- Author: Ben Faber
- Posted by: Gale Perez
A new species of gigantic tumbleweed once predicted to go extinct is not only here to stay -- it's likely to expand its territory.
The species, Salsola ryanii, is significantly larger than either of its parent plants, which can grow up to 6 feet tall. A new study from UC Riverside supports the theory that the new tumbleweed grows more vigorously because it is a hybrid with doubled pairs of its parents' chromosomes.
Findings from the study are detailed in a new paper published in the Oxford University-produced journal AoB...
- Author: Travis M. Bean
What happens when two problematic invasive plant species hybridize? In the case of Salsola tragus and S. australis, both widespread and co-occuring, but genetically distinct species commonly referred to as Russian thistle, the result has been a new species, S. ryanii. So far S. ryanii is off to a running start, indicating that it's potentially just as...