Plants & People

People’s impressions of forests often match scientific measures of biodiversity, with big implications for conservation and well-being.

Some southern villages in the Netherlands continue the ancient practice of protecting their homes with St. John’s bouquets and wreaths. An ethnobotanical survey was recently conducted to understand the species composition and function of these blessed charms.

Surveying visitors at a major botanical garden reveals a surprising gap in plant evolution knowledge, and a clear opportunity to close it.

By tracing where the world’s most valuable specimens are stored, scientists uncover a story of colonial history and, hopefully, a more inclusive future for botany.

A decade-long collaboration reveals how an endangered Indigenous group holds unparalleled knowledge of wild fungi, and how they’re passing it on to future generations.

Using Taylor Swift music videos in botany classes can make students more interested in plants, helping them learn better and notice the important role plants play in our world.

Wild plants in city gardens are defying expectations and keeping urban biodiversity alive and surprising.

Long-forgotten flora collected during WWI are finally telling their stories, thanks to a 21st-century digital revival.

When scientists ventured into the backyards of Indonesian families, they discovered something remarkable hiding behind everyday cooking. Smallholders in Aceh are stewards of a complex ecosystem of 24 wild spice varieties that most of the world has never heard of.