This volume is the second in the series on 'Higher Plants', otherwise termed Phanerogam or Spermatophyte. The earlier volume, 1A, covered several taxa of Phanerogams and one of Bryophyte. A concurrent series (volume 2A, 2B and so on) cover the lower groups, represented by Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes and Lichens. Bryophyte, because of its importance in evolution of seed plants vis-a-vis higher groups, has been included in both volumes. The present volume includes articles dealing with certain fundamental issues of genomics as well as phylogeny and evolution of certain economic agricultural and medicinal crops. Of these, economic crops include coffee, coconut and papaya; medicinals cover Artemisia and Costus; fodder and agricultural crops include Phleum, Lolium and Triticale; horticultural species include Orchis and Allium and forest plant is represented by Populus species. In general, this volume contains discussions on molecular patters of basic angiosperms as well as genomics and phylogeny of different families covering several commercial, medicinal and agricultural crops.Those working on molecular genetics, evolution and phylogeny of flowering plants, including species of medicinal and agricultural value will find this book interesting.

Horticultural therapy has evolved from its use only by volunteer gardeners to become a recognized and respected therapeutic modality conducted by trained, registered professionals. Horticultural Therapy Methods is the first textbook to describe the processes and techniques used to provide horticultural therapy interventions and the rationale for their use. This book presents types of programs, settings, and goals in horticultural therapy. It outlines treatment planning; development of sessions to meet treatment objectives; motivation and behavior management techniques; documentation guidelines; practical approaches for wellness; and resources for activity ideas. New to this Edition: Various useful examples of horticultural therapy in practice and strategically placed tips and resources. Additions to appendix on horticultural therapy treatment strategies. New chapter on session planning. Thirty-seven photographs demonstrating horticultural therapy in practice. Additional "HT Practice" examples and tips. The book is used as a reference and a guide for students, educators, and those conducting horticultural therapy or therapeutic horticulture to guide them in constructing effective treatment programs. Health care and human service professionals use the reference in the therapy, treatment, and education of inmates, residents, patients, trainees, students, and other participants.

An English translation of the series prepared by the Komarov Botanical Institute. Covers Altai, Khangai, Kentei Ranges in the North, Greater Khingan Range in the East, Pamir in the West, The Great Wall of China in the Southeast, and the Himalayas in the South. This volume of the illustrated synopsis of vascular plants of Central Asia provides a detailed account of 3 families Araliaceae, Umbelliferae, Cornaceae, within the People's Republics of China and Mongolia. Keys for the identification of genera and species under each family as well as references to nomenclature and information on habitat and geographical distribution for each species are given. A number of species have been recorded in this territory for the first time which include 8 hitherto unknown species. The largest taxonomic groups in this volume are the family Umbelliferae and genera Seseli L., Ferula L., Bupleurum L. I11.: 8 plates, 4 maps of distribution ranges.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the 36 hotspots for biodiversity conservation worldwide. It is a unique, large biome (more than 3000 km in latitude; 2500 in longitude), marked by high biodiversity, high degree of endemic species and, at the same time, extremely threatened. Approximately 70% of the Brazilian population lives in the area of this biome, which makes the conflict between biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of the human population a relevant issue. This book aims to cover: 1) the historical characterization and geographic variation of the biome; 2) the distribution of the diversity of some relevant taxa; 3) the main threats to biodiversity, and 4) possible opportunities to ensure the biodiversity conservation, and the economic and social sustainability. Also, it is hoped that this book can be useful for those involved in the development of public policies aimed at the conservation of this important global biome.

With one volume each year, this series keeps scientists and advanced students informed of the latest developments and results in all areas of the plant sciences. This latest volume includes reviews on plant physiology, biochemistry, genetics and genomics, forests, and ecosystems.

