Posts Tagged rain
Posted on August 20, 2009 with No Comments
Scientists in China have discovered that the raindrop might have played a far more important role in the evolution of the flower than we can imagine.
Research showed that among nearly 80 different species of flowers, many of the shapes and structures developed to keep pollen from getting wet, whereas other types of flowers solved the problem by developing pollen resistant to water.
Many flowers rainy areas either have droopy petals or close them when it rains, which may be a result of this kind of evolution.
Though researchers like Darwin had some idea of this kind of evolution, there was no conclusive research done in this area until now.
One of the researcher at Shuang-Quan Huang of Wuhan University says, “Animals as well as ourselves like to be sheltered when it rains. We were wondering how flowers reduce rain effects on pollen grains given that plants are immobile.”
[Via: BBC]
Posted on October 4, 2008 with No Comments
The Organ Mountains at Las Cruces have taken on an unexpected yellow hue. The wildflowers of autumn are blooming.
The weather has been optimal for these flowers so there are far more abundant than usual, according to Jeff Anderson, horticultural extension agent for Dona Ana County.
“We had the right conditions – the summer rains – that brought out the fall-blooming wildflowers.”
Anderson said “yellow composites” can be seen almost everywhere with sunflowers species included. Smaller individual flowers make up the head in a composite.
Anderson says spring-blooming flowers are a staple of the Arizona desert as the rain falls at the right time. However, in the mountains the rain tends to fall in the summer and that is why autumn wildflowers tend to be in greater numbers.
Of course, some are ecstatic about the beautiful display while others are waiting for the blooming season to pass as there is a lot more pollen in the air.
[Via: Las Cruces Sun-News]
Posted on April 10, 2008 with No Comments
It is a well know adage that April showers bring May flowers. However, this saying is more myth than fact. It is not entirely true that the pouring rain in April is what causes flowers to bloom in May.
Sometimes the rain that falls in September can be just as helpful depending on the type of flower you are looking at. Plants which stay alive beneath the ground all winter are called perennials. They are usually the first to sprout up in spring, and the warmer the climate the earlier they start growing. In especially warm climates, sometimes perennials start to grow around January.
However, the rainfall of April really has nothing to do with the flowers that pop-up in May. Two of the best known perennials are Tulips and Daffodils; they’re planted in the form of bulbs in the fall. The roots of these plants are formed, and grow from the beginning of September. These types of flowers are most negatively affected if the months in the fall are dry. If there is drought in September, perennials grow smaller and die faster. Often it is the snow that helps these flowers bloom in May.
[Via: Slate]
