T I N Y T a X O N O
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tiny taxonomy Tiny Taxonomy is a little garden with big ambitions, showcasing species that are in cultivation but rarely planted. I have selected a grouping of plants, and categorized them by common traits derived from an evolution towards feature miniaturization. Due to the diminutive size of their features, these plants are often overlooked and therefore tend to be under-specified. It seems that as the world around us gains complexity and intricacy, our biological world is tending towards monotony. As our experienc- es become more and more uniform, our capacity to apprehend transformation and beauty diminishes. Tiny Taxonomy considers micro-features a design opportunity suggesting subtlety as an Vancouveria hexandra attraction while inviting attention, respect, and even delight. (actual size) 7 The Species The History Each cylinder holds a single species. Each plant is selected for its foliage size, The history of classification is as old as our collective desire to organize the ranging from dwarf cushions and compact mounds to succulent rosettes or processes of life. Our capacity to appreciate and catalogue the natural world has grassy fronds. Most of the species on display have a direct correlation with hab- been well documented but it is rarely questioned for its cultural value. Creating itat, though it is by no means perfect. Habitat is reconstructed through substrate, an altered taxonomy is not a science; it is a design investigation that relates traits as soil texture, lichen, or moss provide context. Taxonomically useful features that are rarely amalgamated. At the same time, showing and isolating specimens include three main adaptations that can be understood through form, leaf, and is critical to establishing a link between taxa and their functional record, which flower. In terms of form, each species has a cushion-like shape, which is actually is a systematic endeavor. In taxonomic terms, the functional record is a method a collection of thousands of tiny individual plants. Single plants this small could of storing data, contributing to the refinement of nomenclature while establish- never survive on their own, but by growing in closely packed clusters, they trap ing a reservoir of information. A herbaria sample is also a live dataset that can warm air and moisture, protecting themselves from wind and ice penetration. be understood as a mapping between different conditions and classifications. In Hugging the ground becomes a survival strategy, which alters the soil conditions fact, taxonomy is no longer the science of nomenclature that Linnaeus1 devel- around each plant, further generating a microclimate that fosters more life. Sec- oped, nor is it the provocative observations expressed by Goethe2. It is quick- ond, the plants in full sun tend to have small leaves, while larger deeply lobed ly becoming a system less reliant on rank-based nomenclature (such as genus, leaves are found mainly in sheltered habitats. The small leaves make them less family etc.) and more dependent on phylocode3. These new forms of delineation susceptible to dehydration and damage. Hairs on the leaves prevent air move- are contingent upon statistical and historical databases, which propose complex ment over the leaf surface and protect the leaves from low temperatures. Finally, branching diagrams built through computational methods. If the future of tax- the plants often have disproportionately large flowers, or flowers that are held onomy lies in a complex arrangement of code, it may only further the loss of out on long stems. This adaptation is extremely attractive to insects and birds common knowledge in favor of a highly specific and inaccessible logic. But no that would not regularly pursue small plants. Some flowers persist, but most computer can replace tactility, just as a constructed history does not reveal ex- have specific flowering periods. These combined traits generate a unique taxon- perience. Tiny Taxonomy questions strict classification and reveals the necessity omy offered here for consideration. for physical engagement. By isolating each plant, features come into focus and 8 9 Les Jardins de Métis 1 Vaccinium boreale 22 Cypripedium acuale Grand-Métis, Québec Northern Blueberry Pink Lady’s Slipper 2 Athyrium filix-femina 23 Primula bulleesiana Lady Fern Candelabra Primrose 3 Arctostaphylos alpina 24 Cornus canadensis Alpine Bearberry Bunchberry Viola labradorica 25 Waldsteinia fragarioides Alpine Violet Barren Strawberry 4 Polygonatum biflorum 26 Athyrium filix-femina Solomons Seal ‘Frizelliae’ 5 Maianthemum Tatting Fern canadense 27 Claytonia virginica Canada May Flower Fairy Spuds 6 Dryopteris phegopteris 28 Leontopodium alpinus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Beech Fern Edelweiss 7 Myosotis sylvatica 29 Dianthus delt. ‘Flashing Light’ Wood Forget-me-not Maiden Pink 8 Anenome multifida Rubra 30 Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Dwarf Windflower Plumbago 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9 Abies balsamea 31 Carex pensylvanica Balsam Fir Common Oak Sedge 10 Iris pumilla 32 Aster alpinus ‘Albus’ Dwarf Iris Alpine Aster 11 Convallaria majalis 33 Primula vialii Lily of the Valley Poker Primrose 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 Houstonia caerulea 34 Pilosella aurantiaca Azure Bluet Devil’s Paintbrush 13 Scilla siberica 35 Aruncus aethusifolius Siberian squil Dwarf Goats Beard Sagina subulata 36 Armeria maritima 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pearlwort ‘Laucheana’ 14 Carex spicata Sea Thrift Spiked Sedge 37 Aquilegia flabellata ‘Ministar’ 15 Sisyrinchium angustifolium Fan Columbine Blue-eyed Grass 38 Fragaria x. ‘ Shades 16 Arenaria hookeri of Pink’ 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Sandwort Pink Flowering Strawberry 17 Primula florindae 39 Campanula cochlearifolia Cowslip Fairy Thimble Bellflower 18 Vaccinium vitis-idaea 40 Artemisia sp. Lingonberry Western Mugwort 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 19 Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’ 41 Caltha palustris Dwarf Astilbe Marsh Marigold 20 Epimedium rubrum 42 Saxifraga paniculata Red Barrenwort Livelong Saxifrage 21 Phlox subulata ‘Rose’ Mountain Phlox Les Jardins de Métis Grand-Métis, Québec Les Jardins de Métis Grand-Métis, Québec 1 6 11 16 21 2 7 12 17 22 3 8 13 18 23 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 4 Boston, Massachusetts 9 14 19 24 1 Erodium petraeum ssp. Crispum 10 Lewesia x cotyledon 18 Helianthemum apenninum Alpine Geranium Cliff Maids White Rockrose 2 Primula auricula ‘Silverway’ 11 Houstonia caerulea 19 Epimedium sempervirens 5 Marginate Primula Azure Bluet Bishop’s Hat ‘Variegated #1’ 10 15 3 Epimedium x ‘Sunshowers’ 12 Daphne arbuscula 20 Pelargonium endlicherianum 20 Bishops Hat ‘Muran Castle’ Winterhardy Pelargonium Daphe 25 4 Linum elegans 21 Campanula biebersteiniana Toadflax 13 Gautheria procumbens Bellflower Eastern Teaberry 5 Sarracenia purpurea 22 Oxalis enneaphylla Purple Pitcher Plant 14 Draba bryoides Scurvy-grass Sorrel Rough saxifrage 6 Geranium sessiflorum 23 Sibbaldiopsis tridentata v. nigricans 15 Epimedium Shrubby Fivefingers Chocolate-leaf Cranesbill grandiflorum higoense 24 Vitaliana primuliflora v. cinerea Bishop’s Hat ‘Bandit’ 7 Epimedium x Omeiense ‘Akane’ Goldprimel Bishops Hat 16 Ranunculus crenatus 25 Vaccinium macrocarpon Crenate Buttercup 8 Androsace barbulata Native Cranberry Rock Jasmine 17 Sisyrinchium angustifolium Blue-Eyed Grass 9 Vancouveria hexandra White Inside-out Flower Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston, Massachusetts Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston, Massachusetts Belgrave Square, Chelsea 1 Helianthemum 9 Viola cormuta ‘Alba’ 18 Ilex sp. London, England Alpine Rockrose Wood violet Holly seedlings ( The Hooper Family) ( Circle of Lebanon) ( Christmas xxx) 2 Tricyrtis formosana 10 Geranium cinereum 19 Galium odoratum Toad lily Ashy cranesbill Sweet woodru (The Elms) 11 Arctostaphylos alpina 20 Aquilegia vulgaris 3 Sphagnum Moss Alpine bearberry ‘Ruby Port’ ( William Pigut Wood) ( The Pond) Common columbine (Comfort’s Corner) 4 Fraxinus angustifolia 12 Anonome sylvestris Ash saplings Wood anenome 21 Myostis arvensis (Hillway Backs) (Sayer’s Glade) Forget-me-not (Lamb’s Path) 5 Trillium luteum 13 Piosella aurantiaca Wood trillium Orange hawkweed 22 Epimedium versi. Sulphureum Bishop’s Hat (Fleet Riverstones) 14 Oxalis acetosella ( The Blind Traveler) 6 Myrrhis odorata Wood sorrel Sweet cicely (Oppenheim Monument) 23 Asplenium trichomarnes Maidenhair spleenwort (Dorothy’s Corner) 15 Sagina subulata (Henry Grey) 7 Saxifraga bryoides Scotch moss Mossy saxifrage (The Cornice) 24 Acaena inermis Purple sheep’s burr (North Gate Path) 16 Parietaria ocinalis 8 Pratia pedunculata Pellitory of the Wall 25 Asplenium scolopendrium 1 Star creeper (Montagu Augustus Baker) Hart’s tongue fern (The Wildwood) (Dante Gabriel Rossetti) 17 Primula vulgaris Wild primrose 6 2 11 7 3 16 12 8 21 4 17 13 9 22 5 18 14 10 23 19 15 24 20 25 Belgrave Square, Chelsea London, England Belgrave Square, Chelsea London, England Rosetta S. Elkin works at the intersection of practice, teaching, research, exhibitions, and writing, across scales and mediums. As assistant professor of landscape architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design, her teaching and research focus on innovative applications of ecological and vegetative technologies that highlight the role of plants, from innovative seed mechanics to bionetworks. Elkin’s current research focuses on the historical and geopolitical practice of specifying live matter as a solution to complex urban and rural issues. This research is supported by the Graham Foundation, the Dutch Fonds BKVB, and Canada Council for the Arts. Most recently, Elkin has been leading a GSD research team that is