Growth & Development
Hakea drought resistance determined by climate factors rather than functional traits
Cavitation resistance appears to be genetic, making it useful as a predictor of drought resistance.
Growth & Development
Local adaptation of invasive species occurs in clonal plants too
In transplant experiments, closely-related sexual and asexual species both showed evidence of local adaptation.
Taxonomy & Evolution
New Equisetum phylogeny provides insight into an ancient lineage
The first divergences among horsetail species occurred with the break-up of Pangaea.
Taxonomy & Evolution
“Mythical” Jurassic angiosperms perhaps not so mythical
Modelling that accounts for an incomplete fossil record doesn’t reject a pre-Cretaceous origin.
Plants & People
A new spin on Darwin’s “abominable mystery”
Darwin may indeed not have been referring to angiosperms broadly in his famous words to his friend.
Growth & Development
Colder temperatures better for long-term maize seed storage
Seeds were found to vary from one accession to the next in their cold storage longevity.
Plants & People
Historical trends in herbarium specimens could cause misleading observations
Extra care should be taken to avoid misinterpretation of data when looking at centuries-spanning specimens.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Leaf composites better than single leaves at capturing species differences
Accurate species prediction depended on adequate sampling and straightforward genetic background.
Close Encounters
Basal orchid cheats on its fungal partner
Apostasia nipponica is the first member of the early-diverging orchid clade found to be using this strategy.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Population genetics may unlock the origins of living cycad specimens
The strategy may pave the way for reintroduction work in the future.
Ecosystems
Lomas microrefugia subject to random, but not function-based losses due to lowered rainfall
The finding bodes well for the survival of Lomas communities in the Atacama Desert under future climate change.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Is shattering in Aegilops longissima controlled by overlapping gene expression?
Study authors argue that suppression of one or both genes in different regions of the rachis prevented disarticulation.