Plant Cuttings
Altruistic plants?
Do faba beans altruistically help maize plants?
Plant Cuttings
Plant Science at the leading edge
Trichomes that are not aligned in a regular pattern on the leaves might help protect them from herbivores.
Reviews
The Beast is released…
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, 2nd Edition. Edited by Bob B. Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem and Russell L. Jones. Wiley, 2015. Buchanan et al.’s 2nd
Reviews
Hearing you loud and clear…
Plant Sensing & Communication. Richard Karban. University of Chicago Press, 2015 It is said that we have two ears and one mouth because we should listen
Plant Cuttings
Will a Martian save the Earth?
Plant scientists are essential to help provide solutions to three of the most important current and future threats to mankind’s existence on the planet – food security, water supply and climate change. But as universities close plant biology courses we have to ask: Where are those plant scientists t
Plant Cuttings
Plant-insect relationships, a double-edged sword
Flowering plants have had an intimate relationship with insects for millions of years. Indeed, this is often cited as an example of co-evolution , particularly with regards to the flowers and their pollination by the insects. However, this has also given parasites millions of years to adap
Plant Cuttings
Chloroplasts: what are they for?
Taken at face value that is a pretty daft question. After all, it is well known that chloroplasts are for photosynthesis. True, but what about the
Plant Cuttings
Spice and quantity of life
A study of half a million Chinese participants found that those who ate chilli peppers at least twice a week had a 10% reduced mortality rate, while those who consumed them 6-7 days a week had a 14% reduction.
Reviews
Human mind-control by plants
Kennedy’s Plants and the human brain is not only a work of considerable erudition and obvious scholarship, it is also a true labour of love.
Plant Cuttings
Hungry for more plant-based news?
If you can’t wait until next month to get your fix of all that’s best in plant news (yes, in the Annals’ Plant Cuttings column – the one you’re reading now!), don’t worry there’s a new source to satisfy your craving.
Plants & People
Phytoastrology
A fun online test, based on Linnaeus’ plant classification and Jung’s personality types, allows you to discover which flower matches your personality.
Plant Cuttings
Thinking outside the box?
How well will plants – and plant-like organisms – function with rising concentrations of levels of atmospheric CO2? And how will the increases in temperatures – associated with climate change/global warming – affect them? Given the importance of marine phytoplankton organisms to global p