Identifying the Most Common North American Conifers

Conifers are commonly thought to be synonymous with evergreen trees, which stay green through the year. However, not all conifers—also known as softwoods—remain green and with needles year-round. They are actually scientifically classed by how they fruit. They are gymnosperms or plants with naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary; these seed fruits called cones are considered more primitive than hardwood fruiting parts. General Guidelines for Broad Identification Though conifers may or may not lose their needles annually, most are indeed evergreen. Trees of this classification have needle-like or scale-like foliage and usually renew many leaves annually but  dont renew all of their leaves every year. The foliage is usually narrow and manifests in either sharp-pointed needles or small and scale-like leaves. Although  studying the needle is the best way to identify a conifer, conifers as a class are defined not by their leaves but by their seeds, so its only important to note the shape and size of leaves after determining whether it is a conifer by the shape, size, and type of seed the tree produces. Softwood trees  include pine, spruces, firs, and cedars, but dont let that alternative name for conifers fool you. Wood hardness varies among the conifer species, and some softwoods are actually harder than some hardwoods. The Many Types of Coniferous Leaves While all trees that bear cones are coniferous, and many of these cones are remarkably different from other species cones, often times the best way to identify the specific genus of a tree is by observing its leaves. Coniferous trees can produce two types of leaves with a variety of slight alterations that further define the tree type. If a tree has needle-like (as opposed to scale-like) leaves, it can then be further defined by how those needles are grouped (singularly or alone), how they are shaped (flattened or four-sided and sharp), the types of stems these leaves are attached to (brown or green), and if the leaves invert or not. Other Ways to Identify Conifers From there, the way the cone or seed is shaped and the way it hangs on the tree (sticking up or handing down), the smell and largeness of individual needles, and the erectness of branches in the tree can also help determine what specific type of conifer a tree is. Chances are ​if a tree has any of these features at all it is a conifer, especially if the tree also bears cone-like seeds. The Most Common Conifer Trees in North America Three of the most common conifers that grow in North America are pine, fir, and spruce trees. The Latin word conifer means to bear cones, and most but not all conifers have cones; junipers and yews, though, produce berry-like fruit. Conifers are among the smallest, largest, and oldest living woody plants known in the world. The more than 500 conifer species are distributed worldwide and are invaluable for their timber but also adapt well to the landscape; there are 200 conifer species in North America, but the most common are listed here: Bald cypress—Genus  TaxodiumCedar—Genus CedrusDouglas fir—Genus  PseudotsugaTrue fir—Genus AbiesHemlock—Genus TsugaLarch—Genus LarixPine—Genus  PinusRedwood—Genus SequoiaSpruce—Genus Picea

An Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I Could...

