E.O. Wilson, cool plants, and other extremely interesting things...

Okay, so this post could go off in so many different directions. I was reading my Environmental Law text this morning and it included an excerpt from E.O. Wilson (born in ALABAMA!). He has always been one of my favorite biologists, I think mostly because of an article he wrote about the tragedy of the commons, a concept I find extremely interesting. But that is a tangent that I'm not exploring today.

Wilson's excerpt focused on biodiversity, specifically the unique qualities of several different plants. The first one to catch my eye was the winged bean. The winged bean is found in New Guinea. The entire plant - roots, leaves, flowers, beans, etc. - can be eaten. Even a coffee-like drink can be made from the plant extract!! It can also grow up to 15 feet in just a few weeks!!!

Photo from http://echoglobalfarm.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

The second one to catch my eye was the Indian serpentine root called Rauwolfia serpentina. (Please note the mushroom mouse icon.) This root is principally used as a tranquilizer to treat schizophrenia, but can also reduce hypertension - HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! Have high blood pressure? Eat a couple 'shrooms.

In sum, I think more thought should be put into using natural resources as a basis for modern treatment mechanisms. The flip side to that coin is the destruction of ecosystems resulting from an overharvest of biologically important specimens. Also another tangent that I will not explore. Alas, the conflicts of the world...

Maybe more importantly, I've now found prominent figures associated with Alabama that I like: George Washington Carver (peanuts!) and E.O. Wilson!