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Plants and Society, 3/e
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Table of Contents

Preface xvi
List of Boxed Readings xx

UNIT I
PLANTS AND SOCIETY: THE BOTANICAL CONNECTIONS TO OUR LIVES
CHAPTER 1
Plants in Our Lives 2

PLANTS AND HUMAN SOCIETY 3
The Flowering Plants 3
The Non-Flowering Plants 3
The Algae 4
The Fungi 5
Plant Sciences 5
FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF LIFE 5
A CLOSER LOOK: BIOLOGICAL MIMICS 7
CHEMISTRY OF LIFE 9
Atoms 9
Molecules and Bonding 9
Molecules of Life 11
A CLOSER LOOK: PERFUMES TO POISONS: PLANTS AS CHEMICAL FACTORIES 15

UNIT II
INTRODUCTION TO PLANT LIFE: BOTANICAL PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER 2
The Plant Cell 20

EARLY STUDIES OF CELLS 21
THE CELL WALL 22
THE PROTOPLAST 23
Membranes 23
Organelles 24
A CLOSER LOOK: OSMOSIS AND DIFFUSION 25
A CLOSER LOOK: ORIGIN OF CHLOROPLASTS AND MITOCHONDRIA 26
The Nucleus 27
CELL DIVISION 27
The Cell Cycle 27
Prophase 28
Metaphase 28
Anaphase 28
Telophase 28
Cytokinesis 28

CHAPTER 3
The Plant Body 31

PLANT TISSUES 32
Meristems 32
Dermal Tissue 32
Ground Tissue 32
Vascular Tissue 33
PLANT ORGANS 34
Stems 35
Roots 36
A CLOSER LOOK: STUDYING ANCIENT TREE RINGS 38
Leaves 38
A CLOSER LOOK: PLANTS THAT TRAP ANIMALS 41
VEGETABLES: EDIBLE PLANT ORGANS 42
Carrots 43
A CLOSER LOOK: SUPERMARKET BOTANY 44
Lettuce 44
Radishes 45

CHAPTER 4
Plant Physiology 47

PLANT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS 48
Transpiration 49
Absorption of Water from the Soil 49
A CLOSER LOOK: MINERAL NUTRITION AND THE GREEN CLEAN 50
Water Movement in Plants 50
Translocation of Sugar 51
METABOLISM 53
Energy 53
Redox Reactions 53
A CLOSER LOOK: SUGAR AND SLAVERY 54
Phosphorylation 56
Enzymes 56
PHOTOSYNTHESIS 57
Energy from the Sun 57
Light-Absorbing Pigments 58
Overview 59
The Light Reactions 59
The Calvin Cycle 61
Variation to Carbon Fixation 62
CELLULAR RESPIRATION 63
Glycolysis 63
The Krebs Cycle 65
Electron Transport System 66
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Respiration 67

CHAPTER 5
Plant Life Cycle: Flowers 70

THE FLOWER 71
Floral Organs 71
A CLOSER LOOK: MAD ABOUT TULIPS 72
Modified Flowers 74
MEIOSIS 75
Stages of Meiosis 76
Meiosis in Flowering Plants 77
A CLOSER LOOK: POLLEN IS MORE THAN SOMETHING TO SNEEZE AT 79
Male Gametophyte Development 80
Female Gametophyte Development 80
POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION 80
Animal Pollination 81
A CLOSER LOOK: ALLURING SCENTS 82
Wind Pollination 82
Double Fertilization 83

CHAPTER 6
Plant Life Cycle: Fruits and Seeds 86

FRUIT TYPES 87
Simple Fleshy Fruits 87
Dry Dehiscent Fruits 88
Dry Indehiscent Fruits 88
Aggregate and Multiple Fruits 88
SEED STRUCTURE AND GERMINATION 88
Dicot Seeds 88
Monocot Seeds 88
Seed Germination and Development 90
REPRESENTATIVE EDIBLE FRUITS 90
Tomatoes 90
A CLOSER LOOK: THE INFLUENCE OF HORMONES ON PLANT REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES 92
Apples 94
Oranges and Grapefruits 96
Chestnuts 97
Exotic Fruits 98

CHAPTER 7
Genetics 101

MENDELIAN GENETICS 102
Gregor Mendel and the Garden Pea 102
Monohybrid Cross 103
Dihybrid Cross 105
A CLOSER LOOK: SOLVING GENETICS PROBLEMS 106
BEYOND MENDELIAN GENETICS 108
Incomplete Dominance 108
Multiple Alleles 108
Polygenic Inheritance 108
Linkage 109
MOLECULAR GENETICS 110
DNA—The Genetic Material 110
Genes Control Proteins 111
A CLOSER LOOK: TRY THESE GENES ON FOR SIZE 112
Transcription and the Genetic Code 114
Translation 115
Mutations 117
Recombinant DNA 117