Reduce the environmentally negative aspects of industrial agriculture with an ecologically sound philosophy! New Dimensions in Agroecology explores the latest developments in the emerging science of agroecology, focusing on how these new concepts and cutting-edge tools will help minimize the impact of agriculture on the environment and foster the use of sustainable agricultural practices. This book expands your scope of thinking by providing information on current innovative agroecological research and education as well as emerging issues, such as biotechnology and climate change. Prominent specialists from around the world offer a diversity of stimulating perspectives and topics that will benefit agricultural researchers, extension personnel, and upper-level students in agroecology, ecology, and agronomy programs. In New Dimensions in Agroecology, you will learn why conventional agriculture practices frequently result in environmental problems such as eutrophication at the landscape scale, reduction in soil quality, and decreased biodiversity. This timely tool contributes practical suggestions to design sustainable crop and meat production systems that replace current wasteful and unsustainable industrial agriculture to nourish the world without major damage to the health and quality of our total environment. The book points to future possibilities for research and application with the hope that agroecology becomes the new discipline in agricultural issues rather than just a buzzword. New Dimensions in Agroecology covers groundbreaking investigations on a wide variety of agriculture and ecology, including: holistic landscape-level approaches the integration of ecological principles into cropping systems the utilization of biodiversity in agriculture new ways of seeing the soil in agrosystems ecological pest management and its extension and much more! New Dimensions in Agroecology goes beyond preserving the total sustainability of our agricultural systems, including social, environmental, and economic measures of sustainability in the equation. Generously enhanced with tables, figures, models, and diagrams, this book scrutinizes the current state of affairs in agriculture and presents a better solution. Change will not come easily, but this text is the first step towards a new, environmentally acceptable way.

A Winner of the 2005 Klinger Book Award

Presented by The Society for Economic Botany.

Florida Ethnobotany provides a cross-cultural examination of how the statea (TM)s native plants have been used by its various peoples. This compilation includes common names of plants in their historical sequence, weaving together what was formerly esoteric information about each species into a full reference. The author accomplishes the monumental task of translating the common names of species, which offers insight into plant usage and a glimpse into the culture of each ethnic group or tribe. These common botanical names often demonstrate how individuals fit into their societies and how these societies functioned. Although there have been previous studies of plants used by the inhabitants of Florida, this is the first comprehensive synthesis of this flora-rich region that was so pivotal in the history of New World exploration.

Improve yield and quality to give consumers the best blueberries on the market Proceedings of the 9th North American Blueberry Research and Extension Workers Conference presents the current status of the blueberry industry and recent developments in the biology, breeding, and production of blueberries throughout all of North America. In this extensive transcript of the convention which occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the summer of 2002 experts have contributed the most cutting-edge research on the commercial production of the blueberry, specifically focusing on increasing crop yield and fruit quality through various techniques and strategies. With original studies and experimental trials in such important issues as soil amendment, fertilizer, and weed control, this book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the industry. With this book, you'll learn a variety of ways to influence: the mineral nutrition of blueberries blueberry diseases and pathology insect control blueberry flower bud development the length of time between harvest and the storage, processing, and marketing of blueberries Specifically, these proceedings introduce such recent and ongoing research on blueberries as: a possible sexual function specialization in the lowbush blueberry chilling requirement studies effects of sunlight or shade on maturity and optical density screenhouse evaluations of the Mason Bee Osmia ribifloris as a pollinator in the Southeastern United States efficient mowing for pruning wild blueberry fields and much more With over 35 different studies on blueberries from planting to postharvesting, you'll gain an extraordinary amount of knowledge and methodology to expand upon in your own work. The text comes complete with tables, graphs, figures, and photos, providing you with valuable visual aids. Whether you are a producer, marketer, or researcher, this book will be an asset to your professional knowledge.

