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Botany

Science 2,142 clues
Practice Botany

Overview

Botany is a substantial Jeopardy! topic with 1,802 clues and 17 Final Jeopardy appearances. Unlike most topics that split roughly evenly between rounds, Botany is heavily weighted toward Double Jeopardy, 61.4% of its clues appear in DJ versus just 37.6% in the Jeopardy round. This makes it a topic where the writers clearly feel comfortable pushing difficulty. Final Jeopardy accuracy is a brutal 29.8%, making Botany one of the hardest FJ topics on the show.

~1,802 clues · 17 FJ appearances · 29.8% FJ accuracy

The category breakdown is broad: "BOTANY" (336 clues), "FLOWERS" (304), "TREES" (226), "PLANTS & TREES" (169), "PLANTS" (142), "STATE FLOWERS" (38), "FLOWER POWER" (30), "NATIONAL FLOWERS" (15), "MEDICINAL PLANTS" (15), "BOTANICAL NAMES" (12), "BIBLICAL BOTANY" (11), "WILDFLOWERS" (10), "POISONOUS PLANTS" (10), "HOUSEPLANTS" (10), "BIRTH MONTH FLOWERS" (10), "BOTANISTS" (10), and "DESERT PLANTS" (7). The sheer number of flower- and tree-specific categories means you can expect Botany clues to show up under many different headings throughout a game.

The gimmes: Tulip (~28, 100%), bamboo (9, 100%), cactus (9, 100%), hemlock (8, 100%), balsa (8, 100%), rose (8, 100%), poison ivy (5, 100%), baby's breath (5, 100%), chlorophyll (5, 100%), iris (6, 100%), lilies (5, 100%), jasmine (5, 100%), cork (5, 100%), photosynthesis (5, 100%), poppies (5, 100%).

The stumper zone: The anther (6, 0%: total stumper), chrysanthemum (5, 50%), corn (7, 44.4% wrong), the pistil (5, 42.9% wrong), foxglove (6, 28.6% wrong), pollen (6, 25% wrong), holly (5, 40% wrong), moss (5, 40% wrong).

Study strategy: Start with the gimmes: the 100% accuracy answers are your foundation and will carry you through most Jeopardy-round clues. Then master the flower anatomy terms (anther, pistil, stamen, stigma), which are the topic's biggest stumper zone and dominate the harder DJ clues. Finally, memorize the 17 Final Jeopardy clues; they follow clear patterns (etymology, named-for-people, plant families) and at 29.8% accuracy, knowing even half of them puts you far ahead of the average contestant.


Flowers

~750 clues across flower-related categories · covers FLOWERS, STATE FLOWERS, NATIONAL FLOWERS, FLOWER POWER, WILDFLOWERS, BIRTH MONTH FLOWERS

The Marquee Flower: Tulips

Tulip / tulips (~28 clues · 100%), The single most-tested flower in Jeopardy! Botany, and a perfect gimme at 100% accuracy. The show returns to the same handful of angles again and again. The Dutch tulip mania of the 1630s is the #1 clue angle: in the 1600s, tulip bulbs created a speculative frenzy on the Dutch stock market, with single bulbs selling for more than the price of a house. This was also a Final Jeopardy answer (1992). Tulips were originally imported to Europe from the Ottoman Empire; the word "tulip" derives from the Turkish word for "turban," reflecting the flower's shape. The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa is another recurring angle; the Netherlands gifted Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs after World War II in gratitude for sheltering the Dutch royal family. If a Botany clue mentions Holland, the Dutch, bulbs, or Ottoman origin, the answer is almost certainly tulip.

Orchids

Orchid / orchids (~17 clues · 76.9%), A high-frequency answer that gives contestants more trouble than you might expect. The corsage angle is the most common: cattleya and cymbidium are the two orchid varieties most often used in corsages, and the show loves to test this. Orchids can take five to seven years to bloom from seed, which comes up in difficulty-related clues. At one point a single orchid specimen sold for $4,500; the show uses this as a "most expensive flower" angle. The spider orchid variety is tested for its unusual shape. With over 25,000 species, orchids are one of the largest flowering plant families on Earth, and the show occasionally tests this superlative.

Classic Garden Flowers

Rose (8 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. Roses appear across multiple categories, state flowers, literary references, and general botany. The rose family (Rosaceae) also includes apples, strawberries, and cherries, which is a favorite tricky clue angle.

Iris (6 clues · 100%), Another gimme. The iris is named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, reflecting the flower's wide color range. It is the fleur-de-lis of French heraldry, though the show sometimes tests whether contestants know this connection. Tennessee's state flower.

Lilies (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. The lily family (Liliaceae) is broader than most people realize, encompassing tulips, hyacinths, and asparagus. The Easter lily and the calla lily are the most commonly tested varieties. A 1997 Final Jeopardy clue referenced "muguet," the French name for lily of the valley.

Jasmine (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. Jasmine is prized for its fragrance and is used in perfumes and jasmine tea. It is the national flower of the Philippines and Pakistan, which comes up in "NATIONAL FLOWERS" categories.

Baby's breath (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. Gypsophila is its genus name, and the show tests the common name far more than the scientific one. It's the delicate white filler flower in bouquets and arrangements.

Poppies (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) produces morphine and codeine. The California poppy is the state flower of California. Poppies are associated with remembrance of fallen soldiers, stemming from the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields."

Dandelion (5 clues · 80%), The name comes from the French "dent de lion" (lion's tooth), referring to the jagged shape of the leaves. Despite being treated as a weed, every part of the dandelion is edible. The fluffy seed head that children blow on is called a "clock" in some regions.

Trickier Flowers

Chrysanthemum (5 clues · 50%), Half of all contestants miss this one, usually because the spelling and pronunciation trip them up under pressure. The chrysanthemum is the imperial flower of Japan and appears on the Japanese Imperial Seal. "Mum" is the common abbreviation. It's the birth flower for November.

Watch out: Chrysanthemum has a 50% wrong rate. The Japanese imperial connection and the "mum" nickname are the two angles most likely to help you recognize the clue.

Foxglove (6 clues · 71.4%), Source of the heart medication digitalis. William Withering, an 18th-century English physician, discovered its medicinal properties. The "fox" in the name may derive from "folk's glove" (fairy glove). This is a key answer for MEDICINAL PLANTS and POISONOUS PLANTS categories, foxglove is both a medicine and a poison depending on dosage.

Watch out: Foxglove has a 28.6% wrong rate. When a clue mentions digitalis or a plant that yields heart medication, foxglove is the answer.

Mistletoe (9 clues · 88.9%), A parasitic plant that grows on apple, maple, and other hardwood trees. The Christmas kissing tradition is the most common clue angle, but the show also tests its botanical nature: mistletoe is a true parasite, drawing water and nutrients from its host tree. It is the state floral emblem of Oklahoma.

Holly (5 clues · 60%), Trickier than expected at 60% accuracy. Holly's association with Christmas and winter decorations is the primary angle. The red berries and spiny evergreen leaves are distinctive. A 2019 Final Jeopardy clue tested holly in a Christmas context, only 1 of 3 contestants got it right.

Magnolia (5 clues · 80%), Named for French botanist Pierre Magnol. The magnolia is one of the most ancient flowering plants, with fossil records dating back over 95 million years. It is the state flower of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Anemone, The name comes from the Greek word for "wind" (anemos), because the wind was thought to open the flower. This was a 1985 Final Jeopardy clue that all three contestants missed. Also called the windflower.

Bougainvillea, Named for French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who encountered the vine in Brazil during his 1766–1769 circumnavigation of the globe. This was a 2000 Final Jeopardy clue, only 1 of 3 contestants got it right. The plant is originally from tropical South America.

State, National & Birth Month Flowers

The show maintains dedicated categories for these subtopics (38 clues for state flowers, 15 for national flowers, 10 for birth month flowers). Key facts to know:

  • State flowers: Rose (New York), violet (Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin), goldenrod (Kentucky, Nebraska), magnolia (Mississippi, Louisiana), Cherokee rose (Georgia), saguaro cactus blossom (Arizona), forget-me-not (Alaska), mistletoe (Oklahoma, technically a floral emblem).
  • National flowers: Cherry blossom (Japan), tulip (Netherlands/Turkey), lotus (India, Vietnam), jasmine (Philippines, Pakistan), rose (United States, adopted 1986), edelweiss (Austria, Switzerland).
  • Birth month flowers: Carnation (January), violet (February), daffodil (March), daisy (April), lily of the valley (May), rose (June), larkspur (July), gladiolus (August), aster (September), marigold (October), chrysanthemum (November), poinsettia (December).

