07-7-23 source from national geographic

Madagascar, 2000

Photograph by Lynn Johnson

Light permeates the sheer petals of a Madagascar periwinkle.

delicate appearance belies its powerful pharmaceutical prowess. The flower yields a compound that has been used effectively to treat leukemia.

Scientists are racing to study the thousands of potentially beneficial plant species found in the world's tropical forests before they are destroyed by deforestation.

(Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, “Nature’s RX,” April 2000,  magazine)

Madagascar:
 马达加斯加岛(非洲岛国)

permeates:
 vt.弥漫, 渗透, 透过, 充满 vi.透入

sheer:
adj.
全然的, 纯粹的, 绝对的, 彻底的, 透明的, 峻峭的
vi.
避开, 躲避, 偏航
vt.
使避开, 使偏航
adv.
完全, 全然, 峻峭
n.
偏航

petal:
n.
花瓣

periwinkle:
n.
长春花属的植物, 玉黍螺

delicate:
adj.
精巧的, 精致的, 病弱的, 脆弱的, 微妙的, 棘手的, 灵敏的, 精密的

belie:
v.
掩饰

pharmaceutical:
n.
药物
adj.
制药(学)上的

leukemia:
n.
白血病