Rahel's PlantArea CH (Rahel Boss) by https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp Medicinal Plants: Theme 1 - 5 / Switzerland en-us 2019-02-18 14:53:45 UTC 2023-05-09 12:48:04 UTC hello@padlet.com Rich Plant Habitats: Low nutrient meadows rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332364591 Low nutrients meadows are very rich in species needing few nutrients - unfortunatey, these surfaces giving shelter to over 50% of all the plant species of Switzerland are disappearing . Indeed, in the last decades, 90% of these areas disappeared. This is mainly because of the intensification of agriculture - the used fertilizers, and especially the one containing nitrogen (N), end up in all ecosystems; there, they facilitate the growth of competitive grasses, leaving no chance to the less competitive plants usually growing in low nutrient meadows. 

Reference:
- www.pronatura.ch/de/wiesen-und-weiden

Picture: Pro Natura]]> 2019-02-18 15:13:23 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332364591 Rich Plant Habitats: Peatbogs rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332370033 The formation of peatbogs is a process taking many years. In Switzerland, some regions present the needed conditions for their formation. The main condition is a positive water balance.
These systems present an accumulation of organic matter because of the anoxic conditions. The organic matter consist mainly of mosses of the gender Sphagnum. The accumulation induces a disconnection to the groundwater; these systems are thereore only alimented with rainwater. Only well adapted plants can grow in this nutrient poor, acid and humid habitat. The diversity is therefore low, but very particular to these systems. 
Unfortunately, again, during the last years, most of the swiss peatbogs "struggle"; through pollution, they get ore and more nitrogen with rainfall and they have been exploited for the peat to warm houses. 

References: 
- MITSCH, W. J., & GOSSELINK, J.G. (2007). Wetlands (4th edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- MORRIS, J. (1991). Effects of Nitrogen Loading on Wetland Ecosystems with Particular Reference to Atmospheric Deposition.  Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 22, 257-279. 
- RION, V. (2015). Bas-marais et prairies humides du Haut-Jura: relations sol-végétation et évolution. Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Neuchâtel, 323 p.

Picture: Wikipedia (wiki/Fichier:Tourbière_des_Ponts-de-Martel_2.JPG) ]]> 2019-02-18 15:30:52 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332370033 Rich Plant Habitats: Cities rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332378472 Surprisingely, cities can be areas with a quite high diversity of plants. First, all plants brought on purpose by humans to the city count in this diversity. But second, many plants are able to adapt to the though conditions in cities and grow either in parcs and cemeteries or even on walls and sidewalks. 
For example, Geneva shows up more than 700 species. 54% of the species found in the canton are found in the city. Furthermore, 23% of these species are found on the list of threatened species in Switzerland.

Reference:
- nature en ville, lalibellule.ch
-  Messerli, B. (2001) Découvrir et conserver la biodiversité genevoise Ed. WWF GE, Genève, 120 p. 


Picture: 24 Heures]]> 2019-02-18 15:56:40 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/332378472 Climate change in Switzerland rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333292133 As you can see on the graph from Meteo Swiss below, the number of years with an annual mean temperature above the average of the years 1864-1900 has risen drastically during the last years. Indeed, the annual mean temperature has increased of 2°C since the beginning of measurements in 1864. Furthermore, snowy days have decreased significantly since 1980. 

Generally, precipitation patterns are also gradually changing; the quantity of precipitations in winter has risen in most regions and there is an increasing number of heavy precipitation events.

Climate scenarios for future predict even drier summers, heavier precipitation, more hot days and winters with little snow (meteoswiss.ch).  

References:
- www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/ home/climate/climate-change-in-switzerland.html
- www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/ content/dam/meteoswiss/de/Forschung-und-Zusammenarbeit/Internationale-Zusammenarbeit/doc/climate-change-in-switzerland.pdf
- www.swissinfo.ch/eng/
climate-change_swiss-forests-in-a-race-against-time/43477022