Trees

~400+ clues across TREES, PLANTS & TREES categories

High-Frequency Tree Answers

Eucalyptus (12 clues · 84.6%), The dominant tree answer in Jeopardy! Botany. Australia is the primary clue angle, eucalyptus is native to Australia and is the primary food source for koalas. The "gum tree" nickname appears frequently. Blue gum is the most widely planted eucalyptus species worldwide, which was tested in a 2009 Final Jeopardy clue (0 of 3 correct). Other angles include eucalyptus as firewood, its connection to Botany Bay (Captain Cook's landing site in Australia), and kino resin, a reddish extract from eucalyptus bark used in traditional medicine. Eucalyptus oil is used as a natural insect repellent and decongestant.

Balsa (8 clues · 100%), Perfect gimme. The lightest commercially harvested wood in the world. Ecuador is the world's largest producer. The word "balsa" is Spanish for "raft" Kon-Tiki explorer Thor Heyerdahl built his famous raft from balsa wood. Model airplane builders know it well. Despite its lightweight reputation, balsa is technically a hardwood, not a softwood, a favorite tricky detail.

Elm (5 clues · 80%), Dutch elm disease, caused by a fungus spread by bark beetles, devastated American elm populations throughout the 20th century. The disease actually originated in Asia, was identified in the Netherlands (hence "Dutch"), and spread to North America in the 1920s. Elm-lined streets were once a hallmark of American towns.

Sequoia (5 clues · 80%), Named for Sequoyah, the Cherokee leader who created a written syllabary for the Cherokee language. The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the world's largest tree by volume, while the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is the tallest. This was a 2006 Final Jeopardy clue; the only one in Botany's 17 FJ appearances where all three contestants answered correctly.

Cork (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), primarily grown in Portugal, which produces about half the world's supply. The bark can be stripped every nine to twelve years without harming the tree, making it a sustainable crop. Wine bottle stoppers are the most famous use.

Hemlock (8 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy, but the show exploits an important distinction: there are two entirely different plants called hemlock. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is the herbaceous plant in the parsley and carrot family that killed Socrates; he drank a cup of it after his trial in 399 BC. The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a coniferous tree and is the state tree of Pennsylvania. When a clue mentions Socrates, the answer is the poison plant; when a clue mentions a state tree or conifer, it's the tree. The show loves testing whether contestants know the difference.

Bonsai (5 clues · 80%), The Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers. Though associated with Japan, the practice originated in China (where it is called "penjing") before being adopted and refined by the Japanese. The word "bonsai" literally means "planted in a tray." Mr. Miyagi's bonsai trees in The Karate Kid are a pop-culture reference the show occasionally uses.

Trees in Final Jeopardy

Trees feature prominently in FJ clues:

  • Yew (1999 FJ) After one species of the genus Taxus was threatened by overharvesting, the cancer-fighting compound taxol was made synthetically. Only 1 of 3 got it right. Taxol (paclitaxel) was originally derived from the bark of the Pacific yew.
  • Sequoia (2006 FJ) The Sequoyah/Cherokee leader connection. 3 of 3 correct; the easiest Botany FJ ever.
  • Hickory (2013 FJ) Andrew Jackson's nickname was "Old Hickory." 0 of 3 correct. The wood is valued for smoking meat and making tool handles.
  • Holly (2019 FJ) Christmas/winter connection. 1 of 3 correct.

Other Notable Trees

Oak, The oak is the national tree of the United States (adopted 2004) and appears across many world cultures as a symbol of strength and endurance. Acorns are its fruit. Cork oak is a species.

Maple, The sugar maple produces maple syrup (primarily in Vermont and Quebec). The maple leaf is Canada's national symbol. Maple wood is prized for furniture, flooring, and musical instruments (guitar necks, violin backs).

Willow, The weeping willow is the most recognizable variety. Willow bark contains salicin, a compound related to aspirin, another MEDICINAL PLANTS crossover. The cricket bat is traditionally made from willow wood.

Yew, Beyond the taxol FJ clue, yew wood was the preferred material for English longbows in medieval warfare. Yew trees are commonly found in English churchyards and can live for thousands of years. All parts of the yew are poisonous except the fleshy red aril surrounding the seed.


Plant Science & Anatomy

~120+ clues across BOTANY and BOTANICAL NAMES categories · the hardest sub-area in the topic

This is the section where Botany becomes difficult. While flowers and trees test cultural knowledge, plant science clues demand technical vocabulary; and contestants consistently struggle here.

Flower Anatomy: The Stumper Zone

The anther (6 clues · 0% correct), The single hardest answer in all of Jeopardy! Botany. Zero percent accuracy across six appearances. The anther is the pollen-producing part of the stamen, specifically, the sac-like structure at the top of the filament where pollen grains develop. Clues describe it as the part of the stamen that contains pollen, or the structure at the tip of the filament. Contestants consistently fail to distinguish the anther from the stamen itself or from other flower parts.

Watch out: The anther is a 100% stumper. If a clue asks for the specific pollen-bearing part at the tip of the stamen's filament, the answer is always "the anther." The stamen is the whole male reproductive structure; the anther is just the pollen sac at the top. Memorize this distinction; it is the single highest-value piece of Botany knowledge you can acquire.

The pistil (5 clues · 57.1%), The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of the stigma (where pollen lands), the style (the tube connecting stigma to ovary), and the ovary (where seeds develop). Contestants mix up the pistil with the stamen (the male part) at an alarming rate.

Watch out: The pistil has a 42.9% wrong rate. Remember: pistil = female (think "p" for "pistil" and "p" for "producing seeds"). Stamen = male (think "stamen" and "stamina" it produces pollen actively).

Pollen (6 clues · 75%), The male gametes of flowering plants. Produced in the anther, transported by wind, insects, birds, or water to the stigma of another flower. Hay fever is caused by airborne pollen, a common clue angle. The study of pollen is called palynology.

Watch out: Pollen has a 25% wrong rate, usually when clues frame it technically ("male gametophyte" or "microspore") rather than using everyday language.

Stamen, The complete male reproductive organ, consisting of the filament (the stalk) and the anther (the pollen sac at the top). The number of stamens varies by species and is used in plant classification.

Stigma, The sticky tip of the pistil where pollen grains land and germinate. Not to be confused with the style (the tube below it) or the social concept of stigma.

Photosynthesis & Cell Biology

Photosynthesis (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. The process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. The chemical equation (6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2) occasionally appears in clue form. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts.

Chlorophyll (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. The green pigment in plants that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light and reflects green, which is why plants appear green. In autumn, as chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments (carotenoids, anthocyanins) become visible, producing fall colors.

Botanical Classification & Terminology

The show tests botanical vocabulary at higher dollar values and in DJ:

  • Genus and species: The binomial nomenclature system developed by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century. The genus name is capitalized; the species name is lowercase. Both are italicized. Example: Quercus alba (white oak).
  • Angiosperm vs. gymnosperm: Angiosperms are flowering plants (fruits enclose seeds); gymnosperms are non-flowering plants like conifers (seeds are "naked," not enclosed in fruit). The word "gymnosperm" comes from Greek for "naked seed."
  • Monocot vs. dicot: Monocots have one seed leaf (cotyledon), parallel leaf veins, and flower parts in multiples of three (grasses, lilies, orchids). Dicots have two seed leaves, branching veins, and flower parts in multiples of four or five (roses, oaks, sunflowers).
  • Deciduous vs. evergreen: Deciduous trees shed their leaves seasonally; evergreen trees retain them year-round. Most conifers are evergreen; most broadleaf trees in temperate zones are deciduous.
  • Rhizome, tuber, bulb: Underground storage and reproductive structures. A rhizome is a horizontal underground stem (ginger, iris). A tuber is a swollen stem tip (potato). A bulb is a modified bud with fleshy scales (onion, tulip).
  • Taxonomy: The science of classifying organisms, following the hierarchy: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. For plants, "Division" is used instead of "Phylum."

Botanical Latin & Greek Roots

The BOTANICAL NAMES category (12 clues) tests the meaning of scientific names:

  • Flora: Roman goddess of flowers; now means the plant life of a region.
  • Dendrology: The study of trees (Greek "dendron" = tree).
  • Phytology: Another word for botany (Greek "phyton" = plant).
  • Chloro-: Green (Greek "chloros"). Chlorophyll = green leaf. Chloroplast = green body.
  • -phyte: Plant (Greek). Epiphyte = a plant that grows on another plant (orchids, mosses). Xerophyte = a plant adapted to dry conditions (cacti).

