Abstract
Cardoso JCF, Johnson SD, Oliveira PE. 2025. Flowers meet Newton: testing the role of gravitational pull in resupination of orchid flowers. Journal of Experimental Botany 76, 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erae413Resupination, the downwards re-orientation of flowers, is a key trait for angiosperms, especially orchids. The study of a lady’s slipper orchid from Brazil by Cardoso et al. (2025) shows that the seemingly basic mechanism is far from simple and that both passive and active mechanisms are at play. Turning upside down is not only a process of gravitropism; it also requires deft positioning of the flower mass to act as a counterweight, and compliance of the flower stalk to act as a hinge. Developmental timing, functional traits, and viewing functional ensembles as living machines broaden our understanding of evolutionary process and drive novel bio-inspired technologies.