Abstract
THE search for plants yielding spices and the history of their cultivation and use, as well as the story of the transport of the spices, is a romance which includes accounts of geographical discovery, monopolies, economic warfare, annexations of territories, and all the vices of theft, envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness enumerated by the Apostle St. Paul.
Article PDF
Change history
01 November 1941
Sir Arthur Hill writes: “In my article ‘The Search for Economic Plants, in NATURE of July 5, p. 15 and July 12, p. 42, Ephedra was accidentally included among the plants yielding important insecticides (p. 44, line 5 from base). This is, of course, incorrect. The alkaloid ephedrine, Which is derived from the dried twigs of two Chinese and an Indian species of Ephedra (Gnetaceae), is similar in its physiological effects to adrenaline in moderate doses. Ephedra plants and seeds have been sent by Kew to suitable Colonies in the hope of producing a supply of this valuable drug.”
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HILL, A. THE SEARCH FOR ECONOMIC PLANTS. Nature 148, 15–16 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/148015a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/148015a0