Tag

Botany

All articles tagged with #botany

science14 days ago•6 min saved

Cornell PhD Student Uncovers New Pink Baneberry Species in New York Forest

Cornell Ph.D. student Justin Scholten identified Actaea rhodostigma, a pink baneberry new to science, while bushwhacking in Summerhill State Forest. Initial thoughts of a hybrid were overturned after genetic and morphological data showed distinct characteristics and pollination patterns (green non-biting midges). This discovery, the first new NY plant in about a decade, is found around Ithaca (Danby, Summer Hill, Bear Swamp). The plant is highly toxic, and climate-change–related shifts in flowering and pollinator timing could threaten its reproduction. Scholten credits advisor Chelsea Specht and Ariana Springer for collaboration, highlighting that more undiscovered species likely remain in the region.

via The Ithaca Voice|

#actaea-rhodostigma #botany #climate-change

science7 months ago•2 min saved

Ancient Fossilized Plant Challenges Fibonacci Pattern

Scientists studying a 407-million-year-old fossilized plant, Asteroxylon mackiei, found that its leaf arrangement does not follow the Fibonacci sequence, challenging previous assumptions that Fibonacci spirals are universal in plant evolution. Using 3D reconstructions, they observed non-Fibonacci leaf patterns, suggesting early plants may have evolved different leaf arrangements before Fibonacci spirals became common in modern plants.

via IFLScience|

#asteroxylon-mackiei #botany #fibonacci-sequence

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Ancient Dinosaur-Era Tree Bears First Fruit in English Garden

Retired gardeners in England successfully cultivated their Wollemi pine, a species that dates back to the age of dinosaurs, and it has produced fertile cones for the first time, marking a significant breakthrough in conservation and genetic diversity for this critically endangered living fossil.

via Evidence Network|

#ancient-trees #botany #conservation

science8 months ago•3 min saved

Hidden Insect Inside Figs Revealed

Every fig contains a hidden insect, a wasp, involved in a mutualistic relationship with the plant, where the wasp pollinates the fig and is then digested by an enzyme in the fruit, making figs a fascinating example of natural cooperation and complexity.

via valleyvanguardonline.com|

#botany #figs #insects

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Unveiling the Explosive Seed Launch of the Squirting Cucumber

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester have uncovered the mechanism behind the squirting cucumber's explosive seed dispersal using experiments, high-speed videography, and mathematical modeling. The study reveals that the plant's fruits become highly pressurized, redistributing fluid to the stem, which aids in the seeds' ballistic ejection. This unique dispersal strategy ensures optimal seed distribution and has potential applications in bio-inspired engineering, such as drug delivery systems.

via Phys.org|

#biomechanics #botany #mathematical-modeling

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Unveiling the Explosive Seed Launch of Squirting Cucumbers

A study by the University of Oxford reveals the unique seed dispersal mechanism of the squirting cucumber, which ejects seeds in a high-speed jet of mucus. This Mediterranean plant's method, involving fluid transfer and pressurization, could inspire bio-engineering innovations. Researchers used experiments and mathematical models to understand how the plant achieves seed ejection speeds of up to 20 meters per second, distributing seeds in a wide range. The findings highlight the plant's near-optimal dispersal system and potential applications in precise medication release.

via Gizmodo|

#bio-engineering #botany #mathematical-modeling

science1 year ago

Squirting Cucumbers: Nature's Seed-Launching Marvels

Squirting cucumbers, a unique plant species, have a fascinating seed dispersal mechanism where they explosively eject their seeds, likened to botanical bombardiers, to spread them over a wide area.

via The New York Times|

#botany #cucumbers #nature

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"New Plant Species Discovered That Feeds on Underground Fungi"

Botanists have discovered a new plant species, Thismia malayana, in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia. This mycoheterotrophic plant steals nutrients from underground fungi instead of performing photosynthesis, allowing it to thrive in low-light forest understories. Found in two locations, the plant is classified as Vulnerable due to its sensitivity to environmental changes and limited distribution, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.

