New reason to justify a Prius

Toyota has developed a new shrub called Kirsch Pink. A derivative of the Cherry Sage shrub that is optimized for absorbing pollutants from the air, it is reportedly 1.3 times more effective at absorbing NOx, SO2 and other air pollutants than its parent stock.

The new plant, which flowers between May and November, also diminishes the urban heat-island effect 1.3 times more effectively than the Cherry Sage, according to the company. The shrub's main use is in green roofs.

Why, you ask, is a car company in the business of breeding?

Kirsch Pink is the work of Toyota Roof Garden, (one of the businesses in Toyota’s Biotechnology and Afforestation portfolio), originally launched as a way to mitigate the heat-island phenomenon that is worsening with time in Japanese cities.

Toyota sees a linkage between the automotive industry and the biotechnology industries in that both are aiming to achieve a sustainable society.

Via Treehugger.