When I came to the Czech Republic for the first time in 2005, I made a remarkable experience that has puzzled me ever since. At the Department of Botany, Masaryk University in Brno, I discovered a beautiful botanical illustration, scribbled on one of the doors in the women's bathroom. It depicted Agrostis stolonifera and A. capillaris, two grass species that are too easily confused by beginners. Several short arrows pointed to the characteristic differences between these two species. A technical botanical illustration on a bathroom door? Czechs must be really serious about botany, I thought back then. And I've scratched my head ever since: Why did this nation of 10 million people produce so many passionate botanists?
I have finally found an answer to this burning question - thanks to our little toddler. Czech botanists are so passionate because of ...