Amber Listserv / Back from Oz

[Maggiecatbird at aol.com]

All right, smart alecks, you've had your fun.
    I know the theory is idiotic - at least I think it  is - (we're talking 
about the "cherry amber" from cherry trees silliness). I  e-mailed the lady 
and, as politely as I could, asked her what her source for  this information was. 
One likes to keep an open mind, you know. She e-mailed  back with three 
links, and then allowed as how it is still open to debate.  Here's the quote - 
mighty slim evidence if you ask me - from one of the sites  she sent - I'd sure 
like to know who these Polish "scientists" are and how they  arrived at this. 
Which leads me to another question. WERE there "cherry and plum  trees" back in 
the good old days of pinus succinifera, 40 to 65 million years  ago? If you 
guys will answer the question seriously, I'll buy the next round of  beer.   
Here it is:
Scholars have recently put forth three species of still  growing trees as 
candidates.* These are:  
~ Agathis (aurakaria, Australia)
~ Cedrus atlantis (cedar,  Atlas
Mountains,  North Africa)
~ Pseudolarix wheri (larch,  Canada) 
Scientists at the Polish Museum of Science speculate that reddish  tints 
found in cherry amber are the resin of deciduous trees, such as cherry and  plum 
trees. 
The  collective name used for these amber-producing trees is Pinus  
Succinifera, and they produced an unnaturally large secretion of  resin.**  
Yours for knowledge and the good of all, Maggie 

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