Food & Useful Plants

~200+ clues across PLANTS, MEDICINAL PLANTS, DESERT PLANTS, and POISONOUS PLANTS categories

Food Plants That Trip Up Contestants

Corn (7 clues · 55.6%), Surprisingly difficult at 55.6% accuracy. The show frames corn in ways that obscure the answer: calling it a "cereal grass," referencing its "Old World" vs. "New World" origins, or using its scientific name Zea mays. Corn (maize) is native to the Americas; it was domesticated from the wild grass teosinte in Mexico around 7,000 years ago. The word "corn" historically meant any grain in British English (as in the Corn Laws), which the show exploits as a tricky angle.

Watch out: Corn has a 44.4% wrong rate. When a clue mentions "cereal grass native to the Americas," "Zea mays," or "maize," the answer is corn. Don't be thrown off by old-fashioned or scientific framing.

Peanut (Botanically, the peanut is not a nut) it's a legume, a member of the pea and bean family. This was a 2001 Final Jeopardy clue (2 of 3 correct), and it remains one of the most frequently tested Botany facts. Peanuts are also called groundnuts because the plant flowers above ground but the pods develop underground. George Washington Carver developed hundreds of uses for peanuts.

Cassava, The source of tapioca, which comes from the starchy root of this tropical plant. This was a 2018 Final Jeopardy clue (1 of 3 correct). Cassava is also known as manioc or yuca (not to be confused with yucca, a different plant entirely). It is a staple food for over 500 million people in the developing world, particularly in Africa and South America.

Grapes, The Thompson Seedless is the most popular grape variety in the United States. This was a 2007 Final Jeopardy clue (2 of 3 correct). Viticulture is the science of grape growing. Grapes are botanically classified as berries.

Sesame, "Open Sesame" from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is the signature cultural reference. This was a 2011 Final Jeopardy clue (0 of 3 correct). Sesame is one of the oldest cultivated plants, grown for its oil-rich seeds for at least 3,000 years. The seeds are used in tahini, halva, and as a topping on bread and buns.

Bamboo: The Giant Grass

Bamboo (9 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy and one of the most reliable gimmes in Botany. The key fact the show returns to repeatedly is that bamboo is technically a grass; the tallest grass in the world, in fact, reaching heights of 20 to 120 feet depending on the species. In Ecuador and other tropical countries, bamboo is used as a building material for houses and scaffolding. It is also the primary food source for giant pandas. Bamboo can grow up to three feet per day, making it one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. The show sometimes references "southern cane" or simply describes a very tall grass, and the answer is bamboo.

Poisonous Plants

Poison ivy (5 clues · 100%), Perfect accuracy. "Leaves of three, let it be" is the mnemonic the show loves to test. The oil urushiol causes the allergic rash. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are all members of the genus Toxicodendron. Despite its name, poison ivy is not actually an ivy; it belongs to the cashew family (Anacardiaceae).

Hemlock, See the Trees section for the dual identity of this plant. In the POISONOUS PLANTS category, the focus is on Conium maculatum, the herbaceous poison that killed Socrates.

Foxglove, See the Flowers section. Foxglove is both poisonous and medicinal; the difference between a therapeutic dose and a lethal dose of digitalis is dangerously narrow.

Medicinal Plants

The MEDICINAL PLANTS category (15 clues) tests the connection between plants and pharmaceuticals:

  • Foxglove → digitalis (heart medication)
  • Willow bark → salicin → aspirin
  • Cinchona bark → quinine (malaria treatment)
  • Opium poppy → morphine, codeine (pain relief)
  • Pacific yew → taxol/paclitaxel (cancer treatment)
  • Aloe vera: burns and skin irritation; the gel from its succulent leaves
  • Eucalyptus → eucalyptol (decongestant, used in cough drops)

Desert Plants

The DESERT PLANTS category (7 clues) focuses on plants adapted to arid conditions:

  • Cactus (9 clues · 100%) Perfect accuracy. Cacti store water in their thick stems and have spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss. The saguaro cactus is iconic of the American Southwest and can live for over 150 years. The prickly pear cactus produces edible fruit (called "tuna" in Spanish).
  • Xerophytes: The general term for drought-adapted plants. Cacti, agaves, and Joshua trees are all xerophytes.
  • Sagebrush: The dominant plant of the American Great Basin. Nevada's state flower is actually sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).

Final Jeopardy & Study Patterns

17 FJ appearances · 29.8% accuracy; one of the hardest FJ topics

Botany's 17 Final Jeopardy clues follow distinct thematic patterns. Studying these patterns is essential because the 29.8% overall accuracy means most contestants are guessing; and a prepared player can exploit this edge decisively.

FJ Theme: Etymology & Word Origins (5 clues)

The show's favorite Botany FJ angle asks you to identify a plant from the origin of its name:

  • Anemone (1985, 0/3) "This spring flower gets its name from the Greek word for 'wind.'" The windflower. All three contestants missed it.
  • Lavender (1988, 2/3) "Its name is from the Latin for 'to wash' because Romans used it to scent their baths." From Latin "lavare" (to wash).
  • Tulip (1992, 2/3) "In the 1600s this flower's bulb created a frenzy on the Dutch stock market." The tulip mania of the 1630s.
  • Bougainvillea (2000, 1/3) "Originally from tropical America, this vine is named for a French navigator." Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
  • Poinsettia (2015, 0/3) "Named for U.S. ambassador to Mexico Joel Roberts..." Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the plant to the U.S. in the 1820s. All three missed it.

Pattern: When an FJ clue gives you a personal name or a foreign-language root, think about plant names that sound like people (poinsettia, bougainvillea, magnolia, dahlia, wisteria, fuchsia, forsythia) or that derive from Latin/Greek vocabulary.

FJ Theme: Plant Families & Classification (4 clues)

  • Peanut (2001, 2/3) ("Botanically it's not a nut) it's a legume, a member of the pea and bean family." Peanuts grow underground.
  • Yew (1999, 1/3) "After one species of this genus was threatened, a new compound called taxol was made synthetically." The genus Taxus.
  • Grasses (2017, 0/3) ("The grass family) most important plant family for humans." Includes wheat, rice, corn, bamboo, sugarcane. All three missed it.
  • Cassava (2018, 1/3) "Tapioca comes from the root of this tropical plant." Also called manioc.

Pattern: The show loves testing whether you know a plant's true botanical family, especially when it contradicts common perception (peanut isn't a nut, bamboo is a grass, tomato is a fruit).

FJ Theme: Named for People (3 clues)

  • Sequoia (2006, 3/3) "Sequoyah was a Cherokee leader." The only Botany FJ where all three contestants answered correctly.
  • Poinsettia (2015, 0/3) Joel Roberts Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
  • Bougainvillea (2000, 1/3) Louis Antoine de Bougainville, French navigator.

Pattern: Plants named for people is a goldmine for FJ. Other plants named for people to know: dahlia (Anders Dahl), wisteria (Caspar Wistar), fuchsia (Leonhart Fuchs), magnolia (Pierre Magnol), gardenia (Alexander Garden), zinnia (Johann Zinn), begonia (Michel Begon), camellia (Georg Kamel), forsythia (William Forsyth).

FJ Theme: Cultural & Historical Connections (5 clues)

  • Lily of the valley (1997, 1/3) "The French name of this lily family plant means 'lily of the valley.'" The French word is "muguet."
  • Sesame (2011, 0/3) "Open Sesame" from the Ali Baba story. All three missed it.
  • Hickory (2013, 0/3) Andrew Jackson's nickname "Old Hickory." All three missed it.
  • Holly (2019, 1/3) Christmas and winter associations.
  • Eucalyptus (2009, 0/3) Blue gum is the most widely planted species. All three missed it.