Graph: MeteoSwiss
]]> 2019-02-20 17:35:03 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333292133 Endangered Species rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333292919  - Marsh Eartwort (Jamesoniella undulifolia) 
Endangered because of Habitat Loss.
-  Empetrum nigrum subsp. nigrum
Considered as highly endangered on the swiss red list of endangered species. It grows in peat bogs, which explains why it tends to disappear - its habitat is disappearing (Infoflora.ch).
- Cytisus emeriflorus
This Fabaceae is considered as being highly endangered. It grows on stony and bushy slopes in collinean and moutaneous altitudes.  It grows only in the Canton Ticino, at one particular spot (infoflora.ch). The reason for its disappearance might also be Habitat Loss.
- Lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)
Causes for declining populations not known exactly; it is a combination between Habitat Loss, declining pollinator populations, climate change and other factors like picking by humans because of it beauty. According to the swiss red list, it is considered as vulnerable. [wallpaper picture of this padlet]

References:
- www.infoflora.ch/fr/assets/ content/documents/listerouge_plantes_f_20160908.pdf
- www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/de
/home/themen/biodiversitaet/publikationen-studien/publikationen/rote-liste-gefaesspflanzen.html

Picture: Cytisus emeriflorus (earth.com
]]> 2019-02-20 17:36:30 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333292919 Assess the problem rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333617171 The second answer, "Tropical Andean trees migrate to higher altitudes where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Due to the fast climatic change they have to move faster in order to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures." is the right one.

]]> 2019-02-21 13:47:09 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333617171 Assess the problem rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333627960 The last answer, "Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is highly controversial since it solves one problem but creates new ones." , though I think that it is true Western countries have more money and therefore easier access to "green energy" through technology (like solar pannels and wind turbine).  ]]> 2019-02-21 14:09:05 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/333627960 Biogeographical regions of Switzerland rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334204390 Switzerland is situated in two distinct biogeographical regions: the alpine one and the continental one.

Alpine
- Relatively cold and harsh climate
- High altitudes 
- Complex and varied topography

The vegetation of the alpine biogeographical zone is very diversified; it shows off almost 2/3 of the plants found on the European continent.
On the lower altitudes, the slopes are covered with Forests and semi-natural grasslands. Then, when we climb more, trees become scarcer and scarcer to finally find only alpine grasslands and shrubs. On the peaks, where snow stays all year long, only very few well adapted plants can be found, growing in the middle of rocks (ec.europa.eu).
The species diversity of the alpine region might also come from its soil diversity; indeed, the alpine biogeographical region is the richest in soil habitat heterogeneity over short distances (Ibáñez et al., 2013). This leads to bigger botanical diversity.

Continental
The second biogeographical region of Switzerland is the continental one. Its main caracteristics are:

- Quite hilly in Switzerland
- Big contrast between winter and summer temperatures
- Most important European rivers (Rhine and Rhone to mention the Swiss one) flow through this region

Majority of these rivers have been canalised. This led to a huge loss of Habitat diversity and therefore of Plant Diversity. However, this biogeographical region is still quite rich in biodiversity because of its proximity to most other regions (ec.europa.eu). Again, the continental region has a high pedodiversity, inducing a high botanical diversity (Ibáñez et al., 2013).

References:
- ec.europa.eu/environment/
nature/info/pubs/docs/brochures/nat2000_alpine.pdf
- J.J. Ibáñez, J.A. Zinck, C. Dazzi. Soil geography and diversity of the European biogeographical regions. Geoderma, 2013.
- ec.europa.eu/environment/
nature/info/pubs/docs/biogeos/Continental.pdf

]]> 2019-02-22 16:18:33 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334204390 Key environmental stress factors in Switzerland influencing plant growth rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334274033 Switzerland is a very moutainous country, with the Alps and the Jura chain. Therefore, many plants grow on slopes or on moutain ridges and are subjected to high winds. That is one of the reasons why alpine plants often grow close to the ground so they're less subjected to kinking. To be close to the ground furthermore allows these plants to be protected from the snow and the cold temperatures (since the ground is warmer) (sciencing.com).
As in all zones with winter season, Swiss plants are adapted to the frozing temperatures in winter (loss of leaves, annual plant, geophyte, ...) (Levitt).

Reference:
- sciencing.com/adaptations-plants-animals-mountains-8417296.html
-   J. Levitt. Responses of Plants to Environmental Stresses (Physiological Ecology): Chilling, freezing, and high temperature stresses.

