OUR FIRST NOMINATION

On 29th November question 93 in the General Knowledge:

What is the fastest living thing in the world, a plant which releases its pollen at over half the speed of sound? Answer: WHITE MULBERRY TREE (accept Mulberry)
Amazed this was not picked up earlier – the additional comment was made “The generosity of accepting “Mulberry” alone is just as staggering as being expected to know the white mulberry”.

The following supporting comments were added:

So, 'twould seem that this question had some 'scientific' background to it .... (see below)  But, how were we as quizzers supposed to guess unless you actually had read 'Sexual Plant Reproduction' Volume 19, number 1 and then alighted on pages 19 to 24?  Sadly, I had let my subscription to this wonderful magazine lapse as part of the general belt-tightening exercises of 1992.
I think I'll stick to remembering Rolls-Royce part numbers from their 1932 catalogue!
Pat Jeater
The white mulberry is scientifically notable for the rapid plant movement involved in pollen release from its catkins. The stamens act as catapults, releasing stored elastic energy in just 25 µs. The resulting movement is approximately 350 miles per hour (560 km/h), over half the speed of sound, making it the fastest known movement in the plant kingdom.^[5]

Taylor, Philip; Gwyneth Card, James House, Michael Dickinson, Richard Flagan (2006-03-01). "High-speed pollen release in the white mulberry tree, Morus alba L". Sexual Plant Reproduction 19 (1): 19–24.

25th November "According to Andrew Marr what did Roy Jenkins replace with a fridge for his wine?A BOARD ON WHICH WERE WRITTEN THE NAMES OF ALL THOSE BRITISH PRISONERS COMING UP TO BE HANGED"