CHAPTER 8
Plant Systematics and Evolution 120

EARLY HISTORY OF CLASSIFICATION 121
Carolus Linnaeus 121
HOW PLANTS ARE NAMED 123
Common Names 123
Scientific Names 123
A CLOSER LOOK: THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS 125
TAXONOMIC HIERARCHY 127
Higher Taxa 127
What is a Species? 128
A CLOSER LOOK: SAVING SPECIES THROUGH SYSTEMATICS 130
THE INFLUENCE OF DARWIN'S THEORY OF EVOLUTION 130
Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle 130
Natural Selection 132
PHYLOCODE 133

CHAPTER 9
Diversity of Plant Life 136

THE SIX-KINGDOM SYSTEM 137
SURVEY OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 137
Mosses and Liverworts 137
A CLOSER LOOK: ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS 139
Fern-Allies and Ferns 143
Gymnosperms 145
A CLOSER LOOK: AMBER: A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST 147
Angiosperms 151

UNIT III
PLANTS AS A SOURCE OF FOOD
CHAPTER 10
Human Nutrition 154

MACRONUTRIENTS 155
Sugars and Complex Carbohydrates 155
A CLOSER LOOK: THE FACES OF FAMINE 156
Fiber in the Diet 156
Proteins and Essential Amino Acids 157
Fats and Cholesterol 159
MICRONUTRIENTS 160
Vitamins 160
Minerals 164
DIETARY GUIDELINES 166
Balancing Nutritional Requirements 167
A CLOSER LOOK: EAT BROCCOLI FOR CANCER PREVENTION 168
Meatless Alternatives 169
CHAPTER 11
Origins of Agriculture 171

FORAGING SOCIETIES AND THEIR DIETS 172
Early Foragers 172
A CLOSER LOOK: FORENSIC BOTANY 173
Modern Foragers 174
AGRICULTURE: REVOLUTION OR EVOLUTION? 175
EARLY SITES OF AGRICULTURE 175
The Near East 175
The Far East 176
The New World 176
CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMESTICATED PLANTS 177
CENTERS OF PLANT DOMESTICATION 177

CHAPTER 12
The Grasses 180

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRASS FAMILY 181
Vegetative Characteristics 181
The Flower 182
The Grain 182
WHEAT: THE STAFF OF LIFE 183
Origin and Evolution of Wheat 183
Modern Cultivars 184
Nutrition 184
A CLOSER LOOK: THE RISE OF BREAD 185
CORN: INDIAN MAIZE 186
An Unusual Cereal 186
Types of Corn 186
Hybrid Corn 188
A CLOSER LOOK: BARBARA MCLINTOCK AND JUMPING GENES IN CORN 189
Ancestry of Corn 190
Value of Corn 191
RICE: FOOD FOR BILLIONS 192
A Plant for Flooded Fields 192
Varieties 194
OTHER IMPORTANT GRAINS 194
Rye and Triticale 194
Oats 194
Barley 196
Sorghum and Millets 196
OTHER GRASSES 196
Forage Grasses 196
Lawn Grasses 197

CHAPTER 13
Legumes 199

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEGUME FAMILY 200
IMPORTANT LEGUME FOOD CROPS 201
Beans and Peas 201
A CLOSER LOOK: THE NITROGEN CYCLE 202
Peanuts 202
Soybeans 205
A CLOSER LOOK: HARVESTING OIL 207
OTHER LEGUMES OF INTEREST 209
A Supertree for Forestry 209
Forage Crops 210
Beans of the Future 210

CHAPTER 14
Starchy Staples 213

STORAGE ORGANS 214
Modified Stems 214
Storage Roots 214
WHITE POTATO 215
South American Origins 215
The Irish Famine 215
Continental Europe 216
The Potato in the United States 216
Solanum tuberosum 217
SWEET POTATO 219
CASSAVA 220
Origin and Spread 220
Botany and Cultivation 220
Processing 220
A CLOSER LOOK: BANANA REPUBLICS: THE STORY OF THE STARCHY FRUIT 221
OTHER UNDERGROUND CROPS 223
Yams 223
A CLOSER LOOK: STARCH: IN OUR COLLARS AND IN OUR COLAS 224
Taro 225
Jerusalem Artichoke 226

