Discover the fascinating adaptation of a tree fern species in the waterlogged, low-nutrient soil of the Quebrada Chorro forest in western Panama. This species repurposes its dead fronds, transforming them into roots. The team’s findings, published in the Jan. 18 Ecology, reveal that the veins of the stubborn leaves have sprouted rootlets. Cyathea tree ferns are known to keep skirts of dead leaves around them, which may fend off climbing vines or insulate the ferns from frigid temperatures. The relatively short C. rojasiana uses its drooping leaves to seek out pockets of nutrients instead of investing resources in building new roots from scratch. The team’s experiments with nitrogen-15 confirmed that the leafy roots function as roots, pulling nutrients up into the plants.
2024-02-07 07:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org
