Cells, Genes & Molecules
Photosynthesis on the far side of the rainbow
Light you cannot see, in the infrared part of the spectrum, is surprisingly important for plant photosynthesis.
Close Encounters
Which ornamental plants perform best for pollinators?
Guides suggest some species are better than others for pollinators, but when you get to the plant nursery you’re confronted by half a dozen cultivars of the same species. How do you pick between them?
Ecosystems
Unexpected responses to wildfire by seedlings in the Yukon
Fire-adapted trees should be able to take advantage of wildfires, but on the boundary between the boreal forest and the tundra, something odd is happening.
News in Brief
An orchid gives assistance, forests reduced persistence, and weeds’ electrical resistance
Botanists uncover the reason for an orchid’s delicate shape, deforestation is probably worse than you thought, and a test of killing weeds without herbicide.
Plants & People
Dutch Scientists Learn How to Get Better Botanical Data from the Public
Instead of complaining about the limits of volunteer work, some Dutch botanists have found how to improve their understanding of data from citizen scientists.
News in Brief
A nose becomes fancier, an armyworm answer, and plants against cancer
Scientists take different approaches to tackle crop pests, and a well-known plant produces a protein that inhibits tumour growth in mammals.
Ecosystems
When invasive plants move in, where do native pollinators go?
Invasive plants change the opportunities for pollinators, helping some but harming others.
Close Encounters
Where does a hemiparasite’s food come from?
A parasitic plant’s ability to steal carbon rests in their haustoria, specialised organs they use to tap into a host plant.
Ecosystems
Every day is like Christmas for some declining farmland birds
Novel agriculture provides a refuge for some birds driven out of traditional farmland.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Why do cats act so strangely around catnip?
It’s not food, so why would cats chew on catnip and silver vine? Scientists have found cats are improving the plants’ mosquito repellent by damaging the leaves in a specific way.
Growth & Development
Botanists have discovered the world’s largest plant in what should be one of the world’s least plant-friendly environments
Botanists have discovered the world’s largest plant in Shark Bay, but Shark Bay is unusually salty – so how could a plant thrive there?
Plants & People
Research from Germany discovers why your pollen allergies might be getting worse
It’s not just the quantity of pollen that’s a problem. It can also be the diversity – and that isn’t helped by invasive species.