#plant

#plant

Plants Can Grow in Lunar Soil (on Earth)Scientists from the University of Florida have managed to grow plants of the speciesArabidopsis thaliana, or the hardy thale cress, in lunar regolith, which we know as moon dust. Now wait a minute, where did they get moon dust? From the moon, silly. This regolith was brought back by the Apollo missions 50 years ago, and it is still powering experiments here on earth. The plants are not as robust as those grown in earth soil, nor in volcanic ash, but they are growing. This research is aimed at how we can harness the moon's own resources to grow food for possible lunar visitors or even settlers. These plants were grown using seeds, regolith, water, nutrients, and artificial light, only one of which is available on the moon. But it's a step in the right direction. My question is: has the regolith undergone any changes in the 50 years since it was brought to earth? Read more about this experiment at NASA. (Image credit: UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones)#lunarsoil #regolith #NASA #plant #moondust

Uvariopsis dicaprio: New Species of Evergreen Tree in Cameroon Named after Leonardo DiCaprioThe first new plant species to be given a scientific name in 2022 was this new tropical evergreen tree from the Ebo forest of Cameroon.The 4-meter tall plant, with distinctive yellow-green flower that grows on its trunk, was named Uvariopsis dicaprioin honor of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who has campaigned to save the forest from logging.The plant was previously unknown to the scientific community as well as to local inhabitants. The tree was identified as new by Martin Cheek of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, together with his colleagues from the National Herbarium of Cameroon and the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. "This is a plant which, for a botanist, just jumps out at you," says Cheek, "It's so spectacular."As there are fewer than 50 individual U. dicaprio trees found - and all are located in the same area of the Ebo forest, the species is considered critically endangered.Photo by: Lorna MacKinnon#NewSpecies #Cameroon #Tropical #Uvariopsisdicaprio #Environment #LeonardoDicaprio #plant

“Two Leaves That Cannot Die” Plant Reveals Its Genetic SecretsA plant with two leaves. Distinctly octopus-like look. Ugly. These are all the characteristics of what the Afrikaans call “tweeblaarkanniedood,” which means “two leaves that cannot die.” This plant is also known as Welwitschia, located in the Namib Desert.As the name implies, Welwitschia grows only two leaves — perpetually. Some of these plants are believed to be more than 3,000 years old, and yet still continuing to grow. In line with this, Nature Communications reported a study on Welwitschia’s peculiar shape, immortality, and resilience.Image Credit: Tao Wen via The New York Times/YahooNews#welwitschia #plant #genetics #NamibDesert #immortality #cellgrowth #desertplant #leaf #stressresilience

24 Hour Timelapse of Indoor Plants Show Just How Much They Actually MoveJust because they're in a pot doesn't mean that plants don't like to move around! This fascinating video shows a 24 hour timelapse of indoor potted calathea plants moving their leaves as if they're waving (slooowly) at you.Calatheas are also called "prayer plants" because their leaves point up at night like hands in a prayer, and unfurl or open up during the day. This movement is made possible of a small joint between its leaf and stem. This movement is called nyctinasty and while some scientists have suggested that this is crucial for survival as the movement of the leaves allow the plant to get more sunlight during the day, there's currently no clear answer as to the benefit of the night movement.Via Melora_1#plant #calathea #timelapse #indoorplant