Close Encounters
Cannabis plants may have evolved cannabinoids to prevent herbivores getting the munchies
A study shows how cannabis plants may be the source of new pesticides, but there is a catch.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
The Delicate Chemistry of Attraction and Repulsion in Flower Scents
Floral scents play a delicate balancing act, appealing to pollinators while repelling herbivores.
Close Encounters
Scientists uncover the secret pollinators behind southern Africa’s paintbrush lilies
A meticulous study of paintbrush lily pollination demonstrates sunbirds’ flexibility and exposes hidden specialisation in small South African flowers.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
New DNA Technique Shows Gene Flow Between Garden and Wild Roses
New DNA screening method detects rare but concerning gene flow from garden roses to wild relatives.
Close Encounters
Plant Vampires Have Hosts They Won’t Bite
New research reveals how even parasitic plants can be picky eaters.
News in Brief
Scientists Find Major Gaps in Open Access to Plant Biodiversity Data
Scientists propose open-access reforms to democratise biodiversity knowledge and mobilise hidden troves of undiscovered plant diversity before it’s too late.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Ancient Willow Clones in Italy Estimated to be Over 2000 Years Old
Botanists have found willows in Italy so old that they were standing when Caesar crossed the Rubicon.
Close Encounters
Underground Web Gives Hope for Healing Broken Ecosystems
Targeted reintroduction of beneficial soil microbes offers a promising way to rebuild damaged plant-soil relationships and restore struggling ecosystems.
Ecosystems
Hotter Summers Could Break Up Forest Neighbourhoods
Spring wildflowers carpeting European forests could be in for an uncertain future due to climate change, according to new research.
Ecosystems
Prescribed prairie burns boost reproduction only in large populations, study finds
Periodic prairie burns are a reproductive riot for large plant populations but a reproductive rut for smaller fragmented groups, reveals a new long-term field experiment.
Growth & Development
Drought Drives Rapid Evolution of Flower Size and Nectar in Common Morning Glory
Experiments with the common morning glory reveal drought drives faster evolutionary changes in floral signals and rewards critical for plant-pollinator interactions compared to pollinator declines.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Plants Feel Touch in Their Veins
New research reveals plant leaf veins act as autonomous touch sensors, firing off rapid electrical signals when mechanically stimulated.