What is it? Telipogon jucusbambae, a rediscovered species in the orchid family. Where was it found? It’s endemic to northern and central Peru in South America, where it grows in Andean cloud forests. Local people call the plant ushun. And it’s been rediscovered? Yes. A type specimen was collected in 1965 by researchers from the…
Tag: botany
New plant species: Primula zhui
What is it? Primula zhui, a new species in the primrose family. Where was it found? It’s endemic to the south of Yunnan, China’s most biodiverse province. How did it get its name? It’s named after Professor Zhu Hua, a plant taxonomist, “for his great contribution to botanical research in tropical areas,” according to Yang…
Scientists in live public discussion today about what ‘natural’ really means
We’ve all seen it. Whether it’s on labels in supermarkets or in adverts on our TVs, the word ‘natural’ is often used to sell products. Foods may be ‘naturally’ farmed or contain only ‘natural’ colours and flavours. Or you may have used a ‘natural’ remedy to help you recover from an illness. But why do…
The wrong plant?
Many of us at the John Innes Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory use the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana for our research. Its small size, simple genome and rapid lifecycle make it an ideal model in many disciplines within plant science. From leaf development to interactions with pathogens, the wealth of resources available to Arabidopsis researchers…