Picture: Sempervirum montanum (Info Flora)]]> 2019-02-22 18:30:38 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334274033 Alexander von Humboldt rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334299454 Alexander von Humboldt was an important scientific of the 19th century. He travelled a lot (especially in south America) and was the first person to propose the hypothesis that South America and Africa used to be connected. Also, he had a great faculty to approach things in their globality, and he tried to unify different scientific disciplines. His goal was to understand how different natural elements interact with each other. Furthermore, he was the first person talking about a potential human induced climate change.
Some sources mention him as being a "humanist"; he saw every human being as having the same potential and he thought that differences are only due to lack of education. This view was quite new in an epoque where slavery was still normal. In his book "Kosmos" he had the goal to put all his knowledge on nature together.

References:
- M Nicolson, 1987. Alexander von Humboldt, Humboldtian science and the origins of the study of vegetation.
- Wikipedia: Alexander Humboldt
- www.planet-wissen.de/
geschichte/persoenlichkeiten/alexander_von_humboldt/index.html]]> 2019-02-22 19:20:20 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334299454 Artemisia absinthium rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334551567 Wormwood is a plant of the Asteraceae family used to produce Absinthe. This alcohol is mostly produced in the canton of Neuchâtel, where it is called "la fée verte". (the green fairy). This is because this beverage contains thujone, which was thought to be hallucinogenic for long (that is why absinthe was illegal for many years).

References:
-www.fadedindustry.com/does-absinthe-really-make-you-hallucinate/
- www.labsinthe.ch/
Drawing: www.soin-et-nature.com]]> 2019-02-24 10:55:47 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334551567 Vitis vinifera rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334552433 The wine produced in Switzelrand is mainly consumed in Switzerland - only 1-2% of it is exported.

References:
- www.swissfinewine.ch/en/history-history
-www.blw.admin.ch/ blw/en/home.html


Picture: swissfinewine.ch]]> 2019-02-24 11:05:50 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334552433 Switzerlands wine-growing regions in brown rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334552650 Map: Wikipedia]]> 2019-02-24 11:08:26 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334552650 Abies nordmanniana rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334570158 This tree is the most popular in swiss households, even though it originally comes from the Caucasus.

Reference:
-www.waldschweiz.ch/
fileadmin/user_upload/user_upload/Verband/Medien/2015/20151203_MM_WaldwirtschaftCH_Christbaeume_im_Trend.pdf

Picture: www.treeseedonline.com]]> 2019-02-24 14:15:52 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334570158 Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334570928 Potatoes are very important in Switzerland because they can be conserved well during the cold winter time. There are many different varieties, with different proprieties. The same plant families (Solanaceae) incudes tomatoes and eggplant
- www.kartoffel.ch/branche/sorten/]]> 2019-02-24 14:23:25 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334570928 Carrot (Daucus carota) rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334571398 Carrots, again, are quite important in Switzerland, for the same reason. Several varieties of potatoes can be bought in supermarkets, mostly there is only one variety of carrots. This could be different, because as you can see on the picture below, several varieties exist. 

Picture: luv2garden.com]]> 2019-02-24 14:27:32 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334571398 Spices: Piper nigrum rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334573149 Real pepper has its origin in India. Nowadays, most of the pepper used in Europe comes from Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and also Brazil.

Reference:
- agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=MY8705120

Picture: plantsoftheworldonline.org]]> 2019-02-24 14:43:35 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334573149 Medicinal plants: Allium ursinum rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762198 Picture: papillesetpupilles.fr]]> 2019-02-25 10:03:09 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762198 Description Allium ursium rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762384 Wild garlic is a plant of the family Amaryllidaceae growing in humid deciduous forests at colline altitudes (500-800 m) in Switzerland (Info Flora).
The leaves and the flower can be eaten, for example in omeletts. Medicinally, the proprieties of wild garlic resemble the one of "common garlic". According to pfaf.org, Allium ursinum has several medicinal proprieties: Anthelmintic;  Antiasthmatic; Anticholesterolemic;  Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Astringent;  Cholagogue;  Depurative;  Diaphoretic;  Disinfectant;  Diuretic;  Expectorant;  Febrifuge;  Hypotensive;  Rubefacient; 
Stimulant;  Stomachic;  Tonic;  Vasodilator.
It is particularly good for people having high blood pressure. The bulb of the plant, which is not commonly eaten, is the most efficient part (pfaf.org).

