Mar 2022
The fynbos shrubland weaponizes its very thin roots in the race to suck up nutrients
Africa’s fynbos plants hold their ground with the world’s thinnest roots
Feb 2024
The trees' knotty bark and ability to die in segments house and feed forest species
Ancient trees' gnarled, twisted shapes provide irreplaceable habitats
Apr 2021
Sun-laden, open-canopied forests were transformed into the dark, dense ones seen today
The dinosaur-killing asteroid impact radically altered Earth's tropical forests
Mar 2024
Spanish cedar trees create dense, brambly forests that tortoises avoid by shambling around them
Giant tortoise migration in the Galápagos may be stymied by invasive trees
Dec 2021
Highly flammable cheatgrass and similar nonnative plants dominate one-fifth of the Great Basin
Invasive grasses are taking over the American West’s sea of sagebrush
May 2020
In a pollen shortage, bees can make tomatoes bloom early by nipping foliage
Pollen-deprived bumblebees may speed up plant blooming by biting leaves
Jun 2020
New research finds the limit of the tangled forests’ famous resilience
Rapid sea level rise could drown protective mangrove forests by 2100
Jul 2021
More northern parts of the Arctic are becoming greener
A stunning visualization of Alaska’s Yukon Delta shows a land in transition
Sep 2022
Sucking sap uses 9.4 quadrillion watt-hours of power annually
The worldwide water-lifting power of plants is enormous
Aug 2019
The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is a remarkable evergreen, treelike plant found only in the southwestern United States. It was named by Mormon settlers in the early 1800s. Upon seeing the limbs of this plant branching upwards to heaven, the Mormon travelers were reminded of the biblical prophet Joshua, who raised his arms in prayer for guidance to the Promised Land. The Joshua tree is the largest member of the Yucca genus of monocotyledonous trees and shrubs, which is placed in the agave family (Agavaceae; order Asparagales) or the lily family (Liliaceae; order Liliales), depending on the taxonomic system being used for classification. The height of the Joshua tree can reach 15 to 40 feet (4.6 to 12.2 meters) and its diameter ranges from 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 meters). Life spans of 150 to 200 years have been documented for this resilient species, with some unverified ages of 500 to 1000 years being estimated. See also: Asparagales; Liliales; Monocotyledons; Tree
Adaptations of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia)