Tag: stomata
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Flowers: Planet- and people-producers
David George Haskell’s “How Flowers Made Our World” explores the vital role of flowers and flowering plants in shaping Earth’s ecosystems and human connections. Comprising scientific insights, Haskell’s engaging narrative highlights plant biology, ecology, and the historical interrelation between flora and humanity, making an overwhelming case for their importance in,…
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Chapter 3 The economical and efficient design of plants
Taxodium, a remarkable gymnosperm, exemplifies nature’s design with its three essential tissue systems—dermal, vascular, and ground. These systems enable plants to achieve tremendous diversity and size while fulfilling human material needs, such as fibres for textiles. Plant structures also inspire innovative solutions in human engineering through biomimetics.
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Microplastics and plants: A surprising connection
Ye Li et al. (2025) discovered that maize leaves absorb airborne microplastics (MPs) through stomata. Finding MPs in vascular tissues, they could potentially move within the plant, e.g., into developing fruits, raising concerns about human consumption. Additionally, MPs were found in leaves of several other human food plants, indicating an…