An alternative water transport system in land plants.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Biddick M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6111157 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
An alternative water transport system in land plants.
Biddick M M Hutton I I Burns K C KC
Proceedings. Biological sciences 20180801 1884
The evolution of vascular tissue is a key innovation enabling plants to inhabit terrestrial environments. Here, we demonstrate extra-vascular water transport in a giant, prop-rooted monocot from Lord Howe Island. <i>Pandanus forsteri</i> (Pandanaceae) produces gutter-like leaves that capture rainwater, which is then couriered along a network of channels to the tips of aerial roots, where it is stored by absorptive tissue. This passive mechanism of water acquisition, transport and storage is crit ...[more]
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