News in Brief
Tracing the phylogenetic patterns in native edible plants of Mexico shows how indigenous cultures have sustainably utilized regional botanical diversity for millennia.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Scientists wield CRISPR to gene hack Venus flytraps, revealing trigger hair genes assist but don’t solely account for these crafty carnivores’ snapping traps.
Close Encounters
Abundant flies like Eristalis and wild bumblebees join domesticated honeybees as bugs for essential strawberry pollination, according to a new study tracking pollen transport.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Genetic testing and leaf measurements uncover five lineages of Brazil’s iconic but endangered national tree pau-brasil, signalling undiscovered diversity and an urgent need to preserve the evolutionary breadth in the wild before it’s too late.
Plants & People
Does the word ‘new’ add anything to the title of a botanical paper?
Botanical Pills
This botanical pill gives a brief overview of the evolutionary history of land plants, from their origin in aquatic habitats (when green algae crawled out of water) Million Years Ago to their amazing diversification in terrestrial habitats (from small algal scum to big forests & flower gardens) that
Growth & Development
Underground trees, a type of geoxyles occurring in Afrotropical savannas and grasslands, have unique and diverse ways of surviving in tough environments, according to recent research.
Taxonomy & Evolution
Unveiling the secrets of pollination through time: How the age-old alliance between flowers and pollinators continues to shape the natural world.
Close Encounters
New research reveals the secret nightlife of moths, fluttering under cover of darkness to carry out their vital work as unsung heroes pollinating blackberry brambles.
Ecosystems
Scientists found that methods for quantifying bees’ floral preferences fundamentally disagree on which flowers bees find most attractive. In a new article, they identify the most reliable method, one that’s simple enough to apply to your own garden.
Close Encounters
No matter how old or where it’s from, frozen sunflower pollen helps bumblebees fight off a common gut parasite that threatens bee health and pollination.
Ecosystems
A new green roof in Melbourne, Australia, was rapidly colonized by insects, but results show that a green roof needs more than just plants to make a helpful ecological contribution.