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fromHarvard Gazette
1 day ago
Science

First, male gets heated up, then female, and then, you know - Harvard Gazette

Cycads heat reproductive organs to emit infrared radiation that attracts beetle pollinators which evolved infrared sensors to locate and transfer pollen.
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago
Science

Forget flowers: These ancient plants attract pollinators by getting hot

Cycads produce heat in reproductive structures, creating an infrared glow that attracts nocturnal pollinators to indicate pollen availability.
more#infrared-signaling
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
2 days ago

Before Flowers Existed, Ancient Cycad Plants Lured Insects with Heat

The words pollination and flower may seem inseparable, but plants began courting insects millions of years before they evolved flashy petals. Now we know how they may have done it: not with dazzling color but with radiant heat. A study published today in Science reveals that cycads, tropical plants that resemble palms, attract beetles using infrared radiation generated by their conelike reproductive structures.
Science
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