Natural Science Forum / Biology / Botany / November 2006

While Homo sapiens usually have 46 chromosomes there are individuals
with 45 chromosomes (Turner's syndrome), 47 chromosomes (Down,
Klinefelter's, XYY and XXY syndromes) and even 48 chromosomes (XXYY
syndrome).  Most of these variants are fertile and able - with

Can anyone help ID this plant?
http://flickr.com/photos/53055958@N00/306163576/
Thank you very much,

I am new to this group and to the study of trees in general, but I was
wondering if anyone could help answer a few questions about deciduous
trees.
1) When a leaf is shed by the tree at the start of the dry/cold season,

I teach intro botany labs and am not particularly strong on fruit--a
topic I find very complicated.  Does anyone have a recommendation for
a good fruit textbook?
Bob

I teach intro botany labs and am not particularly strong on fruit--a
topic I find very complicated.  Does anyone have a recommendation for
a good fruit textbook?
Bob

We've got two plant biologists on staff, and there is some dissent
between them regarding a question that has been posed, so I'm looking to
you for a "vote." Specifically, our work involves expanding upon or
clarifying the middle school benchmarks from AAAS' Project 2061's

We've got two plant biologists on staff, and there is some dissent
between them regarding a question that has been posed, so I'm looking to
you for a "vote." Specifically, our work involves expanding upon or
clarifying the middle school benchmarks from AAAS' Project 2061's

A mini "Frequently Asked Questions" for sci.bio.botany
This is an unmonitored ("feral") NG that is irregular in all other respects
as well, foremost in the frequency of postings. The topic is botany, in all
its aspects, but excluding topics covered in other newsgroups, such as

I have an enclosed cat cage!  I planted grape vines on the outside of
the cage.  In the last three years the vines have totally enclosed the
top of the cage.  Have been buying plants from the Nurseries that claim
that these plants can grow in shade!   I often look up such claims and

does anyone know HOW sensitive Aloe vera is to frost?
All information I find is that is does not endure frost - without
further details.
Will already -1/-2 °C do harm?

We recently bought property in the mountains of Panama.  On this
property there is a tree (~40' tall) with very peculiar
characteristics.  Perhaps someone can help in determining if it is
truly strange or otherwise not so unusual.

Nutritional benefits of Banana
Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly
recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. One large
banana, about 9 inches in length, packs 602 mg of potassium and only

I've got a AAAS (S supposedly = "Science") book in hand called "The
Evolution Dialogues:  Science, Christianity, and the Quest for
Understanding"
I'd expect better from the AAAS, but right here on page 141 is this

I've got a AAAS (S supposedly = "Science") book in hand called "The
Evolution Dialogues:  Science, Christianity, and the Quest for
Understanding"
I'd expect better from the AAAS, but right here on page 141 is this