Plants and Society Final

Asteraceae

+2300 spp 1620 genera aster: means star in greek everywhere except north and south poles disk flower is a composite of many tiny flowers, 5 petals and symmetrical ray flowers: petals are fused into a ligule entire flower is called the head pappus: bristles found on every flower for seed dispersal, pappus+ seed= cyprisela

How is papyrus made? What is the main chemical makeup of papyrus? How does that affect the shelf-life of papyrus outside of a very dry climate?

1. clip plant at the base 2. peel off the outer layer 3. cut pith into strips of the same length and thickness 4. soak strips in water and roll them flat 5. lay strips in perpendicular fashion on a durable piece of cloth and press for several days 6. when dry, polish with a stone chemical makeup: highly rot resistant in dry climates but will only last about 200 years in temperate climates. glued together to make scrolls primary constituent is cellulose

How does fruit development work? Understand the anatomical/developmental differences between different types of fruit, such as bell peppers, pea pods, zucchini, tomatoes, rose hips, strawberries, and pineapples.

1. simple fruit: peas, has a superior ovary so fruit develops on top of flower, ex: peas, zucchini 2. agreggate fruits: develops from many seperate carpels of one flower, ex: raspberries, strawberries 3. multiple fruit: develops from many carpels of many flowers, ex: pineapple

Psychoactive drugs are classified into four categories: What are they, and how do they affect human physiology differently? For three of the four categories, we discussed plants used by humans: what were they?

1. stimulants: increase mental alertness, apetite suppressant, increase energy (cocaine, caffeine) 2. hallucinogens: change perception, mood and awareness (mushrooms, peyote) 3. depressants: induce sleep, decrease mental performance 4. narcotics: drugs that are addictive and elicit psychological or physiological dependance or dose tolerance (opium)

Nico Secunda described five different chemical constituents in chocolate that have a physiological effect on us. What are they and what are their effects?

1. theobromine (alkaloid): stimulant, vasodialator, diuretic, heart stimulant 2. Phenethylamine (alkaloid): psychoactive stimulant, same as the chemical released by brain when you fall in love 3. anandamine: life is good effect, same receptors as weed 4. serotonin: released after eating carbohydrates, sense of calm 5. epicatechin: affects muscle performance 6. endorphins: energy and feelings of euphoria

Key concepts for seed development

1. there is a multi-cellular haploid stage in the ovule 2. pollen grain is also a multi-cellular haploid stage, there are 2 sperm cells 3. one sperm cell fuses with the egg to make a zygote (2n) 4. other sperm cell fuses with 2 polar nuclei to make the endosperm

Solanaceae

2700 spp, highly diverse morphology, greatest diversity in south america and central america, flowers are star shaped (5 petals and 5 sepals), sepals usually form a tube, 5 stamens, superior ovary

Rosaceae

2830 spp radially symetrical flowers: 5 petals, 5 sepals showy anthers can have superior or inferior ovaries apples, roses, cherries, plum, peaches, raspberry, almond

Gossypium spp. , cotton

30 species, tropical and subtropical spp, endemic to central america, india and africa independent domestication in mexico and s. asia staple=fiber length,

Erythroxylum coca, Coca

5 petals, evergreen, produces cocaine which is a tropane alkaloid (stimulant), plant has south american origins and has been used for 3500yrs, used as currency, fresh leaves are chewed, used to only be for ruling class but by 1400s it was widespread, leaves are chewed with CaCO3 to release the cocaine, reduces hunger and increases endurance: spanish conquistadores gave it to slaves, heavily used by bolivian miners, given to inca children pre-sacrifice 1800s used to combat sinus trouble, headaches and depression, used to be used in cocacola cocaine prevents return of dopamine to the VTA so that dopamine builds up and produces euphoria, social problems and enviromental concerns

Sequoia sempervirens, redwood

90% of old growth is gone, can be seen on campus

Hormones and fruit development. Describe how auxin, gibberellin, and ethylene are involved in fruit development and how they are used in modern agriculture and food systems. For example, what are the implications of the fact that developing seeds produce auxin? How are super-large grapes produced? How do we control the timing of ripening?

