Image: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen. Gera-Untermhaus, 1897.
Home » Yes, but WHY?

Yes, but WHY?

Image: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen. Gera-Untermhaus, 1897.
Image: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen. Gera-Untermhaus, 1897.

On a related ‘down-under’ theme to my previous posting re scarecrows(!), I pose this question: Just because we can, does that mean we should? After all, they do say that the devil makes work for idle hands. Well, although that imagery may be a little extreme, sometimes you suspect that highly trained individuals could be better employed. Take for instance the revelation that ‘Australian researchers have developed a “pina colada” pineapple’. Although the report is keen to point out that the goal of the work – by Queensland State University’s Department of Agriculture – was actually to develop ‘nice flavoured pineapple. We’re looking for a variety that is sweet, low acid and aromatic’, not specifically a coconut-flavoured one, you’ve still got to wonder: Why? Hey-ho, time to put another slice of coconapple on the barbie?

 

Nigel Chaffey

I am a Botanist and former Senior Lecturer in Botany at Bath Spa University (Bath, near Bristol, UK). As News Editor for the Annals of Botany I contributed the monthly Plant Cuttings column to that august international phytological organ for almost 10 years. I am now a freelance plant science communicator and Visiting Research Fellow at Bath Spa University. I also continue to share my Cuttingsesque items - and appraisals of books with a plant focus - with a plant-curious audience at Botany One. In that guise my main goal is to inform (hopefully, in an educational, and entertaining way) others about plants and plant-people interactions, and thereby improve humankind's botanical literacy. I'm happy to be contacted to discuss potential writing - or talking - projects and opportunities.
[ORCID: 0000-0002-4231-9082]

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