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[-] FrostyCaveman@lemm.ee 14 points 1 day ago

Memes aside, the plant heats up? Wtf how?

[-] flora_explora@beehaw.org 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This got me interested too and apparently aroids as a family are specialized on doing this.

https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2018/6/5/how-aroids-turn-up-the-heat

In lieu of their normal metabolic pathway, which ends in the production of ATP, the mitochondria switch over to a pathway called the "Alternative Oxidase Metabolic Pathway." When this happens, the mitochondria start burning sugars using oxygen as a fuel source. This form of respiration produces heat.

Nonetheless, some aroids can maintain this costly level of respiration intermittently for weeks on end. Take the charismatic skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) for example. Its spadix can reach temperatures of upwards of 45 °F (7 °C) on and and off for as long as two weeks. Even more incredible, the plant is able to do this despite freezing ambient temperatures, literally melting its way through layers of snow.

For some aroids, however, carbohydrates just don't cut it. Species like the Brazilian Philodendron bipinnatifidum produce a staggering amount of floral heat and to do so requires a different fuel source - fat.

For about 20 to 40 minutes, the inflorescence of P. bipinnatifidum reaches temperatures as high as 95 °F (35 °C) with one record breaker maxing out at 115 °F (46 °C)!

Incredible!!

[-] psud@aussie.zone 4 points 17 hours ago

When this happens, the mitochondria start burning sugars using oxygen as a fuel source

That's also (almost?) universal in human cancers

[-] FrostyCaveman@lemm.ee 1 points 15 hours ago

Thanks! That’s crazy. Evolution has resulted in some weird shit

this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2025
396 points (98.3% liked)

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