Feb 26 • 14:19 UTC 🇸🇰 Slovakia Denník N

How do plants know when to bloom? A botanist explains how plants cope with returning frosts

A Slovak botanist discusses how different plants know when to bloom and their responses to returning frosts.

In Slovakia, the early bloom of flowers such as snowdrops and spring snowflakes indicates the arrival of spring. Botanist Jaromír Kučera explains that these blooms typically occur in early spring, but weather patterns, such as a longer winter, can affect the timing. In Eastern Slovakia, the flowering of various species can be influenced by temperature changes throughout the year.

The article delves into the biological responses of plants to environmental cues that signal the start of blooming. Factors like temperature play a role, but the adaptations plants have developed over time are crucial for their survival. Kučera emphasizes that flowering is primarily an evolutionary adaptation for reproduction, allowing plants to attract pollinators to facilitate the process of pollination and seed production.

Furthermore, the discussion raises concerns about the vulnerability of these early blooming species to late frosts, which can jeopardize their reproductive success. The insights from botanists like Kučera highlight the complexities of plant biology and the ongoing relationship between environmental changes and plant life cycles, particularly in the context of climate variability and its effects on biodiversity.

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