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

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 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
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 looks at Atropine the plant as drug and medicine under the following headings: Discovery, Extraction from its Natural Sources, Uses, Side Effects, Description of Structure.

From the Paper
"The medicinal properties of Atropine were discovered through Shamans or "Medicine Men". It is not known exactly when it was discovered, but the first recorded use of it was in 1676 when a group of soldiers in Jamestown went insane upon ingestion of the plant that contains Atropine along with other Tropane alkaloids. In 1968, over-the-counter remedies for asthmatic difficulties were banned after people began to use them recreationally."

Tags:analysis, drug, medicine

Abstract
This paper illustrates a laboratory experiment involving plants' use of photosynthesis, which is the chemical process that occurs in plants to convert energy, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen, and organic compounds; i.e. sugar. This experiment is intended to test how different conditions will influence photosynthesis on a broad bean plant Vicia faba. Photosynthesis differs depending on conditions of the plant. To test for this, the paper explains, the researchers created a standard curve for chlorophyll, and then examined two plants that were grown in separate conditions, one in normal light and water conditions and the other with added fertilizer of 20/20/20. If photosynthesis is stronger, the paper clarifies, the plant was expected to be more developed and in better condition. In conclusion, the paper notes that the experiment was successful, showing that the plant grown in fertilized conditions grew in more impressive ways. This paper includes illustrative graphs, charts, tables, and calculations.

Outline:
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

From the Paper
"Part II dealt with building a standard curve for chlorophyll. A stock chlorophyll solution was obtained a long with four cuvettes. The cuvettes were labeled as 0, 1, 2, and 3. Four milliliters of distilled water was added to cuvette 0 using a 5mL pipette. Four milliliters of the stock solution was then added to cuvette 3 using a 5mL pipette. Then three milliliters of the stock solution and three milliliters of distilled water were added to cuvette 2 using different 5mL pipettes. Two milliliters of the solution from cuvette 2 was taken and put into cuvette 1 along with two milliliters of distilled water. The absorbance on the spec21 spectrophotometer was set to 650 and cuvette 0 was placed into it, the absorbance was adjusted to 0 making this the blank. Cuvettes 1, 2, and 3 were then placed into the machine one by one and the absorbance of each cuvette was recorded. The relationship between absorbance and chlorophyll concentration was then plotted. A line of best fit was drawn on the graph, the slope of which gave the chlorophyll extinction coefficient."

Tags:scientific, method, fava, bean, chorophyll

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
In this paper, the output of a soil nutrient, phosphorus, is examined and it is demonstrated that transpiration plays a role in the phosphorus cycle as transpiration can lead to phosphate output from the soil by initiating soil water extraction by plants. Definitions of key phrases are included within the text of the paper.

From the Paper
"Importantly, phosphorus, as an element, is present in phosphate, a water soluble compound characterized by one phosphorus atom for every four oxygen atoms. The water-soluble characteristic of phosphate is very important from the perspective of plant nutrient intake because, when phosphate is dissolved in soil water, it can enter a plant that draws soil water through its roots. However, in order for a plant to draw in soil water that may be enriched with phosphate, usually transpiration must occur first. For this reason, an analysis of how transpiration leads to the intake of soil water by a plant is necessary in order to understand transpiration's role in instigating the output of phosphorus from soil."

Tags:atmosphere, biogeochemical, cycling