The Stumper Reference

Answer Appearances Wrong % What trips contestants up
The anther 6 100% Flower anatomy, confused with stamen; it's specifically the pollen sac
Chrysanthemum 5 50% Hard to spell/say under pressure; Japanese imperial flower
Corn 7 44.4% Framed as "cereal grass" or by scientific name Zea mays
The pistil 5 42.9% Female flower part, confused with stamen (male part)
Holly 5 40% Not the first plant contestants think of, even with Christmas clues
Moss 5 40% Nonvascular plant, clues use technical botanical framing
Foxglove 6 28.6% Source of digitalis, contestants know the drug, not the plant
Pollen 6 25% Technical framing ("male gametophyte") obscures a familiar word

Decade-by-Decade FJ Accuracy

The show's Botany FJ clues have become harder over time: - 1985–1999 (5 FJ clues): 6/15 correct (40%) - 2000–2009 (5 FJ clues): 6/15 correct (40%) - 2010–2019 (7 FJ clues): 2/21 correct (9.5%)

The 2010s saw a dramatic difficulty spike, seven FJ clues with only two correct responses total. This suggests the show's writers have learned which Botany angles trip up contestants and are leaning into them.

Study Strategy Summary

  1. Lock in the gimmes, Tulip, bamboo, cactus, hemlock, balsa, rose, poison ivy, chlorophyll, photosynthesis, iris, lilies, jasmine, cork, poppies, baby's breath. These 15 answers have 100% accuracy and account for a large share of Botany clues.

  2. Master flower anatomy, The anther (0%), pistil (42.9% wrong), pollen (25% wrong), stamen, stigma, style, ovary. Draw and label a flower diagram until you can name every part from memory. This is the single biggest edge you can build.

  3. Learn the "named for" plants, Poinsettia (Poinsett), bougainvillea (Bougainville), sequoia (Sequoyah), dahlia (Dahl), wisteria (Wistar), fuchsia (Fuchs), magnolia (Magnol). The show tests this angle in FJ and high-value DJ clues.

  4. Know your plant families, Peanut is a legume, bamboo is a grass, tomato is a fruit, hemlock is in the carrot family, rose family includes apples. These counterintuitive classifications are FJ favorites.

  5. Memorize the medicinal connections, Foxglove → digitalis, willow → aspirin, cinchona → quinine, yew → taxol, poppy → morphine. This bridges Botany with science categories.

  6. Study the 17 FJ clues directly, At 29.8% accuracy, Botany FJ is one of the hardest on the show. But the clues follow predictable patterns (etymology, named-for-people, plant families). Knowing even half of them gives you a massive advantage.

Your Performance

Attempts: 2 Correct: 2 Accuracy: 100.0% (overall: 53.5%)

Gimme Answers

top 50

Memorize these and recognize 21.6% of all Botany clues.

#AnswerCountSample Clue
1 the rose 19 The hybrid tea is the most popular class of this flower
2 the eucalyptus 18 The variety of this tree most often found in the U.S. is the blue gum
3 a cactus 18 The spines on the barrel type of this succulent may reach 10 inches in length
4 the tulip 18 Varieties of this flower include Leen Van Der Mark, Orange Emperor & Apeldoorn
5 the iris 14 It lies between the cornea & the lens
6 the chrysanthemum 14 Japan's special day honoring this flower is also called the Festival of Happiness
7 mistletoe 12 An example of a plant that's a parasite is this one hung from ceilings at Christmas
8 an orchid 12 Vanilla is a type of this flowering plant
9 the oak 12 This mighty tree lends its name to a city of about 400,000 on San Francisco Bay
10 a daisy 12 A contemporary of Linnaeus, German botanist Traugott Gerber has a variety of this flower named in his honor
11 the sunflower 12 Give your garden solar power with richly colored varieties of this, like the type called the giant single
12 the carnation 12 Every month has a birthstone as well as a birth flower; January has this one
13 tulips 11 The Hortus Botanicus Leiden began the 17th century "mania" for these bulb flowers
14 a lily 11 The Madonna type of this plant was once used at Easter but often failed to bloom in time; the Bermuda type replaced it
15 the pine 11 The Scotch species of this tree is the most popular Christmas tree
16 the African violet 11 The Alabama, Wisconsin & Hawaii are hybrids of this plant with a continent in its name
17 bamboo 10 Favorite food of pandas, it's the world's largest grass
18 a dandelion 10 If you can blow off all the seeds of this yellow-flowered weed, your sweetheart loves you very much... really
19 the birch 10 The variety of this tree called the "paper" or "canoe" has a white bark that peels off
20 the weeping willow 10 The Bible associates Babylon with weeping, & the scientific name of this plant is Salix babylonica
21 balsa 9 From the Spanish word for "raft", this wood is twice as buoyant as cork
22 the daffodil 9 The jonquil is sometimes confused with this yellow Narcissus to which it's related
23 water 8 Xerophytes are plants that have adapted to living in locales where this is in limited supply
24 hemlock 8 Socrates could warn you about turning "the fruit of righteousness" into this poisonous herb
25 poison ivy 8 Of this, The Coasters said, "You can look, but you better not touch"
26 Spanish moss 8 Despite its name, this plant is found hanging from trees in the southern U.S., not Iberia
27 the opium poppy 8 Papaver somniferum is the scientific name for this flower, known since ancient times
28 the redwood 8 There are 2 kinds of true sequoia trees in North America: the giant sequoia & this one
29 the Dahlia 8 Native to Mexico, this flower was named for a Swedish botanist & student of Linnaeus
30 morning glory 7 What's the story, flower for September? It's this climbing vine that can have flowers 6 inches across
31 corn 7 Sometimes growing to 20 feet, higher than "an elephant's eye", it's the largest of the cereals
32 the narcissus 7 The jonquil is a species of this flower named for a mythical youth
33 a maple 7 Sycamore & silver are types of this tree famous for its 3- or 5-lobed leaves
34 the aspen 7 This "quaking" tree has the widest natural range of any American tree, from the Yukon to the Rio Grande
35 the saguaro 7 This largest U.S. cactus is sometimes pollinated by bats
36 the pansy 7 Type of violet sometimes known as "flower with a face"
37 white 6 Field peas usually have reddish-purple blossoms; garden peas have blossoms mostly of this color
38 the anther 6 Pollen grains are grown in this part of a flower that lies at the end of the filament
39 sunflowers 6 It's a symbol of Ukraine, where a woman told Russian troops to put seeds in their pockets, to bloom from their corpses
40 Roses 6 Pete, David, & Tokyo, for example
41 poppies 6 Choices for August include this flower; don't fall asleep in a field of them
42 pollen 6 In the early 19th century, Scottish botanist Robert Brown showed how grains of this could be used to classify plants
43 orchids 6 New Jersey greenhouses surpass all others on the mainland in growing these corsage flowers
44 foxglove 6 This plant's scientific name is Digitalis purpurea
45 forget-me-not 6 Hopefully you remember this hardy perennial state flower of Alaska
46 baby's breath 6 Seen here with pink roses, these little white flowers symbolize innocence
47 a cedar 6 Long associated with Lebanon, this tree is on its flag
48 the Joshua tree 6 This "tree's" branches pointed way out of desert, so Mormons named it for Biblical leader
49 a lotus 6 The white & blue varieties of this water lily were often pictured in Ancient Egyptian art
50 witch hazel 5 Scientifically Hamamelis virginiana, this "bewitching" plant is used to make a soothing astringent

Sub-Areas

246
answers to learn
29 Must-Know
69 Should-Know
148 Worth Knowing

Must-Know Answers

These appear 8+ times. Memorize these first.

a cactus 19 the rose 19 the eucalyptus 18 the tulip 18 the iris 14 the chrysanthemum 14 mistletoe 13 a daisy 13 an orchid 12 the oak 12 the sunflower 12 the carnation 12 tulips 11 a lily 11 the pine 11 the African violet 11 the weeping willow 11 bamboo 10 a dandelion 10 the birch 10 balsa 9 water 9 the daffodil 9 the opium poppy 9 hemlock 8 poison ivy 8 Spanish moss 8 the redwood 8 the Dahlia 8

Answers by Category

Jump to: Chemistry / Elements | Biology / Animals | Astronomy / Space | Botany / Plants | Math / Physics | Medicine / Health | Other | Earth Science

