Plant Story Cards - Complete Data Documentation

Research Documentation Overview

95+ Plant Species

15+ Cultural Backgrounds

25+ Countries Represented

8+ Languages/Scripts

🌿 Complete Plant Species List

95+ species documented from community responses

Trees & Large Plants

Century Agave

Agave americana

Live Oak Trees

Quercus virginiana

Palm Trees

Various Arecaceae species

Pecan Trees

Carya illinoinensis

Mountain Laurels

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum

Cinnamon Trees

Cinnamomum verum

Guava Tree

Psidium guajava

Mahogany Trees

Swietenia species

Flowering Plants

Blue Bonnets

Lupinus texensis (Texas State Flower)

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Orchids

Orchidaceae family

Lotus Flowers

Nelumbo nucifera

Cherry Blossoms

Prunus species

Sunflowers

Helianthus annuus

Jasmine

Jasminum officinale

Marigolds

Tagetes species

Plumeria

Plumeria rubra

Magnolias

Magnolia grandiflora

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii

Rain Flowers

Seasonal blooms after precipitation

Roses

Rosa species

African Violets

Saintpaulia ionantha

Sampaguita

Jasminum sambac (Philippine jasmine)

Herbs & Medicine Plants

Aloe

Aloe vera

Mint

Mentha species

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Kaffir Lime

Citrus hystrix

Goji Berries

Lycium barbarum

Wasabi Fern

Eutrema japonicum

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Traditional Medicine Plants

Various Indigenous healing plants

Vegetables & Crops

Collard Greens

Brassica oleracea

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Sweet Potatoes

Ipomoea batatas

Nopales (Prickly Pear Cactus)

Opuntia species

Okra

Abelmoschus esculentus

Chinese Vegetables

Various Asian cultivars

Corn/Maize

Zea mays

Tomatoes

Solanum lycopersicum

Fruits & Nuts

Dragon Fruit

Hylocereus undatus

Ube (Purple Yam)

Dioscorea alata

Bitter Melon

Momordica charantia

Grape Leaves

Vitis vinifera

Pistachios

Pistacia vera

Oranges

Citrus × sinensis

Apple

Malus domestica

Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus

Kalamansi

Citrofortunella microcarpa

Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus

Guava

Psidium guajava

Grains & Starches

Rice

Oryza sativa

Mung Bean Noodles

Vigna radiata derivatives

Glass Noodles

Starch-based noodles

Plantain

Musa × paradisiaca

Yams

Dioscorea species

Bamboo

Bambusoideae (for food wrapping)

Native Texas Plants

Mexican Plum

Prunus mexicana

Mesquite

Prosopis glandulosa

Yucca

Yucca filamentosa

Texas Sage

Leucophyllum frutescens

Lemonade Berry Plant

Rhus integrifolia

Red Buds

Cercis canadensis

Chile Pequin

Capsicum annuum

Spices & Seasonings

Chili/Chile

Capsicum species

Mesquite Beans

Prosopis glandulosa pods

Olive Oil

Olea europaea extract

🌍 Cultural Backgrounds Represented

15+ distinct cultural communities documented

African American/Southern US

Central American

Chinese

Coahuiltecan Indigenous

European heritage

Filipino/Pacific Islander

Greek/Italian (Mediterranean)

Gulf region Indigenous

Japanese

Korean

Mexican/Tejano/Hispanic

Mixed heritage families

Native American/Southwestern tribes

Singaporean

Thai/Southeast Asian

Vietnamese

🗺️ Countries & Regions Represented

25+ countries/regions with botanical knowledge connections

Australia

Borneo/Malaysia

Central America

China

Europe (Various)

Greece

Guatemala

Hawaii

India

Indonesia

Italy

Japan

Korea

Laos

Mediterranean Basin

Mexico

Native American Territories

Pacific Islands

Philippines

Singapore

Southern United States

Southeast Asia

Texas/Austin Region

Thailand

Vietnam

🗣️ Languages & Scripts Documented

8+ languages/writing systems represented in responses

Chinese characters/scripts

English

Korean script (Hangul)