Auxin: normal fruit development depends on it, it is produced by the developing embryo and endosperm, in ag: spray on flowers for parthonocarpic fruit (virgin fruit) watermelon, grapes, etc. Fruits sometimes drop fruit prematurely if stressed, if you spray auxin on fruit trees they won't drop them (ex apples). Structure characterized by Thimman Gibberellin: controls fruit growth, grapes sprayed with gibberellin during fruit developement to make bigger. Ethylene: controls ripening of fruit and flowers, stimulates: release of volatiles, synthesis of pigments, cellulase and pectinase, conversion of starch to sugar, ethylene removal bags keep fruit fresh longer, paper bags induce ripening

Sparteine is an example of which group of compounds? A)Phenolics B)Alkaloids C)Glycosides D)Terpenes

B)Alkaloids

How is the Castor Beanplant related to the Fabaceae? A. Closely, look at the pods B. Not at all, look at the pods

B. Not at all, look at the pods

Which strategy supports more birds? A. Land sharing? = Grow crops at lower yield, with wildlife-friendly prac8ces, e.g. Shade coffee OR B. Land sparing? = Grow crops more intensively, and set aside forest for regenera8on, e.g. "Integrated Open Canopy

B. land sparing, coffee yield was 2.5x higher for land sparing, and has higher biodiversity

Why can't coffee be grown in the temperate zone? A)It needs high temperatures B)It needs high humidity C)It needs stable temperatures D)Both A and B

C)It needs stable temperatures

How were the ancient Greek and Roman herbal texts preserved during the "dark ages" of medieval Europe? A)They were preserved in caves in the Greek islands. B)They were preserved by the Vikings in Scandinavia. C)They were preserved in Islamic libraries. D)They were preserved by Buddhist monks in China.

C)They were preserved in Islamic libraries.

Patchoulol is an example of which group of compounds? A)Phenolics B)Alkaloids C)Glycosides D)Terpenes

D)Terpenes

Which of the following is not true about the neurological effects of addictive drugs: A. they increase neurotransmitter release B. they inhibit neurotransmitter re-uptake C. they bind competitively with other neurotransmitters D. they alter the chemical structure of neurotransmitters

D. they alter the chemical structure of neurotransmitters

What are some of the key developments of herbal medicine in ancient Egypt, China, India, and the Greco-Roman Mediterranean? What about pre-Colombian Mexico? (You should be aware of the Ebers papyrus, the Pun-tsao pharmacopoeia, the Rig Veda, de Materia Medica.) Who was Nicholas Culpeper, what did he write, and what is the "Doctrine of Signatures"? Is it considered valid today?

Eqypt: Ebers papyrus- scroll with herbal knowledge, 3500 years old, garlic for heart problems! China: Pun-tsao- 1600AD, had thousands of herbal cures India: rig veda- 1500-1200BC, hindu sacred verses for aruyedic medicine Greco-roman: hippocrates was the father of western medicine, de materia medica- written by dioscorides recorded greek herbals nicholas culpeper: botanist and logical practitioner of medicine, offered services for free, The complete herbal still in circulation today. supported by doctrine of signatures: plants have distict signatures that correspond to human anatomy rennaisance: medicinal plants cultivated in monastic gardens, invention of printing press disseminates knowledge

T or F: Narcotic drugs are addictive because it takes progressively more dopamine to feel relaxed

FALSE

is erythroxylum coca a member of the rosaceae family

No, no hypantheum which is characteristic of the family

Identify the health effects of caffeine. Is the current medical consensus that coffee is good or bad for you?

Physiological effects of caffeine: blood vessel constriction- increase blood pressure, alleviate headaches, speed heartbeat, fat metabolism- performance enhancing, central nervous system- motor skills, alertness and memory, irritability, low birth weight babies good vs bad: more good than bad

What is the ploidy of the endosperm? How does it end up with that ploidy? What is the endosperm of a coconut?

