이상태
1969년 성균관대학교 생물학과를 졸업하고, 미국으로 건너가 1973년 오하이오의 켄트주립대학교 생물학과에서 석사학위(학위논문: 부처꽃과의 화분학 및 수리분류학적 연구)를 받고, 1977년 노스캐롤라이나의 듀크대학교 식물학과에서 박사학위(학위논문: 피자식물 화분의 기능 형태학적 연구)를 받았다. 1977년 9월 전북대학교 생물학과 교수를 지내다가 1981년 9월 성균관대학교 생물학과로 자리를 옮겨 후학을 양성하면서, 한국과 세계 식물군의 화분분류학적 재검토, 화분의 기능에 대한 연구 등 왕성한 활동을 하였다. 특히 외대잔디, 선모시대, 긴산개나리를 비롯한 신식물 10여 종을 발견하여 발표한 바 있다. 교내에서는 기초과학연구소장, 연구처장, 자연과학대학장을, 교외에서는 한국식물분류학회장을 역임하였고, 오랫동안 국립자연사박물관 설립을 촉구하는 운동을 벌였다. 그동안 국내외 학술지에 약 100편의 논문을 발표하였으며, '한국식물검색집', '현대식물분류학'(공저), '자연사박물관의 이해'(공저) 등의 저서와 공동번역서 '식물분류학, 계통학적 접근'을 출간하였다. 2010년 2월 33년간의 교수직을 마감하고 현재 명예교수로 재임 중이며, 식물분류와 자연사를 대중들에게 쉽게 알리기 위해 강의와 글쓰기에 열중하고 있다.
머리말 ······························································································· 4
1장 추정해 보니 다른 식물
1-1 요한이 먹은 메뚜기 ·································································· 12
1-2 탕자가 먹은 쥐엄 열매 ······························································· 19
1-3 예수님이 말씀하신 백합 ······························································ 24
1-4 예수님이 비유하신 겨자씨 ··························································· 31
1-5 양의 피를 칠한 우슬초 ································································ 37
1-6 예수님의 시체에 바른 침향 ·························································· 43
1-7 다윗의 군대가 올라간 뽕나무 ······················································· 48
1-8 삭개오와 아모스의 뽕나무 ··························································· 52
1-9 이사야서의 밤나무와 상수리나무 ··················································· 59
1-10 단풍나무와 신풍나무 ································································ 68
1-11 야곱이 장자권을 산 팥죽 ··························································· 71
2장 원래부터 오역된 식물 이름
2-1 감람나무 ················································································· 78
2-2 종려나무 ················································································· 86
2-3 창포 ······················································································· 94
2-4 사과 ····················································································· 101
2-5 감복숭아와 살구 ····································································· 106
2-6 잣나무와 소나무 ····································································· 111
3장 밝혀 본 식물의 정체
3-1 유다가 목매달아 죽은 나무 ························································ 122
3-2 예수의 십자가를 만든 나무 ························································ 126
3-3 예수의 고난에 관련된 식물 ························································ 131
3-4 샤론의 장미 ··········································································· 138
3-5 모세의 만나 ··········································································· 143
3-6 이삭의 양을 걸리게 한 수풀 ······················································· 151
3-7 모세의 타지 않은 떨기나무 ························································ 157
3-8 아담의 선악과 ········································································ 163
3-9 노아의 방주를 만든 나무 ··························································· 167
3-10 아기 모세를 담은 상자 ··························································· 173
4장 이상한 이름의 식물들
4-1 황양목 ·················································································· 180
4-2 백향목 ·················································································· 184
4-3 화석류 ·················································································· 188
4-4 조각목과 싯딤나무 ·································································· 192
4-5 쓸개 ····················································································· 197
4-6 나드, 나도, 나도풀 ·································································· 202
4-7 번홍화 ·················································································· 206
4-8 고벨화 ·················································································· 209
4-9 비둘기똥, 합분태 ····································································· 213
4-10 로뎀나무 ············································································· 217
4-11 에셀나무 ············································································· 223
4-12 소회향과 대회향 ··································································· 228
4-13 합환채 ················································································ 236
5장 특정 범주에 속한 식물들
5-1 모세의 향품들 ········································································ 244
5-2 쓴 나물 ················································································· 250
5-3 짠나물과 대싸리 ····································································· 256
5-4 떠도는 티끌 ··········································································· 261
맺는말 ····························································································· 268
참고 1. 주요 영어성경의 약자와 발행년도 ················································ 270
참고 2. 재미있는 식물 이야기 ······························································· 272
인용문헌 ························································································· 293
