Bullseye Flowers go all out for getting noticed by pollinators, like accentuating their centre with a different colour. Now Englisch researchers show in Science Advances that this pattern establishes itself early in hibiscus flower development. The dark yellow stamen full with pollen form a stark contrast with the blue-purple spot that forms the middle ofContinue reading “Bullseye”
Category Archives: Science
Flowers that want to be heard
Flowers that want to be heard Nectar-eating bats find their flowers based on echolocation. This works best with flowers that stick out show American and Colombia researchers in the New Phytologist. Bats pollinated flowers have less showy colours, a wide bell forming corella. They smell musty. And the produce lots of pollen. In addition theyContinue reading “Flowers that want to be heard”
Deciphering stress reactions
Deciphering stress reactions At first glance a plants reaction to many stressors appear to be identical. Still each stressor elicit a specific response. Now German researchers show in Nature using light-gated calcium and anion channels that the difference is in the tiniest detail of the reaction. In studies with animal cells, researchers are using themContinue reading “Deciphering stress reactions”
Cool buds
Cool buds Sometimes plants are too hot. Especially pollen development is heat sensitive. But, as Dutch researchers show in a Preprint, plants have found a way around. When pollen develop during a heatwave they are often not viable. With as result: lower fertility. But fortunately plants have found a solution, they cool their flower budsContinue reading “Cool buds”
Plant en Zo 