Ploidy of endosperm: 3n ends up with that ploidy because endosperm is the fusing of the sperm cell with the 2 polar nuclei the endosperm of the coconut is the milk and the white meat

What are the three major groups of secondary compounds: for each a. What is the defining component of the chemical structure? Give examples of compounds in this group. c. Give examples of plants known for this group. d. Give examples of human uses of compounds in this group.

Terpenes: a. largest class of secondary compounds, 5c- isopentane, cardenolides- toxic and bitter to mammals but used to regulate heart beat and strengthen heart muscle, b.teatree, c. volatile-important component of essential oils, foxglove- used to regulate heart beat and strengthen the heart muscle Phenolics: have a benzene ring, ex- salicylic acid (asprin) Alkaloids: has a nitrogen group, has significant effects on the nervous system, ex: caffeine, theobromine, xanthine,

What is a growth ring? How could you use tree ring data in an archeological study? In a climate study?

a ring that develops during each year that the tree is alive, helps to infer paleo-climates

Trade in plant products has had a large effect on human history and human civilization. Describe (a) how trade in plant commodities was involved in each of the following examples, and (b) how the event changed history. a. Boston tea party b. Irish potato famine c. Tulip mania d. The spice wars

a. tax on tea, tea smuggling to the colonies, 1773 parliment passes tea act (monopoly on tea), colonies get mad, dump tea in harbor b. new potato varieties get brought to the EU there are now more strains of blight to it can sexually reproduce, get rapid evolution of fungicide resistance and ability to infect different varieties of potatoes, 1m irish die and 1.5 m emigrate c. d. 1512 portugese gain monopoly of spice islands, in 1602-1654 spice war, 1621 dutch get control of the islands, take terrible measures to maintain high prices, kill trees and people, dutch monopoly ends when french and british are able to smuggle out nutmeg and clove trees in mid-18th century

what is a green pepper? an unripe fruit a ripe fruit a flower a modified stem a lateral meristem

an unripe fruit

Linum usitatissimum linen

ancient fiber that still gets used today, very breathable, 34,000 years old found in a cave and fibers were dyed, used for tools, stiching animal skins and shoes, widely used in the middle east especially egypt

Where did apples originate? Who was Johnny Appleseed, how did he plant apples, and why was he planting them? As described in the Botany of Desire, what were the genetic consequences of Johnny Appleseed's practice of planting trees from seed?

apples originated in central asia johny appleseed=john chapman, he planted seeds from new england to the west, planted orchards and put them in the care of the pioneers, sold seedlings to people moving west genetic consequeces: b/c grown from seed, apples were able to adapt to new enviroments because they had full access to their genomes, whereas if you graft trees their phenotypes have already been decided

Catha edulis kat

arid-adapted evergreen, considered a stage 1 narcotic, widely cultivated in yemen, causes manic behavior, excitement, euphoria, hyperactivity, stimulant and part of male social scene

Describe the significance of retting to bast fiber extraction. Which textile material undergroes this process?

bast fibers are sclerenchyma and they are used for linen, retting is the process in which moisture, bacteria and fungi dissolve or rot away plant tissues surrounding the bast fibers, separates fibers from the stem can be done outside or in a pond or pool

What is the boreal forest? What type of trees make up the boreal forest, and what does that reflect about species in the Pinaceae?

boreal forests are in scandinavia, canada, russia an alaska. dominated by jack pines, black spruces, larch and firs. canada retained 91% of its forest cover since European settlement and 80% of first nation zones are in boreal zone

Clinopodium douglasii, yerba buena

ca indigenous uses: tasty mint tea, cold remedy, soothing to stomach, gas, colic, insomnia, deoderant

Lavandula angustifolia, lavender

can be used in your clothes drawer to ward of insects

What is the compound in chili peppers that makes them spicy? What are two different hypotheses for why chili peppers have those spicy compounds? Describe the studies done by Josh Tewksbury to understand the evolutionary significance of spiciness in Capsicum.

