New species of bush tomato with visible nectar glands discovered in the Australian outback
Phys.org••science
Key Points:
- A new species of bush tomato, Solanum nectarifolium (Tanami bush tomato), was discovered in the northern edge of the Tanami Desert, notable for visible extrafloral nectaries on leaf undersides that attract ants for protection against herbivores.
- The discovery was initiated by unusual herbarium specimens that showed genetic differences from known species, prompting fieldwork in remote northern Australia led by Bucknell University Professor Chris Martine and collaborators.
- This species is the first known Solanum with extrafloral nectaries visible to the naked eye, a trait previously only observed microscopically in related Australian species, highlighting a novel plant-ant interaction.
- The study underscores the vital role of natural history collections and herbaria in
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