Close Encounters
The Silent Facilitator of Plant Invaders in Northern Chile
In the arid plains of northern Chile, exotic halophytes leverage soil salinity as a weapon to outcompete native plants, setting the stage for an ecological invasion.
Close Encounters
How Native Plants Could Help in the Battle Against Invasive Species in Aquatic Ecosystems
Scientists discover a promising strategy to combat aquatic invasive species using the natural defences of a local plant, Ludwigia peploides.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
How Soybeans Offer Solutions for Nutrient-Stressed Agriculture
Unlocking how soybeans thrive in phosphorus-poor soils could revolutionise our approach to sustainable agriculture.
Computational Models
Machine Learning Unfolds New Insights Into Leaf Traits and Climate
A novel machine learning-based study using digitized herbarium collections provides insights into the relationship between leaf size and climate across different plant species, and demonstrates the benefit of human involvement in training the AI model.
Plants & People
A new life for centuries-old herbaria
Old collections of dried plants trapped in herbaria for centuries are acquiring unprecedented powers in understanding the history of plant evolution and improving biodiversity conservation, thanks to new technological tools.
Reviews
Perlin’s potentially perfect plants-and-people publication
“A Forest Journey is a brilliant book that should be compulsory reading for everybody – not just those with an interest in plants and people.”
Ecosystems
An invasive plant thrives on the edge of fire
Botanists discover unexpected ways in which controlled fires can influence plant diversity, including the puzzling persistence of certain invasive species.
Growth & Development
Anatomical and hydraulic adaptations in Amazonian savannas allow flora to survive drought
Scientists studied how plants in the Amazonian savannas survive in dry conditions. They found that different plants have unique ways of persisting in this challenging environment, like having thick leaves or special structures in their branches, which help them grow in this unique ecosystem.
Computational Models
The Mathematics of How Plants Combat Pollen Scarcity with Self-Pollination
Through innovative eco-evolutionary models, Kuangyi Xu offers fresh insights into how plants could self-rescue in times of pollen scarcity by balancing the benefits and costs of self-fertilization.
Ecosystems
A global fern species needs local solutions for conservation
Researchers explore how climate change and human activity impact the distribution and survival of a unique fern species.
Botanical Pills
Introducing our new Botanical Pills
Small doses of plant science to help with some of the more confusing articles.
Close Encounters
Coffee Plants Adapt Leaf Traits in Response to Fungal Disease, Study Finds
The study provides valuable insights into plant-pathogen interactions with implications for agriculture, ecology, and climate change resilience.