CHAPTER 15
Feeding A Hungry World 229

BREEDING FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT 230
THE GREEN REVOLUTION 231
High-Yield Varieties 231
Disease-Resistant Varieties 233
History of the Green Revolution 233
Problems with the Green Revolution: What Went Wrong? 234
Solutions? 235
GENETIC DIVERSITY 236
Monoculture 236
Sustainable Agriculture 236
Germplasm 237
Seed Banks 237
ALTERNATIVE CROPS: THE SEARCH FOR NEW FOODS 238
Quinoa 238
Amaranth 239
Tarwi 240
Tamarillo and Naranjilla 240
Oca 240
BIOTECHNOLOGY 241
Cell and Tissue Culture 241
A CLOSER LOOK: MUTINY ON THE H.M.S. BOUNTY: THE STORY OF BREADFRUIT 242
Genetic Engineering and Transgenic Plants 242
Herbicide Resistance 244
Insect Resistance 245
Bt Corn and Controversy 246
The Promise of “Golden Rice” 246
Other Genetically Engineered Foods 247
Disease Resistance 247
Farming Pharmaceuticals 248
Nonfood Crops 248
Environmental and Safety Considerations 248

UNIT IV
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM PLANTS
CHAPTER 16
Stimulating Beverages 254

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE 255
COFFEE 256
An Arabian Drink 256
Plantations 256
From Bean to Brew 258
Varieties 259
Variations on a Bean 260
TEA 260
Oriental Origins 260
Cultivation and Processing 260
A CLOSER LOOK: TEA TIME: CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD 261
The Flavor and Health Effects of Tea 261
History 262
CHOCOLATE 262
Food of the Gods 262
Quakers and Cocoa 263
Cultivation and Processing 263
A CLOSER LOOK: CANDY BARS: FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE 264
The High Price of Chocolate 266
COCA-COLA: AN "ALL-AMERICAN" DRINK 266
OTHER CAFFEINE BEVERAGES 267

CHAPTER 17
Herbs and Spices 269

ESSENTIAL OILS 270
HISTORY OF SPICES 270
Ancient Trade 270
A CLOSER LOOK: AROMATHERAPY: THE HEALING POWER OF SCENTS 271
Marco Polo 272
Age of Exploration 272
Imperialism 272
New World Discoveries 273
SPICES 273
Cinnamon: The Fragrant Bark 274
Black and White Pepper 274
Cloves 275
Nutmeg and Mace 275
Ginger and Turmeric 276
Saffron 276
Hot Chilies and Other Capsicum Peppers 277
Vanilla 279
Allspice 279
HERBS 279
The Aromatic Mint 280
The Parsley Family 281
The Mustard Family 282
The Lily Family: Pungent Alliums 283
A CLOSER LOOK: HERBS TO DYE FOR 284

CHAPTER 18
Materials: Cloth, Paper, and Wood 287

FIBERS 288
Types of Fiber 288
King Cotton 289
Linen: An Ancient Fabric 292
Other Bast Fibers 293
Miscellaneous Fibers 294
Rayon: “Artificial Silk” 296
Bark Cloth 296
A CLOSER LOOK: A TISKET, A TASKET—THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF BASKETS 297
WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS 299
A CLOSER LOOK: GOOD VIBRATIONS 300
Hardwoods and Softwoods 302
Lumber, Veneer, and Plywood 303
Fuel 305
Other Products from Trees 305
Wood Pulp 306
PAPER 306
Early Writing Surfaces 307
The Art of Papermaking 307
Alternatives to Wood Pulp 308
BAMBOO 309

UNIT V
PLANTS AND HUMAN HEALTH
CHAPTER 19
Medicinal Plants 314

HISTORY OF PLANTS IN MEDICINE 315
Early Greeks and Romans 315
Age of Herbals 315
Modern Prescription Drugs 317
Herbal Medicine Today 317
A CLOSER LOOK: NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINE 318
ACTIVE PRINCIPLES IN PLANTS 320
Alkaloids 320
Glycosides 320
MEDICINAL PLANTS 320
Foxglove and the Control of Heart Disease 321
Aspirin: From Willow Bark to Bayer 322
Malaria and the Fever Bark Tree 324
Snakeroot, Schizophrenia, and Hypertension 326
The Burn Plant 326
Ephedrine 327
Cancer Therapy 327
Herbal Remedies: Promise and Problems 329

CHAPTER 20
Psychoactive Plants 334

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS 335
THE OPIUM POPPY 335
An Ancient Curse 335
The Opium Wars 336
Opium Alkaloids 337
Heroin 337
Withdrawal 338
MARIJUANA 338
Early History in China and India 339
Spread to the West 339
THC and Its Psychoactive Effects 340
Medical Uses 341
COCAINE 341
South American Origins 341
A CLOSER LOOK: THE TROPANE ALKALOIDS AND WITCHCRAFT 342
Freud, Holmes, and Coca-Cola 342
Coke and Crack 343
Medical Uses 344
A Deadly Drug 344
TOBACCO 345
A New World Habit 345
Cultivation Practices 345
Health Risks 346
PEYOTE 348
Mescal Buttons 348
Native American Church 348
KAVA: THE DRUG OF CHOICE IN THE PACIFIC 349
Preparation of the Beverage 349
Active Components in Kava 349
LESSER KNOWN PSYCHOACTIVE PLANTS 349

