News Plants

Lone survivor of ancient flowers is gluttonous gene consumer

Rare Amborella shrub has engulfed whole genomes from other species

EARLY BLOOMING SURVIVOR  A not-exactly-flashy bloom of the Amborella shrub has become a botanical celebrity because its genes reveal clues to the early history of flowering plants.

 

Sangtae Kim

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

A shrub from the most ancient group of flowering plants alive today steals and hoards genes from other species on a staggering scale.