This book gives a comprehensive overview on the various aspects of Trichoderma, a filamentous fungus ubiquitously present in soil. Topics addressed are the biology, diversity, taxonomy, ecology, biotechnology and cultivation of Trichoderma, to just name a few. Basic as well as applied aspects are covered and a special focus is given on use of Trichoderma in agriculture and beyond. Trichoderma species are widely distributed throughout the world in soil, rotting plant material, and wood. Although they are often considered as a contaminants, Trichoderma species are also known for their ability to act as biocontrol agents against various plant pathogens and plant diseases, and also as biostimulants promoting plant growth. The contents of this book will be of particular interest to, agricultural scientists, biotechnologists, plant pathologists, mycologists, and microbiologists, students, extension workers, policy makers and other stakeholders.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the classified chemical components of hypoglycemic compounds in natural products, summarize the recent research progress of natural products with hypoglycemic activity in the past 20 years, and provide the original analysis and development opinions of relevant scholars. Hypoglycemic compounds are to target diabetes mellitus, an important public health problem, one of four priority noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) targeted for action by world leaders. Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine and metabolic disease, which not only causes physiological damage to patients' kidneys, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels, peripheral blood vessels, nerves and eyes, but also causes mental and psychological pressure to patients. Due to the evidence that traditional medicine and natural herbal formula have advantages in treating diabetes, natural products with hypoglycemic activity have been studied extensively in recent years and have been accepted by many scholars all over the world. This book focuses on the progress on the study of the structure, hypoglycemic activities, structure-activity relationships and mechanism of a wide range of polysaccharides, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols and other constituents. It will help students and researchers to understand current approaches and progress in the treatment of diabetes with natural products, which may also be beneficial to develop new hypoglycemic drugs.

Fourier Transform Infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR) was first developed by William Coblentz in 1905 for analytical purposes. It has been established as a powerful analytical method to analyze a wide range of materials. The most convenient way to analyze the molecular structure was to prepare KBr pellets with small amount of chemical species. Currently, the development of the Universal Attenuated Total Reflectance (UATR) allows the use of ZnSe-Diamond crystal to acquire FTIR spectra directly from the sample with no special preparation. These traditional FTIR analyses have been made with devices capable of performing single measurements, thus, providing a single IR spectrum of the sample. Recent major technological development in FTIR instrumentation was development of microscopes and imaging systems. These devices are now capable of imaging larger sample area, providing not only spectroscopic information but also spatial distributional information. In addition, the development of Focal Point Array (FPA) has made FTIR imaging an emerging area of chemical imaging research. The aim of this book is to summarize in a single document the research work that is being performed using UATR and IR imaging in selected emerging applications in plant materials and biological samples. This book provides the readers new knowledge, updates information, emerging applications, and understanding of the potential use of FTIR Microspectroscopy.

The Opuntia fruits, commonly known as cactus pears or prickly pears, have been suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization to be a promising and strategic crop in regions suffering from lack of water. In Mexico, India, South Africa, and the Mediterranean, the Opuntia fruits have become popular due to their nutritive value and health-promoting benefits, including antioxidant, antiulcerogenic and antiatherogenic traits and protective effects against LDL oxidation. Additionally, readily absorbable sugars, high vitamin C and mineral content, and a pleasant flavour make Opuntia tailor-made for novel foods. Due to their ecological advantages, high functional value, and health-related traits, Opuntia fruits can be highly exploited in different food processing applications. For instance, Opuntia cactus fruits are used for the preparation of juices and marmalades; Opuntia cactus plants are used to feed animals in African and Latin American countries; Peruvian farmers cultivate Opuntia cactus for growing the cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) insect and producing the natural dye carmine; and the commercial production of food and non-food products from Opuntia has been established in Mexico, USA and several Mediterranean countries. Opuntia spp.: Chemistry, Bioactivity and Industrial Applications creates a multidisciplinary forum of discussion on Opuntia cactus with special emphasis on its horticulture, post-harvest, marketability, chemistry, functionality, health-promoting properties, technology and processing. The text includes detailed discussion of the impact of traditional and innovative processing on the recovery of high-added value compounds from Opuntia spp. by-products. Later chapters explore the potential applications of Opuntia spp. in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.

