"Friedman's analysis finds that Hydatella doesn't make proper endosperm—it provides nutritive tissue made only from mom's cells. And this starchy plant food starts developing before fertilization has even taken place." Science News
"An extremely important landmark, laying to rest over a century of speculations and uncertainty..." See commentary on Jennifer Winther's dissertation on the evolution of mycoheterotrophy. New Phytologist
Ancient
Shrub (Amborella) Unlocks a Clue to Darwin's "Abominable Mystery." Christian
Science Monitor
"They
could answer a mystery in plant evolution that has confused scientists
since Charles Darwin formed his theory of natural selection..." CBS
Channel 4 News
"Sandra
Floyd and Dr. William E. Friedman are studying the evolution of a part
of the seed, called the endosperm, that nourishes the plant embryo (or
the human who eats the seed)." The
New York Times
"Literally
by beating around the bush - 'Mormon tea' to be exact - botanist
William (Ned) Friedman has unearthed answers that have eluded
scientists for more than a century" The Univ. of Georgia
Research Reporter