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Plant Taxonomy (BIOL308) - Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/ |
Halloween Botany
I. Origin of Halloween
A. Pre-Christian festival of the dead in Ireland/Britain
B. Collision with Christianity
C. Activities
- Trick-or-treating – costumed individuals went door to door dressed as spirits seeking food and drink
- Jack O’Lantern
- Originally carved into a turnip or rutabaga – couldn’t be a pumpkin cuz not native.
- Legend of the Jack O’Lantern – check out the essay I wrote.
II. Pumpkin Biology
A. Cucurbitaceae – Gourd Family
B. What’s a pumpkin? Comparison of squash/pumpkin/melons/gourds
Squash | Pumpkin | Gourd | Melon | |
Shape | Not round | round | ||
Color | Not orange | orange | ||
Food type | Veggie | Dessert | Ornamental, other (bottle, sponge) – bitter, inedible | Dessert |
Origin | New World | New World | New/Old World | Old World – "luxury" fruits – watermelon (Africa), cantaloupe (Africa), cucumber (SE Asia) |
C. Importance of Pumpkins
D. Kinds (species)
Cucurbita pepo
|
C. maxima
|
C. moschata
|
C. mixta – white and green cushaws |
5. Miscellaneous
Characteristic | Summer Squash | Winter Squash |
Harvest | summer | fall |
Skin | soft | hard |
Seed | soft | large, hard |
Storage | poor | good |
III. Witches & Ergot
A. Introduction.
B. Possible Explanations (hypotheses)
C. Ergot & Salem
1. References:
- Linnda Corporeal (1976) Science 192: 21 – 26.
- Mary Matossian (1982). Amer. Sci. 70: 355 – 357.
2. Hypothesis - Salem affair was initiated because individuals ate bread/products from ergot-infected rye. This caused the symptoms of bewitchment.
3. Ergot Biology
- Parasitizes rye flowers
- Releases spores, land on stigma, enter pistil, grow to ovary
- Ovary replaced by fungus mycelium
- Produces more spores in a sweet nectar (dispersed by insects to other plants)
- Mycelium hardens to become a sclerotium ("sun burnt" grains). Resting/dormant/resistant phase
- Fall to ground, germinate in the spring
- Produce a stalked structure that produces more spores.
4. Ergot Chemistry
- produces about 1% alkaloids
- Two major kindsof alkaloids
Clavine (i.e., ergotamine)
- Used medicinally since 1582 (German midwives recognized use in childbirth)
- Childbirth & migraine
- Vasoconstrictor – reduce blood flow after childbirth and dilation of vessels that may be associated with migraine headaches
Lysergic Acid derivatives
- Studied by Albert Hoffman (Sandoz Chemical)
- Hallucinogenic effects
5. Gangrenous ergotism
- Serious problem
- Between 1580 � 1900, 65 major episodes worldwide (29 in Germany, 11 Russia, 5 US. 1977 Ethiopia)
- In 994 there were 4000 recorded deaths; in 1041 at least 2000 deaths
- St. Antony�s fire (Patron Saint of fire). Egypt, 3/4th century; hermit, monk
- Peter the Great called off attack on Turkey because 20,000 men and horses stricken
- Napoleon (1812 � 1813) defeat was related to ergot
- Caused by clavine alkaloids
- Symptoms � constriction of vessels, especially extremities; burning, alternate with cold sensations; numbness, blackening, odor, death
6. Convulsive Ergotism
- due to proportion of lysergic acid derivatives
- twitching head, arms, feet
- vomit, nausea
- deafness, blindness
- hallucinations
7. Evidence for ergotism
- symptoms of bewitched matched ergotism (giddiness, nausea, convulsions, pinch/bite, formication, weak
- children/women affect (i.e., smaller, nursing)
- perfect growing conditions for fungus (severe winter 1690-1; wet cool in 1691 when started, dry cool 1692 when ended)
- alkaloids stable for 2 years (i.e., still toxic after harvest)
- many of afflicted lived in low, wet areas (likely growing spots)
- unrelated to causes of other witch trials (cuz so long after)
- horses and children afflicted with symptoms (even death) BEFORE witch accusations began
IV. Broad Beans (Vicia faba; Fabaceae – Legume Family)
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Last updated:
10/31/2008 / � Copyright by SG
Saupe