Green peeves.I have some problems with "Mommy Greenest: Evidence grows for parental care in plants" (SN: 7/23/05,p. 59). The section regarding alpine thistles seems to ignore the huge moisture-collecting effect of aboveground matter, such as dead plant remains, that results from condensation of dew. Experiments need to be done that control for this and for the increased amount of organic matter found at the "mother's" site versus another site. Also, the article reeks of excessive anthropomorphism anthropomorphism (ăn'thrəpōmôr`fĭzəm) [Gr.,=having human form], in religion, conception of divinity as being in human form or having human characteristics. . ELIZABETH Elizabeth, sister of King Louis XVI of France Elizabeth, 1764–94, sister of King Louis XVI of France, known as Madame Elizabeth. Deeply loyal to her brother, she remained in France during the French Revolution, suffered imprisonment, and was OSCANYAN, PHILOMONT, VA. Aboveground plant debris debris /de·bris/ (de-bre´) fragments of devitalized tissue or foreign matter. In dentistry, soft foreign material loosely attached to a tooth surface. does collect moisture, and that process is considered one of the mechanisms by which offspring off·spring n. 1. The progeny or descendants of a person, animal, or plant considered as a group. 2. A child of particular parentage. plants get extra water near a fallen parent plant. In the experiment described, the plots were similar, if not for the presence of the fallen plant.--S. MILIUS |
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