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The graph shows the mechanism of Nepenthes gracilis. Credit: Anne-Kristin Lenzo Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered the deadly workings of carnivorous plants. In the steamy jungles of Borneo, plants have developed innumerable tricks to help them survive and beat their neighbors. The Slender Pitcher Plant, Nepenthes gracilis, is one of the most ingenious: Its cup-shaped leaves are equipped with a hanging canopy-like cap that turns into a deadly stepping stone for ants when hit by falling raindrops. His findings, published today in Biology Letters revealing for the first time how the shut-off spring works. The team was surprised to find that instead of bending the lid on its own or in the narrow constriction between the jug’s cup and the lid, the spring was located far behind the wall of the tubular jug. The off-center location on the back of the tube has two effects. The Slender Pitcher Plant...

When the price of lettuce jumped to $10 due to extreme weather in New South Wales and Queensland, it caused a shockwave across the country, but some farmers in the flood zone were left relatively unscathed – as they grew in the shade. Key points: Protected crops have seen significant growth in Australia over the last 10 years Two Lockyer Valley farmers say protected plantings reduce flood damage on their property Experts say farming under cover is inevitable with more extreme and varied weather events Now experts say protected plantings could be key to keeping cabbages away from burgers and spring rolls in their place and getting farmers back to planting after extreme weather. What are protected plants? Protected crops are the production of horticultural crops under or within structures. It’s more than just a greenhouse according to Paul Gauthier, who is professor of protected plants with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. He said there are three types of...

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Insectivorous plants have fascinated biologists for more than a century, but how plants developed the ability to capture and consume live prey remains largely a mystery. Now, Salk scientists, along with collaborators from the University of Washington at St. Louis, has investigated the molecular basis of plant carnivores and found evidence that it evolved from mechanisms that plants use to defend themselves. Research published on July 11, 2022, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ), detailing how calcium molecules move dynamically within cells in the leaves of carnivorous plants in response to touch from live prey. Fluctuations in calcium cause leaf movement to capture prey, possibly through increased production of defense hormones. The findings broaden scientists’ understanding of how plants interact with their environment. “If we can learn more about how plants such as these...

A husband and wife engage in an expensive court battle to restore the reputation of their factory business after they are bombarded with more than 100 negative reviews following their feud with a removalist company. David Eden and Georgina Oxley sought the services of Melbourne Movers in September 2018 to transport stock for their small business Designer Plants, which sells decorative artificial greenery for businesses and homes. They were given a fixed price, but the move, which involved transporting the contents of their warehouse, was not completed after debate over the cost of the work. Since the altercation, the couple – who are also councilors in the City of Kingston in Melbourne – have claimed in court documents that they have stolen more than 100 false negative reviews from Google over several years. Since 2018, the couple have spent more than $100,000 in legal fees as they brought search giant Google and the owner of a removal company to court for defamation. ...