Discover what improves stress resistance to cold in woody plants used in horticulture! Adaptations and Responses of Woody Plants to Environmental Stresses covers the latest and most significant advances in woody plant stress research. Few books focus on the low-temperature stress biology of woody plants that are of horticultural importance. This book will appeal to graduate students, instructors, and researchers who specialize in plant stress physiology in botany, agriculture, horticulture, landscape design, or forestry. The authors of this book, led by Dr. Rajeev Arora, are world-renowned researchers who have made significant contributions to the knowledge of woody plant stress physiology and molecular biology. Adaptations and Responses of Woody Plants to Environmental Stresses will keep you up-to-date on current findings in the fundamental understanding of the various aspects of woody plants' responses to environmental stresses. With figures, tables, graphs, illustrations, and black-and-white and color photos documenting the studies of these researchers and scientists, this book offers a new awareness of the physiology and molecular biology of cold acclimation in woody plants. The book will provide you with innovative research on: the freezing processice nucleation, propagation, and deep supercooling in woody plants the biology of dormancy induction and release in woody plantsphysiologic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms the physiology and regulation of seasonal nitrogen cycling in woody plants the importance of dehydrinsa unique class of stress proteinsin cold hardening of certain woody plants nitrogen-fixation as a stress-avoidance strategy in certain woody plants Adaptations and Responses of Woody Plants to Environmental Stresses provides groundbreaking analysis and scientific research to facilitate future efforts in increasing tolerance and protection from various biotic and abiotic stresses, especially freeze injuries. This book paves the way for researchers and scientists to develop tougher plants with improved resistance to environmental stress and better strategies to protect plants from stressful conditions.

A classic text on esoteric traditional herbalism from one of the most influential herbalists of the Paris occult revival * Includes a dictionary of nearly 300 magical plants with descriptions of each plant's scientific name, common names, elemental qualities, ruling planets, and zodiacal signatures, with commentary on medico-magical properties and uses * Explores methods of phytotherapy and plant magic, including the Paracelsian "transplantation of diseases," ritual pacts with trees, the secret ingredients of witches' ointments, and the composition of magical philters * Explains the occult secrets of phytogenesis, plant physiology, and plant physiognomy (classification of plants according to the doctrine of signatures) Merging the scientific discipline of botany with ancient, medieval, and Renaissance traditions of occult herbalism, this seminal guide was first published in French in 1902 as a textbook for students of Papus's Ecole hermetique and sparked a revival in the study of magical herbalism in early twentieth-century France. Author Paul Sedir, pseudonym of Yvon Le Loup (1871-1926), explains the occult secrets of phytogenesis (the esoteric origin and evolutionary development of the plant kingdom), plant physiology (the occult anatomy of plants), and plant physiognomy (classification of plants according to the doctrine of signatures). Unveiling the mysteries behind planetary and zodiacal attributions, he provides readers with the keys to make their own informed determinations of the astral properties of plants. Moving from theory into practice, Sedir explores various methods of phytotherapy and plant magic, including the Paracelsian "transplantation of diseases," the secret ingredients of witches' ointments, and the composition of magical philters. In the third section of the book, Sedir offers a dictionary of magical plants that covers nearly 300 plant species with descriptions of their astral signatures, occult properties, and medico-magical uses. Compiled from an array of rare sources and esoterica, this classic text includes a wealth of additional materials and supplemental charts and diagrams drawn from Sedir's occult colleagues, all of whom adopted and expanded upon Sedir's pioneering system of plant correspondences.

Sugarcane enjoys a prominent position among agro-industrial crops and is commercially grown in 115 tropical and subtropical countries around the world. However, fluctuations in sugar prices have forced the sugarcane industry worldwide to broaden its revenue base by moving from single-commodity manufacturing to a range of value-added products. Utilizing the by-products in an innovative manner to create value-added products is the new course of action for sugar-producing countries. For many years sugarcane was regarded as a single-product crop, i.e., only useful for producing sugar. Its actual potential is now increasingly being recognised by the industry and there is a growing trend toward the manufacturing of allied products from sugarcane. Therefore, the focus is now on the establishment of sugar-agro-industry complexes, processing not just sugar but a range of other products. This book provides a comprehensive overview of sugarcane not only as a source of sweetening agents but also for many other uses, including as a source of bio-energy. It also explores the trend of sugar consumption and suggests practices to curb the consumption of sugar products in order to tackle obesity and reduce public health costs. The book underscores the need to diversify sugarcane and highlights means of doing so, while also addressing various innovations and technologies being developed in connection with sugar, sugar derivatives, and sugar industry by-products for sustainable utilization in the sugar-agro industry. Accordingly, it offers a valuable resource for professionals and R&D units in the sugar industry, and for students of agronomy and related fields.

