Tag: plant biology
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The essentials of plant biology
Essential Plant Biology by Alison Smith et al. offers a comprehensive overview of modern plant biology, emphasizing molecular genetics and biochemistry, crucial for understanding plant function today. Divided into six parts, the book covers topics from plant evolution to environmental interactions, targeting undergraduates with a foundation in molecular biology.
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Some of 2025’s notable new plants
Creating weekly blog posts for Plantcuttings.uk is challenging, especially when facing inspiration blocks. Recently feeling pressured to maintain output levels, Mr Cuttings decided to discuss notable new plant discoveries of 2025. Drawing inspiration to do so from an article by Damian Carrington, he ultimately found renewed satisfaction in the writing…
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Rare earths: Botany meets geopolitics
The post discusses He et al., 2025’s work with Blechnum orientale, a fern that accumulates rare earth elements (REEs), in particular the mineral monazite. This discovery raises important questions about plants being a sustainable source for REEs. The post also provides background to REEs, and doesn’t ignore their geopolitical significance.
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A botanical conundrum solved (sort of…)
The post follows-up on a previous post that considered how much of the plant’s photosynthesis is used in root mucilage production. In particular it discusses the challenges in verifying % claims from Wikipedia and McNear Jr. Mr P Cuttings emphasises careful source citation and acknowledges that the puzzle remains unresolved.
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The wooden universal Australian
Eucalyptus by Stephen D Hopper uniquely integrates Aboriginal and Western scientific perspectives on eucalypts, offering insights into their cultural significance and ecological roles. The book includes first-hand accounts of Aboriginal practices and contrasts them with European views, emphasizing eucalypts’ importance and advocating for their conservation amid modern threats.
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A botanical conundrum: HELP, please!
The post discusses the substantial – but source-substantiated – amount of energy plants use secreting root mucilage, estimated at 10-40% of their photosynthesized carbon. Mr P Cuttings expresses scepticism about these high figures, noting lower estimates from earlier studies. To clarify this discrepancy, a full copy of Newman’s 1985 article…
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The domestication of people by plants…
Robert N. Spengler III’s “Nature’s greatest success” challenges the traditional view of agriculture’s origins, arguing that domestication was not a conscious act by humans but rather an inevitable outcome of plants’ evolution. He emphasises the partnership between plants and people, prompting critical thinking about our agricultural history and the role…
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A deep dive into seaweed structural colour
Investigating the tips of the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis, Hiroshi Kawai & Taizo Motomura identified presence of ‘nanospheres’. The structural colours of blue or white produced by the nanospheres are interpreted as examples of ‘warning colouration’, and ‘camouflage’, respectively.
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When is a tree not a tree? When it’s a rock(!)
By way of an introduction to “ergastic substances” in plants, Mr P Cuttings considers calcium oxalate and carbonate. And relates this to a report that certain fig trees can sequester such inorganic carbon, potentially maintaining carbon sinks post-death. This biomineralisation could help to mitigate climate change while also benefiting soil…
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Pulling the stuffing out of plants…
Jonathan Drori’s book, the stuff that stuff is made of, explores the crucial role of plants in human life. Featuring 30 plants, it blends factual information with engaging illustrations, anecdotes, and humour to bridge plant-awareness gaps. Intended for readers aged 7 to 100, it aims to inspire curiosity and appreciation…
Plant Cuttings 