Tag: Botany
Scientists probe dieback samples
A high number of the fungal-like organisms associated with dieback in trees have been found in waterways from Kununurra through to Esperance.[MORE]
Parts of Southern Ocean declared vulnerable
In a world first, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR has declared areas of the Southern Ocean vulnerable.[MORE]
Govt pledges $13k for endangered macadamias
A group dedicated to preserving an endangered variety of macadamia nut tree has taken a step forward, with Federal Government funding.[MORE]
Scientists research dieback disease
Murdoch University in Western Australia has begun a new research project into the plant disease dieback.[MORE]
NZ botanists find 'extinct' fern
Botanists in the North Island of New Zealand have found a rare fern which was previously thought to be extinct.[MORE]
Carnivorous plants serve up a conference feast
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A carnivorous conference features plants which feast on rats, birds and insects.[MORE]
Stressed plants 'make their own painkillers'
Scientists in the United States have found that plants under stress produce their own form of aspirin.[MORE]
Sweet edge on waterproof coating
Totally recyclable waterproof paper and cardboard containers can be made using a new coating developed from sugarcane, say Australian researchers.[MORE]
Tree of Knowledge lives on through cultivars
Scientists are preparing to plant cultivars of the historic Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine in central western Queensland.[MORE]
Burke and Wills tree comes back from the brink
Arborists are confident the Southern Hemisphere's biggest moreton bay fig tree is returning to health.[MORE]
CSIRO to test revolutionary wheat
Testing is about to begin on a new variety of wheat which could revolutionise Australian farming techniques and have significant environmental benefits.[MORE]
GM plants to provide plastic alternative
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CSIRO researchers have genetically engineered a plant capable of producing oil for plastics manufacturing.[MORE]
10,000yo spruce is world's oldest tree
A Swedish university has announced that the world's oldest living tree on record is a nearly 10,000-year-old spruce.[MORE]
JCU to honour Bush Tucker Man
The man best known for his 'Bush Tucker' exploits will tonight receive an honorary doctorate of science from the James Cook University in Townsville.[MORE]
'Suicide palm' seeds arrive in Britain
The seeds of the "suicide palm" (Tahina spectabilis), a newly discovered and extremely rare palm tree, have arrived in Britain for urgent study and conservation. The tree, whose nickname stems from its habit of flowering itself to death once every half-century, was discovered only recently on the island of Madagascar. Only about 100 examples are known to exist of the tree, which grows to more than 18 metres high over a period of 50 years before bursting into bloom just once and then dying. About 1,000 of the tree's grape-sized seeds, harvested by local villagers, arrived at Kew's Botanic Gardens Millennium Seed Bank earlier this week. Moctar Sacande, who heads up Kew's seed bank work in Madagascar, says the tree's bizarre lifecycle means opportunities to harvest more seeds are likely to be rare. "With less than a hundred of these palms in the wild, and the fact that they flower so rarely, the race is on to learn as much as possible, and as quickly as possible, about this spectacular new species," he said . "Not only is our science team at the Seed Bank studying the seeds to assess whether or not we can bank them, but we have also sent seeds to 11 botanical gardens around the world, where we hope the palm will thrive." Seeds have been sent to gardens in countries including the United States, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Indonesia. Palm experts at Kew are also propagating the seeds for research and public display in the Gardens. The trees were discovered by chance in a remote part of the island by a cashew plantation owner and his family. Its remoteness explains why it had not previously been noted despite being Madagascar's largest palm tree. It towers more than fifty feet above the ground and has fan-shaped leaves that, at fifteen feet in diameter, rank among the largest of any flowering plant. [MORE]
NT scientists make mimosa breakthrough
Northern Territory researchers say a tiny introduced insect is slowing the spread of one of the nation's worst weeds, mimosa pigra.[MORE]
Global panel to tackle biodiversity crisis
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One in four mammal species, one in eight bird species, a third of amphibians and 70 per cent of plants are threatened with extinction.[MORE]
Croc genes mapped
In a world first, scientists in Darwin are mapping the genomes of the saltwater crocodile. [MORE]
Buttongrass global warming warning
An ecology professor from the University of Tasmania has warned the World Heritage Area in the state's south is under extreme threat from climate change.[MORE]
Fossil hunters uncover world's oldest tree
Fossil hunters in the United States have found the world's oldest known tree, a palm-like giant of a species called a Wattieza that lived some 380 million years ago. [MORE]
South Australians developing new breed of orange
The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, in South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf, is developing tissue cultures to create a new kind of wild orange for the Australian market.[MORE]
Scientists gather to see desert in bloom
Scientists from across Australia have converged on outback Queensland to study some of the world's most remarkable plant and animal diversity in a desert.[MORE]
Barrier Reef safe from future thorn outbreak, researchers say
Marine researchers say there is no evidence to suggest there will be another outbreak of the crown of thorns on the Great Barrier Reef in the near future.[MORE]
Rare plant may help fight Tas fungus
It is hoped a rare Tasmanian heath could provide a solution for a cinnamon fungus which is attacking the state's plants.[MORE]
