Category: Amazing Plants
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Let The Begonia Decide
A Canadian study has found compelling evidence that plants are capable of making decisions… slowly.
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The Benefit Of Having Powerful Neighbors
Scandinavian Scientists have discovered that a species of tree defends itself from herbivore attack by using chemicals emitted by neighbouring plants.
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Ostriches May Not Do It, But Plants Do
Goldenrod individuals with nodding stems (aka, “candy-cane” stems) have proven much less likely to suffer ovipositions from gall-inducing insects than individuals with erect stems. Thus, “defense by ducking” appears to be an effective strategy in S. altissima, and it is likely to turn out to be important in other species as well.
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A Flower Solves Its Energy Crisis
Symbiosis comes in many flavours. Lots of animals trade protection or food in a mutually beneficial relationship. Now there is a flower that offers yeast its sugary nectar in exchange for warmth
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Maybe The Plant Doesn’t Want To Be Seen
The dried bracts on a rare woodland plant, Monotropsis odorata, might serve a similar purpose as the stripes on a tiger or the grey coloration of the wings of the peppered moth, namely to hide.
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Boy Plants, Girl Plants and Their Fungal Friends
For species with separate male and female plants, do interactions with mycorrhizal fungi vary between the sexes and consequently play a role in the male/female structure of the population?
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Plants’ Wiley Defenses
Plants are not as defenseless as they may seem. Various plant hormones work together to specifically fend off attacks. … By 'consulting' with each other plant hormones determine which defense mechanism they shall set in motion.
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Plant, Know Thyself
Animals have the ability to distinguish self from non-self, which has allowed them to evolve immune systems and, in some instances, to act preferentially towards individuals that are genetically identical or related. Self-recognition is less well known for plants, although recent work indicates that physically connected roots recognize self and reduce competitive interactions. Sagebrush uses volatile cues emitted by clipped branches of self or different neighbours to increase resistance to herbivores
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Ghost Orchids Cannot Survive On Their Own
Three Thai orchids have been found to rely on a wide range of fungi to help them take carbon out of the soil instead of producing their own organic carbon.
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Lichens’ Untold Secret
Lichens are the classic example of a symbiotic relationship. Both the fungal and photobiont components of the lichen benefit from the relationship and often are unable to survive without each other. Recent research… explore(s) the possibility of lichens as domesticators, similar to early farmers domesticating grains.