References:
-doctissimo.fr/html/ sante/phytotherapie/plante-medicinale/ail-des-ours.htm
- pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+ursinum
- Info Flora (Informations + map)]]> 2019-02-25 10:03:48 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762384 Medicinal Plants: Hypericum perforatum rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762584 Picture: www.123rf.com]]> 2019-02-25 10:04:35 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762584 Description Hypericum perforatum rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762717 This plant of the family Hypericaceae appears in dry meadows, forest edges and forest glades of collinean and moutaneaous altitudes in Switzerland (Info Flora). It is easy to recognize by its dense and finely translucent dots on the leaves.
If consumed, it is consumed as a tea.
It has very powerful proprieties; it's caracteristics are:
Analgesic;  Antidepressant;  Antiseptic;  Antispasmodic;  Aromatic;  Astringent;  Cholagogue;  Digestive; 
Diuretic;  Expectorant;  Homeopathy;  Nervine;  Resolvent;  Sedative;  Stimulant; 
Vermifuge;  Vulnerary.

It is often used against momentaneous depressions, but should never be used for chronic depressions. Indeed, on pfaf.org
it is said that "In clinical trials about 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when taking this plant"

References:
- pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hypericum+perforatum
- Info Flora (Informations + map)]]> 2019-02-25 10:05:07 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334762717 Spices: Zingiber officinale rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334765224 Ginger also has its origin in India. With the European colonisation, these spices were spread a bit in the whole world and nowadays ginger grows in all the humid tropical regions.

Reference:
-  G. Jean (2013). Ils ont domestiqué plantes et animaux - Prélude à la civilisation. Editions Quae.

Picture: pfaf.org
]]> 2019-02-25 10:14:25 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334765224 Theophrastus rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334767150 'Enquiry into Plants'
This work is made out of 10 books (only 9 remain nowadays) and is one of the most important natural history contribution of the Renaissance. Indeed, it approaches many aspects of botany; it is subdivised into the following books:
  • Plant anatomy
  • Tree and plant propagation
  • Wild trees
  • Trees and shrubs from abroad
  • Wood
  • Undershrubs, with thorns or without
  • Pot-herbs
  •  Cereals and legumes
  • Medicinal uses of plants
The last point, medicinal uses of plants, was quite revolutionary; it was the first book describing how to prepare plants for medical purposes.
'On the Causes of Plants'
This work is made out of 8 books (only 6 remain). It is mostly about the economical use of plants. Even though nowadays it can be said that the book contains many mistakes, it proposes many new ideas, like the description of germination. Furthermore, Theophratus was the first to write about the importance of factors like climate and soil to plants. 

References:
- Costas A. Thanos, 1994. Aristotle and Theophrastus on plant-animal interactions. Institute of General Botany, University of Athens,
- Wikipedia: Historia Plantarum (Theophrastus)
- www.tcd.ie/Botany/ tercentenary/origins/theophrastus.php


]]> 2019-02-25 10:21:37 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/334767150 Business plan for protection rahel_boss https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/336972864 The best way to protect a plant species is to protect its habitat and to make sure populations are interconnected (Pascual-Hortal and Saura, 2006; Swarts and Dixon, 2009).
Indeed, by doing so, if we take Cypripedium calceolus as an example, all the other species necessary for a succesful development will be present if the needed habitat is preserved (for example the pollinators or the mycorrhizal fungi) and genetic flow is possible if populations are connected.
Therefore, it is of fundamental importance to have a good understanding of the ecology of the species, so that the right habitat type can be protected (for example habitat presenting plants pollinated by the same insect species, etc.)

References:
- Bernhardt, P., and Edens-Meier, R. (2010). What We Think We Know vs. What We Need to Know About Orchid Pollination and Conservation: Cypripedium L. as a Model Lineage. Botanical Review 76.
- Swarts, N. and Dixon K. (2009). Terrestrial orchid conservation in the age of extinction. Annals of Botany 104: 543–556, 2009
-  Pascual-Hortal L. and Saura S. (2006).  Comparison and development of new graph-based landscape connectivity indices: towards the priorization of habitat patches and corridors for conservation.  Landscape Ecology.  

]]> 2019-03-01 18:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/rahel_boss/10aka3g8axpp/wish/336972864