Ecosystems
How does variation in traits of Tunisian oak seeds affect survival?
Oaks are the dominant species of tree in many Mediterranean forests. However, the climate of the Mediterranean basin is predicted to change dramatically. Will the make-
Computational Models
How Important Is Leaf Realism in Functional-Structural Plant Modelling?
Making a realistic plant in a computer model is possible, but is it necessary. All the computations generating the plant slow down the speed of any
Computational Models
Complex interplay of responses when plants experience canopy shading
Plants react to both decreased red:far red ratio and decreased photosynthetically active radiation, and in different ways.
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Males become female when striped maples take a health hit
Above a certain trauma threshold, male trees had a high probability of becoming female, possibly in a bid to better their chances at reproduction.
Growth & Development
A close-up view of Cardmine hirsuta’s flight jacket
Being rooted, plants have very little opportunity to travel. They can as pollen to find a mate, and also as seeds. In the case of Cardamine
Growth & Development
Leaf trichomes may avoid water stress in part by impeding gall formation
Trichomes seem to help prevent the larger gall types that lead to greater water loss.
Growth & Development
Botanists explore how mint makes a home for ants and mites
Domatia in a member of the mint family are caused by cell proliferation, not leaf rolling
Growth & Development
Iberian saxifrage side-steps the grim reaper to extend its lifespan
Saxifrage can grow multiple heads in stressed conditions, allowing more attempts at flowering.
Growth & Development
Dimorphism in cleistogamous flowers in Portulaca oleracea
A trade-off between outcrossing and self-pollination is due to an interplay between genes and environment.
Growth & Development
Root flavonoids are related to enhanced AMF colonization of an invasive tree
Pei et al. investigated AMF colonization in populations of the Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera).
Growth & Development
Using genetic analyses to understand population structure and genet assignment of a clonal forest-floor herb
Tsujimoto et al. investigated how ramets belonging to different genets were distributed in a natural population of Carrdamine leucantha in Hokkaido, Japan.
Growth & Development
Botanists find out who’s the daddy
Growing a fruit is only one way of passing your genes on to the next generation if you’re a plant. You could also send pollen