the-real-numbers:morrak:selki:its-enough-believe-me: Giant Groundsels, prehistoric plants found on t
the-real-numbers:morrak:selki:its-enough-believe-me: Giant Groundsels, prehistoric plants found on top of Mt Kilimanjaro @morrakThank you! A very fun rabbit hole. Dendrosenecio sp., probably kilimanjari. Unexpectedly members of the sunflower family Asteraceae — more closely related to dandelions and thistles than the succulents they look like. Highly adapted to high altitudes. They sequester large amounts of polysaccharides to prevent freezing at night; nyctinastic to reduce leaf exposure; the dead foliage is retained as insulation. The genus’ taxonomy is nasty because they’re wind-dispersed and form isolated populations that readily speciate. Just gorgeous. What the fuck this slaps -- source link