 | Science For AllTuesday | 17 March, 2026 |  |
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 Cottony tufts protect budding plants against fire in Western GhatsThe Hindu’s weekly Science for All newsletter explains all things Science, without the jargon. In the rocky, semi-arid part of the north Western Ghats, where plants must endure eight months of severe drought, scientists chanced upon an unusual way some species adapt to seasonality, heat — and even fire. The researchers discovered an unusual morphological adaptation called Xerocoma, where dry, cottony ball-like structures cover dormant leaf buds to protect them. This adaptation was observed in several species including in herbaceous and flowering plants. These cotton tufts forms near the ground, functioning as protective structures, safeguarding dormant shoot buds from desiccation “by creating a safe microenvironment,” and ensuring the plants survive dry spells. The scientists proposed the term ‘Xerocoma,’ for the adaptation, derived from two Greek words “xero,” meaning dry, and “kóma,” meaning tuft or cluster. “Understanding such adaptations is crucial for predicting plant responses to climate change and global warming, highlighting their resilience in increasingly challenging environments,” the researchers said in their paper published in theNational Academy Science Letters. Fire is frequent in grasslands and occurs both naturally or are set by local communities to increase forage for herbivores. “Fire not only influences the life cycle of plants… but also underscores the broader ecological significance in shaping the adaptations and resilience of herbaceous species in these fire-prone habitats,” said the paper. For the study, researchers collected specimens that they observed in a lab using both a stereo-zoom microscope and a scanning electron microscope to document morphological characteristics associated with Xerocoma. Under the microscope, these plant fibres were found to be composed of several “flattened, ribbon-like strands.” The structures can be found both below the ground (unexposed) or just above the ground (exposed), and they enclose the leaf buds during dormancy. “As the leaf buds begin to grow post-dormancy, the Xerocoma elongates while still completely enveloping the leaf buds,” said the paper. When the pair of leaves slowly emerges, the cottony mass loosens. Xerocoma is an “overlooked” adaptation, which has not been discussed before, co-author and plant taxonomist at Agharkar Research Institute, Mandar N. Datar, told The Hindu. “It is important as it shown by very few species that face environmental stresses like fire or seasonality.” The study, he said, “will help us understanding how the plants might respond to threats of climate change.” The cottony adaptation is critical to the survival of a few pyrophytic species (plants that have adapted to tolerate fire). The mosaic of flora in the north Western Ghats, which includes grasslands, deciduous forests and rocky outcrops, cope with seasonality and fire in different ways, described the paper. Several tree species, for instance, shed their leaves in summer to reduce water loss; geophytes, with tuberous subterranean organs, have seasonal above-ground growth with leaf buds protected in underground tubers or bulbs; succulents store water in their fleshy leaves, so there is sufficient moisture for new buds when they sprout. Plants that grow on cliffs and tree trunks show desiccation (removal of moisture) tolerance too. “Documenting these adaptations is crucial for understanding species responses to climate change and global warming, particularly how their life cycles align with environmental factors such as monsoons and dry periods,” the paper concluded. From the Science PagesQuestion Corner
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