Mixed language responses

Native American tribal languages

Philippine languages (Tagalog/Regional)

Spanish

Vietnamese

💬 All Community Quotes by Research Question

49 community responses organized by the 6 core research questions

1. What plants, places, or communities here hold meaning for you?

Place-based connections to Austin's natural and cultural landscape

"Purple sage, AARK, parks, Libraries"

"Wildflower Center, Deep Eddy, Greenbelt, Zilker"

"McKinney Falls, Barton Creek, Hyde Park"

"East Austin community, Bouldin Creek"

"Rose Park, Zilker Botanical Garden"

"Native Peoples, Red Salmon Arts, DAWA heals"

2. What flora, fauna, or food brings your ancestors to mind?

Ancestral connections through plants, animals, and traditional foods

"Mulberry, Mountains"

"Kaffir lime, Ube, RABBITS, RACOON, Hibiscus/Orchids, lotus flowers, cherry blossoms, Sunflowers, hibiscus"

"Hummingbirds, Jasmine, Marigolds, Cinnamon trees, lemongrass, marigold"

"Orchids, roses, Pecan trees, fresh fruits from garden trees, Osmanthus, Bitter Melon, Ginger, steamed sea bass, Rabbits"

"Deer, javelina, Great Blue Herons, sea creatures (oysters, red fish, crab)"

"Seashells, cotton, banana leaves"

3. What colors feel like home to you?

Color associations with belonging, culture, and place-based identity

"Green, red"

"Green, toronja, blacks"

"I love sunflowers for their brightness"

"Orange, green, Green, brown, olive & Navy, Cool. Green & red"

"Blue, green, green, green, Sky blue, green & red, green and pink, yellows, pink, blue, Red, orange, yellows"

"Purple, BLUE & → Rainbow - All colors, jade green as greens + yellows, Green & blue, red & orange, Green, yellow, blue, Green + red, Green, green + red"

"green, purples + yellows green, maroon + blue, rose PINK"

4. What plant or food marks important moments in your family?

Traditional dishes and plants that anchor family celebrations and memories

"Blue Bonnets, Shiitake mushrooms, Mung bean noodles"

"Ube halaya, Rice balls wrapped in bamboo"

"Oleander"

"Singapore Noodles, Shiitake mushrooms, Mung bean noodles, Kaffir lime, glass noodles, chicken soup, adobo"

"Blue Bonnets, kimchi - phat else needs, Warabi (fern common in the Borneo Island/Hawaii), ube HALAYA, Riceballs wrapped in bamboo, adobo"

"Orchids, pho, bungs hue, cilantro, soups, pho tea, CUMBARB, MORINGA, Rice, adobo"

"Tamales, chicken & tortilla, Peace lily RIP 6 years, Century agave roots, Fresh cooked veggies, Fresh fruits from garden trees"

5. What did your grandparents, parents, or elders teach you about the natural world?

Intergenerational wisdom about environmental stewardship and sacred relationships with nature

"Cultivation"

"Everything is sacred and comes directly from the Creator"

"Work with nature, love nature"

"Respect it & respect back"

"Plant trees for generations to come"

"Nature unites the world and reminds us of our creator"

"My grandmother knew all the medicine plants"

"Take care of it - Enjoy Lake Life"

6. What symbol or pattern holds meaning to you or your culture?

Cultural symbols that represent resilience, spirituality, and community identity

"Lotus flower, Asian lotus flower"

"Mandala pattern, jade circles"

"Philippine sun from flag"

"Female symbol, hearts"

"Lions, gold, sun patterns"

"Spirals, crescents, peace signs"

"Seashells (connection to ocean)"

"Catholic figures and symbolism"

"Korean dragon, Chang'e moon goddess"

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