Kaktusar utvecklas snabbt genom att snabbt ändra form på sina blommor, visar studie

13 maj 2026

Rapporterad av AI

Ny forskning visar att kaktusar tillhör de växtgrupper på jorden som utvecklas snabbast, drivet av snabba förändringar i blommornas form snarare än deras storlek eller pollinatörer. Resultaten från University of Reading utmanar länge hållna teorier om artbildning som går tillbaka till Darwin. Forskare analyserade data från mer än 750 arter för att nå sina slutsatser.

Forskare vid University of Reading undersökte data om blomlängd hos hundratals kaktusarter. De fann storlekar som varierade från 2 millimeter till 37 centimeter, men denna variation hade liten inverkan på takten för bildandet av nya arter. Istället framstod hastigheten med vilken blommorna ändrade form som den främsta drivkraften för diversifiering under både nyliga och uråldriga evolutionära perioder.

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1 maj 2026 06:01

Kaktusar utvecklas snabbt genom att snabbt ändra form på sina blommor, visar studie

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