From the Paper
"The garden tulip was introduced into Western Europe from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) in the 16th century and soon achieved great popularity. Interest in tulip growing mounted, especially in Holland, where it developed by 1634 into a craze called tulip mania. Wild speculation in tulip stock ensued, and enormous prices were paid for single bulbs. After many people had gone bankrupt, the crisis was ended by government regulation of the tulip trade. Tulip growing eventually became established as an important Dutch industry, and tulip bulbs are still a major export of the Netherlands. In the United States tulips are grown commercially in Michigan and Washington."

Tags:botany, flowers, gardening, holland, plants

Abstract
This paper discusses the herb Ginkgo Biloba and its uses. The writer explores the various claims and facts regarding the herb and the current advances being made in studies. It examines the make up of the herb, history of its uses and claims that is it good for sexual power, brain power and medicinal purposes.

From the Paper
"As the medical community continues to make advances it seems that we re moving back to the traditional and natural remedies much more often than we have in the past. Herbs and other natural remedies have made a come back and they are stronger than ever. While the medical field and media play out debates concerning many pharmaceuticals the herbs step up to the plate. One popular natural remedy is Ginkgo Biloba. This natural answer to many problems has captured the attention of laymen and doctors alike. Study after study is being conducted on the product as they discover new and innovative potential uses for it. While it may not be the cure all that snake oil was promised to be in the days of the old west, it seems to have enough different types of uses to make it worth a closer look."

Tags:herbal, medicine, homeopathy, medical, treatment

From the Paper
"As human beings, we are masters of our domain. We are the undisputed occupiers of the top rung of the food chain. In this, we have the burden of choice. We must decide where we will be merciful and where we will be ruthless, where we will defend and where we will persecute, where we will commit our attention and where we will be ignorant. We contend that reason and necessity govern our behavior. We believe, at least individually, that we are compassionate beings. And yet today, we are collectively ruthless, we collectively persecute, and we are collectively ignorant regarding those beings which are weaker than we: we are the cruel overlords of the animal kingdom.
At present, on an average day in the United States, 130,000 cattle, 7,000 calves, 360,000 pigs, and 24 million chickens are killed.."

Abstract
The paper begins by explaining the process of pollination and its necessity for reproduction. It distinguishes between different reproductive structures - sexual cells within the plant or cones. The paper first examines the procedure of cone-bearing pollination and then that of flowering pollination. This is followed by a study of self- pollination and the strengths and weaknesses possessed by species with this type of pollination. The benefits of cross-pollination are discussed and the paper concludes with a look at the role of pollinators.

From the Paper
"Pollination is when pollen grains from the male structures of plants are transferred to the female structures of plants. The pollen grains are vital for reproduction " they contain cells that will develop into male sex cells. The female structure contains the female sex cells, more commonly known as the egg. Pollination prepares the plant for fertilization " when the two sex cells join. Nearly all grains, vegetables, wildflowers, trees, and fruits must go through pollination in order to produce seeds (or fruits). Pollination is also critically important in the reproduction of crops grown agriculturally, such as corn, rice, wheat, apples, tomatoes, and squash. (Dickson)"

Tags:reproduction, reproductive, structures, sexual, cells, cone-bearing, flowering, self-, pollination, cross-pollination, pollinators

Abstract
This paper examines the Venus Fly Trap, or the Dionaea muscipula, which was first found in the savannahs of the Carolinas and is classified in the division of Magnoliophyta, the class of Magnoliopsida, the order of Nepenthalesniales, and the family of Droseraceae. It describes its many interesting traits and characteristics, such as its physical makeup, its methods of capture and ingestion and the effect of fire on its growth. It also provides information on how to take care of a Venus Fly Trap in your own home.

From the Paper
"The venus fly trap's most interesting feature is its process of feeding. The leaves of the plant are in fact traps for insects to fall into; the inside of the leaf is colored red and a scent is secreted, both of which attract insects to the plant. Also on the inside of the leaves are small hairs which sense the presence of something inside the trap. When the hairs are touched twice (two touches are necessary in order to avoid unnecessary closings from rain droplets and the like), the leaves close in on the insect inside. Once enclosed, the plant covers the insect in digestive fluid and breaks it down in order to absorb the nutrients contained in the insect."

Tags:leaves, feeding, capture, fire, dionaea, muscipula

Abstract
The Ginkgo Biloba tree is the oldest tree species known to man with fossil records date back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Today, the extract of the dried leaves is popular for use as a dietary supplement for the brain and heart. Ginkgo extract is thought to improve blood circulation and memory and prevent blood clotting. The leaves are also used as tea to soothe a variety of ailments. This paper gives a brief historical description including the characteristics of the Ginkgo tree that will detail the Ginkgo tree and its importance in today's society.

