"Learn Biology" is an interactive journal for the study of biology. It was formed in February '08, and since then we have moved from simple to complex according to cladistics. We have covered molecular biology, genetics, cell behavior, cladistics, evolution, botony, zoology, anatomy, and ecology. Mac is an expert in this field and he has posted 35 essays to guide the group, which have become more than 50 chapters in a book. The latest copies are in the files section of the yahoo group Darwin's Domain.

I invite anyone to join, read, and post on biology, especially those who would like to learn more! I reserve the right to moderate any member. Thanks for understanding.

-Mark

Photo:

Flower of baobab (Adansonia digitata) in longitudinal section. Adansonia digitata, the baobab, is the most widespread of the Adansonia species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the savannah, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age.

The tree bears very large, heavy white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a carrion scent and researchers have shown they appear to be primarily pollinated by fruit bats of the subfamily Pteropodinae. The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread. The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.

The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. It has been suggested that the vegetable has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.