Chemistry / Elements

83 answers | 427 clues
Must-Know (17)
a cactus 19x 10.5% stumper $411 avg J:7 DJ:12
J $100 1994 One limbless specimen of this desert plant was measured at 78 feet in height
DJ $600 1996 The prickly pear type of this plant is so named because its fruit is pear-shaped
DJ $1,600 2004 Common in the Southwestern U.S., the Strawberry Hedgehog belongs to this family of plants
the tulip 18x 11.1% stumper $656 avg J:11 DJ:7
J $100 1993 A "bulb" should go on over your head when you identify this flower of the Netherlands
DJ $800 2013 Carolus Clusius of the University of Leiden was the chief founder of this flower's bulb culture in the Netherlands
J $2,500 DD 2002 Each year, Holland, Michigan holds a festival honoring this flower
the chrysanthemum 14x 28.6% stumper $579 avg J:5 DJ:9
DJ $200 1998 There's no need to keep mum about it, mum is short for this flower
DJ $600 1989 Pompons are the small buttonlike flowers of some dahlias & these
DJ $1,000 DD 2007 Bloom forms of this large, hardy perennial include spoon, quill & pompon
a daisy 13x 15.4% stumper $615 avg J:5 DJ:8
DJ $200 1989 Alphabetically this flower follows "dahlia" in the dictionary; give me your answer do
J $500 1992 The oxeye, a common wild type of this flower, has a yellow center & white petallike ray flowers
DJ $2,000 DD 2026 A contemporary of Linnaeus, German botanist Traugott Gerber has a variety of this flower named in his honor
an orchid 12x 8.3% stumper $667 avg J:5 DJ:7
J $200 1993 Guatemala's national flower is a white one of these expensive corsage blooms
J $500 1996 Common viral diseases of this fancy flower include cymbidium mosaic & cattleya flower break
DJ $1,000 1996 The cattleya is among the easiest of these to grow
the carnation 12x 16.7% stumper $742 avg J:6 DJ:6
J $200 2007 Any automobile plus any country
DJ $800 2015 In 1907 Anna Jarvis chose a pink one of these flowers as the symbol for Mother's Day
J $1,000 2021 A Spanish national flower is this one whose name comes from the Latin for "flesh"
tulips 11x $1,045 avg J:2 DJ:9
J $100 1985 Holland, Michigan holds an annual festival dedicated to these flowers
DJ $800 2019 The Hortus Botanicus Leiden began the 17th century "mania" for these bulb flowers
DJ $2,000 2015 In the 1550s the Viennese ambassador to the Ottoman empire introduced these bulb flowers to the Western world
the pine 11x 9.1% stumper $991 avg J:7 DJ:4
J $200 2011 The most common Christmas tree in the U.S. is the Scotch species of this conifer
J $500 1996 The Ponderosa or Western yellow species of this tree lives up to 500 years
J $1,000 2006 The Great Basin bristlecone species of this tree can live for more than 4,000 years
the African violet 11x 36.4% stumper $564 avg J:3 DJ:8
DJ $200 1994 Common name of the Saintpaulia, a fuzzy-leafed plant originally from the Dark Continent
DJ $1,200 2018 The pansy is a hybrid of this flower that can have petals in white, lilac, or the color of its name
DJ $400 1994 The Alabama, Wisconsin & Hawaii are hybrids of this plant with a continent in its name
the weeping willow 11x 18.2% stumper $636 avg J:5 DJ:6
DJ $200 1996 It has cricket bat & weeping varieties
J $500 1994 It's the common name for Salix babylonica, a tree with graceful drooping branches
DJ $1,600 2024 Salix is the genus for this tree, a source for an acid used in pain relievers
a dandelion 10x $440 avg J:3 DJ:7
J $100 1987 The name of this wild herb comes from the French meaning lion's tooth
DJ $600 1998 The name of this lawn weed comes from the French for "lion's tooth"
DJ $1,200 2025 Blow on the seeds of this plant to make a wish; pick its flowers on St. George's Day to make its wine
water 9x 11.1% stumper $411 avg J:3 DJ:6
J $400 1988 The term "substance" refers to the amount of this contained within rose petals
DJ $800 2005 As they are made up mostly of this compound, mushrooms are a low-calorie food
DJ $200 1994 Forked hazel branches are used as divining rods to find this
the daffodil 9x 22.2% stumper $533 avg J:3 DJ:6
J $200 1987 Not only do some say it means "welcome", this yellow flower is one of the first to welcome spring
DJ $600 1989 Associated with springtime, it's a yellow narcissus
DJ $1,200 2023 Completes A.E. Housman's "Lent Lily" rhyme: "Find the windflower playing with every wind at will, but not the" this
the opium poppy 9x 28.6% stumper $543 avg J:3 DJ:4 FJ:2
J $200 2021 Belgium chose this symbol of remembrance
DJ $800 2011 The Wicked Witch of the West might say the Golden State's California this will put you to sleep... but it won't
DJ $1,600 2009 Papaver somniferum is the scientific name for this flower, known since ancient times
hemlock 8x $412 avg J:4 DJ:4
J $100 1985 Knowing that this was the state tree of Pennsylvania would have just killed Socrates
J $600 2016 This highly poisonous plant of Europe of the parsley family was used to do in an ancient method man
J $300 1992 Socrates died from drinking a poisonous brew made of this herb
the redwood 8x 25.0% stumper $612 avg J:3 DJ:5
J $200 2018 I'm the majestic sequoia sempervirens found in a coastal range in Oregon & California
DJ $600 1992 The "save" this giant tree "league" was one of the first conservation groups in the U.S.
J $1,000 2024 Found in China, the dawn type of this tree is smaller than California's but still grows as tall as 160 feet
the Dahlia 8x 12.5% stumper $712 avg J:4 DJ:4
DJ $400 2013 Used by the Aztecs to treat epilepsy, it was named for Swedish botanist Anders Dahl
J $800 2013 Accept this central American garden flower in vibrant colors, not the black one associated with a grisly 1947 murder
DJ $1,600 2008 The victim of a 1947 murder in L.A. had this flower in her nickname
Should-Know (25)
forget-me-not 7x 14.3% stumper $1,043 avg J:1 DJ:6
J $100 1993 The royal blue & the blue bird are varieties of this flower whose name compels you to remember it
DJ $600 1994 An old legend says those who wear this flower will be remembered by their lovers, hence its name
DJ $1,500 DD 1997 One legend says this flower derives its name from a drowning knight's last words to his beloved
the narcissus 7x 14.3% stumper $714 avg J:2 DJ:5
DJ $200 1999 This Greek became a flower after killing himself when he tried to touch his reflection in a pool
J $500 1997 Both naturally & mythically, this flower symbolizes egotism or self-love
DJ $1,000 1988 Daffodils are long-trumpet, & jonquils are short-trumpet types of this spring flower
a maple 7x 14.3% stumper $714 avg J:3 DJ:4
J $200 1995 The sugar species of this tree is a fine ornamental tree but is intolerant of road salt
DJ $600 1990 Called a plane tree in Scotland & a sycamore in England, 2 U.S. examples are "bird's-eye" & "sugar"
J $1,000 2016 Native Americans used the inner bark of the sugar type of this tree to make a tea to treat coughs
the saguaro 7x $1,743 avg J:2 DJ:5
DJ $400 1998 This largest U.S. cactus is also known as the giant or monument
J $800 2002 ( Sarah of the Clue Crew at the Botanical Garden in Phoenix.) You could call these giant cacti "late bloomers." It may take 70 years for them to develop their first branch
DJ $2,000 2014 When fully hydrated, this iconic cactus of the Sonoran Desert, Carnegiea gigantea, may weigh more than 6 tons
the pansy 7x 28.6% stumper $714 avg J:1 DJ:6
J $200 1992 A member of the violet family, its name is a corruption of pensee, the French word for "thought"
