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Societal Impact Statement: It is important to recognize how our current understanding of plants has been shaped by diverse cultural contexts, as this underscores the importance of valuing and incorporating contributions from all knowledge systems in scientific pursuits. This approach emphasizes the ongoing bias, including within scientific practices, and the necessity of discussing problematic histories within spaces of learning. It is crucial to acknowledge and address biases, even within scientific endeavors. Doing so fosters a more inclusive and equitable scientific community. This article, while not comprehensive, serves as a starting point for conversation and an introduction to current work on these topics. Summary: In response to a global dialog about systemic racism, ongoing inequalities, appeals to decolonize science, and the many recent calls for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, we draw on the narratives of plants to revisit the history of botany. Our goal is to uncover how exclusionary practices have functioned in the past and persist today. We also explore the numerous opportunities and challenges that arise in the era of information as we strive to establish a more inclusive field of botany. This approach recognizes and honors the contributions of historically marginalized groups, such as Black and Indigenous communities. We hope that this article can serve as a catalyst for raising awareness, fostering contemplation, and driving action toward a more equitable and just scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of functionally dioecious bush tomato of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum is described. Solanum scalarium Martine & T.M.Williams, sp. nov., is a member of the taxonomically challenging "Kimberley dioecious clade" in Australia and differs from other species in the group in its spreading decumbent habit and conspicuously prickly male floral rachis. The species is so far known from one site in Judbarra/Gregory National Park in the Northern Territory. Ex situ crosses and confirmation of inaperturate pollen grains produced in morphologically cosexual flowers indicate that these flowers are functionally female and the species is functionally dioecious. The scientific name reflects the ladder-like appearance of the inflorescence rachis armature of male individuals, the stone staircase that provides access to the type locality at the Escarpment Lookout Walk, and the importance of maintaining equitable and safe access to outdoor spaces. The common name Garrarnawun Bush Tomato is proposed in recognition of the lookout point at this site, a traditional meeting place of the Wardaman and Nungali-Ngaliwurru peoples whose lands overlap in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: antiracist; Black botanists; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); social media; social justice EN antiracist Black botanists diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) social media social justice 219 222 4 02/24/21 20210201 NES 210201 "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." The week also boosted the visibility of the 12 Black Botanists Week committee members. GLO:QOL/01feb21:tax12442-fig-0001.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 1 The first tweet (8 June 2020) about Black Botanists Week. gl Black Botanists Week, like Black Birders Week, took their respective weeks to highlight Black people in these spaces inside and out of academia. This ongoing movement, with weeks such as #BlackBirdersWeek, #BlackBotanistsWeek, and #BlackinNationalParksWeek, among many others, continues to highlight Black people in spaces that they have always been in, but are often not recognized as much as their White peers. [Extracted from the article]