Growth & Development
How Pitcher Plants build a Slippery Surface
Recent study describes how carnivorous pitcher plants create their unique insect-trapping surface using common plant growth processes.
News in Brief
The People Who Never Forgot Their Plants
Hidden in the Catalan Pyrenees, mountain communities show us how deep plant connections can flourish.
Close Encounters
Ants Might Not Be the Plant Bodyguards We Thought They Were
Sharing protective ants among plants doesn’t significantly affect plant defence against leaf-eating insects.
Growth & Development
The secret to surviving the drought lies in the (very) small details
Tree seedlings with smaller vessels and stomata cope better with drought.
Growth & Development
How Buriti Palm Seeds Prevent Dehydration
Mauritia flexuosa seeds can withstand extreme drought thanks to their unique water-retaining capacities.
Close Encounters
Aristolochia’s Sneaky Pollination Strategy
Trapping trichomes in flowers play a crucial role in the pollination of a tropical plant by temporarily capturing insects.
Ecosystems
The Unexpected Decline of Nitrogen-Fixing Plants in European and American Forests
Nitrogen-fixing plants are vanishing from temperate forests, not due to climate change, but because of human-caused nitrogen pollution.
Ecosystems
Ancient Maya’s Legacy on Modern Forests
Ancient Maya farming practices continue to influence tree species distribution centuries after their civilization’s decline.
Close Encounters
Seeds in Salty Conditions Germinate Better When There’s Violence
Plants may get help germinating from Little Owls.
Ecosystems
Climate change’s impact on plant phenology may lessen over time
A recent global study points out that plant responses to warming while rapid, become less intense with time.
Growth & Development
Building Botanical Bed and Breakfast for Beneficial Bugs
Domatia are special plant structures that house beneficial insects and mites, providing protection in return for pest control.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Unstoppable Evolution in Seed Bank Vaults
Plant seeds stored long-term naturally evolve, but seed banks remain crucial for preserving crop diversity.