Close Encounters
Fungal Friends Help Young Trees Thrive in Mixed Forests
Young spruce trees grow better with pine neighbours thanks to underground helpers.
Ecosystems
Desert Map Shows New Hope for Saguaro Recovery
Researchers discover key locations for protecting and restoring iconic desert cacti damaged by wildfires in the American Southwest.
Ecosystems
Natural Areas Help Wild Pollinators Thrive in Farmland
Wild pollinators adapt better to changing farm landscapes when natural habitats are preserved nearby.
News in Brief
Small Gardens Pack Big Potential for Urban Pollinators
Urban gardeners with tiny plots lead the way in creating diverse flower gardens that support pollinators.
Ecosystems
Global Plant Reproduction Study Reveals Hidden Power of Pollinator Diversity
The secret to successful plant reproduction lies in pollinator diversity, with even self-pollinating plants struggling when the variety of visiting pollinators decreases.
Growth & Development
Antarctic Plants Show the Way to Life on the Moon
Earth’s toughest plants reveal potential for transforming lunar deserts into gardens.
Ecosystems
Ghost Plants Make Conservation More Effective
Missing plants reveal as much about ecosystem health as the species we see.
Ecosystems
Amazon Tree Species in Peril as Forest Web Unravel
Over half of Ecuador’s unique Amazon trees face extinction as both forest animals and their habitat vanish.
Close Encounters
Sweet Rewards Keep Desert Partnerships Alive Through Harsh Seasons
In Mexico’s Sonoran Desert, cacti and other plants maintain a sophisticated security system – paying ant bodyguards with nectar from specialized glands that operate year-round.
News in Brief
Paramotoring at the Frontier of Botanical Knowledge in the Peruvian Desert
Scientists and paramotor experts come together with an eco-friendly method to explore remote desert plants while protecting fragile environments from vehicle damage.
Ecosystems
Europe’s Plants Face Crisis as Their Seed Dispersers Decline
A third of Europe’s seed dispersers are at risk, threatening the future survival of many plant species.
News in Brief
Drawings Put into Evidence the Lack of Plant Awareness in College Students
New research reveals college students’ mental pictures of plants are surprisingly basic, similar to those of third-grade children.