In the poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† by Emily Dickinson refers to death as a gentlemen who unexpectedly visits Dickinson to take her on a journey â€Å"towards eternity† (I. 24). It is very ironic that she considers death as a gentleman, but as we all know it is the total opposite. On the second stanza they both start the slow and peaceful journey. â€Å"We slowly drove, he knew no haste† (I. 5). We can see the tranquility of the scene in which they are. Dickinson here understands the seriousness of the situation in which she is, and she forgets about everything. â€Å"And I put away my labor and my leisure too, For his civility† She describes her struggle in life with the word â€Å"labor†, the word â€Å"leisure† as her freedom (I.6) and deaths†¦show more content†¦Here Dickinson is dressed in a light â€Å"Gown† (I.15) and a cape or in this case a â€Å"Tippet†(I.16) which is the costume she is wearing for her funeral. On stanza number five is coming to an end. â€Å"We paused for a house that seemed a swelling of the ground†(I.18) this emphasizes or describes death’s â€Å"house† continued by â€Å"the Cornice-in the ground† one can relate this to her tomb on the ground. With this information one can conclude her death. Emily Dickinson describes show after her recent death, she feels like she has been dead for centuries, but actually it â€Å"Feels shorter than a day† (I.22). Already realizing she is dead. The last two lines of stanza six say â€Å"I first surmised the horses head† (I.23-24), obviously her journey is over, and headed to eternity. On â€Å"An Irish Airman foresees his death† by W.B Yeats the themes of the poem is the balancing of life and death with a hopeless feeling about life or in this case his destiny after the result of war. On the first two lines, Yeats prepares us for his journey. We can see how his negation of any natural feeling on line three and four. â€Å"Those that I fight I do not hate, those that I guard I do not love†. One can understand the situation in which the pilot does not care of the whole situation; he just wants this war to be over. As one goes over line five and six we can relate that the Irish is fighting for another country which in this case: the Germans. Even though he does not really care what the result of theShow MoreRelated Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death693 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death The poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson expresses the speakers reflection on death. The poem focuses on the concept of life after death. This poems setting mirrors the circumstances by which death approaches, and death appears kind and compassionate. It is through the promise of immortality that fear is removed, and death not only becomes acceptable, but welcomed as well. As human beings,Read MoreEmily Dickinson s `` Because I Could Not Stop For Death `` Essay1355 Words   |  6 PagesModernism for Emily Dickinson has to do with the uncertainty. Emily Dickinson was a somber thinker who doesn’t try to enlighten anyone of anything. Her poems were uniquely written and she wrote about the uncertainty, which makes her poetry easy to empathize with in the 21st century. The 21st century, is a period of science which is used as a tool to make sense of the uncertainty. Emily Dickinson uses her poetry as a means to question and observe the trauma of human existence. For instance, she doesn’tRead More Literary Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poetry Essays1053 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poetry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emily Dickinson is one of the most famous authors in American History, and a good amount of that can be attributed to her uniqueness in writing. In Emily Dickinsons poem Because I could not stop for Death, she characterizes her overarching theme of Death differently than it is usually described through the poetic devices of irony, imagery, symbolism, and word choice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emily Dickinson likes to use many different forms of poetic devicesRead More Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death803 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death In regard to Emily Dickinson’s poem, â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death,† Critic Eunice Glenn says: â€Å"In the first two lines Death, personified as a carriage driver, stops for one who could not stop for him. The word ‘kindly’ is particularly meaningful, for it instantly characterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is more often considered grim and terrible† (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, â€Å"DeathRead MoreEmily Dickinson : The Point When A Reader1749 Words   |  7 PagesMohammed Horieh Introduction to Literature Professor Knoernschild November 27, 2015 Emily Dickinson At the point when a reader hears the name Emily Dickinson, they consider a female who composed verse that has been surely understood for a considerable length of time and years. Much to their dismay that Emily Dickinson established American Literature, and began an entire unrest of verse. The procedure Dickinson used to keep in touch with her verse was at no other time seen and was theRead MoreUnderstanding Relationships in Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death and John Updikes Dogs Death1796 Words   |  7 PagesEmily Dickinsons Because I could not stop for death and John Updikes Dogs Death both trigger intense feelings in readers as a result of the concepts that they relate to. Through emphasizing feelings experienced by the main characters with regard to individuals they love, these two authors want readers to get a more complex understanding of relationships that develop between individuals who truly comprehend the importance of love. To a certain degree one might feel inclined to consider thatRead MoreDickinson and Plath Comparative Analysis Essay example1530 Words   |  7 Pageswriting it. We use it to convey love, to mourn a loss, tell a story, or to say the things we are afraid to tell an actual person. Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath dont write sonnets. These two poets clearly used poetry as a cathartic release for the troubles of their lives. Their struggles with even the rudimentary, plagued them throughout their short lifetime. Life and death being in constant conflict,albeit causing them great sadness in life,also produced some of the greatest written word the worldRead MoreEmily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop For Death883 Words   |  4 PagesBecause I Could Not Stop for Death - Analysis One of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death, consists of Emily summarizing her journey through life, from the afterlife. The poem embraces death and its eternity. She begins by personifying death as a person who takes her on ‘date’ in which her life is calmly retold. To begin, Emily receives a visit from Death. Death is not scary or forceful, instead she perceives him as a gentleman caller, who puts her at ease throughRead MoreCritical Analysis Of I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died1381 Words   |  6 PagesLater in her life, Dickinson writes about death and the overwhelming presence of death. Her famous poem, I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died, talks about death and the decay of the body. According to Helen Vendler’s Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries, it gives an analysis of the I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died in line 7 of the poem the king will be coming and will reclaim what belongs to him and when he comes it will be witnessed by the bystanders in the room. The King is coming for the deceasedRead More An Analysis of Dickinson’s I Felt a Funeral in My Brain Essay1005 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp; An Analysis of Dickinson’s I Felt a Funeral in My Brainnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Emily Dickinson was a poet who used many different devices to develop her poetry, which made her style quite unique. A glance at one of her poems may lead one to believe that she was quite a simple poet, although a closer examination of her verse would uncover the complexity it contains. Dickinson’s poem I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, is a prime example of complicity embodied by