via Phys.org|

#botany #conservation #malaysia

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Video Captures Plants Communicating Warnings of Danger for the First Time"

Japanese researchers have captured real-time footage of plants transmitting defense responses to their neighbors, marking a groundbreaking discovery in plant communication. The study observed undamaged plants responding to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by neighboring plants experiencing mechanical damage or insect attacks, shedding light on the intricate ways plants communicate to protect themselves from environmental threats. This research broadens our understanding of ecological relationships and plant defense mechanisms, highlighting the complex and subtle interactions within the plant kingdom.

via Earth.com|

#botany #defense-mechanisms #ecology

nature2 years ago•2 min saved

"The Truth About the White Dots on Strawberries"

The white dots on strawberries are not seeds but rather achenes, which are the plant's fruit containing a single seed each. Despite their misleading appearance, strawberries are not berries but rather aggregate fruits, similar to raspberries and blackberries, and belong to the same family as roses. Their unusual life cycle and propagation through runners further distinguish them from true berries, placing them in the aggregate fruit category.

via IFLScience|

#agriculture #botany #fruit

science2 years ago•1 min saved

"Newly Discovered Subterranean Flowering Plant in Borneo"

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, recently named Pinanga subterranea, a palm that flowers underground, as a new discovery, although it has long been known to local Indigenous people in Borneo. This rare plant was found abundantly on the island, and its "discovery" serves as an example of conventional science catching up with Indigenous knowledge.

via The New York Times|

#borneo #botany #indigenous-knowledge

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Long-Lost 'Zombie Seeds' Unearthed After 144 Years, Unveiling Astonishing Plant"

Seeds buried by botanist William Beal in 1879 have been germinating after being dug up 144 years later, surprising researchers at Michigan State University (MSU). The experiment aimed to study seed longevity and help farmers deal with persistent weeds. Genetic testing revealed that the germinated seeds were of the moth mullein and common mullein species, contrary to Beal's original description. The experiment, now the longest-running of its kind, will continue until 2100. The findings contribute to our understanding of seed viability and have implications for rare species conservation and ecosystem restoration.

via ScienceAlert|

#botany #genetic-testing #long-term-experiment

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Unveiling the Secrets of a 144-Year-Old Seed Experiment"

Scientists have resurrected hybrid seeds from a secretive 144-year-old experiment conducted by botanist William J. Beal. The experiment involved burying 20 glass bottles filled with 50 seeds in sand to study seed viability. While most species lost viability within 60 years, a high percentage of plants from the Verbascum genus were still able to grow. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of a hybrid plant, suggesting a mix-up during the experiment's preparation. The study's findings have implications for rare species conservation and ecosystem restoration.

via IFLScience|

#botany #experiment #hybrid

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Unraveling the Enigma: The Secrets of 144-Year-Old Zombie Seeds Revealed

Researchers conducting a 144-year-long experiment on "zombie seeds" buried by botanist William Beal have discovered a surprising hybrid plant among the buried buds. The 16th bottle contained a genetic mix of two different species of Verbascum, one of which was deliberately not included in the experiment. The discovery was made through DNA analysis, which would have amazed Beal since DNA was unknown at the time. The researchers are unsure how the hybrid was created but speculate that Beal mistook the seed for a regular one. The experiment, which aims to determine the viability of dormant seeds, may need to extend the time between bottle extractions to every 30 years as only four bottles remain.

via Livescience.com|

#botany #genetic-mix #hybrid-species

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Lost Tropical Plants Rediscovered, Restoring Biodiversity After a Century"

Botanists and plant enthusiasts have rediscovered long-lost plant species in the tropical Andes, using the citizen science platform iNaturalist to uncover hidden biodiversity and emphasize the crucial role of botany in conservation efforts. These rediscovered plants belong to the Nasa genus, which had been lost to science for up to 100 years. The findings highlight the importance of modern technology and community science networks in documenting and preserving biodiversity.

via SciTechDaily|

#biodiversity #botany #conservation