The Week in Botany
The Week in Botany May 19, 2025
Another round up of the week’s botanical news.
Growth & Development
Nepenthes creates an unusually slippery trap using common developmental processes
Scientists reveal how pitcher plants develop their deceptively slippery rims that send unsuspecting insects to their doom.
Ecosystems
How Soil and Climate Help Maintain a Flower Colour Polymorphism
Why do flowers of the same species come in different colours? Researchers have discovered that one answer to this phenomenon lies in soil conditions and adaptations to environmental stress.
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The re-discovery of an endemic Hawaiian plant in an unexpected spot
A plant hidden in a herbarium may prove to be unique to Hawai’i.
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Hellen C. Mazzottini-dos-Santos: The “Palm Lady” and A Passion for Plant Anatomy
Botany One interviews Dr Hellen Mazzottini-dos-Santos, a plant anatomist with a passion for Cerrado Palms
Plants & People
Snap, Upload, Save: How Citizen Photos Are Rescuing Mediterranean Pollinators
By taking and sharing photos of insects on flowers, citizens are helping scientists protect pollinators and plants
Close Encounters
Plants Might Get Explosive When It Comes to Ensuring Their Paternity
Like many animals, some plants can actively hamper their rivals’ attempts to reproduce in previously unimagined ways, according to a recent study published in The American Naturalist.
Close Encounters
Want More Bees in Your City? Mix Up Your Flowers
A new study finds that cities can support more wild bee species by planting a greater variety of flower shapes—not just more flowers.
Close Encounters
Why Thrips Might Be the Unknown Heroes of Pollination
Thrips, tiny insects often seen as pests, play a key role in pollinating many plants.
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Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar: “The Thrill of Discovery Never Ends”
Botany One interviews Dr Oscar Pérez-Escobar, a passionate orchidologist from Colombia that looks to untangle the evolutionary history of this megadiverse group.
News in Brief
Snake’s Head Fritillaries Raise Their Heads Again in Iffley Meadows
Rare fritillaries stage remarkable comeback, revealing their resilient dormancy strategy against extreme flooding conditions.
Growth & Development
Tomato photosynthesis benefits from far-red light
Far-red light boosts tomato photosynthesis in low-light conditions, but offers no benefit at higher intensities, suggesting optimal greenhouse lighting depends on intensity levels.