A book and a tree

[browngirl]

Two links from my morning:

The Ghetto Palm, aka the Tree of Heaven, the ailanthus, and many other names, including the titular tree of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. I love those scrubby, stinky, weedy trees. They grow EVERYWHERE in cities, out of cracked concrete, cigarette butts, and dog poo. They never stop trying, they bring green to the most neglected and downtrodden of urban environments. When we all vanish, the cities will swiftly become jungles of these trees. (And then, in "Genius in France"-style contrast, they are a very important plant in Chinese medicine and symbolism!)

Meanwhile, an important book: Science, Evolution, and Creationism published by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. The review I linked to describes it as "a brief--only 70 pages--overview of the science behind the theory of evolution intended for non-scientists" and says, "Science, Evolution, and Creationism succeeds in covering a vast subject, clarifying concepts, detailing evidence, and analyzing the arguments for and against evolution. It's not a breezy book, but it's an important one." I need to check this book out! I really want to donate a copy of it somewhere, but I don't know where would do the most good.

Comments

Thanks for educating me/ a Chinese.

[susanscookietin.livejournal.com]

Wow. I had no idea about that tree being a herbal wonder..

Re: Thanks for educating me/ a Chinese.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*blush* You're welcome, I just passed on information I found neat. I couldn't get over the contrast of being valued in one region and seen as a weed in another.