Thermogenic plants
Encyclopedia
Thermogenic plants have the ability to raise their temperature above that of the surrounding air. Heat is generated in the mitochondria, as a secondary process of cellular respiration
called thermogenesis
. Alternative oxidase
and uncoupling proteins similar to those found in mammals enable the process, which is still poorly understood.
in particular contains many such species. Examples from this family include the eastern skunk cabbage
, the dead-horse arum, the elephant yam and Philodendron selloum
, also known as elephant ear. The carrion flower
(Amorphophallus titanium) also uses thermogenically created water vapor to disperse its scent - that of rotting meat - above the cold air that settles over it at night in its natural habitat in Sumatra
. Certain water lilies
(family Nymphaeaceae
) are also thermogenic.
Cellular respiration
Cellular respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate , and then release waste products. The reactions involved in respiration are catabolic reactions that involve...
called thermogenesis
Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis is the process of heat production in organisms. It occurs mostly in warm-blooded animals, but a few species of thermogenic plants exist.-Types:...
. Alternative oxidase
Alternative oxidase
The alternative oxidase is an enzyme that forms part of the electron transport chain in plants, as well as some fungi, protists and possibly some animals. Sequences similar to the plant oxidase have also been identified in bacterial genomes....
and uncoupling proteins similar to those found in mammals enable the process, which is still poorly understood.
The role of thermogenesis
Thermogenesis in plants can serve a variety of purposes, including:- allowing a species to grow in a climateClimateClimate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
where it would not otherwise be found, or at a time of year in which it would normally be dormantPlant physiologyPlant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
. Plants which raise the ambient temperature by a significant amount may even be found growing through patches of snow. - attracting pollinators by volatilizing scents and spreading them through the air, or by providing a habitat for insects in a cold climate. Insects attracted by the heat or scent of a thermogenic plant are encouraged to spread its pollenPollenPollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
, aiding in reproduction.
Examples of thermogenic plants
Thermogenic plants are found in a variety of families, but AraceaeAraceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
in particular contains many such species. Examples from this family include the eastern skunk cabbage
Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Eastern Skunk Cabbage, Clumpfoot Cabbage, Foetid Pothos, Meadow Cabbage, Polecat Weed, Skunk Cabbage, or Swamp Cabbage , commonly known as simply Skunk Cabbage, is a low growing, foul smelling plant that prefers wetlands...
, the dead-horse arum, the elephant yam and Philodendron selloum
Philodendron selloum
Philodendron bipinnatifidum is a plant that belongs to the family Araceae. The commonly used name P. selloum is a synonym...
, also known as elephant ear. The carrion flower
Carrion flower
Carrion flowers or stinking flowers are flowers that emit an odor that smells like rotting flesh. Carrion flowers attract mostly scavenging flies and beetles as pollinators. Some species may trap the insects temporarily to ensure the gathering and transfer of pollen.- Amorphophallus :Many plants in...
(Amorphophallus titanium) also uses thermogenically created water vapor to disperse its scent - that of rotting meat - above the cold air that settles over it at night in its natural habitat in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Certain water lilies
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains eight genera. There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus...
(family Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains eight genera. There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus...
) are also thermogenic.