Plants Go to War: A Botanical History of World War II

We will look at military history from a botanical perspective, from victory gardens and agriculture to timber, rubber, coal, and cotton, the many plant products that supplied the military and the home front during a time of intense need and high demand.  The talk will include a special look at medicinal plants, including their use in the Pacific war, the County herb Committees in England, and the development of penicillin as a critical wartime drug. Join us for a unique view of World War II through a botanical lens. In short, we would not have won the war without plants!

Judith Sumner is a botanist who specializes in flowering plants, plant adaptations, garden history, medicinal plants, and ethnobotany. 

Registration is required.  Please register by completing the form or calling 978-249-9515.