flora

Australian orchids’ sneaky sex tricks: floral arms race seduces insects
Posted in: 2007, NSW Tags: 2007, biology, chemistry, environment, evolution, flora, flowers, insects, NSW, orchids, physics, pollen, reproduction, wasps

Australian orchids are engaged in an arms race, using sensory overload to seduce male insects.
Re-inventing nature for cheaper solar power
Posted in: 2006, NSW Tags: 2006, batteries, chemistry, energy, engineering, environment, flora, leaves, NSW, photosynthesis, porphyrins, solar power, sun

A research team in Sydney has created molecules that mimic those in plants which harvest light and power life on Earth.
Locating the trigger to conservation
Posted in: 2004, WA Tags: 2004, biodiversity, biology, botany, environment, flora, insects, plants, pollen, species, trigger plants, WA

A treasure hunt through Western Australia’s south-west has uncovered more than 20 new trigger plant species – small plants that catapult pollen onto visiting insects. Perth botanist Dr Juliet Wege made her findings whilst researching at the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the study funded by the Australian Biological Resources Study. Juliet has formally […]

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