Andrea Bianchi’s Post

Prosopis juliflora, Commonly known as Jungli Kikkar or Vilayti Babul, was imported for plantation on a large scale in many industrial areas as it is a fast-growing plant. However, the #tree spread to such an extent that it inhibited the growth of other nearby species. It is considered an alien invasive species in #India. For more insightful flora species to observe, visit www.terraconindia.com #linkinbio #TerraconIndia #terraconecotech #plants #flora #botany #lifeonearth #field_botany #naturewonders #wildlife #biodiversityconservation #flowerslovers #flowersofindia

The majestic Rafflesia flower looks like something out of the movie Avatar or created for an equally visually stunning film with its giant speckled red petals. This beautiful flowering plant has a darker side as it’s a parasite that lives and dines on tropical vines across parts of Southeast Asia. The sad part of this story is that they are at risk of extinction. The rapid disappearance of its forest habitats has led to being faced with extinction. One other issue has been insufficient conservation strategies and protection plans to figure out ways to protect Rafflesia. Botanists have had limited success propagating these flowers outside their natural environment due to their blooming unpredictability. One international group of botanists examined 42 known Rafflesia species and their habitats in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand to understand the plant and its conservation status better. The botanists estimated that 60 percent of Rafflesia species face a severe risk of extinction. The research also pointed out that the plant grows in pretty limited areas, which makes it more vulnerable to habitat destruction. How big can Rafflesia flowers grow? They can reach 3 feet long and weigh between 15 and 20 pounds! #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #rafflesia #rafflesiaflower #botany #botanist

Preliminary study on the man-made habitat of Utricularia gibba L. in the tropical peatland environment (OA) Utricularia gibba L. is a free-floating aquatic carnivorous plant found in some parts of the world, including Asian tropical regions. However, data on water's physical and chemical properties for the ecology of this species in Asian tropical peatland environments are underrepresented in the literature. Lovadi et al. reported water physical and chemical properties for the habitat of U. gibba occurring in the tropical peatland of Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. #Botany

Botany is a massively underappreciated field of study. Plants give us the air we breathe, the ground we stand on and the food we eat. Habitats are defined by their floral diversity and are essential to the ecosystems that support animal life. This week I attended a botany course with Evelyn Gruchala MSc, and hosted by the brilliant Diana (Di) Clark to build my knowledge of floral identification and the vital role this plays in ecological assessment. From sedges to sticky-weed we delved into the leaves and ligules to find the key characteristics that allow us to identify species and infer information about a site from its flora. #botany #ecology

Many of the limestone endemics I'm working with will either have to persist, perish or up sticks and move as climate change kicks in. A good way to understand their capacity to migrate is to look at how we plants disperse and how they might grow on nearby adjacent soils. Starting to look at this in the lab by first understanding how well plants germinate on their home and neighbouring soils #climatechange #botany

A fascinating paper on the dose dependence of plant heat stress. Such important work! Taking both the intensity and duration of heat stress into account when determining a plant's heat tolerance is critical if we're to make meaningful species risk assessments under different climate change scenarios. Yet, so often, metrics like the "daily temperature maxima" that an individual or species experiences are focused on when their studying vulnerability to heat stress. #scientificliterature #botany #environmentalawareness

iNaturalist showcases the harmonious fusion of human skills and technology's unique advantages. I use it to identify plants and animals whenever I'm traveling or exploring locally: the app makes suggestions based on image recognition as well as location, time, and nearby observations. Crucially, humans then review submissions, make suggestions, and, when appropriate, engage in debate. #Phygital #NatureLovers