The Week in Botany
The Week in Botany August 25, 2025
This week, urban biodiversity, logging into the Wood Wide Web, and an email bug.
The Week in Botany
The Week in Botany, August 18, 2025
This week, Liedson Carneiro on networking, gunfire doesn’t stop Botany, how dinosaurs got along with each other, and more.
Growth & Development
The orchid prediction nobody noticed
Scientists found a letter where Darwin predicted a major botanical discovery 36 years before anyone proved him right.
Plants & People
Indonesia’s Secret Spice Collection
When scientists ventured into the backyards of Indonesian families, they discovered something remarkable hiding behind everyday cooking. Smallholders in Aceh are stewards of a complex ecosystem of 24 wild spice varieties that most of the world has never heard of.
The Week in Botany
The Week in Botany August 11, 2025
This week, Juliane Ishida on her work with parasitic plants, how poor timing can spur flower evolution and a carnivorous plant that will you have your hand off, if you have tiny hands.
Close Encounters
Chocolate fights climate change with gene editing
Food Dive reports on an attempt by Mars to keep chocolate affordable and make your M&Ms CRISPR.
News in Brief
How Canada plans to plug biodiversity data gaps with CAN BON
Gonzalez and colleagues introduce CAN BON, the Canadian Biodiversity Observation Network, a new project to track changes across the nation.
Close Encounters
Tree-Microbe relationships run deep
Inside a tree can live up to one trillion beings. But seeing the bacteria hidden in its woody tissue takes a lot of work.
Close Encounters
A tiny carnivore with a voracious appetite
A tiny butterwort found in Mexico has surprised scientists with its ability to catch prey. It has to be efficient as it has only a brief time to get everything prepared for the next generation.
Notes from the Editor
Dear Substackers
This list on Substack has been quiet, and now we’re shutting down our account entirely. Why? Well it’s because Substack is on the same route as X. I’ll explain why I think that is and, if it bothers you, what some alternatives are.
News in Brief
Saving orchids in Serbia
Orchids are one of the most successful plant families on the planet, with over 20,000 species, but many of those species are endangered. For the orchids of Serbia, help is at hand.
Growth & Development
Why won’t Marion Island’s stubborn soil feed its starving plants?
Only invasive weeds thrived when scientists warmed island soil, while native plants stayed hungry despite being surrounded by potential food.