ABSTRACT
A chemical combination of cornstarch and a kind of plastic resin, the latest version of the highly absorbent material absorbs 5,000 times its weight of distilled water and large amounts of other liquids. It is widely used in such items as bandages and diapers. So much for genetic contributions to our major crops. Wild species likewise contribute to our health needs. Each time we take a prescription from our doctor to the neighborhood pharmacy, there is one chance in two that the medication we collect owes its origin to start-point materials from wild organisms. Many wild plants bear oil-rich seeds with potential for the manufacture of fibers, detergents, starch, and general edibles–even for an improved form of golf ball. So a number of wild plant species appear to be candidates for "petroleum plantations." As luck would have it, certain of these plants can grow in areas that have been rendered useless through, for example, strip-mining.