Igbo Culture free essay sample

Imagine living a life with a completely different set of cultures and traditions; it is hard to do. Many people in the world today do not take the time to acknowledge the ways in which other societies live or how their cultures and traditions shape the way they are. The way in which a culture survives depends on the people’s capacity to understand and transfer it to succeeding generations. The Ibo culture has succeeded in maintaining its unique customs and traditions and is still successful to this day. The Ibo people have very unique customs and traditions. Nigeria is composed of three major ethnic groups, the Yorubas, the Hausas, and the Ibo. The Ibo people cover most of Southeast Nigeria, also known as Iboland. The Ibo people have very unique customs and traditions. One might feel shocked at the clothing that the Ibo people wear; while the majority of the people we know may wear jeans and a t-shirt, the Ibo people prefer quite less clothing. The sun lets out a blistering heat in Africa that causes the native people to desire to dress differently. Traditionally the Ibo wore very little to nothing until they reach the age of puberty at which time the men generally wear loose fitting cotton shirts and loincloths and the women usually wore a short wrapper with beads around their waist with other ornaments such as necklaces and beads. In the book Things Fall Apart Achebe decribes a womans attire â€Å"She wore a black necklace which hung down in three coils just above her full, succulent breasts and on her waist, four or five rows of jigida, or waist beads. †(71) The colonialism of the Ibo culture brought upon the western styled clothes such as trousers and shirts. Today the typical traditional attire of the Ibo men generally consists of an Isiagu top, which is very similar to the African Dashiki, paired with trousers and a hat. The Ibo women wear embodied puffed sleeve blouses, two wrappers, and a head scarf. Although the traditional attire has changed slightly, the new attire is still custom to the tribe. Kola nut (Oji)inhabits a unique place in the cultural life of Ibo people. The kola nut tradition is used for anassortment of events, but mainly to welcome guests to a village or house. Kola nut is always the first thing served to any visitor in an Ibo home. Other events where it may be shared include marriage ceremonies, entering into an agreement, and settling family disputes. The kola nut is also used to make a connection with spirits and ancestral gods. According to Ugbala â€Å"The importance which the Igbos attach to ? j? can further be illustrated by a legend which speaks of the visit of the founding fathers to the home of the gods where the gods asked the founding fathers to choose a fruit from all the fruits in the orchard of the gods. The founding fathers chose ? j? as the king of all the fruits and because it came from the gods, it is used in communicating with gods. Because it is the king of all the fruits (a sacred fruit from the gods) it is used in showing goodwill to visitors and for entering into bonds. †(Ugbala) Ways in which kola nut is broken is very specific to the Ibo people. Usually it is the privilege of the eldest man in a group to offer prayers and thanks when the kola nut is about to be broken and shared however in some parts of Iboland, the youngest breaks the kola-nut. The breaking of the kola nut is fundamental aspect of the Ibo people. The Igbo are intensely religious people who believe in one compassionate creator, usually known as Chukwu, who created the visible universe. â€Å"The creator can be approached through numerous other deities and spirits in the form of natural objects, most commonly through the god of thunder (Amadioha). There is also the belief that ancestors protect their living descendants and are responsible for rain, harvest, health and children. † (igboguide. rg) The living are very respectful and show much appreciation for the dead, it is actually against tribal law to speak badly of any spirit. Chi also plays a major role in the Ibo life. Chi is the spiritual entity that is embodied in everyone before birth and is with them throughout life. They believe that each life is predetermined by chi. The burial ceremonies of the Ibo are very complex, there are several deaths that prove to be shameful, and when these events occur no burial is performed at all. Women who die in labour, children who die before they have no teeth, those who commit suicide and those who die in the sacred month – for these people their funeral ceremony consists of being thrown into a bush. † (Slattery) The religious beliefs also led them to kill those who might be shameful to the tribe, for example, single births are considered typically human while twin births are thought to be typical of the animal world; therefore twins were seen as less than humans and put to death. The spirit world is very real to the Ibo people. The feast of the New Yam brings about much excitement in the Ibo community. The feast of the new yams is also known as Iwa-ji. These festivities normally include a lot of variety entertainment including aperformance of ceremonial rites by the Igwe or King, cultural dances by Igbo men, masquerade dance, fashion parade, and feasting at a grand scale on a wide variety of food that makes up the Ibo menu. Yams are the main agricultural crop among the Ibo and are the primary food as well. Generally at the start of each festival the yams are offered to the gods and ancestors before being distributed to the villagers. The rituals that are involved with the new yam eating are made to express the people’s appreciation to the gods for making the new yams harvest possible. According to Portia Websolutionsâ€Å"the day is symbolic of enjoyment after the cultivation season and a day of showing gratitude to god for his protection and kindness in leading them from lean periods to the time of bountiful harvest without deaths resulting from hunger. Iwa-ji is therefore an important event in the calendar of Igbo people all over the world. † The ceremony has been celebrated for centuries and is always celebrated in memorable ways in order to protect the tradition. The Ibo culture is very unique and diverse. The Ibo have an abundant sense of faith, and take great pride in the traditions and customs that they have created, tweaked, and maintained. The culture is still alive to this day and it is because of the people who kept the tradition alive and passed on for generations and generations.

