Without plants, there would be no animals! Plants, in one form or another, are the base for the entire food chain on this planet. Our survival is dependent on the survival of Earth's plants. They transform the sun's energy into chemical energy, and give us beauty, nourishment, and medicines in return. Scientific evidence has suggested that the tropical rainforests along the equator stabilize the entire Earth's climate and weather patterns. Something we should really think about before we destroy the last of them! Once a rain forest is destroyed, it becomes a "wet desert." It will only support crops for 4-5 years, then it becomes barren. It can take centuries for the rainforest to recover.
I was very fortunate to study Botany and Systematics under Dr. Connie Taylor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She and her husband, Dr. John Taylor, established a first rate herbarium at SOSU. Dr. Taylor is very active in the Oklahoma Native Plant Society and The Nature Conservancy. (She is quite good at rounding up volunteers to help out on the local preserves!!!!) We made several great field trips to Boehler Seeps and Sandhills in Southeastern Oklahoma and many other surrounding areas. Below are some links worth exploring!
This is a great place to learn the meaning of the different terms used in botany. Those scary botanical names are just simple latin descriptions of plants. Once you understand the meaning, it is easy to remember plants by their latin binomial names!
This is a good place to get high quality essential oils. "The President of The Essential Oil Company, Mr. Robert Seidel, has established N.E.O.N. (The Native Essential Oil Network). NEON's mission is to promote small scale distillation and extraction of essential oils and related botanical products. Helping people to help themselves by showing them how to utilize untapped natural resources in an environmentally conscious manner."
Headquarters for a great organization. I have worked quite a few hours on their preserves...and they really do care about the land they are entrusted with.
This is a great resource page to learn about forest biodiversity and other conservation issues. Restoration and sustainable harvesting are included in the topics. Climate change is also covered here.
Since December 10, 1997, a young woman, Julia Butterfly Hill, has lived 180 feet off of the ground in a giant redwood tree called "Luna". She is trying to save the last 3% of our old growth forests from loggers. Julia is the most persistent "tree sitter" in activist history. She has not set foot on the ground since she began her vigil! Go find out about her life in the tree and read some of her poetry.
This is one of the neatest places on Earth. Go check out The "Original and Best" rainforest canopy adventure in Costa Rica. This tour actually takes you up into the canopy on platforms and carries you through the rain forest on a pulley system. Oh...and tell Darren you heard about it here!
This is one of the stranger sites I have come across......not for everyone....but has some interesting links!
Interesting site that deals with Native American Spirituality as well as the medicinal uses of common native herbs.
A major site covering links to Herbal Medicine, Ethnobotany, Poisons, Plant Pathology, and Weeds! This place has a wealth of information!