Ecosystems
Mountain Plants Host Unique Microscopic Communities
Mountain wildflowers and their leaves are home to millions of helpful microbes, research reveals.
News in Brief
Rare Pitcher Plants Vanish Into Shadowy Plant Trade
Plant sellers and buyers struggle to verify if rare carnivorous plants were legally collected from the wild.
Growth & Development
Burning Desire Leads to Delayed Gratification for the Natal Crocus
An underground plant saves seeds for six months before letting ants scatter them.
News in Brief
Garden Plants That Help Pollinators Face Resistance From Homeowners
Neat and tidy yard preferences make homeowners reluctant to plant wildflowers that could help save bees and butterflies.
Ecosystems
Giant Marri Trees Are Secret Saviours of Western Australia’s Native Bees
One tree species supports over 80 types of native bees in Western Australia’s unique ecosystem.
News in Brief
Plant ID Apps Can Match Expert Botanists at Species Recognition
Artificial intelligence can now identify plants with up to 99% accuracy, challenging expert botanists at their own game.
Ecosystems
Mountain Snowfields Are Turning into Green Oases
Climate warming makes snow melt earlier in mountains, creating surprising new hotspots where plants thrive
Close Encounters
Plant Disease Detectives Find Huge Diversity of Tree Pathogens in Portugal
Plant pathologists have discovered 48 species of microscopic water moulds threatening trees across Portugal, with many traced to centuries of plant trade.
Close Encounters
Birds Thrive Better in Urban Grass Fields Than Along Roads
Urban grass fields support more bird species than roadsides, showing the vital importance of preserving green spaces in cities.
News in Brief
Plants in Parks May Not Tell the Full Pollen Story
What you see growing in city parks isn’t always what’s floating in the air you breathe there, scientists discover.
Ecosystems
The Colour of Your Autumn Forest Depends on How Bosky It Is
Forest density and height help decide when autumn colours appear in temperate forests, scientists discover.
Computational Models
Garden Flowers Keep Farmland Bees Fed When Crops Stop Blooming
Small garden patches provide crucial food for wild bees when farm flowers are scarce in early spring and late summer.