A new ecological role for cyanide

摘要

Smoke, derived from burning plants, can promote remarkable seed germination of many plant species from around the world. The main bioactive compound responsible for this effect was previously identified by Western Australian researchers (Flematti et al. Science. 2004, 305, 977) as karrikinolide (1), which was named after the traditional Noongar word for smoke karrik. However, the iconic red and green kangaroo paw Anigozanthos mahglesii - the floral emblem of Western Australia - responds to smoke, but not to karrikinolide.