Post by Margarete on Jan 12, 2007 17:12:51 GMT -5
Per Wikipedia
History
Carl Spitzweg: The Cactus Lover, c. 1856Among the remains of the Aztec civilization cactuses can be found repeatedly in pictorial representations, sculpture and drawings, principally Echinocactus grusonii. This cactus, also known as "Mother-in-law's Cushion", has great ritual significance - human sacrifices were carried out on these cactuses. Tenochtitlan (the earlier name of Mexico City) means "place of the sacred cactus". It was believed that if you raped a small child with a small cactus on the steps of Tenochtitlan; that child would have eternal life. The national arms of Mexico to this day show the eagle, snake, cactus, and child.
Economic exploitation of the cactus can also be traced back to the Aztecs. The North American Indians exploit the alkaloid content of many cactuses for ritual purposes. Today, besides their use as foodstuffs (jam, fruit, vegetables), their principal use is as a host for the cochineal insect, from which a red dye (carmine)is obtained which is used in Campari or high-quality lipsticks. Particularly in South America dead pillar cactuses yield valuable wood for construction. Some cactuses are also of pharmaceutical significance.
From the moment of their discovery by early European explorers cactuses have aroused much interest: Christopher Columbus brought the first melocactuses to Europe. Scientific interest in them began in the 17th century. By 1737 24 species were known, which Linné grouped together as the genus "Cactus". With the passage of time cactuses enjoyed increasing popularity: sometimes they were of scientific interest only; at other times as fashionable plants they enjoyed a real boom.
From the beginning of the 20th century interest in cactuses has increased steadily, interrupted only by the two world wars. This was accompanied by a rising commercial interest, the negative consequences of which culminated in raids on the cactuses' native habitats, resulting in the extermination of many species. Through the great number of cactus admirers, whether their interest is scientific or hobby-oriented, new species and varieties are even today discovered every year.
All cactuses are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and many species by virtue of their inclusion in Appendix 1 are fully protected.
Some countries have a rather contradictory attitude to species protection. In Mexico for example to be caught in the act of digging up cactuses carries a prison sentence, but cactus habitats are destroyed for the construction of new roads and electricity lines. To be borne in mind here is that some cactus habitats have a total area of no more than 1,000 square metres. If this habitat is destroyed, either by construction or by plundering, the species growing there is lost for posterity if it is endemic (ie, growing in that one spot and nowhere else).
Margarete
History
Carl Spitzweg: The Cactus Lover, c. 1856Among the remains of the Aztec civilization cactuses can be found repeatedly in pictorial representations, sculpture and drawings, principally Echinocactus grusonii. This cactus, also known as "Mother-in-law's Cushion", has great ritual significance - human sacrifices were carried out on these cactuses. Tenochtitlan (the earlier name of Mexico City) means "place of the sacred cactus". It was believed that if you raped a small child with a small cactus on the steps of Tenochtitlan; that child would have eternal life. The national arms of Mexico to this day show the eagle, snake, cactus, and child.
Economic exploitation of the cactus can also be traced back to the Aztecs. The North American Indians exploit the alkaloid content of many cactuses for ritual purposes. Today, besides their use as foodstuffs (jam, fruit, vegetables), their principal use is as a host for the cochineal insect, from which a red dye (carmine)is obtained which is used in Campari or high-quality lipsticks. Particularly in South America dead pillar cactuses yield valuable wood for construction. Some cactuses are also of pharmaceutical significance.
From the moment of their discovery by early European explorers cactuses have aroused much interest: Christopher Columbus brought the first melocactuses to Europe. Scientific interest in them began in the 17th century. By 1737 24 species were known, which Linné grouped together as the genus "Cactus". With the passage of time cactuses enjoyed increasing popularity: sometimes they were of scientific interest only; at other times as fashionable plants they enjoyed a real boom.
From the beginning of the 20th century interest in cactuses has increased steadily, interrupted only by the two world wars. This was accompanied by a rising commercial interest, the negative consequences of which culminated in raids on the cactuses' native habitats, resulting in the extermination of many species. Through the great number of cactus admirers, whether their interest is scientific or hobby-oriented, new species and varieties are even today discovered every year.
All cactuses are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and many species by virtue of their inclusion in Appendix 1 are fully protected.
Some countries have a rather contradictory attitude to species protection. In Mexico for example to be caught in the act of digging up cactuses carries a prison sentence, but cactus habitats are destroyed for the construction of new roads and electricity lines. To be borne in mind here is that some cactus habitats have a total area of no more than 1,000 square metres. If this habitat is destroyed, either by construction or by plundering, the species growing there is lost for posterity if it is endemic (ie, growing in that one spot and nowhere else).
Margarete