Plants – Our Most Important Resource

Then God said, "let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees hearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11-12

• The food that you eat, oxygen that you breathe and fabric that you wear all come from plants.

• It is sometimes difficult to imagine all the materials that we rely on daily originate from plants. In fact, plants changed the way of life some 10, 000 years ago.

• Civilization changed from a nomadic lifestyle to domestication when people began to grow plants and raise livestock.

• Farming food staples like corn, wheat, rice and potatoes and rearing goats, chickens and cows allowed for the development of settlements and communities.

• In this section, we will learn about many different uses of plants and the communities that depend on plants.

Medicine• Prior to local drugstores being opened on every

other street corner, people relied on the healing powers of plants.

• Plants produce over 10 000 different compounds to protect themselves against predators.

• Chemists are able to extract and use these chemicals to cure and treat common illnesses and diseases.

• The following table summarizes a few examples:

Plant Active Compound Uses in Medicine

Ephedra Ephedrine Decongestant, treat low blood pressure and asthma

Cinchona Quinine Treatment of malariaSalix Salicin Anti-Inflammatory

Digitalis purpurea Digitoxin, digoxin Cardiac stimulant, diureticPapaver

somniferum Morphine, codeine Cough suppressant

Rauwolfia serpentina Reserpine High blood pressure and

psychosisNicotiana tabacum Nicotine Stimulant

Dioscorea Steroids Production of cortisone

Catharanthus roseus Vinblastine Leukemia, Hodgkin's disease

and other cancers

• Poppy seeds contain opium which has been used since 4 000 B.C.

• In the 1800s, opium was a common ingredient in cough syrup.

• Opium has a dark side as well. It contains morphine which can then be made into heroin.

• Heroin is an extremely additive illegal drug that once metabolized is converted back to morphine.

• Heroin affects multiple organ systems including respiratory, nervous and reproductive.

Lumber• In the story of the three little pigs, you may

recall that the pig that built his house out of bricks was able to withstand the force of the hungry wolf's gusts of air.

• However, you probably were not informed that in order to build a brick home, a frame made out of wood would be necessary.

• Canada exports seven billion dollars worth of lumber to the United States each year and over 200 000 Canadians are employed within this industry.

• The spin-off construction, transport, and manufacturing jobs that result from the lumber industry are significant to the Canadian economy.

• Softwood lumber includes wood that is easy to saw and comes from coniferous trees like pine, cedar and spruce.

• Hardwood lumber includes beech, cherry and oak.

• These hardwoods can be used in construction, furniture, and flooring as they are harder and denser than softwood.

Food• The most important use of plants is food. Up to 90%

of our caloric intake comes from wheat, corn, rice, and potatoes.

• Grains provide an excellent source of complex carbohydrates.

• Beans, lentils, and peanuts offer a good source of protein.

• Leafy green vegetables, like cabbage and lettuce, provide fibre, minerals and vitamins.

• Oils from avocadoes, sunflowers and olives nourish us with healthy unsaturated fats.

• In addition to food, herbs and spices also originate from plants.

• Oregano, cinnamon, chili peppers, and other spices help to flavour and preserve food.

• The two most popular drinks in the world, coffee and tea, are made from plants.

• Through the process of selective breeding, cloning, and genetic engineering, many new plant species have been created.

• The diversity of plants is increasing in the creation of hybrid plants that contain desirable qualities.

• These newly formed plants may be able to sustain harsh environmental conditions such as droughts or floods and therefore provide a better yield.

Other Products• If you think about all the major holidays, some type of

plant is involved. • From the Christmas tree to the Halloween pumpkin,

plants have an impact on celebrations. • The colour and aroma of flowers fills a church during

weddings and funerals. • The cornucopia's presence at Thanksgiving is a symbol of

the importance of harvest time.

• The use of plant crops as an alternative to gasoline is having a global impact.

• Ethanol is the fuel that is produced from the combination of gasoline and an organic compound like sugar cane or corn.

• The use of a renewable resource as a fuel has many benefits.

• The emissions from biofuels do not release as much carbon dioxide and therefore reduce the greenhouse effect.

• However, biofuels are affecting more than oil companies, with corn and sugar being grown for fuels, the world's food prices increased by 75% in 2008 (World Bank, 2008).

• Plants provide leisure activities to millions of people around the world who enjoy planting, growing, and nurturing their gardens.

• Growing seasons are celebrated all over the province of Ontario.

• Annual festivals celebrating strawberries, corn, and tomatoes are a reminder of the importance of locally grown crops.

Required Reading

• The Boreal Forest – A Global Legacy (on website)

• Biofuels – The Promise and the Risks (on website)

• Our Life Medicine Path (on website)• Answer the questions (on website) on this

article