capsaicin, 2 hypothesis: protect from rodent seed predators, birds are good seed dispersers while rodents are not did feeding trials of cactus mouse, packrat and thrasher on hackberry, mild chili and pungent chili. mouse and rat prefered hackberry while trasher did not care (no capsaicin receptors). study 2: fusarium wilt reduces seed viability and is spread by insects, there is less infection in pungent plants and less growth on agar with capsaicin, sites with more fruit sucking bugs had spicier peppers

Who was Alfred Vogel, and why is his name on all of those bottles of herbal medicine? What is the very popular herbal medicinal that he made his fortune on?

commercialization of modern herbal medicine, learned about Echinacea from the sioux in 1950s. From switzerland, now teufen switzerland has big echinacea (museum?)

How do we study the anti-microbial properties of the essential oils (or secondary compounds) of herbs? How does this differ between bacteria and fungi?

disc diffusion anti-biotic sensitivity testing= Kirby-baur testing (KB testing). grown on a lawn of bacteria on agar, soak sterile paper disks in compound of interest, measure zone of inhibition. or do fungal bioassay= fungi growing in agar, add compound to the disk then see if the fungus will grow/if it grows less than control

Where was tea first domesticated? What drove the replacement of coffee by tea as the British drink of choice after the 1860's?

domesticated: tropical china, picked by hand replaced coffee b/c of coffee rust in india

What was the role of Arab traders in the spice trade? When did the Portuguese obtain control of the Spice Islands? When did the Dutch obtain control of the Spice Islands? What means did they use to maximize their profits from the Spice trade?

during early greek and roman period, spice trade dominated by arab traders would not say where it came from, romans break arab monopoly with fall of roman empire there was culinary dark ages, found spice islands brought nutmeg to europe did not tell of origins- fueled age of exploration portugese first reach spice islands in 1512, create monopoly and prices soar- fueled the age of exploration dutch- control in 1612 after the spice wars, they destroyed clove trees outside the area they controlled and burned their own nutmeg warehouses to keep prices high, they also enslaved and murdered 60,000 malaysian ppl, monopoly did not end until mid-18th century when trees were smuggled out

Syzygium aromaticum, cloves

eat unopenned buds with sepals inside, clove oil is 80-90% eugenol (which is a phenolic), stops vomiting, stomach issues

Ricinus communis Castor bean

endemic to eastern africa and tropical regions, common ornamental and produces castor oil ricin is found in the seeds, 1mg/kg of weight is enough to kill you, inhibits protein synthesis, causes clumping of red blood cells, vomitting, internal bleeding, progressive organ failure, no antidote but there is vaccination, Markov (writer critical of communist regime) thought to be killer by this

Archeology in northern Spain suggests that Neanderthals were using medicinal plants. What was the archeological evidence that was used to make this claim? What other insights did this evidence provide about the diets of Neanderthals?

evidence: shanidar flower burial, found pollen grains and plant remains, all species found had medicinal value (hollyhock, yarrow, cornflower and hyacinth). also found evidence that they consumed chamomile and yarrow b/c tooth plaque had chemical signatures of plants

Why is bamboo such an exceptional material? What lends it strength?

extremely fast growing can grow 2m in 24hrs, it is a composite material: composed of 2 materials with different physical or chemical properties, can have up to 4 secondary cell walls, has very thick walled sclerenchyma and an abundance of fibers with 2ndary cell walls

which family has the highest concentrations of alkaloids: poaceae brassicaceae fabaceae asteraceae cannibaceae

fabaceae, because they have rhizobia which are nitrogen fixers. but also lots in solanaceae (tomato, pepper, potato, etc) and rubiceae (coffee)

Where was coffee first domesticated? How are coffee cherries processed into coffee beans ready for brewing?

first domesticated: originated in ethiopia, found in tropical and subtropical highlands processing: traditional dry method (by hand), depulping-wet method (use machine)

Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree

from myrtaceae family, terpene, native to southern hemisphere (OZ, NZ, S. pacific). used as anti-microbial, acne, dandruff and astrigent

Ferula sp., sylphium

giant fennel, had estrogenic properties, may terminate pregnancy. Important to cyrenian economy, had culinary and medicinal uses. now extinct

Pinus edulus, pinion pine

gives you pine nuts, drought is reducing S-W pine nut harvest, china exports pine nuts to US, new mexico pine nut harvest

Why has California agriculture turned so strongly to the cultivation of tree nuts in recent years? What are the consequences for water use in the state?

has turned to cultivation of almonds because there has been a surge in demand from china, demand for tree nut export is increasing, california produces 90% of the world's almonds, almonds and walnuts are both in CA top ten commodities (#2 and #6 respectively) consequences: likely tied to drought unclear how much they contribute depends who you ask, one article " almonds produced in 1 year use as much water as LA in 3 years" and "CA almond growers look to increase water savings"

how is parchment different from hemp paper? Which one was the final version of the constitution printed on? Which one was the first draft of the constitution written on?

hemp is plant based whereas parchment is made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin that is dried under tension. final constitution on parchment, first draft on hemp

Cannabis sativa hemp

imported from nimes, france, jeans were first made out of this material, hemp became illegal to grow at one point

what kind of ovary does a zuccini flower have? superior inferior

inferior

Where is Kerala (the Malabar Coast)? What spices are from there, and when did those spices begin to be traded? Where are the Spice Islands (Maluku Islands)? What spices are from there, and when did those spices begin to be traded?

kerala: in india, black pepper and cinammon are from there, started being traded in 3000 BCE spice islands: maluku islands, indonesia, cloves, nutmeg, mace, start to be traded in 1512

Ocimum basilicum, basil

lamiaceae family, aromatic, has terpenes

Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary

lamiaceae, very aromatic, has terpenes

Lamiaceae

mint family, bilateral symmetry, usually bisexual (perfect flowers), leaves are opposite and stems are square, very aromatic, ex. basil, lavender, rosemary, terpenes are dominant in this group

What are the two medicinally important derivatives of opium? What is one highly addictive psychoactive drug derived from opium? How does it affect the brain?

morpine and codeine (not as strong as morphine and less addictive), heroine: was originally sold as a less addictive than morphine but actually 6x as addictive, very painful withdrawl (can be deadly), heroin affects the brain by: interferes with neurons that shut down dopamine production in the VTA so dopamine production continues for longer than it should, can become addicted after 1-2 uses

Papaver somniferum, opium poppy

native to SE europe, and western asia, afghanistan produces 70% of the world's poppies, scattle capsule- latex comes out then can scrape it off. contains over 20 alkaloids but most important ones are morphine (sedative, pain reliever, sleep) and codeine (pain reliever, cough syrup, cold medicine), originally traded along the silk road, columbia and mexico are now the key supplies to north america, used to be used by persian royalty and has culinary uses opium war between china and britain: hong kong taken over by britain b/c china wanted to end the opium trade b/c lots of ppl addicted there

Pogostemon spp., patchouli

native to warm, tropical asia, essential oil extracted from leaves, used as an insect repellent: used to protect silk fabric from moths when traveling from china to middle east

What is dopamine? What role does it play in addiction?

neurotransmitter most associated with addiction, engages reward circuit in the brain, produces in VTA area of the brain, released in NA, associated with reward motivated behavior. excess dopamine produces euphoria, if dopamine is chronically elevated, there is feedback to the VTA and less dopamine is produced so need to have higher levels of the drug to get same amount of dopamine (tolerance)

What is a coconut? an agregate fruit a simple fruit a multiple fruit none of the above

none of the above, it is a seed! the milk and the white meat are endosperm

Plant oils and resins are called secondary compounds. What does this mean and what is the role of secondary compounds in plant biology?

