Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't

I frequently get messages from people who really want to teach themselves botany and learn exactly where the fuck to start identifying plants and learning about them. The field is full of intimidating words (as well as some powdery stiffs, like much of Academia) and a confusing lexicon that can be a turn off to the layperson. I’m telling you this though - don’t be intimidated. With the internet, you have 24 hour access to the library. Use it. Ask questions. See a word you don’t understand? Look it up. Read about a concept that doesn’t make any sense to you (ie “what the shit does ‘monophyletic’ mean and why is it important)? Figure out what about it is confusing and ask the damn google.