#botany

#botany

The squirting cucumber, also known as Ecballium elaterium, propels its seeds explosively as internal pressure builds up, forcing a stream of liquid containing seed pods out at high speeds.

“The absolute best time to harvest tomatoes is before they've reached complete redness, at what's called the 'breaker stage' of development.”

Pineberries are often mistaken for a combination of pineapples and strawberries, but they result from the cross-breeding of two strawberry varieties, not a hybrid with pineapples.

Many plants need a pollinator like bees or butterflies, but hermaphrodite plants can self-pollinate or thrive better with help from others in proximity.

The Amorphophallus gigas, known as the 'corpse flower,' draws curious visitors to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with its infamous, pungent aroma reminiscent of decay.

The staff of the Plant Institute sacrificed their lives during the siege of Leningrad, striving to protect a seed collection vital for future food security.

"Their journey in 1938 along the Colorado River was unprecedented, as they faced daunting rapids and uncharted territories, challenging societal norms and misconceptions about women's capabilities in science."

Few plants have as many names as the poinsettia, bought primarily during the holidays, making it one of the most popular potted plants in the U.S.

At this year's Ig Nobel award ceremony, celebrated for its quirky science, researchers were honored for work that first makes people laugh, then think.