Rosaceae, one of the largest of angiosperms is represented in Siberian flora by 32 genera, comprising 214 species.

Cinnamon and Cassia, the "Spices of Life," together constitute one of the most widely used group of spices. A comprehensive volume, Cinnamon and Cassia: Genus Cinnamomum explores in detail Srilankan cinnamon, Chinese cassia, Indonesian cassia, Indian cassia, camphor, and also the important related and useful spices of Cinnamomum. The introductory chapter depicts the history of these spices, followed by a detailed analysis of botany and crop improvement that examines taxonomy, morphology, embryology, reproduction, and propagation. A chapter on chemistry details the unique composition of cinnamon and cassia; it precedes an explanation of crop management, harvesting, and processing of Srilankan cinnamon. This book points out that Vietnamese and Chinese cassia are the same, with differences only in harvesting and processing. It also includes chapters on Indian and Indonesian varieties of cassia, along with overviews of the camphor tree, and coverage of cinnamon and cassia pharmacology, toxicology, end uses, economics, and marketing. The volume concludes with an informative chapter on other economically useful species of Cinnamomum. Written by a panel of experts from throughout Asia, this volume is the only comprehensive monograph on these spices, benefiting those engaged in study, cultivation, marketing, processing, and product development.

Based on a review of materials kept in the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute of St. Petersburg, Russia, this work is part of a series expected to be a 20-volume full taxonomic account of plants of the Central Asian floristic region of Mongolia and China. This volume is dedicated to the genus Astralagus L. of the family Leguminosae, covering some 306 species. Keys to species are given under each subgenus and references to nomenclature, information on habitat, and geographic distribution are given under each species.

The book explores the fundamental principles, advances in forensic techniques, and its application on forensic DNA analysis. The book is divided into three modules; the first module provides the historical prospect of forensic DNA typing and introduces fundamentals of forensic DNA typing, methodology, and technical advancements, application of STRs, and DNA databases for forensic DNA profile analysis. Module 2 examines the problems and challenges encountered in extracting DNA and generating DNA profiles. It provides information on the methods and the best practices for DNA isolation from forensic biological samples and human remains like ancient DNA, DNA typing of skeletal remains and disaster victim identification, the importance of DNA typing in human trafficking, and various problems associated with capillary electrophoresis. Module 3 emphasizes various technologies that are based on SNPs, STRs namely Y-STR, X-STR, mitochondrial DNA profiling in forensic science. Module 4 explores the application of non-human forensic DNA typing of domestic animals, wildlife forensics, plant DNA fingerprinting, and microbial forensics. The last module discusses new areas and alternative methods in forensic DNA typing, including Next-Generation Sequencing, and its utility in forensic science, oral microbes, and forensic DNA phenotyping. Given its scope, the book is a useful resource in the field of DNA fingerprinting for scientists, forensic experts, and students at the postgraduate level.

There is a growing demand for appropriate management of aquatic invasive species in lakes and rivers worldwide. This book covers biology, invasion ecology, sightings, and control techniques of 4 invasive animals and 15 invasive plants in Massachusetts lakes and rivers. It provides valuable information on their biological characteristics and potential expansion pathways, as well as monitoring and management, including alternative management tools using updated biological, chemical, and mechanical methods. The book also includes the regulation of invasive species management to allow resource managers, biologists, practitioners, volunteers, and students a better understanding of compliance and enforcement with environmental law. An example of successful management is highlighted for each invasive species. Invasive Animals and Plants in Massachusetts Lakes and Rivers is the first book to provide comprehensive and systematic coverage and illustrations for both freshwater invasive animals and plants. Although focussing on Massachusetts, it will provide readers with the bigger picture on multiple invasive species, from prevention, early detection, control, ecological restoration, to public education. Natural resource managers in Massachusetts and surrounding states will glean the detailed and valuable information they need to learn and use to prevent and manage freshwater invasive species in the field.

