacular! What a craftsman/artist! I want to see them close up! To bad they are so far away! Anybody here on the forum near enough to go shoot close-ups for us all? And that's just the neps - did you see how many species he did? Thanks again for posting this!
~Shawn

[mikuláš]

Amazing....I, too, was confused at first and didn't see where the glass plants were in those pictures

[kain]

I saw that exhibit twenty years ago, or so. I remember it being pretty amazing, but I don't remember Nepenthes. Funny what the brain chooses not to retain. I wasn't too into plants then, though. Maybe I'll buzz by and see it again, soon. If my wife can find her digital camera, I'll take pics. Harvard's only about an hour and a half by car for me, so...