Tag Archives: flower

Space Flower Spotted by Gemini Telescope in Large Magellan Cloud

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Using Gemini South Telescope, NSF's Noirlab astronomers imaged a beautiful nebula around the young open cluster NGC 2040.

The nebula, including the NGC 2040, resembles the vivid roses in this image taken by a Gemini Southeres scope. Image credits: International Gemini Observatory / Neur Love / NSF / Aura / J. Miller & M. Rodriguez, International Gemini Observatory & NSF No Arab/TA Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF No Arab/NSF No Arab/NSF No Arab, NSF No Arab.

NGC 2040 It is about 160,000 light years away from Earth, the constellation of Dorado.

This cluster, also known as the Cal 60 or ESO 56-164, resides within the large Magellan cloud, a satellite d-star galaxy of the Milky Way.

NGC 2040 is a so-called OB association, usually a stellar group containing stars between 10 and 100 stars O and B.

“O- and B-spectral types of stars live a short life of just millions of years, burning very hot before they explode like supernovae during that time,” Noirlab astronomers said in a statement.

“The energy released by these massive star explosions will be fed into the formation of NGC structures in the 2040s, while the material emitted sowing the growth of the next generation of stars.”

Most of our galaxy stars are thought to have been born in the OB Association, as well as NGC 2040.

“NGC 2040 is part of a large structure of interstellar gas known as LH 88, one of the largest active star-forming regions within the large Magellan cloud,” the astronomer said. Ta.

“Thousands of new stars will be born in the region over the millions of years to come.”

“When stars O and B end their supernovae life, they enrich the clusters with elements like carbon, oxygen and iron,” they said.

“Along with the rich hydrogen in the cluster, these elements provide the components necessary for the formation of new stars, planets, and perhaps life.”

“The bright stars seen in the image are widely separated, but their movements through space are similar, indicating that they have a common origin.”

“The layered ambiguous structure of LH 88 is the remains of an already dead star.”

“The delicate leaves of the rose were formed by both the shock waves of the supernova and the stellar winds of the stars of O and B.”

Source: www.sci.news

Ethiopian Wolf Makes History as First Large Carnivore to Consume Flower Nectar

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by honey collectors Ethiopian wolf (canis mensis) may contribute to pollination of Ethiopian Red Hot Poker Flower (Kniphofia foliosa)According to new paper Published in a magazine ecology.

Ethiopian wolf (canis mensis) Lick the nectar of the Ethiopian Red Hot Poker flower (Kniphofia foliosa). Image credit: Adrian LeSafre.

Ethiopian wolf too known as The red jackal, Ethiopian jackal, Abyssinian wolf, horse jackal, Simien jackal, or Simien fox, is the world's rarest wild canid.

The seeds are listed as endangered species IUCN, citing their small number and fragmented scope,

Found only in the highlands of Ethiopia, fewer than 500 individuals survive in 99 herds confined to six Afroalpine enclaves.

This large carnivore's main prey is the African mole rat, but it also eats other types of rats, hares, and sometimes geese and eggs.

Dr. Sandra Rai, a researcher at the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program and the University of Oxford, and her colleagues observed Ethiopian wolves foraging for wolf nectar. Kniphofia foliosa.

“Kniphofia foliosa is an endemic Ethiopian perennial found in the Bare Mountains and other high-altitude grasslands, where the endemic Ethiopian wolf, a top predator restricted to African alpine ecosystems, also lives.” said.

“Flowers from kniphofia This genus produces large amounts of nectar and attracts a variety of bird and insect pollinators. ”

The researchers say some Ethiopian wolves visit up to 30 flowers on a single trip, with multiple wolves from different packs exploiting this resource.

There is also evidence of social learning, with children being taken to flower gardens with adults.

By doing so, the wolf's muzzle becomes coated with pollen, which can be transferred from flower to flower as the wolf feeds.

This new behavior is probably the first known plant-pollinator interaction involving a large predator, and it is also the only large carnivorous predator ever observed to feed on nectar.

Professor Claudio Cirello of the University of Oxford, founder and director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, said: “I first discovered the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker when I saw shepherd children in the Bale Mountains licking the flowers.'' I learned of its existence,” he said.

“Soon I tasted it too. The honey had a pleasant sweetness.”

“When I later saw the wolves doing the same thing, I could see that they were having fun tapping into this rare energy source.”

