BOTANY NEWS
Botanical Information
Welcome to the fourth edition of Botany News! Check our
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TOPICS:
1. A note from the editor
2. Plants grown in Iceland: Cereals
3. Life on the river bank
4. What’s for dinner? - Seaweeds?
5. Woody plants of Australia
6. Submit your Botany News article!
7. The flower box
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A note from the editor
AUTUMN IN HERE AGAIN! Welcome back to Botany News the new botanical online e-zine.
I hope you are still enjoying the outdoors, park visits and garden walks, where
ever you are in the world! I am still looking for more communications from
readers, telling us their botanical stories! If you like this new e-zine you
could tell your botanical and plant-loving friends know about it. Some of you
are already signed up and are receiving
Botany News via email. The future of this e-zine depends on enthusiastic
readers, willing to exchange information on plants and events in botany. I
strongly encourage you to send in information of mutual benefit to botanists.
Plants grown in Iceland: Cereals
Monocots occur all over the world. The largest group being the
grasses, many of which are the favourite food of grazing mammals and birds.
Some grasses produce large nutritious seeds that are well suited for human
consumption and these grasses are called cereals. The cereals include species
such as wheat, rice, maize, barley and oats.
Cultivation of cereals is on the increase in
Iceland. While the early settlers of Iceland grew cereals in ploughed fields as
early as the year thousand, this practice was abandoned in Iceland in the Middle
Ages. Harsh climate during the Middle Ages is a likely explanation of why
cereals were no longer grown in Iceland at that time. Some attempts were made
to grow cereals again in Iceland in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it
was not until the 20th century that serious attempts were again made to grow
cereals in Iceland. While most of the early attempts were made in South Iceland
that has the mildest climate, today’s cereal production in Iceland takes place
all over the country.
Barley is by far the most common cereal grown in
Iceland, while wheat and oats are also grown in a few places. Cereals in
Iceland are grown almost exclusively as fodder for life stock, especially for
cows and pigs while in older times sheep were also fed cereals. The human
population consumes only small fraction of the cereal production in Iceland and
this part of the harvest is largely organic cereals.
Life on the river bank
On gravelly river banks in Iceland you often find Creeping Bent (Agrostis
stolonifera) and Alpine Fireweed (Epilobium latifolium). Whereas in river bank
succession where there is less flooding, there is an increasing proportion of
grasses and forbs characteristic of drier habitat. On sandy river banks you find
Arctic Rush (Juncus arcticus), Viviparous Fescue (Festuca vivipara), Silverweed
(Potentilla anserina), and the occasional Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus). The
fertility of land is often enhanced on river banks, the damp soils containing
abundant minerals and organic material. Along river banks and their
tributarites you often find good habitat for the Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
and wading bird such as Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Ringed Plover (Charadrius
hiaticula), and Arctic Skua (Stercorarius paras).
What’s for dinner? - Seaweeds?
The use of edible seaweeds is known all over the world, while seaweeds are
traditionally included in the diet of coastal people of the Pacific and North Atlantic.
Edible species are valuable food and medicinal plants. Commercial agar (vegetable
gelatin) is used as a jellying agent allover the world.
Some of the edible and commonly consumed seaweeds are found on the coast of Iceland, these are Bladderlock (Alaria esculenta), Purple Laver (Porphyra umbilicalis) and Dulse (Palmaria palmata). However, only Dulse has traditionally been consumed here in Iceland and in neighbouring Ireland. In Ireland, Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus), is also used for culinary purposes.
Dulse was an important part of the diet of Icelanders for centuries. Nowadays, Dulse is still utilized and is increasingly being marketed as a food product in Iceland, while export of this product is still very limited. Dulse is a species of red algae found attached to rocks in the intertidal zone along North Atlantic coastline. This red alga grows and is harvested during the spring and summer months. Dulse is delicious and a rich source of complex carbohydrates and proteins, low in fats, while containing important minerals and vitamins.
Seaweeds, especially species of the red algae
are common food plants in Asia. The Japanese commonly consume seaweed. They use
Kelp (Porphyra spp.) as nori for wrapping sushi and Giant Kelp (Laminaria
japonica) as kombu for broths, stocks and fish-wrapping. The Japanese are well
acquainted with seaweeds and use carefully chosen species for exquisite dishes.
Woody plants of Australia
Eucalyptus is the dominant genus of woody plants in Australia, with more than
600 species. The largest Eucalypts can grow as tall as 100 meters. These plants
often carry colourful flowers producing rich nectars for honeybees. Others yield
valuable hardwood timber. Eucalypts are now grown widely outside Australia in
landscaping and foresty efforts and are also popular house plants. Here in
Iceland, succulent Eucalypts are especially popular indoor plants in the well-heated
houses in Iceland.
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Submit your Botany News article!
You can write on any topic related to botany. Short essays on plant biology are
especially popular. It can also be a review on new botanical developments.
Anything that will help your fellow botanists and make it possible for them
progress in their work!
The articles need be approximately 300-1000 words. If needed or requested
editing will be made of English and style. The editor may request some changes
and articles that do not fit the profile or purpose of Botany News are not
published. Your article is still yours and you keep the full copyright.
Submit your Botany News article!
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The Flower Box
Information on the
Customized Botanical Tours in Iceland is now available on our website.
Please, remember to fill in the
Expression of Interest Form as this will greatly help us to make your visit
better. The spring, summer, and autumn are good times to explore the nature of
Iceland. However, some activities may be available if you decide to visit
Iceland during the winter months. Have you considered
skiing in the Blue Mountains (Bláfjöll), outdoor swimming in heated pools,
horse riding,
jeep safaris and the many
cultural
and
winter festivities in Iceland? However, If you feel like visiting Iceland
during the warmer half of the year you could of course sign up for the
Customized Botanical Tours in Iceland. Updated information about the tours
will be published in this section. If you wish to participate and are planning a
trip to Iceland contact us well in advance.
Readers located in Iceland are encouraged to check out Thund’s sales page for new botanical health products.
This section publishes brief announcements about botany and related issues. Announcements about meetings, excursions, courses, jobs and other important items are consider for publication here. Announcements are generally less than 300 words.
Submit your Botany News announcement!
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Best wishes,
Soffia Arnthorsdottir
BOTANY NEWS is published by
Thund,
Reykjavik, Iceland
Contact us
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October 30, 2005 -- Botany News, Issue #004
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