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.
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.
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.
Ecosystems
Increasing Carbon Dioxide Gives Seaweed a Bad Acid Trip
A recent study finds seaweeds are getting weaker under ocean acidification, threatening these foundational coastal species.