Close Encounters
Tree-Microbe relationships run deep
Inside a tree can live up to one trillion beings. But seeing the bacteria hidden in its woody tissue takes a lot of work.
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Juliane K. Ishida: From Grandmother’s Garden to the Frontiers of Parasitic Plants
Botany One interviews Dr. Juliane Ishida who has gone miles —literally — to undercover the mysteries of parasitic plants.
Close Encounters
A tiny carnivore with a voracious appetite
A tiny butterwort found in Mexico has surprised scientists with its ability to catch prey. It has to be efficient as it has only a brief time to get everything prepared for the next generation.
Notes from the Editor
Dear Substackers
This list on Substack has been quiet, and now we’re shutting down our account entirely. Why? Well it’s because Substack is on the same route as X. I’ll explain why I think that is and, if it bothers you, what some alternatives are.
News in Brief
Saving orchids in Serbia
Orchids are one of the most successful plant families on the planet, with over 20,000 species, but many of those species are endangered. For the orchids of Serbia, help is at hand.
Growth & Development
Why won’t Marion Island’s stubborn soil feed its starving plants?
Only invasive weeds thrived when scientists warmed island soil, while native plants stayed hungry despite being surrounded by potential food.
The Week in Botany
The Week in Botany August 4, 2025
This week we have a plant that’s gone its own way, how you can know a tree as an individual and Duarte Figueiredo on the hidden complexity of plant biology.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Potato Origin Mystery Solved
“Our findings show how a hybridization event between species can spark the evolution of new traits, allowing even more species to emerge. We’ve finally solved the mystery of where potatoes came from.” – Sanwen Huang
Ecosystems
River dykes are “insect highways” for wild bees
Dykes are a lifeline for bees. Researchers found nearly half of all Dutch bee species live on river dykes, with 10% being endangered red-listed species.
Ecosystems
Cryptanthus bahianus: The Flower That Defies Its Genus
The exception that proves the rule: Cryptanthus bahianus takes the sweet route, not the aromatic one
News in Brief
Ancient liverwort gene unlocks secret of plant cloning
Scientists cracked how plants reproduce without sex. The finding could improve crops and on Earth and beyond. But the key to this discovery comes from a plant that annoys many gardeners.
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Duarte Figueiredo: Uncovering How Seeds Begin
Botany One interviews Dr Duarte Figueiredo, a Portuguese Developmental Biologist interested in the formation of seeds.