The study of plant life; e.g. angiosperms, gymnosperms, bryophytes, pteridophytes, and algae.
11
votes
2answers
117 views
How to decide which is the correct scientific name for a particular species
To start with, I am not a person having sound knowledge in biology. When I started my search for phyto-chemicals in a particular family in the plant kingdom, I got confused. The scientific papers use ...
4
votes
0answers
34 views
Serological assays not detecting native proteins
Is there anyone out there who has done much work with serological assays? We have antiserum for a manufactured viral protein but no luck so far getting it to detect native protein (unless today's ...
8
votes
0answers
82 views
How would a warm winter affect maple sap production?
The past winter (2011-2012) was warmer than usual.
Trees are normally tapped in late February when the daily maximum temperature goes above freezing. However, assuming that there have been ...
14
votes
1answer
178 views
What is the lowest pressure at which plants can survive?
What is the lowest pressure at which plants can survive? How the plants behave in a Martian-type atmosphere? Is there any plant that can survive such atmosphere?
Can a lichen grow at Martian ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
What factors affect the rate of transpiration in plant leaves?
I'm trying to get my head around factors which affect transpiration in leaves.
For example, how would applying petroleum jelly to the surface of plant leaves affect their rate of transpiration?
I ...
6
votes
2answers
794 views
Are there any motile plants?
There are numerous examples of sessile animals (sponges, barnacles etc.) but are there any examples of motile plants? If not, why not? Surely mobility would have conferred an evolutionary advantage to ...
9
votes
1answer
80 views
Why do cucurbits produce so much fluid when their stems are cut?
When carrying out some germination tests on species in the Cucurbitaceae, I notice that young plants of this family produce a lot of clear fluid when they are dissected. Most plants I dissect do not ...
9
votes
1answer
396 views
Why do some plant species have lobed leaves, while similar species in the same habitat don't?
Some plants have lobed leaves, like the English oak (Quercus robur), while other plants growing the same deciduous woodland habitats, and very often growing alongside oaks, such as the European beech ...
6
votes
1answer
125 views
What's a good reference for choosing histological staining chemicals?
It's often difficult to find the appropriate or best stain to use when I want to examine a new type of tissue. I think that's partly because many histological techniques were developed a long time ...
21
votes
1answer
255 views
How long will a vegetable live for after being harvested?
I understand this might depend on the types of vegetables, but is there an average or studied specifics? Does it die immediately? Is there a way to precisely diagnose death in plants? If so, what are ...
12
votes
2answers
284 views
How Do Galls Form?
I am curious how Gall Wasps, bacteria and other organisms induce galls to form.
Specifically, what chemicals induce gall formation?
11
votes
2answers
246 views
Are there any plants that fix their own nitrogen?
I know that most nitrogen is fixed through industrial processes and bacterial symbiotic relationships. However, are there any plants that can fix their own atmospheric nitrogen?
12
votes
2answers
1k views
How will rising carbon dioxide levels in the troposphere affect photosynthetic producers?
Much discussion has been had about the affects of climate change on plantlife, but how will rising carbon dioxide concentrations affect the photosynthetic process itself? Since CO2 is a reagent in ...
7
votes
1answer
522 views
How can a monocot get so massive?
Some monocots (such as palms) are impressively thick and massive, yet botanists maintain that they don't have secondary growth. Why do botanists say this? How can it get so big without secondary ...
4
votes
1answer
209 views
What is the largest perennial herbaceous plant?
What is the largest perennial herbaceous plant? My guess would be some kind of banana or bamboo.
-3
votes
1answer
200 views
Which plants live for more than one year and less than two years? [closed]
What kinds of plants live for more than one year and less than two years? Are there any categorical or taxonomical names for such plants?
1
vote
1answer
244 views
Why do plants have pith and how is it useful to them?
Many plants have pith, from walnut trees to corn to ragweed, but I can't think of anything it does them. What is pith and how is it useful to them?
37
votes
3answers
566 views
Is there a reason why human eyesight and plants make use of the same wavelength of light?
The accepted range for the wavelengths of light that the human eye can detect is roughly between 400nm and 700nm. Is it a co-incidence that these wavelengths are identical to those in the ...
30
votes
4answers
1k views
Why do plants have green leaves and not red?
I know plants are green due to chlorophyll.
Surely it would be more beneficial for plants to be red than green as by being green they reflect green light and do not absorb it even though green light ...
8
votes
1answer
87 views
What are the variables that control/influence the color of oranges(Citrus sinensis)?
I hear that Oranges cultivated in tropical areas of the world tend to be greener when ripe, is that correct?
Even the same type of Orange differs in color if cultivated in California or Florida. I ...
12
votes
2answers
244 views
Why was it so hard to decode the corn genome?
My teachers growing up told me it was impossible to decode the maize genome. But yet its been done.
Why was decoding the genome so significant, and what made it so difficult?
24
votes
4answers
353 views
How does the sensitive plant detect vibrations?
The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is a remarkable little plant whose characteristic feature is its ability to droop its leaves when disturbed:
Apparently, this ability to droop rests on the cells ...
20
votes
4answers
963 views
Do plants produce any heat?
Many plants (e.g. roses, palms) can be protected from frost during the winter if shielded with an appropriate coat that can be bought in garden shops. Do plants produce any heat that can be kept ...