Medical Testing On Animals Essays (538 words) - Animal Welfare

Medical Testing On Animals Matchmaker.com: Sign up now for a free trial. Date Smarter! Medical Testing On Animals Animals have been used in medical research for centuries. Most of the animals used for research are rodents - rats, mice, hamsters and gerbils. Some dogs, cats and a variety of goats, ferrets, pigeons, monkeys and rabbits are also used .The struggle against this tyranny is a struggle as important as any of the moral and social issues that have been fought over in recent years. Animal rights are an emotional issue-second only, perhaps, to the bitter abortion debate." For decades the value of animal research has been grossly overrated. Although researchers have depended on animal test data to achieve medical advances, there should be other means of research because testing on animals is cruel, inhumane, and often unnecessary. The American Medical Association believes that research involving animals is absolutely essential to maintaining and improving the health human beings. They point out, that virtually every advance in medical science in the 20th century, from antibiotics to organ transplants, has been achieved either directly or indirectly through the use of animals in laboratory experiments. They also emphasize that animal research holds the key for solutions to AIDS, cancer, heart disease, aging and congenital defects. Lastly they insist that, the result of these experiments has been the elimination or control of many infectious diseases. This has meant a longer, healthier, better life with much less pain and suffering for humans. For many patients, it has meant life it self. However, there should be other means of research because the whole process of animal research remains cruel and inhumane. Animal rights activists have gathered a large amount of information that has closed down many laboratories that violate anti-cruelty statutes. In the past, research labs have had to be subsequently suspended due to animal cruelty. Reports involving horrifyingly painful experiments on monkeys and the filthy laboratories the animals must live in. Animals limited to living in tiny metal cages in which they can barely move. From the capture of primates in the wild, to the "factory-like" breeding of mice and dogs, to the confinement and isolation of cages - research is inherently cruel. Animal research is often unnecessary, history has shown that many important medical advances have been made by clinical research and close observations of human patients, not animals. There are countries that don't use healthy animals to train veterinarians or teach surgical techniques. In England they use only sick or injured animals and do most of their work on animal cadavers. Humans can give informed consent. Monkeys and dogs can't. Many AIDS patients have said they are willing to try out new drugs so why not let them. In most cases the drugs will need to be tested on humans before the FDA will approve them anyway and it is a known fact that not all drugs work the same on humans as they do on animals. Most of what we do to animals we would never do to people. We understand that people have certain rights that keep them from being experimented on by other people. What we don't realize is that it is impossible to justify rights for humans, who are a type of animal, and deny rights to non-human animals. Animals have a right to life just as humans have a right to life. Human morality must expand to acknowledge and respect the rights of non-human animals.