not essential to the life of the plant, they are downstream of primary metabolic activities, used for pigments, hormones, anti-grazing, pesticides, and chemical agents 3 types: nitrogen containining- alkaloids and glycosides, terpenes, phenolics

Myristica fragrans, nutmeg & mace

nutmeg= seed, mace=aril, most blood-soaked of spices, arabs brought mace to europe in middle ages and kept origins a secret

Pinus longaeva, bristlecone pine

oldest trees are about 5,000 years old, found in california, utah and nevada. wood is useful for dendrochronology- characteristics of tree rings and xylem can be used to infer paleo-climates

Piper nigrum, black pepper

originated in kerala, eat berries

Cinnamomum zeylanicum, cinnamon

originated in kerala, eat the bark

Who were the first to make paper out of wood, and what species of tree did they use? Nowadays, what proportion of paper is made out of wood?

paper was first made from wood in China 2,000 years ago, made from paper mulberry tree, today 95% of paper is made from wood

Prunus domestica, plum

part of rosaceae family

Malus domestica, Apple

part of rosaceae family, has inferior ovary

Prunus avium , cherry

part of rosaceae family, has superior ovary

Capsicum spp., Chili pepper

part of solanaceae family, capsaicin is found in the rib of the plant

What is redwood burl poaching, why is it happening, and what kind of impact is it having?

people cut off the burls from redwood trees, new trees regenerate from them, timber industry has collapsed, can get lots of money for them, bad for trees

tea processing

peroxidase (in peroxisomes) and catechins in vacuole + heat makes polyphenol oxidase and theaflavins and thearubigins

Michael Pollan encourages us to think of the relationship between domesticated plants and people from the plant's point of view. What does he mean by that? How would you think about humans from a potato's point of view? From a peach's point of view?

plants want humans to spread their seeds, if they evolve to be more enticing to humans they will have a better chance of being spread. Potatoes that grow well in difficult environments or are particularly tasty are more likely to be planted and eaten

Salix alba willow

produces salicylic acid, greeks and native americans both independently discovered healing powers of the bark, used for teas and tinctures, treats gout, rheumatism, and pain. Reduces pain, fever and inflammation: pain cells produce COX, COX enzyme produces prostagliadin (PG), PG is the main messenger to the brain, salicilin binds to COX so no PG is produced so pain signal does not reach the brain , less PG=less inflammation. Hoffman converts to acetylsalicylic acid to reduce stomach pain from asprin

Taxus brevifolia, Pacific yew

produces taxol in the bark, targets tubulin in ovarian, breast, lung, bladder, prostate and skin cancer, was heavily harvested at one point to where thought they might go extinct but now taxol is synthesized

Echinacea purpurea, echinacea

purple cone flower, big in 90s advertised as anti-viral, thought to shorten duration of colds (limited evidence), shoot has substances that stimulate immune system and is most effective, used by native americans (root and shoot)

Rosa spp., Rose

rosaceae family, rosehips have inferior ovary

What are some of the differences between sclerenchyma tissues and xylem?

sclerenchyma: have lignified cell walls, used for support of tree, xylem is surrounded by sclerenchyma often, transports water

The seeds from fruits of cultivated caimito trees are larger. What is one possible explanation for how anthropogenic selection might have led to larger seeds?

seeds are larger due to increased auxin activity in the seeds, genetic correlation between large fruit and large seeds through increased auxin production

What does a cotton gin do?

separates fibers from plant material

What are softwoods and hardwoods? How does xylem structure affect the properties of softwoods and hardwoods? Why are woods called "non-porous" or "porous"?

softwood: conifers hardwood: agiosperms, has lots of fibers which make the wood harder xylem affects this b/c hardwood has vessels for transport which are surrounded by lots of fibers, softwood has tracheids for transport and support and no fibers

Two well-known types of alkaloids from plants in the Solanaceae are solanine and tropanes. For each, what plants are they found in, how do they affect our body, and, if relevant—how are they used medicinally?

