Plants with unique properties—subsample of candidates for transcriptome
sequencing
Diesel tree
Copaifera officianalis
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/webb/Bot410/Secretion/BrazOilTree300.jpg
Sequiterpene production in oleoresin—potential for biofuel. Demonstrates antimicrobial
activity against Staphylococcus aureus 27708.
Gas plant Dictamnus albus
Produces a flammable essential oil in the leaves, stems and flowers—interest for biofuel
metabolomics.
Sensitive plant Mimosa pudica
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mimosa_pudica_
HabitusLeavesInflorescences_BotGardBln0906a.jpg
Tactile stimulation causes rapid leaf movement.
Bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris
www.floralimages.co.uk
An aquatic carnivorous plant that has been observed to breakdown algae in its hollow
bladders—possible cellulases for biofuels.
Eastern skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
www.wildflower.org
Maintains a spadix temperature of around 20 degrees C even when the ambient air
temperature drops below freezing.
Resurrection fern Pleopeltis polypodioides
www.floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Ple...
Can lose almost all of its free water (97%) and still recover –most plants die if they lose
10-15% of their water.
False rose of Jericho
Selaginella lepidophylla
http://jardin-mundani.info/selaginellaceae/selaginella-jerico.jpg
Noted for its ability to survive almost complete desiccation; during dry weather in its
native habitat, its stems curl into a tight ball and uncurl when exposed to moisture
Petroleum nut Pittosporum resiniferum
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/pit_res_5739.jpg
The fruits of the tree burn brightly when ignited, and can be used for illumination as
torches or candles. The oil can also be distilled into a very pure form of n-heptane.
English ivy Hedera helix
http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/acmoore/527/plants/Hedera_helix1.jpg
Produces nanoparticles in the aerial roots that enables it to bind tightly to horizontal
surfaces.
Boston ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata
http://www.vrtnarstvopustovrh.si/eng/images/foto_utrinki/parthenocissus_tricuspidata_veitchi_01.JPG
Produces nanoparticles that enables it to bind tightly to horizontal surfaces.
Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula
http://www.collectorscorner.com.au/Carnivorous%20Plants/Carnivorous%20Pictures/Av
ftNo1.jpg
Catches and digests insects by a trapping structure formed at the terminal portion of the
leaves caused by rapid leaf movement—interest in comparing leaf transcriptome and trap
transcriptome.
Chinese brake fern Pteris vittata
http://www.biologie.uniregensburg.de/Botanik/Schoenfelder/kanaren/images/Pteris_vittata.jpg
Used in phytoremediation—hyperaccumulates arsenic.