Nature news briefs – scentless flowers, oldest trees

Flowers lose scent to pollution, could affect bees

Flowers, at least in more polluted areas may not smell like flowers any more. And so, in turn, not as many bees may find them.

The distance aroma from flower pollen travels has dropped as much as 2/3 from the 1800s, researchers say. And, some do wonder if that’s part of the problem with beehive collapses. Having to rely on sight could mean less success, and so less food in the hive. Having to travel longer distances increases the chance of bees getting lost, of dying outside the hive and other things.

Move over, bristlecones

Norway spruces in Sweden are now known as the world’s oldest living trees, clocking in at 8,000 years old.

Of course, many scientists believe that the bristlecone pines weren’t the oldest plant species in the U.S., anyway. Guesstimates is all I’ve heard, but some think the lowly creosote bush of Southwestern deserts could be as old as 10,000 years in some specimens.