DJ $600 1985 Though this flower is associated with weakness, its name comes from the French for "thought"
DJ $2,000 2009 Pug-faced Slytherin student Parkinson, who's keen on Draco Malfoy
a lotus 7x $586 avg J:3 DJ:4
J $300 1992 The flowers of this member of the water lily family are sacred to Buddhists
J $600 2002 ( Sofia of the Clue Crew sits in a yoga position at a gym.) The yoga position I'm in shares its name with this water lily that was sacred to the ancient Egyptians
J $1,000 2019 A white one of these aquatic flowers floats on the flag of Macau
orchids 6x 33.3% stumper $667 avg J:3 DJ:3
J $400 2007 This large group of flowering plants attracts serious devotees, like those who pay $10,000 for one Peruvian plant
J $800 2023 The American this Plant Society says nowadays these are affordable—spend as little as you like, but you won't be able to own just one
DJ $1,200 2002 Darwin's first book after the "Origin of Species" was on these tropical flowers
foxglove 6x 16.7% stumper $717 avg J:2 DJ:4
DJ $100 DD 2013 The symptoms from eating this plant, Digitalis purpurea, include blurred vision, irregular heartbeat & hallucinations
J $500 1991 Its flowers resemble fingers; the leaves of the purple variety produce digitalis
DJ $1,000 1995 This plant from which digitalis is derived yields flowers in white, purple & pink
baby's breath 6x 16.7% stumper $867 avg J:2 DJ:4
J $200 2022 In botany, this is a delicate ornamental flower of genus Gypsophila, not actual infant respiration
DJ $800 1995 Often used to fill out bouquets, these delicate flowers include Covent Garden & Bristol fairy
DJ $1,400 DD 2015 This "filler flower" often used in bridal bouquets comes in several varieties including New Love & Perfecta
heather 6x 50.0% stumper $583 avg J:1 DJ:5
DJ $100 DD 2004 Also known as ling, this low evergreen shrub grows in the moors of Britain & is found in peat bogs
DJ $600 1995 Bees are especially fond of these purplish flowers of Scotland, from which they make a honey
DJ $1,000 1997 This bell-shaped purplish flower of Scotland is also called ling
the Joshua tree 6x 16.7% stumper $867 avg J:2 DJ:4
J $400 2017 In 2017 U2 celebrated the 30th anniversary of its album named for this plant by playing all of its songs on tour
DJ $800 1984 This "tree's" branches pointed way out of desert, so Mormons named it for Biblical leader
J $1,000 DD 1999 Had the Israelites wandered in the Mojave Desert, they would have seen this tree named for one of their leaders
witch hazel 5x 20.0% stumper $1,160 avg J:1 DJ:4
J $400 2006 Scientifically Hamamelis virginiana, this "bewitching" plant is used to make a soothing astringent
DJ $600 1990 Plant whose twigs are used for dowsing & whose leaves & bark are used to make an astringent
DJ $1,000 1989 The twigs of this plant now used for liniment were once used for divining rods in water witching
spores 5x 20.0% stumper $760 avg DJ:5
DJ $200 1991 Ferns reproduce by means of these microscopic cells
DJ $800 2020 Instead of seeds, non-flowering plants like ferns, use these one-cell units to reproduce
DJ $1,200 2002 During the course of a summer, one single fern may produce millions of these tiny reproductive bodies
Goldenrod 5x 60.0% stumper $540 avg J:1 DJ:4
J $100 1986 State flower of Kentucky, this yellow wildflower sounds like it's 14K & 16 1/2 feet long
DJ $600 1999 One-time scapegoat for hay fever seen here
DJ $1,000 1989 Some mistakenly think this yellow flower, once proposed for U.S. nat'l flower, causes hay fever
California 5x $700 avg J:1 DJ:4
DJ $200 1997 Native to a small area on this state's coast, the Monterey Pine has been introduced to New Zealand & South Africa
DJ $2,500 DD 2001 Golden poppy
J $200 1991 The U.S. state in which the oldest & tallest living trees are found
the leaves 5x $420 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $200 1985 The flat, red parts of a poinsettia are these, not petals
DJ $1,000 1987 Some types of these are pinnate, twice-compound, & palmate
DJ $400 2017 The vein structure of these parts can be parallel, pinnate or palmate
Black-Eyed Susan 5x 40.0% stumper $840 avg J:2 DJ:3
J $400 1998 This "bruised" Maryland state flower is also called a yellow daisy
DJ $800 1995 With its dark center disk, the yellow daisy is more commonly called this
DJ $2,000 2016 This daisy, Maryland's state flower, is a pioneer plant, meaning that it is one of the first to grow in a new field
Mendel 5x $780 avg J:1 DJ:4
DJ $800 2017 (Jimmy of the Clue Crew shows a table of here ditary traits on the monitor.) To study here dity, this botanist used seven pairs of distinctive traits, including pod color—green or yellow—& stem size
DJ $1,200 2019 A statue in the Czech Republic honoring this botanist monk is crawling with pea vines
DJ $800 2015 This monk's 2 basic principles of heredity are the law of independent assortment & the law of segregation
photosynthesis 4x $850 avg DJ:4
DJ $600 1987 Chloroplasts are structures containing chlorophyll in plants, & thus, able to perform this process
DJ $1,000 1994 The Calvin cycle in this process turns carbon dioxide into carbohydrates
DJ $800 1986 Meaning "putting together in light", it's process by which plants manufacture food
Papyrus 4x $800 avg DJ:4
DJ $200 1998 Scholars have it down on paper that the bulrushes on the Nile were probably this plant
DJ $800 2015 Also called the paper plant, it was long cultivated in the Nile delta region of Egypt
DJ $1,800 DD 2019 Ancient Egyptians got a lot of out of this water plant: cloth, mats, sails & oh yeah, material on which to write
Hawaii 4x $800 avg J:3 DJ:1
DJ $400 2010 Hilo Tropical Gardens, Koko Crater Botanical Garden
J $800 2020 With blooms lasting only about a day, hibiscus has 7 known species native to this western state
J $1,000 2014 These hibiscuses are used to taking on water in this state, where you'll find the U.S.A.'s wettest weather station
daffodils 4x $1,250 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $800 2016 Lovely to look at, yes, but it s bulbs & flowers contain lycorine & other alkaloids, which are toxic to you & your pets
J $1,000 2016 Wordsworth: "And then my heart with pleasure fills, / and dances with" these
DJ $1,600 2019 The poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" says, "All at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden" these flowers
carbon dioxide 4x $400 avg J:3 DJ:1
J $200 2024 Microscopic pores on leaves & stems called stomata allow the intake of this gas necessary for photosynthesis
J $500 1988 During the night when photosynthesis stops, green plants release this gas into the atmosphere
DJ $400 2008 The long leaves of the milfoil plant are especially suited to absorb this gas underwater
sequoia 4x $1,200 avg J:1 DJ:2 FJ:1
DJ $1,200 2024 Nicknamed the General Sherman, the world's largest tree by volume is this kind
FJ 2006 To honor a Cherokee leader who died in 1843, a European botanist proposed this name for a tree
J $1,200 DD 2022 This giant tree bears the name of a Cherokee leader who created a writing system
cypress 4x $675 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $800 2024 Bald truly is beautiful! Shedding its needles in autumn got the bald this, a deciduous conifer, its name
DJ $800 1997 These "bald" trees are especially plentiful in the Everglades
J $500 1992 Although a conifer, this "bald" swamp tree sheds its leaves in the fall
Worth Knowing (41)

