[Book Sip] Deadly Fragrance... Chasing the Allure of 'Pulmeong'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

Plant taxonomist Dr. Heo Tae-im compiled records obtained while following grasses and trees. The author, who is dedicating her efforts to research aimed at protecting endangered plants at the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum, travels across mountains, fields, and rivers nationwide with the belief that "to protect properly, one must know thoroughly." She finds plants and translates their stories into human language. She ventures into the Demilitarized Zone, national security areas, and uninhabited islands without discrimination, wandering through forests, climbing cliffs and ancient trees to convey the astonishing and urgent stories of plants native to our land. She also does not forget the quiet but firm "forest warning" that "perhaps the most clumsy creatures in protecting their habitats on the planet Earth are humans."

Haneultari (Clematis apiifolia) conserves energy during the day by curling its petals tightly, then at night fully spreads its petals and emits a dense, almost rustling fragrance. It spreads its scent in the dark forest to lure nocturnal insects that will act as pollinators. The scent is so seductive, sensual, and rich that I still remember how I hurriedly conducted research, unsure how to handle it when I first smelled it. As a mammal, I recall a midsummer night when I buried my nose in the flower’s bell, wishing to transform into a single grain of pollen, ride down the style to the deepest part of the ovary, meet the ovule, and finally succeed in the act of "fertilization"! Haneultari creates that fatal fragrance as if by magic, with its bare body.

Although analyzing results and measuring distances between species is the work of a plant taxonomist, I sometimes question and despair whether it is even possible to elucidate the complex and subtle relationships and phenomena occurring in nature. At such times, I momentarily step away from that work and focus on the plants’ true forms. For example, simply gazing quietly at Nakjidal (Dendropanax trifidus), which looks like an octopus’s tentacle, and Soemureup (Dichondra repens), which resembles a cow’s knee. Thus, accepting the beloved existence as it is. The most perfect way I gain energy is just by looking at plants without any thoughts. Should this be called "pulmyeong" (plant gazing)?

Plant Taxonomist Heo Tae-im’s My Green List | Written by Heo Tae-im | Kim Young-sa | 292 pages | 17,800 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.