This book highlights the results from over a year of ethnobotanical research in a rural and an urban community in Jamaica, where we interviewed more than 100 people who use medicinal plants for healthcare. The goal of this research was to better understand patterns of medicinal plant knowledge, and to find out which plants are used in consensus by local people for a variety of illnesses. For this book, we selected 25 popular medicinal plant species mentioned during fieldwork. Through individual interviews, we were able to rank plants according to their frequency of mention, and categorized the medicinal uses for each species as "major" (mentioned by more than 20% of people in a community) or "minor" (mentioned by more than 5%, but less than 20% of people). Botanical identification of plant specimens collected in the wild allowed for cross-linking of common and scientific plant names. To supplement field research, we undertook a comprehensive search and review of the ethnobotanical and biomedical literature. Our book summarizes all this information in detail under specific sub-headings.

This book gives basic facts about litter decomposition studies, which are of guidance for scientists who start studies. Since the publication of the third edition, there has been quite a development not only in the field of litter decomposition but also in supporting branches of science, which are important for fruitful work on and understanding of decomposition of plant litter and sequestration of carbon. A consequence is that 'old established truths' are becoming outdated. New knowledge in the fields of phytochemistry and microbial ecology has given a new baseline for discussing the concepts 'litter decomposition' and 'carbon sequestration'. We can also see a rich literature on litter decomposition studies using roots and wood as substrates. These have given new insights in factors that regulate the decomposition rate and as regards roots their contribution to sequestered carbon in humus. Additional facts on the role of temperature vs the litters' chemical composition may in part change our view on effects of climate change. Further information on applications of the new analytical technique (13C-NMR) for determining organic-chemical compounds has allowed us to develop these parts. Focus is laid on needle litter of Scots pine as a model substrate as this species has been considerably more studied than other litter species. Also the boreal/northern temperate coniferous forest has in part been given this role. Still, new information may allow us to develop information about litter from further tree species.

Lhwyd, the illegitimate son of a father ruined by the Civil War, had to make his own way in the world. A competent botanist before going up to Oxford as a student, he spent much time there at the Botanical Garden before being appointed to the newly established Ashmolean Museum, where he became its second Keeper. This biography traces the development of his research interests from botany to palaeontology - and then to antiquarian studies, which led to him studying the Celtic languages as a source of linguistic evidence in historical studies. Thus he became the founder of Celtic Studies. Lhwyd's diverse research interests were underpinned by an evidence-led methodology - the collection (by personal observation where possible) of material, which would then be classified as a preliminary to drawing conclusions - and, as such, his is a valuable contribution to the history of science.

This single-source volume provides technical insight on how genomics-oriented studies may be used to bring new understanding to established models of fungal development. The book helps to assess and solve problems associated with multiple copies of genes and proteins with seemingly identical functions and depict various industrial and economic applications. Straddling the information gap resulting from this field's explosive growth, Genomics of Plants and Fungi addresses the creation and implementation of workflow applications with METEOR and discusses clinical manifestations of Aspergillius infection, stunted and medusa genes, hyphal mating and fertilization, and vegetative incompatibility.

This book looks at using forestry and several other innovative measures to facilitate environmental sustainability, covering an important selection of research that focuses on scientific applications and trends. Chapters discuss such diverse topics as using agroforestry for resource management, employing legumes in agroforestry, livestock management for climate change mitigation, introducing higher plants for air pollution mitigation in urban industrial areas, the uses and benefits of sludge, technological assessment of sewage treatment plants, and much more. This book will be a helpful and informative reference for those in the disciplines of forestry, agriculture, ecology, and environmental science and will also be a pathway to addressing new concepts for a sustainable world.