December 11, 20253 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmNew research on strange cycad plants offers a glimpse into the prehistoric origins of pollinationBy Cody Cottier edited by Sarah Lewin FrasierA thermal image of two male cones of the cycad Zamia furfuracea. The cones heat up during pollen release. Some areas of the cones can heat differentially, and these patterns serve as pollination guides. Wendy Valencia-MontoyaThe words “pollination” and “flower” may seem inseparable, but plants began courting insects millions of years before they evolved flashy petals. Now we know how…