From the Paper
"The Ginkgo tree is unique in many ways. It is so different from any other living tree that it must be classified in a separate order. The Ginkgo biloba probably no longer exists in a truly wild state. It has been found growing freely over some ten square miles near Changhua Hsien in the Chekiang province of China, but it is uncertain whether these trees are the remains of an ancient forest or not. It is a sacred tree in the Far East, where it is commonly planted in the grounds of temples and palaces. In some of the grounds of the temples there are specimens that are said to be over 1,000 years old. It's preservation in China, Korea, Manchuria, and Japan is probably due to the interest taken in it by the Buddhist priests whose interest in the tree saved it from becoming extinct."

Tags:biloba, botany, brain, heart, herbs, history, memory, tea, priests

Abstract
This paper discusses the traditional uses of the herbs rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and ginkgo biloba (ginkgo), their connections with modern use and the evidence gained from research to support this. In particular, it looks at how within the fields of alternative medicines both of these herbs are widely known for the beneficial effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Clinical trials, where available are cited and discussed with a view to proving and rationalising the prescription of these two herbs by the modern herbalist.

From the Paper
"There is a vast wealth of empirical information relating to Rosemary and its use as a stimulant of the mind since ancient times (Chevallier, 2001). The 17th century herbal medicalist Nicholas Culpeper spoke of it; "it helps cold diseases of the head and brain, drowsiness, dullness, dumb palsy, lethargy. It helps pains in the gums and teeth. It helps a weak memory and quickens the senses" (Culpeper, 1616 to 1654). This traditional use is comparable with its modern usage for poor memory and concentration, headaches, mild depression and debility associated with circulatory and digestive weakness and hair loss (Chevallier, 2001 and Hoffman, 1990). Chevallier (2001) describes the influence of Rosemary on the circulation to the head can even help balding if a decoction is used as a hair rinse."

Tags:antioxidants, brain, dementia, herbalist

Abstract
This paper examines the problem of deforestation and attempts to shows why the problem exists in the Amazon and Alaska. The paper explores several of the consequences of deforestation, and offers some viable solutions that need to be implemented in order to circumvent its repercussions.

From the Paper
"Since the advent of agriculture, farmers have cleared the land to make way for pastures, gardens, and cultivated fields. The result is that millions of acres of forests have been destroyed over the centuries. But deforestation is not just a circumstance that happened in ancient history. At the present time all around the world, the deforestation of woodlands and jungles is occurring at an alarming rate. Deforestation is leading the entire earth into a crisis situation because the loss of millions of acres of forests and woodlands is upsetting the delicate ecobalance of the planet (Garland 127). The basic argument is that if people continue the practice of destroying millions of trees each year, then the earth as a whole will suffer drastic consequences such as global warming, the greenhouse effect, the loss of plant and animal diversity, and a depletion of oxygen and ozone in the atmosphere. To be concise, our current deforestation practices are destroying the environment. The consequence is that human life on our planet is under potential threat. "

Tags:ecology, rainforest, alaska, amazon, japan, South, America, ecobalance, diversity, Peace, Corps

Abstract
Plants have developed their own unique methods to protect themselves from threats and without these defenses would perish. These defenses range from natural defenses that plants have developed over time such as thorns or waxy leaves to bio-engineered defenses where the plants have molecularly altered defenses. This paper highlights the key plant defense mechanisms including structural, metabolic, defenses against insects, defenses against pathogens and disease resistant genes. It also examines biotechnology including case studies and discusses its future.

From the Paper
"When an insect attacks a plant, the attack signals the plant to produce insect toxins. These toxins may have varying effects on insects. The effects may range from simply repelling inspects to inhibiting the insects development. The compound within plants that signals them to release the toxins is called systemin. Systemin activates two genes that in turn produce proteinase inhibitors. Insects use proteinase to digest proteins. When the plant releases the proteinase inhibitors, it prevents the insect's ability to digest the plant's proteins."

Tags:pathogens, disease, genes, insects, pollutants, metabolic, defenses, environment

Abstract
This paper analyzes St. Johns Wort (SJW), a common herbal treatment. It offers an insight into how its constituents affect us neurologically with its primary ingredients of hypericin, hyperflorin and various flavanoids and describes how, although SJW can be used for various treatments, the main condition that it is used for is depression. It provides a comparative study of conventional anti-depressive agents and their relative side effects and shows how the demand for herbal medicines today is rising at exponential rates, with an obvious advantage such as reductions in the number of side effects. It evaluates whether herbal medicines all that they claim to be and if they contain any profound pharmacological constituents or whether they give just a placebo effect.

From the Paper
"Herbal medicines are clearly mixtures of more than one active ingredient and in many instances, we are not sure which or how many constituents are pharmacologically important. Furthermore, in trying to acquire the mechanisms of action of plant extracts is often complicated even if we know the active ingredient because such extracts contain a wide range of pharmacologically active constituents that might work together to contribute to the pharmacological activity. [1] Our understanding is further dinted if the molecular basis of the disease under investigation is not well understood."

Tags:anti, depressants, hyperforin, hypericum, monoamine, noradrenaline, oxidase, placebo, prozac