Close Encounters
Asian squirrels go nuts for nectar
A rare plant found on Thailand’s highest mountain courts an unusual pollinator.
Ecosystems
Snow cover is reducing in the Pacific Northwest, and so too is the niche for evergreen trees in the region
Snow cover can delay the growing season of plants, but reducing it can also have negative consequences.
Close Encounters
Tree species mixing increases stand productivity and density
The benefits of the mixture come on top of the other well-known superiority of provisioning and regulation services.
Growth & Development
Adaptada para matar: Cómo la planta jarro atrapa a su presa
Cuando se trata de plantas carnívoras, la Venus atrapamoscas, con sus rápidas “mandíbulas”, es la que más atención recibe. Las plantas del género Urticularia (conocidas en
Taxonomy & Evolution
Piecing together the Zamiaceae family tree reveals the evolution of how plants ‘breathe’
The Zamiaceae are often considered ‘living fossils’, but a close study of how they have evolved over millions of years can give a glimpse into the lives of past plants.
Ecosystems
Trees alone will not save us
There’s more recognition that ecological restoration can be an essential tool in fighting climate change, and there are many projects aimed at restoring degraded forests to capture carbon. Still, the focus on forests ignores much of the land in the tropics that would not naturally be forested. A tea
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Are species hiding in the Arctic?
Some of the problems that limit the number of species in the Arctic might also contribute to creating new species.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Flowers grow less yellow without sulphur, and that could affect the pollinators that need to see them
Both Van Gogh and Nature like to use sulphur-derived pigments for flowers, but what happens when there’s not enough sulphur?
Taxonomy & Evolution
Next generation sequencing of Zanthoxylum leads to rethink of previous generations of Zanthoxylum
Next-generation sequencing using target enrichment reveals that current sectional classifications of Zanthoxylum need revision.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Allele mining could help improve forage grasses
Botanists demonstrate a novel, effective approach to allele discovery in diverse accessions using a draft reference genome from a single species.
Growth & Development
Seminal roots help maize grab nutrients
When humans selected for bigger seeds in maize, they may have also unintentionally improved its root system.
Close Encounters
What happens when pollinators bring the wrong pollen?
Surely once insects have brought pollen to a flower, then plant-plant interaction is over? Not so, says Gerardo Arceo-Gómez, who argues that heterospecific (or other plants’) pollen arriving in a flower might affect plant diversity.