CHAPTER 21
Poisonous and Allergy Plants 352

NOTABLE POISONOUS PLANTS 353
Poisonous Plants in the Wild 353
Poisonous Plants in the Backyard 355
A CLOSER LOOK: ALLELOPATHY—CHEMICAL WARFARE IN PLANTS 356
Poisonous Plants in the Home 358
Plants Poisonous to Livestock 358
PLANTS THAT CAUSE MECHANICAL INJURY 359
INSECTICIDES FROM PLANTS 360
ALLERGY PLANTS 361
Allergy and the Immune System 362
Respiratory Allergies 363
Hay Fever Plants 363
Allergy Control 366
Contact Dermatitis 366
Food Allergies 368
Latex Allergy 369

UNIT VI
ALGAE AND FUNGI: THE IMPACT OF ALGAE AND FUNGI ON HUMAN AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 22
The Algae 372

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ALGAE 373
CLASSIFICATION OF THE ALGAE 373
Cyanobacteria 374
Dinoflagellates 374
Diatoms 375
Euglenoids 375
Green Algae 375
Red Algae 377
Brown Algae 379
ALGAE IN OUR DIET 379
Seaweeds 380
OTHER ECONOMIC USES OF ALGAE 381
TOXIC AND HARMFUL ALGAE 382
Toxic Cyanobacteria 382
A CLOSER LOOK 22.1: DRUGS FROM THE SEA 383
Red Tides 383
Pfiesteria 383
Other Toxic Algae 384
A CLOSER LOOK 22.2: KILLER ALGA, STORY OF A DEADLY INVADER 385

CHAPTER 23
Fungi in the Natural Environment 388

CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI 389
CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI 390
Kingdom Protista 390
Kingdom Fungi 392
ROLE OF FUNGI IN THE ENVIRONMENT 401
A CLOSER LOOK: LICHENS: ALGAL-FUNGAL PARTNERSHIP 401
Decomposers—Nature’s Recyclers 401
A CLOSER LOOK: DRY ROT AND OTHER WOOD DECAY FUNGI 403
Mycorrhizae: Root-Fungus Partnership 404
PLANT DISEASES WITH MAJOR IMPACT ON HUMANS 405
Late Blight of Potato 406
Rusts—Threat to the World’s Breadbasket 406
Corn Smut—Blight or Delight 408
Dutch Elm Disease—Destruction in the Urban Landscape 409

CHAPTER 24
Beverages and Foods from Fungi 413

MAKING WINE 414
The Wine Grape 415
Harvest 416
Red or White 416
Fermentation 416
A CLOSER LOOK: DISASTER IN THE FRENCH VINEYARDS 417
Clarification 419
Aging and Bottling 419
“Drinking Stars” 419
Fortified and Dessert Wines 420
THE BREWING OF BEER 421
Barley Malt 421
Mash, Hops, and Wort 421
Fermentation and Lagering 421
Sake, A Rice “Beer” 423
DISTILLATION 423
The Still 423
Distilled Spirits 424
The Whiskey Rebellion 424
A VICTORIAN DRINK REVISITED 425
Absinthe 425
The Green Hour 425
Active Principles 426
Absinthism 426
A CLOSER LOOK: ALCOHOL AND HEALTH 427
FUNGI AS FOOD 428
Edible Mushrooms 428
Fermented Foods 430
Quorn Mycoprotein 430

CHAPTER 25
Fungi that Affect Human Health 433

ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER WONDER DRUGS 434
Fleming’s Discovery of Penicillin 434
Manufacture of Penicillin 435
Other Antibiotics 435
A CLOSER LOOK: THE NEW WONDER DRUGS 436
FUNGAL POISONS AND TOXINS 437
Mycotoxins 437
Ergot of Rye and Ergotism 438
The Destroying Angel and Toadstools 441
Soma and Hallucinogenic Fungi 442
HUMAN PATHOGENS AND ALLERGIES 443
Dermatophytes 444
Systemic Mycoses 444
Allergies 446
Indoor Fungi and Toxic Molds 446

UNIT VII
PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER 26
Ecology 450

THE ECOSYSTEM 451
Ecological Niche 451
Food Chains and Food Webs 452
Energy Flow and Ecological Pyramids 453
Biological Magnification 455
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING 456
The Carbon Cycle 456
The Greenhouse Effect 456
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION 459
THE GREEN WORLD: BIOMES 461
Deserts 462
Crops from the Desert 462
Chaparral 464
Grasslands 464
Forests 465
A CLOSER LOOK: BUYING TIME FOR THE RAIN FOREST 466
Harvesting Trees 468


APPENDIX A  Metric System  471
APPENDIX B  Classification of Plants  472
GLOSSARY 473
CREDITS 487
INDEX 489