#heattolerant

Lab creates first heat-tolerant, stable fibers from wet-spinning process — ScienceDaily

Boron nitride nanotubes used to be hard to process, according to Rice University researchers. Not anymore. A Rice team led by professors Matteo Pasquali and Angel Martí has simplified handling of the highly valuable nanotubes to make them more suitable for large-scale applications, including aerospace, electronics and energy-efficient materials. The researchers reported in Nature Communications…

Gymnocladus dioica (Kentucky Coffee Tree)

Plant community: Eastern Flood plains

Native status: Native to the eastern United States

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 60-80 ft

Width: 40-55 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Drought tolerant

Heat tolerant

Pollution tolerant

Tolerant of urban conditions

Pest resistant

Disease resistant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf color: Blue-green leaves which turn yellow in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Greenish-white blooms which come out between May and June

Response to Climate Change:

Due to the Kentucky Coffeetree’s tolerances to heat and drought researchers predict the coffee tree will increase in abundance within the canopies of flood plain ecosystems due to their preference for warmer and drier conditions brought by climate change.

Potential Climate applications:

The Kentucky coffee tree is commonly planted in the urban environment due to it’s tolerances to pollution and urban conditions. Its adaptability to drought makes it an ideal candidate to plant in urban areas and habitats expected to experience temperature rise and drought. The tree will be useful to help adapt floodplain ecosystems and cities to climate impacts.

Climate Adaption Rank: 7

Sources:

https://www.hrwc.org/wp-content/uploads/Gymnocladus_dioicus.pdf   https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=819 

Sambucus canadensis (American Elder)

Plant community:

Native status: Native to North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 5 - 12 ft

Width: 5 – 12 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances:

Erosion tolerant

Heat tolerant

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-9

Leaf color: Dark green leaves in the summer which turn yellow-green in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: White blooms which come out between June and July

Response to Climate Change:

American Elderberries have been shown to be extremely hardy in face of drought, making them highly adaptable to areas that will be affected by warmer temperatures and decreased precipitation.

Potential Climate applications:

Farmers in California have begun experimenting with growing elderberries in response to current drought conditions impacting the industry. A less water intensive and climate friendly plant Elderberries are characterized as on of, “many hardy ancient…crops that may be poised to a make a twenty-first century comeback”. 

The California native elderberry grows extremely well in drought conditions. After a couple of years of growth you can completely remove irrigation and the plant will continue to produce large harvests of berries. The berries themselves are healthy for you, have multiple applications in different products and do not require additional water and fertilizer. Current studies are looking to develop better growing practices, increased nutritional research and boost consumer interest. The University of Vermont has already developed a user-friendly guide which instructs farmers on how to grow and utilize elderberries for profit in the Northeast.

Climate adaption rank: 7

Sources:

https://thebulletin.org/2019/10/a-food-to-farm-as-climate-changes-elderberries/

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f470

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/common-elderberry-0