Swasia

SWASIA.

Structure-Function Relations of Warm Desert Plants

For centuries biologists have been extremely interested in the structure of desert plants as examples of natural selection to harsh environmental conditions. Indeed, desert plants are frequently used as examples in many biology classes and textbooks to illustrate natural selection, but this has led to an unfortunate litany of errors and misconceptions about desert plant adaptations. This new synthesis focuses on plants of lowland tropical and subtropical arid deserts. Readers will be surprised to discover that many features commonly ascribed to desert plants are rareley observed in the most common species. Instead, the typical structural adaptations of nonsucculent warm desert plants are now viewed as ways to maximize photosynthetic rate.

Frank Maria

An authorized biography of Frank Maria (1913-2001), a tough, compassionate battler for peace and justice for all parties in the war torn Middle East. Frank's lifetime service to God and nation are followed from his Depression-era upbringing in Lowell, MA, through the beginnings of a promising career in labor management and political analysis. As war breaks in 1967, however, Frank abandons his best interests to concentrate his talents, attention, and energies on making Americans aware of the tragedy facts of the Holy Land. Through the next several decades and repeated wars, Frank dogs politicians, religious leaders, and journalists about rethinking the one-sided approach to the Palestinian/Israeli question, which prevents peace. Had they heeded this voice from the wilderness, today's world would be far safer.