Biology / Animals

92 answers | 361 clues
Must-Know (9)
the eucalyptus 18x 11.8% stumper $759 avg J:6 DJ:11 FJ:1
J $200 2024 When a koala is getting its 20 or so hours of shut-eye it's likely to be in this type of tree
J $500 1999 The leaves of this tree are used in cold remedies & to feed koalas
DJ $1,200 2014 This Australian gum tree is so well adapted to fire that chemical changes from the heat cause new buds to sprout
the iris 14x 14.3% stumper $779 avg J:6 DJ:8
DJ $400 1995 Orris oil, used as a flavoring & in fragrances, is obtained from this similar-sounding flower
J $500 1993 Some of these flowers have "beards" that guide insects seeking nectar
J $1,000 2012 Siberian, Yellow Flag & Dwarf Bearded are varieties of this popular 4-letter garden flower
mistletoe 13x 30.8% stumper $408 avg J:6 DJ:7
J $100 1986 A parasitic plant on apple & maple trees, it's hung from the ceiling at Christmas
J $600 2020 Oklahoma's state flower, with tiny ones blooming in winter, this grows as a parasite on tree trunks—now give us a kiss!
DJ $1,000 1991 Oklahoma's state flower, this shrub with white berries was regarded as sacred by the druids
the oak 12x 25.0% stumper $575 avg J:5 DJ:7
J $300 1991 The "live" variety of this tree never loses its leaves
DJ $800 1995 The yew, the ash & this tree, also 3 letters, were held sacred by Irish druids
DJ $1,600 2011 As seen in the picture, these majestic trees of the South are commonly covered with Spanish moss
a lily 11x 9.1% stumper $909 avg J:5 DJ:6
J $200 1996 Lilium longiflorum is the scientific name of the "Easter" type of this flower
DJ $600 1997 Popular varieties of this flower include the Easter & Madonna
DJ $1,600 2009 Mrs. Herman Munster
bamboo 10x 10.0% stumper $650 avg J:4 DJ:6
J $200 1994 The shoots of this giant grass are a common ingredient in Chinese cooking
DJ $600 1984 Favorite food of pandas, it's the world's largest grass
J $1,100 DD 2002 It's the tallest of all grasses; one type grows to 120 feet with a stem circumference of 3 feet
the birch 10x $430 avg J:6 DJ:4
J $100 1995 Chippewas & other Native Americans used the bark of this tree to make lightweight canoes
J $600 2024 The state tree of New Hampshire is the paper this
J $1,000 DD 2018 The Algonquin Native Americans made canoes from the bark of me, a fast-growing tree of the genus Betula
balsa 9x $678 avg J:4 DJ:5
DJ $400 2024 The kinkajou is a pollinator of this tree noted for its extremely light wood that's often used in model airplane kits
J $500 1989 Ecuador is the world's largest producer of this wood used in making model airplanes
DJ $2,000 DD 2010 Ochroma pyramidale, this tree, yields a lightweight wood often used to make surfboards
Spanish moss 8x 12.5% stumper $475 avg J:4 DJ:4
J $100 1992 During WWI the peat variety of this plant was used as a dressing for wounds
J $800 2007 This small carpeting plant is also reputed to show up on the north sides of trees, but that's an alga
DJ $1,600 2006 Species of this small, green nonflowering plant include the hairy cap & the stair-step
Should-Know (25)
poppies 7x 14.3% stumper $1,457 avg J:2 DJ:5
DJ $600 1997 The dry fruits of a species of this flower contain such alkaloids as morphine & codeine
DJ $1,200 2010 Choices for August include this flower; don't fall asleep in a field of them
J $800 2016 John McCrae: "In Flanders fields" these "blow/ between the crosses, row on row"
white 6x $350 avg J:4 DJ:2
J $100 1993 It's the color of the hibiscus casa blanca, sweetheart
J $500 1987 Though a red rose stands for "love", this color rose means "worthy of love"
DJ $200 1986 Appropriately, the Arctic poppy is often this color
the anther 6x 100.0% stumper $850 avg J:1 DJ:5
DJ $400 1996 This part of a flower's stamen usually contains 4 small baglike structures that produce pollen
J $500 1993 In flowers the pollen sacs are normally located in this part of the stamen
DJ $1,200 2002 This part of a flower's stamen contains the pollen
pollen 6x $1,100 avg J:2 DJ:4
DJ $400 2008 The anther of a flower usually has 4 sacs that produce this
DJ $800 2022 The stamen is the part of a flower that produces these grains
DJ $1,200 2022 In seed-bearing plants, this fine-grained stuff contains the male gametes
lilies 6x $283 avg J:4 DJ:2
J $100 1989 Despite their names, the "water" & the "calla" varieties don't belong to this flower family
J $200 1991 Madonna, American Turk's cap & tiger are species in this flower family
J $200 1985 Varieties of this flower include "mariposa", "tiger" & "of the valley"
a palm 6x $667 avg J:2 DJ:4
J $200 2009 It's the body part proverbially "greased" when someone gets bribed
DJ $800 2024 The raffia, a tropical type of this tree, has leaves that can grow up to 70 feet long
DJ $1,600 2003 The raffia variety of this tropical tree produces leaves that grow to more than 65 feet in length
a crocus 6x 50.0% stumper $1,183 avg J:1 DJ:5
J $100 1985 From Greek "krokos", meaning saffron which this flower produces
DJ $2,000 2024 Over 1,000 stigmas from this flower are necessary to get even a small amount of saffron seasoning
DJ $2,000 DD 2004 If you'd like to produce your own saffron, you have to plant a species of this flower
the buckeye 5x 20.0% stumper $460 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $300 2001 It's Ohio's state tree
DJ $600 1997 This tree gave Ohio its nickname
J $400 1994 Ohioans could tell you that it's another name for the American horse chestnut
chlorophyll 5x $420 avg J:2 DJ:3
DJ $200 1986 Fungi cannot make their own food because they lack this green stuff
DJ $600 1987 Leaves change color when sap is blocked off & this green material decomposes
J $300 1990 Xanthophylls colors leaves yellow, carotene orange and this substance makes them green
Petunia 5x 20.0% stumper $300 avg J:4 DJ:1
J $100 1996 The name of this common garden flower comes from the obsolete French petun, meaning "tobacco"
J $1,000 2010 You'll find this flower before "pickle bottom" in a line of handbags & bedding
J $100 1993 A large funnel-shaped flower native to Argentina, or Porky Pig's girlfriend
the petals 5x 20.0% stumper $400 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $200 1988 Nectar is generally secreted by glands in these showy parts of a flower
DJ $800 2017 Collectively, these on a flower make up the corolla
DJ $400 1993 Oil from this part of jasmines & roses is used in making of high-quality perfumes
the rubber tree 5x 20.0% stumper $940 avg J:1 DJ:4
DJ $400 2013 ( Jimmy of the Clue Crew shows us a large tree at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.) When ripe, fruit capsules of this latex producing tree explode, dispersing 3 seeds up to 50 feet to propagate the species
J $600 2021 This ornamental plant, Ficus elastica, was once grown for its valuable latex sap
DJ $2,500 DD 1995 South American Indians called this tree, Hevea brasiliensis, cahuchu, which means "weeping wood"
the root 5x 40.0% stumper $580 avg J:2 DJ:3
J $400 1991 The part of a chicory plant that is roasted with coffee beans
DJ $800 1987 This large main root found on some trees can extend down 15' or more
DJ $800 1987 After a seed germinates, this is the 1st thing to emerge
wheat 4x 25.0% stumper $775 avg J:3 DJ:1
J $400 1996 Varieties of this important cereal grain include emmer, spelt & common or bread
J $500 1993 This grain is grown over more of the earth's surface than any other food crop
DJ $1,600 2019 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug developed a dwarf type of this grain that greatly reduced famine
the mayflower 4x 25.0% stumper $775 avg J:1 DJ:3
DJ $100 DD 2004 The trailing arbutus, also known as this, is shipshape as the state flower of Massachusetts
DJ $1,200 DD 2017 Also known as the trailing arbutus, it's said to have been named by the Pilgrims; its bloom was the 1st seen in the spring of 1621
DJ $200 1991 This state flower of Massachusetts shares its name with a famous Pilgrim ship
sagebrush 4x $875 avg J:1 DJ:3
J $300 1989 This shrubby plant, common in the desert, is Nevada's state posy, pardner
DJ $800 1999 This desert shrub is so abundant in Nevada that it gave the state one of its nicknames
DJ $1,600 2010 This hardy gray-leaved shrub is so abundant in Nevada that it gave the state one of its nicknames
peat moss 4x 25.0% stumper $250 avg J:3 DJ:1
J $100 1988 Since this gardening moss absorbs & holds moisture so well, it can be used for dressing wounds
DJ $200 1992 In some countries this moss is dried & used as fuel
J $300 1994 The sphagnum type of this is often used to pack plants & keep them moist for shipping
Luther Burbank 4x 75.0% stumper $950 avg DJ:4
DJ $200 1988 One of his achievements was the Shasta daisy, a feat of no small potatoes
DJ $800 2006 In 1885 this horticulturist bought a farm in Sebastopol, California for his plant-breeding activities
DJ $1,200 2017 This American botanist developed hundreds of strains of fruits and other plants
lilacs 4x 50.0% stumper $750 avg J:1 DJ:3
J $200 2002 Of tulips, lilacs or daffodils, the flower not grown from a bulb
DJ $800 DD 1987 Walt Whitman mourned Lincoln in his poem "When" these "Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"
DJ $1,000 1997 Nicknamed the "Flower City", Rochester, N.Y. sponsors a May festival of these fragrant purple flowers
lavender 4x 33.3% stumper $933 avg DJ:3 FJ:1
DJ $400 2004 The plant seen here, it's known for both its aroma & its color
DJ $1,200 2019 The oil made from this purple flower is used in perfumes & cosmetics
FJ 1995 This flower's name comes from its use in scenting the ancient Romans' wash water
fungi 4x 50.0% stumper $475 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $200 1988 Scientists estimate over 100,000 species of this group of nongreen plants are as yet undiscovered
DJ $600 1986 Though some call yeasts protists, when classed botanically they are considered these
J $300 1987 Along w/bacteria, this plant group that includes rusts & molds help decompose plant litter on forest floors
cones 4x 25.0% stumper $400 avg DJ:4
DJ $200 1989 While many trees bear flowers, conifers bear these
DJ $800 2006 Cycads bear their seeds in these structures
DJ $200 1987 They are the "flowers" of pine trees
blue 4x 50.0% stumper $450 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $200 1992 In flower names, this color precedes bell, bonnet & bottle
DJ $800 1994 Try to remember that the flower of the forget-me-not comes in white, pink or this primary color
J $400 2023 The gentian has bell- or trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually an intense shade of this
spruce 4x 25.0% stumper $475 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $100 1987 This tree's name is from the Middle English for Prussia, "pruce"
J $600 2009 Also preceding "Goose" in the nickname of a plane, as a verb, this means to neaten up
DJ $400 2002 Blue, Sitka & Engelmann are varieties of this conifer
magnolia 4x $825 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $400 1992 The Southern species of this tree, which has large white flowers, is the state tree of Mississippi
J $500 2001 The flower seen here comes from this type of evergreen tree:
DJ $1,600 2011 This is both the state tree & flower of Mississippi
Worth Knowing (58)

