Endangered shrub gets artificial insemination to fight infertility
Scientists hand-pollinate Zieria covenyi, an endangered shrub with only two Blue Mountains populations, to build genetic diversity.
An endangered shrub called Zieria covenyi grows in only two spots in the Blue Mountains. Scientists think one population has fertility trouble.
The other may have good pollen. To save the species, researchers hand-pollinate flowers.
They remove the male part and move pollen to other plants. One honours student called it 'shooting blanks'.
It is artificial insemination for plants. Pollinated flowers get covered with bags for two months.
Scientists watch to see if seeds grow. Without genetic diversity, the shrub faces extinction even with conservation help.
- 2
- Known populations
- 6 kilometres
- Distance between sites
- up to 2 metres
- Breakfast Creek height
- knee height
- Narrow Neck height
Why it mattersGenetic diversity is key when climate shifts. Hand-pollination may be this rare shrub's only hope to survive.
AustraliaZieria covenyi exists nowhere else on Earth; if the technique works, Australia could pioneer how to save genetically trapped plants.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 6 d ago
