The Philosopher's Plant: An Intellectual Herbarium

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1 University Press Scholarship Online You are looking at 1-8 of 8 items for: keywords : germination Angels on the Lawn Nicholas P. Money in Mushroom Published in print: 2011 Published Online: January 2012 ISBN: eisbn: acprof:oso/ The introductory chapter explains how mushrooms develop. The complex fungal life cycle involves the germination of spores, the expansion of feeding colonies, and mating processes that can involve tens of thousands of sexes in a single mushroom species. The study of these mechanisms began with the Florentine genius, Anton Micheli in the eighteenth century, and, later, engaged fascinating personalities including children's author Beatrix Potter, Worthington Smith (who got most of his facts spectacularly wrong), and Elsie Wakefield (who got her facts right). The modern study of mushroom development is a challenge for the field of molecular genetics and computer simulations have provided useful insights. Recent changes in seasonal patterns of mushroom fruiting may relate to global climate change. The Philosopher's Plant: An Intellectual Herbarium Michael Marder Published in print: 2012 Published Online: November ISBN: eisbn: Item type: book Publisher: Columbia University Press DOI: / columbia/ Despite their conceptual allergy to vegetal life, philosophers have used germination, growth, blossoming, fruition, reproduction, and decay as illustrations of abstract concepts; mentioned plants in passing as the natural backdrops for dialogues, letters, and other compositions; spun elaborate allegories out of flowers, trees, and even grass; and recommended appropriate medicinal, dietary, and aesthetic approaches to select species of plants. This book illuminates the vegetal centerpieces and hidden kernels that have powered theoretical discourse for centuries. Choosing twelve botanical specimens that correspond to Page 1 of 5

2 twelve significant philosophers, it recasts the development of philosophy through the evolution of human and plant relations. A philosophical history for the postmetaphysical age, this text reclaims the organic heritage of human thought. Maimonides Palm Tree Michael Marder and Mathilde Roussel in The Philosopher's Plant: An Intellectual Herbarium Published in print: 2012 Published Online: November ISBN: eisbn: Publisher: Columbia University Press DOI: / columbia/ This chapter initially discusses Maimonides' argument that palm trees grow in a permanent state of exception, and stand for all other trees and plants, as they are excluded from the sphere of the living. They occupy the zone of indistinction between nature and right, between legal limits and unlimited violence. For Maimonides, the palm is a deficient tree, barely reminiscent of the miracle of Creation, the memory of which is preserved in the generative power of vegetation. The sphere regulating vegetative functions was set into motion by God; the germination of seeds is a reminder of the act of Creation. The Maimonidean plant may not live as animals do, but each time it returns to the earth as a seed, it renews and reaffirms the Creator's will. Despite being a proponent of allegorical sense, the plant itself is meaningless. Whereas germination is a symbol reaffirming the continuity of Creation, the death of plants are downright insignificant. Spatial and Temporal Drivers of Plant Structure and Diversity in Serengeti Savannas T. Michael Anderson, John Bukombe, and Kristine L. Metzger in Serengeti IV: Sustaining biodiversity in a coupled human-natural system Published in print: Published Online: September ISBN: eisbn: Publisher: University of Chicago Press DOI: / chicago/ Plant diversity within the Serengeti ecosystem is often overlooked. A logical focus is on broad factors such as climate, topographic heterogeneity and fire frequency. Subsequently, the issue of compositional stability through time and space and what factors may influence the turnover of species through time. The chapter concludes by Page 2 of 5

3 comparing plant diversity in the savanna/grassland habitats of Serengeti to other, similar grassland and savanna systems around the world. A Novel Method of Weed Control Pete A. Ensminger in Life Under the Sun Published in print: 2001 Published Online: October 2013 ISBN: eisbn: Publisher: Yale University Press DOI: /yale/ Photosynthesis involves biological energy transduction, the transformation of light energy into chemical energy, and photosensory pigments, which play an important role in the process. Phytochrome, a photosensory pigment, regulates plant growth and development. This chapter explores research works on light-induced seed germination and the role of phytochrome to regulate plant growth and development, including seed germination. Pioneering work by Hendricks and colleagues looked at photo-reversible phytochrome responses. The use of herbicides to control weeds and the adverse affects of weeds on the environment and public health are discussed. With the persistent use of herbicides, over time weeds have developed resistance, a resurgence, and eventual replacement. The evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds and the harmful effects of herbicides lead to the development of an integrated weedmanagement program. Plowing presents a simple and effective method of weed control. The emergence of nighttime plowing to control weeds and its limitations are also presented. Ecology of Plant-Derived Smoke: Its Use in Seed Germination Lara Jefferson, Marcello Pennacchio, and Kayri Havens-Young ISBN: eisbn: Item type: book acprof:osobl/ This book focuses on the use of plant-derived smoke as a tool, used for promoting seed germination and growth. Our ancestors may have used smoke in this capacity for centuries. Only recently has the scientific community delved into understanding the ecology of smoke as a seed dormancy-breaking mechanism in fire-prone environments. Most research to date has focused on the fire-prone Mediterranean environments of the western USA, Western Australia, and South Africa. These environments are among the richest floristic regions in the world, and require ecological understanding in order to be managed Page 3 of 5

4 properly. This includes knowledge of the role that smoke plays in these ecosystems. This book presents accounts of 1,355 species of plants, from 120 families, whose seed have been tested for their response to aerosol smoke, smoke water, and plant-derived smoke. Each account includes a short summary of research findings, along with any other relevant information. The Herbaceous Layer as a Filter Determining Spatial Pattern in Forest Tree Regeneration Lisa O. George and Fakhri A. Bazzaz in The Herbaceous Layer in Forests of Eastern North America ISBN: eisbn: acprof:osobl/ This chapter first considers the influence of the understory filter on dispersal, germination, and survival of tree seeds and seedlings individually. It then explains the effects of the understory filter on tree seedling community attributes such as tree seedling distribution, species composition, and diversity; the influence of the understory filter on seedling growth; and the role of the understory in determining the size structure of tree seedling communities. The filtering activity of the understory is complex not only because of its activity at multiple life stages of a tree, but also because the understory itself is a complex and changing mosaic of understory plants. The chapter concludes by discussing the spatial and temporal distribution of understory plants and how the mosaic nature of the understory affects the complexity of the understory filter. List of Plants Lara Vanessa Jefferson, Marcello Pennacchio, and Kayri Havens in Ecology of Plant-Derived Smoke: Its Use in Seed Germination ISBN: eisbn: acprof:osobl/ This chapter examines the scientific experimentations aimed at identifying the germination stimulants and compounds present in certain plant forms. It surveys the effects of the different methods, namely wood charring and the bioassay-driven fractionation process, that led to the Page 4 of 5

5 observation that germination-affecting chemicals may be water soluble, thermostable, and active in low concentrations. Page 5 of 5