Alun Salt - Botany One (Page 38)

New Study Reveals Horticultural Plant Lythrum virgatum Could Help the Invasive Plant Lythrum salicaria Become Even More of a Problem

Researchers discover that the horticultural plant L. virgatum has higher fitness and broader habitat tolerances than the invasive plant L. salicaria, potentially leading to rapid evolution and adaptation.

Alun Salt

18 Apr 2023

Mangroves meet a computer generated shore.

Cells, Genes & Molecules

The Curious Coordination of Mangroves, the Climate and Leaf Anatomy

When tackling extreme environments, mangroves don’t play by the same rules as most other plants.

Alun Salt

14 Apr 2023

Close Encounters

You don’t have to lose pavements to grow trees in cities

Research shows that choosing the right pavements improves biodiversity below the soil, helping trees thrive above it.

Alun Salt

13 Apr 2023

Growth & Development

South African Succulents Predict Weather to Maximise Pollination Success

Bulbine frutescens keeps track of temperatures so it’s ready for passing pollinators.

Alun Salt

11 Apr 2023

A computer generated image of plants in the Sonoran Desert.

Growth & Development

How the Leaf Architecture of Desert Plants Impacts Their Survival Against Herbivory

A recent study reveals that specific leaf traits, such as vein architecture and mechanical properties, play a crucial role in helping desert plants withstand herbivory damage.

Alun Salt

10 Apr 2023

Computer-generated bats flit over a landscape looking for flowers to visit.

Close Encounters

Nectar Manipulates Bats into Perfect Pollinators

A Brazilian plant manipulates bats into more effective pollination by controlling nectar secretion patterns, which encourages them to visit a variety of flowers.

Alun Salt

07 Apr 2023

Growth & Development

Wildfires Stimulate Flower Power in Prairie Plants

A new study found that wildfires increased flower and seed production in two prairie plant species, but not a related species, highlighting how plant responses to fire can vary and impact the broader plant community.

Alun Salt

06 Apr 2023

Ecosystems

Farming Techniques Impact Biodiversity in Olive Groves

A study in southern Spain shows that using cover crops instead of tillage in olive groves can significantly increase biodiversity, suggesting organic farming with cover crops or abandonment of groves for natural vegetation may be beneficial for the environment.

Alun Salt

05 Apr 2023

A close-up of an computer generated hedgehog foraging in a front garden.

Plants & People

Big gains to be made from small changes in attitudes to front gardens

A recent study highlights the health benefits of urban front garden greenery, emphasising the need to encourage planting and raise awareness about the positive impact on the local environment.

Alun Salt

04 Apr 2023

A French vineyard close to sunset in an AI generated image.

Growth & Development

How Do Grapevine Leaves Adapt to Light? New Research Sheds Light on Plant Anatomy

Researchers have developed a new theoretical framework to understand how grapevine leaves adjust their structure and function under varying light conditions, revealing that thicker, less porous leaves with specific cell shapes are key to maximizing photosynthesis in high light environments.

Alun Salt

03 Apr 2023