Astronomy / Space

25 answers | 121 clues
Must-Know (3)
the rose 19x 10.5% stumper $616 avg J:7 DJ:12
J $100 2001 Encarta calls it the world's most popular & widely cultivated garden flower
J $600 2016 Got up from a chair
DJ $1,200 2008 Harison's Yellow is a hybrid of the Persian Yellow & Scotch Briar varieties of this flower
the sunflower 12x $473 avg J:2 DJ:9 FJ:1
DJ $400 2019 Praise Helios! The head of this yellow plant can produce 1,000 seeds as well as an oil used in making margarine
DJ $800 2022 Kansas' state flower, the common this, is in the genus Helianthus
FJ 1993 Common name of the plants that make up the genus Helianthus
poison ivy 8x 12.5% stumper $312 avg J:4 DJ:4
J $200 2016 The leaves of three of this vine start out red, then turn shiny green—let them be
DJ $200 1993 The saying, "Leaves three, let them be", refers to this shiny, irritating plant
J $300 1986 Of this, The Coasters said, "You can look, but you better not touch"
Should-Know (10)
morning glory 7x 14.3% stumper $871 avg J:3 DJ:4
J $100 1989 Twining flower that opens in the a.m., or the title of a 1933 film starring Katharine Hepburn
DJ $600 1994 The blue dawn flower is a type of this flower
DJ $1,600 2013 As you might suspect from its name, blue dawn is a variety of this climbing flower
corn 7x 28.6% stumper $414 avg J:5 DJ:2
J $200 1993 Sometimes growing to 20 feet, higher than "an elephant's eye", it's the largest of the cereals
DJ $600 1987 The starch from this New World grain, "Zea mays", can be made into urethane foams
J $200 1993 Earworms a attack the ears on these plants
the aspen 7x 42.9% stumper $1,000 avg J:3 DJ:4
J $300 1988 John Denver built "Starwood", his Colorado home, among these "trembling" trees
DJ $600 1994 The quaking species is the most common type of this tree in North America
J $1,000 2018 A west central Colorado ski resort city is named for me, this tree of the willow family
sunflowers 6x 16.7% stumper $483 avg J:3 DJ:3
J $200 1986 Belonging to the genus Helianthus, these yellow flowers actually turn to follow the sun's path
J $600 2019 One of these flowers beams over the flag of Kansas
J $300 1988 In March of 1987, a Van Gogh painting featuring these flowers sold for $39,921,750
Venus flytrap 6x 16.7% stumper $667 avg J:1 DJ:5
DJ $200 1985 This insect-catching plant is found in nature only in the area of Wilmington, N.C.
DJ $1,200 2019 Insects check in but they don't check out of this carnivorous plant of the Carolinas AKA Dionaea
J $200 1985 Carnivorous plant, or WKRP DJ
jasmine 5x 20.0% stumper $940 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $400 1993 Indonesia & South Carolina share this fragrant flower used in perfumes & tea
J $500 1992 The white flowers of this member of the olive family are used to scent tea & perfume
DJ $1,000 1992 The Arabian variety of this flower is used to scent & flavor Oriental tea
daisies 5x $320 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $100 1999 Children "chain" them; older folks pluck their petals to determine love status
J $400 1997 Used in chains, these field flowers mean "I will think of it"; give me your question, do
DJ $400 1986 The title of a 1960 comedy starring Doris Day advised against consuming these
the fern 5x 40.0% stumper $560 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $100 1987 Among the best known of this type of plant are the brake & Boston
DJ $600 1994 Maidenhair & moonwort are types of this nonflowering plant
DJ $1,000 1996 The Bracken species of this spore-bearing plant can be poisonous to livestock
wisteria 4x $350 avg J:1 DJ:3
DJ $200 1991 Thomas Nuttall named this purple-flowered vine for American physician Caspar Wistar
DJ $600 1994 This flowery vine was named after American physician Caspar Wistar
DJ $200 1989 Vine with showy purple or white flowers named after U.S. anatomist Casper Wistar
Edelweiss 4x 50.0% stumper $1,000 avg DJ:4
DJ $400 1997 A Rogers & Hammerstein song describes it as "Small and white, clean and bright"
DJ $1,600 2015 In 1878 Switzerland began protecting this flower, Leontopodium alpinum, in the wild
DJ $400 1996 The lance-shaped white leaves of this Alpine flower are arranged in the form of a star
Worth Knowing (12)

Botany / Plants

30 answers | 85 clues
Should-Know (7)
Roses 6x 16.7% stumper $333 avg J:1 DJ:5
J $200 2023 Robert Frost wrote, "A saying that every maid knows is... nothing is gained by not gathering" these
DJ $600 1992 The Damask variety of this flower yields attar, an essential oil used in perfumes
DJ $200 1987 Robert Louis Stevenson wrote "Marriage...is a field of battle, not a bed of" these
the chestnut 6x 33.3% stumper $733 avg J:2 DJ:4
J $100 1990 The American variety of this tree is no longer spreading, since it was devastated by a blight
DJ $600 1988 A tree of the genus Castanea, or any stale, old joke
DJ $2,300 DD 2013 This "chestnut" is scientifically known as Aesculus hippocastanum
Florida 5x $800 avg J:2 DJ:3
DJ $400 2001 Orange blossom
J $800 2012 The orange blossom
DJ $2,000 2010 Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Flamingo Gardens
cork 5x 20.0% stumper $720 avg J:1 DJ:4
J $200 1991 Until the 20th century, its main uses were for floats, shoe soles & bottle stoppers
DJ $800 1990 A type of oak, or the material obtained from its inner bark
DJ $1,000 1997 The porous bark of this oak tree is used to make gaskets & a black paint used by artists
hickory 4x $433 avg J:2 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $300 1992 Pecan trees belong to this genus whose wood is often used for smoking meats
J $600 2016 Pecans are the largest of these, a type of walnut tree, whose wood is popularly used in barbecues
FJ 1999 This type of tree that includes the pecan is common in the eastern U.S., is noted for toughness & can live to 300
Carob 4x $725 avg J:1 DJ:3
DJ $200 1995 The pulp of the pods of this Eastern Mediterranean tree is used as a chocolate substitute
DJ $2,000 DD 1997 Saint-John's Bread is another name for this tree that yields a chocolate substitute
J $300 1989 The pulp from the pods of this Mediterranean tree is used as a chocolate substitute
the fleur-de-lis 4x $525 avg J:4
J $400 1987 From Old French for "lily flower", it's an iris as well as a heraldic device
J $800 2019 You won't find one of these on France's flag, but you'll find 4 on Quebec's
J $400 1991 When used as the French royal symbol, Iris germanica was called this
Worth Knowing (23)

Math / Physics

8 answers | 23 clues
Should-Know (1)
a cedar 7x $429 avg J:4 DJ:3
J $400 2020 This conifer known for its durable timber is represented on the flag of Lebanon
DJ $600 1997 The deodar type of this tree is straight grained but the Lebanon is usually knotty
J $200 1990 Many clothing chests & closets are lined with wood from this tree because it repels moths
Worth Knowing (7)

Medicine / Health

3 answers | 10 clues
Should-Know (1)
the pistil 5x 20.0% stumper $840 avg DJ:5
DJ $200 1986 The female reproductive organ of a flower, not a Colt.45
DJ $600 1988 The term "perfect flower" refers to a flower that has both a stamen & this
DJ $1,000 1988 This flower organ is made up of an ovary, style, & stigma
Worth Knowing (2)

Earth Science

1 answers | 3 clues
Worth Knowing (1)
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