solanine- found in potatoes and tomatoes, cause abdominal pain and neurological disorders tropanes- atropine and cocaine are examples, inhibit neurological signals transmitted by acetylcholine by blocking its receptor in nerve cells, causes delirium, medical: used to halt allergic reactions

**Chrysophyllum cainito, or the caimito tree, is a tropical fruit that is cultivated by many different ethnic groups in Panama, including four indigenous cultures. If you wanted to characterize the domestication syndrome for this plant, how would you design your study? What traits would you measure? What would be some of the challenges you face?

star apple, domestication syndrome: fruit size and allocation to protection, pulp, seed number and size, sweeter, less biter and less sour. look at difference in wild vs domestic varieties challenges: it is a canopy tree, it is rare, hard to collect the fruits because they are eaten by animals

what kind of ovary does a pea flower have? superior inferior

superior

Describe the three types of fibers found in plants, and provide an example of their use in the textile and materials industry.

surface fibers: coverings of seeds, leaves and fruits (cotton) bast or soft fibers: phloem sclerenchyma from dicot bark tissues (paper) hard fibers or leaf fibers: vascular tissue from leaves, flax?

Give an example of how plants can have symbolic or metaphorical meaning in our society / language.

symbol: flowers symbolize love, given at funerals amber thought to ward of evil and symbolize the sun

Describe tea production. What is the difference between black tea and green tea? What is the role of polyphenol oxidase? How is it controlled in the processing of tea?

tea production: crushing/wilting, oxidation, heating (steam/bake), shaping/drying black vs green: green has no oxidation process, black tea has theaflavins and therubigins polyphenol oxidase: Polyphenol oxidase is the enzyme that works on the catechins found in the vacuole of tea leaf cells

the medically active constituents of marajuana such as THC are: terpenes alkaloids phenolics

terpenes, there is no nitrogen, has a benzene ring and a 5C tail

Salvia spp., salvia

the essential oil may improve cognitive function and alertness, may improve functioning in alzheimers patients

Pinaceae

the pines, high elevations, high latitudes in the northern hemisphere, conifers (gymnosperms=naked seeds, produce seeds and cones but no flowers), wind pollinated, aborescent largest genera, highly adapted for freezing temperatures

extracts of the Pacific yew tree and the rosy periwinkle (=Vinca = Catharanthus) were critical to the discovery of targeted anti-cancer medicine. What is their mode of action? The Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) produces what important cancer drug? What part of the plant produces it? Why was the yew tree at risk of extinction? What saved the day?

they target tubulin, prevent it from forming microtubules so cell division is disrupted, yew produces: taxol, produced from the bark, was being harvested so much that it was worried that it would go extinct, now paclitaxel is synthisized, Bristol meyers squibb is a major producer

What did the Huichol people use chocolate for, and how did they consume it?

they used it to break fasts, they mixed it with fruit to sweeten it and drank it as a beverage, represents love of mother earth

Catharanthus roseus (=Vinca), Vinca, Rosy periwinkle

toxic but alkaloids are used in chemotherapy to fight cancers such as leukemia and hodgkin's lymphoma, prevents tubulin from forming into microtubules so cell division is disrupted

Rosa damascena, Rose of Damascus

used to make rose oil, most expensive essential oil, use steam distillation to create the oil

Matricaria chamomilla, chamomile

various daisy-like plants, use flowers to make tea and tinctures for: insomnia, anxiety, stomach ailments, anti-microbial

Draw a sketch of the process by which a signal moves from one neuron to another, labeled with neurotransmitter, receptor, and transporter molecules. What are the three ways that addictive drugs can influence this process?

way that addictive drugs can influence process: 1. increase neurotranmitter release 2. inhibit neurotransmitter re-uptake 3. bind competitively with other neurotransmitters

Cyperus papyrus, papyrus

writing surface developed 4500 ya in Egypt, aquatic and reedlike, endemic to Africa, nearly extinct in the nile delta, favors high temperatures, it is a c4 plant, monocot, stems can be made into boats b/c the pith is very buoyant