The Darwin family was instrumental in the history of botany. For Erasmus (1731-1802), it was a hobby, for Charles (1809-1882) an inspiration, and for Francis (1848-1925), a profession. Their experiences illustrate the growing specialization and professionalization of science throughout the nineteenth century. Ayres shows how botany escaped the burdens of medicine, feminization and the sterility of classification and nomenclature to become a rigorous laboratory science.