Plants & People
Can’t Botanists agree on common names..?
A rose by any other name… would be incorrectly described.
Taxonomy & Evolution
“Long fuses” delayed angiosperms’ global take-over
The time it took to accumulate key adaptations meant delays of tens of millions of years.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Topography Leaves Its Mark in Goldenrod Genetics
The variation of montane environments means that the genetics of alpine goldenrods populations differ more than their lowland cousins.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Uncovering the evolutionary history of the Potentilla genus
Can new genomic tools help us to understand the evolution of polyploid species?
Taxonomy & Evolution
Where did greater yams come from? A global effort to track the ‘yummy’ dispersal history of a polyploid plant
Over 600 species of yams belong to the genus Dioscorea but about 10 species are cultivated. Yams are a very important tropical crop, mainly grown in
Taxonomy & Evolution
New genus and species of probable arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi uncovered in the Rhynie chert
The new species bears a strong similarity to modern-day Archaeospora.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Nothofagus macrocarpa populations represent relics of a once-greater range
Today’s remaining isolated populations are highly genetically diverse and extensively hybridized.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Scientists suggest bringing a fresh set of eyes to the problem, ‘When did the first flowers evolve?’
A disagreement on when flowers evolved could be solved by studying the real experts on pollination, the pollinators.
Growth & Development
Going below ground: how some of the diversity in plant root morphology arose
A major transition in plant growth habit may have driven evolution of certain root traits
Taxonomy & Evolution
Image analysis of phytoliths can tell grass species apart
Tiny stones created in plants can help identified which plants were found in past habitats.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Bulking up: do plants make gains in secondary metabolites through genome duplication?
Whole genome duplication is often associated with gains in plant developmental complexity. Does this include secondary metabolites?
Taxonomy & Evolution
Niche conservatism characterizes the spread of Helianthemum in the Canary Islands
In nearly all cases, each species’ closest relatives occur in a similar niche on a different island