 The society was first established in 1893 as an outgrowth from the Botanical Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at a meeting in Rochester, New York, on August 22, 1892.The organizing principles of the society were the enhancement of the study of plants in North America and to professionalize such efforts.In 1906, the organization merged with the Society for Plant Morphology and Physiology and the American Mycological Society.