San Antonio College Library

A critical, synthetic and comprehensive account offering discussion of early environments, the history of thought on land plant origins, various approaches used to study early plant evolution and the characteristics of green algae. Includes new ideas regarding evolution, comparative studies of fossil plants and carbon availability. Features abundant illustrations and an extensive bibliography.

Heavily armored, indigestible and even poisonous, plants pose problems for some of our biggest predators. David Attenborough explores why eating plants is one of the greatest challenges for the planet's mammals, and how herbivores have adapted to plant defenses. Learn how the tapir of the South American jungle visits secret clay licks in search of a natural antidote, the pika of the Canadian Rockies exploits poisons as a natural preservative, and...

The vast world of plants includes everything from microscopic organisms to 300-foot-tall trees. Plants are crucial to our survival. If the plant life on our planet were to disappear, all living animals would not be able to exist. Learn all about chlorophyll, photosynthesis, unicellular algae and its evolution, mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants, and the characteristics and reproductive devices of plants. Discover some of the unique qualities...

Featuring author, journalist, activist, and professor Michael Pollan, and based on his best-selling book, this program takes viewers on an eye-opening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world - seen from the plants' point of view. Narrated by Frances McDormand, the program shows how four familiar species - the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato - evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control....

This program focuses on the mechanisms and benefits of plant hybridization. By observing cross-pollination techniques on tomatoes and day lilies, students will be able to replicate or even find new applications for this technology. Hybridization can invigorate plant varieties, and it is also a natural way to create entirely new kinds of plants. By breeding plants from closely related parents, we can improve disease resistance and modify the color,...

This program covers many manual sowing techniques, as well as the use of semiautomatic and fully automatic vacuum seeders. It explores the advantages seeds have and studies genetic variation, hybrids, seed anatomy, stages of germination, harvesting, winnowing, and threshing techniques. It discusses the many special germination requirements, such as scarification, stratification, overcoming chemical inhibition, seed dormancy, and quiescence. It also...

Grafting is a well-known method of improving crop performance of long-lived, woody plants like fruit and nut trees, roses, and grapes. Grafting is also used commercially to improve vegetable crops. This program demonstrates the principles and mechanics of grafting by using fast-growing annual vegetables. It explains the techniques of approach grafting and cleft grafting; teaches terms and definitions for grafting; and shows how to select suitable...

This program is an informative, close-up look at the many practical asexual propagation methods that can be used to reproduce plants. It shows descriptive step-by-step examples that demonstrate the different types of vegetative propagation methods, including division, layering, bulbs, and underground structures such as rhizomes and tubers. These propagation techniques give quick results and also provide an excellent laboratory for the study of plant...

From hardwood cuttings to hardening off, this program shows students the tools, processes, and methods used by professional propagators to successfully grow plants from cuttings. It presents many examples of stem-cuttings, leaf-cuttings, and root-cuttings and offers specific examples of hardwood, semi-hardwood, softwood, and herbaceous cuttings. The program explores plant anatomy, growing environments, transplanting and growing on, rooting principles,...