The classic literature in botany dates back to the early days of the printing press. Check out some of these hoary texts at Botanicus, an online library run by the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. The site features digitized versions of almost 200 titles published between 1480 and 1935 on plant systematics. You'll find works by German explorer Alexander von Humboldt, Harvard botanist Asa Gray, and Joseph Hooker, Darwin's confidant and defender. Many texts feature lavish illustrations, such as this painting of the water lemon (Passiflora laurifolia), which comes from a 19th century series that catalogs exotic plants in British gardens.

Volume 316, Number 5831, Issue of 15 June 2007

A Wikipedia co-founder-turned-detractor is hoping to build a more academic alternative to the freewheeling, user-written encyclopedia. Headed by Larry Sanger, the Citizendium will rely on public participation but will recruit experts to edit entries. Although these editors won't dictate the content of the articles, they will guide authors and referee disputes among them. They can also stamp articles they've vetted as approved. Answering a frequent criticism of Wikipedia, anyone who wants to edit an entry on a scholarly topic will usually need academic credentials. A pilot project to test the strategy began last week. The results won't be open to the public, but you can apply to be an editor or one of the "constables" who enforces the rules.

Science 27 October 2006:
Vol. 314. no. 5799, p. 571