“We are pleased to report that this behavior is common among Ethiopian wolves and to investigate its ecological significance.”

“These findings highlight how much we still have to learn about one of the world's most threatened carnivores,” Dr Lai said.

“This also shows the complexity of the interactions between the different species that inhabit Africa's beautiful roofs.”

“This extremely unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation.”

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sandra rye others. Are canids pollinators? Nectar collection by Ethiopian wolves may contribute to wolf pollination. Kniphofia foliosa. ecologypublished online on November 19, 2024. doi: 10.1002/ecy.4470

Source: www.sci.news

Male and female spiders resembling a flower.

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A brown male Thomisus guangxicus Spider (center) in a Hoya pandurata flower with a pale amber female just below it.

Wu Shimao

A species of spider discovered in China may have evolved a male-female pair that looks like a flower, allowing it to blend into the background.

“This may be the world's first case of cooperative imitation,” said Shi-Mao Wu of Yunnan University, who observed it with colleagues. Jiang Yun Gao.

Spiders of the family Tomicidae, also known as crab spiders, are ambush predators that usually live on or near flowers.

They are known for their excellent camouflage abilities that prevent them from being detected by prey or predators. Some species can even change color to match the color of the flower they sit on.

Wu and Gao were in the rainforest of southwestern China's Yunnan province when a male crab spider attacked them. Tomysus guanxicus Something caught Mr. Wu's attention.the spider was sitting on the flower Hoya pandurataa plant that lives on ancient tea trees in the forest.

“The first time I observed a male spider, I didn't see a female spider,” Wu said. Only when I got closer did I notice that the male spider was lying on the female's back. “They tricked my eyes really well,” he says.

Researchers hypothesize that the small, dark-colored males mimic pistils (female organs in the center of flowers), while the females mimic fused petals.

Researchers say that only when individual spiders of both sexes come together will the flowers match in appearance.

but, Gabriele Greco A professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is not convinced. “It's very difficult to determine the nature of the observed behavior,” he says.

In fact, in many spider species it is common for the male to stand over the female during mating. “A simpler explanation might be simple interactions related to courtship and mating,” Greco says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Preserving the Philippines’ largest flower for future generations

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Rafflesia panchoana on Mount Kemalgon in the Philippines

Chris Thorogood

rafflesia It is a parasitic plant that spends most of its life cycle inside its host tropical vine, emerging only to flower. Its flowers are the largest in the world, reaching a length of one meter. Despite this, little is known about its life cycle and it is almost impossible to grow.

Deceiver of Rizantes, a relative of Rafflesia in the hill forests of Bengkulu, Sumatra

Chris Thorogood

half of Rafflesia species Most of the organisms known to science have been described in the past 20 years, and since then most of them have come close to extinction. This is a plant at risk. On a recent visit to the Philippines, I saw the population shrinking to make way for agricultural crops. As is often the case, small farmers were in charge. They are simply people trying to make ends meet.

view of bungkulu

Chris Thorogood

What's the solution? Protecting habitat is the best safeguard.However, this only works if you know the location rafflesia It happens first. In many cases, this is not the case. Local community action groups are essential to monitor the population in this regard.

Showing the size of Rafflesia arnoldi in southern Bengkulu

Chris Thorogood


Beyond habitat conservation, most plants can be protected in seed banks and botanical gardens.but rafflesia It is a refractory parasite. The only botanical garden where it has been successfully cultivated is in Bogor, Indonesia. rafflesia-Infected vines are grafted onto new uninfected rootstock.

Chris Thorogood, Freddy Chavez, Adrian Tobias, and Pastor Malabrigo Jr. with Rafflesia grafts in the Sierra Madre Mountains of the Philippines.

Chris Thorogood

In 2022, my colleagues Pastor Malabrigo Jr. and Pastor Adrian Tobias from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and I went to Bogor to learn how to grow what cannot grow. When we returned to the Philippines, we conducted the first attempt in the history of this country. rafflesia Breeding within forest reserves.If our R. Panchoana If the transplant is successful, a template for propagation is created. rafflesia This species is on the verge of extinction in the Philippines.

Chris Thorogood (@thorogoodchris1) is Deputy Director of the Oxford University Botanic Garden and author of the following books: pathless forest

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Source: www.newscientist.com