BTNY 1303 Exam 3 Review
Plants and Exploration
* What are secondary products (volatile oils) and why do plants produce them?
They produce chemicals called terpenes (volatile oils) which results in robust flavors
and smells
Why? 3 Hypotheses
1.Sequestered waste products: chemicals produced by a plant that cannot be used
in metabolism but neither can be excreted. Locked away in plant tissue (usually
leaves or reproductive).
2.Deter growth of competing plants: plants require a certain amount of earth and
territory. Maybe terpenes give some plants a competitive edge.
3.Deter predation by insects or infestation by pathogens (survival adaptation)- most
recent theory
* How are spices and herbs classified in an “ethnotaxonomy”?
Herbs: broad term loosely applied to non-woody plants, annual or perennial.(in
nomenclature)
In ethnotaxonomy:
Characteristics Herbs Spice
Part of meal Entrée Desserts and drinks
Sweet or savory Savory Sweet
Color Green Brights
Liked or disliked Unpredictable Liked
Part of plant Leaves Barl, roots, seeds, fruits,
and flowers
* Know the brief history of spice as it has pushed forward exploration
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Began as early as Ancient Egypt used for anointing
Quickly valued so many trade routes were established
Arab Trade, Dutch have big hand in it, Marco Polo
* Great Wooden Hulled ship era and associated wars
- short tern gains (routes and products), long term impact (deforestation)
The spice trade was often controlled by navel powers which used ships made of oak-
wood hulls, but these sunk ships meant downed trees
And these were prized timbers that took more than 100 years to reach adequate size
This resource was quickly exhausted by these British wars:
1.Dutch Wars
2.American revolution
3.Napoleonic wars
Post 1650 oak timber had to be imported from Germany and America
-Also became depleted
This marked the end of great wooden hulled ships and old growth forests
Spices and Herbs
* Know geographic areas of origin and cultivation- know families within those
areas (don’t worry about the binomial names on this one)
The Mediterranean- oldest civilization and trade routes
oLamiaceae- Mint, largest array of culinary herbs
Italian Cuisine, in USA after WWII
Leafy herbs: rosemary, thyme, majoram, oregano, basil, sage, mint
Peppermint is most cultivated- used for candy, preserves and
dental products
oApiaceae- Carrot, 2nd in importance in terms of # of herbs it contains
Parsley: most important, used for its leaves
Palette and breath freshener
Vitamins A and D
Cilantro: “Mexican parsley”
Seeds: spice and coriander
Dill: pickling and preserving
Seeds: musky and licorice flavor
Fennel, cumin, anise, celery, seed and caraway
oBrassicaceae: Mustard- pungent members, mustard and horseradishPowered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Plants and Exploration
* What are secondary products (volatile oils) and why do plants produce them?
They produce chemicals called terpenes (volatile oils) which results in robust flavors
and smells
Why? 3 Hypotheses
1.Sequestered waste products: chemicals produced by a plant that cannot be used
in metabolism but neither can be excreted. Locked away in plant tissue (usually
leaves or reproductive).
2.Deter growth of competing plants: plants require a certain amount of earth and
territory. Maybe terpenes give some plants a competitive edge.
3.Deter predation by insects or infestation by pathogens (survival adaptation)- most
recent theory
* How are spices and herbs classified in an “ethnotaxonomy”?
Herbs: broad term loosely applied to non-woody plants, annual or perennial.(in
nomenclature)
In ethnotaxonomy:
Characteristics Herbs Spice
Part of meal Entrée Desserts and drinks
Sweet or savory Savory Sweet
Color Green Brights
Liked or disliked Unpredictable Liked
Part of plant Leaves Barl, roots, seeds, fruits,
and flowers
* Know the brief history of spice as it has pushed forward exploration
1 / 2
Began as early as Ancient Egypt used for anointing
Quickly valued so many trade routes were established
Arab Trade, Dutch have big hand in it, Marco Polo
* Great Wooden Hulled ship era and associated wars
- short tern gains (routes and products), long term impact (deforestation)
The spice trade was often controlled by navel powers which used ships made of oak-
wood hulls, but these sunk ships meant downed trees
And these were prized timbers that took more than 100 years to reach adequate size
This resource was quickly exhausted by these British wars:
1.Dutch Wars
2.American revolution
3.Napoleonic wars
Post 1650 oak timber had to be imported from Germany and America
-Also became depleted
This marked the end of great wooden hulled ships and old growth forests
Spices and Herbs
* Know geographic areas of origin and cultivation- know families within those
areas (don’t worry about the binomial names on this one)
The Mediterranean- oldest civilization and trade routes
oLamiaceae- Mint, largest array of culinary herbs
Italian Cuisine, in USA after WWII
Leafy herbs: rosemary, thyme, majoram, oregano, basil, sage, mint
Peppermint is most cultivated- used for candy, preserves and
dental products
oApiaceae- Carrot, 2nd in importance in terms of # of herbs it contains
Parsley: most important, used for its leaves
Palette and breath freshener
Vitamins A and D
Cilantro: “Mexican parsley”
Seeds: spice and coriander
Dill: pickling and preserving
Seeds: musky and licorice flavor
Fennel, cumin, anise, celery, seed and caraway
oBrassicaceae: Mustard- pungent members, mustard and horseradishPowered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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