Megaflora
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Megaflora (from Greek μέγας megas "large" and Neo-Latin flora "plant life") refers to an exceptionally large plant species; Jared Farmer defined the term as "the largest vascular plants of a particular region, habitat, or epoch".[1] Examples of megaflora include the Sequoioideae of California, Pando (a large clonal organism of quaking aspen located in Utah), and a number of extinct plant species from the Mesozoic.[2] [3] [4]
Megaflora (along with megafauna) are often seen as charismatic and have wide public appeal, making them particularly useful as the symbol or flagship species of conservation efforts.[5]
Culture
[edit ]Most Proto-Indo-European mythologies feature Megaflora in the form of a World Tree, a Tree-of-Life, axis mundi, or Sacred Tree. Some examples are the Ashvattha in Hindu mythology, Yggdrasil in Norse mythology, and égig érő fa in Hungarian mythology. Notable texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis contain similar motifs, drawing inspiration from ancient iconography.[6]
Often symbolizing rootedness, spirituality and fruitfulness, these plants have become central to the high fantasy and science fiction genres. The Two Trees of Valinor from The Lord of The Rings and the Hometrees of Avatar are two mainstream examples.
Examples
[edit ]- Africa
- Oceania
- Eurasia
- Central and South America
- North America
- Asia
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ Anderson, Beryl (2023年04月05日). "Ancient Trees in a Modern World". Sempervirens Fund. Retrieved 2024年11月30日.
- ^ Martínez, L. C. A.; Pacheco Huacallo, E.; Pujana, R. R.; Padula, H. (2020年06月01日). "A new megaflora (leaves and reproductive structures) from the Huancané Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Peru" . Cretaceous Research. 110 104426. Bibcode:2020CrRes.11004426M. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104426. ISSN 0195-6671. S2CID 213340202.
- ^ Pederson, Neil (2012年03月18日). "Charismatic Megaflora: What do Old Trees Look Like?". State of the Planet. Retrieved 2024年11月29日.
- ^ Rogers, Paul; Oditt, Lance. "Pando: Charismatic Megaflora And The Populus Paradox". Mountain Journal. Retrieved 2024年11月29日.
- ^ Enquist, Brian J.; Abraham, Andrew J.; Harfoot, Michael B. J.; Malhi, Yadvinder; Doughty, Christopher E. (2020年02月04日). "The megabiota are disproportionately important for biosphere functioning". Nature Communications. 11 (1): 699. Bibcode:2020NatCo..11..699E. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14369-y. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 7000713 . PMID 32019918.
- ^ Farmer, Jared (2010). "On Emblematic Megaflora". Environmental History. 15 (3): 533–547. doi:10.1093/envhis/emq059. JSTOR 25764469.
