Around 6,000 years ago, more than two-thirds of Europe was covered in forest, a 2018 study found. But because of land clearing for agriculture and the use of wood for fuel, that number has more than halved, and today only around one third of Europe is woodland. In some countries like the UK and the […]
The iconic saguaro cactus of the American Southwest may evince an image of a lonely figure in the desert, cylindrical arms stretched out and upward toward the sky in a friendly and somewhat lonely wave. But there are many other species of cactus — more than 1,500 — and not all of them thrive in […]
Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) that originates in Morocco. The oil has been used around the world for cosmetic, culinary and medicinal applications for centuries. Favored for its nutty and subtle flavor, you’ll also be impressed by these five health benefits. 1. Argan […]
Pollen levels could triple in some places as the world warms, and allergy season will start more than a month earlier and be far more intense, new research shows. Pollen season in the U.S. used to start around St. Patrick’s Day, but now often starts around Valentine’s Day as a warming climate prompts plants to […]
In the UK, certain wildflowers are deemed “injurious weeds” and subject to control by government demand. However, a new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology Monday found that these “injurious” plants are actually beneficial for biodiversity and pollinators. “There now exists a substantial body of evidence which shows that weeds are a vitally […]
One argument for preserving biodiversity is that there are many plants with medicinal or health benefits that could go extinct before we are even aware of them. Now, scientists have pin-pointed 1,044 underused plants that could be potential sources of vitamin B, and 63 of them are threatened in their natural habitat. “We need to […]
Over centuries, civilizations developed methods of dyeing with natural materials for colorful expressions of culture, clothing, and art. Archeologists have found evidence of dyes as far back as the Neolithic period, and Native Americans are known to have used mountain alder, bloodroot, black walnut, and other natural sources to imbibe color. Yet, with the rise […]
Okra is commonly called gumbo in Africa, and it’s known for its sticky, thickening properties used to make the hearty comfort food that southerners in the United States know as gumbo, naming the dish for the plant itself. Aside from being a five-star comfort food, okra’s potential health benefits are plentiful: It’s a good source […]
The Earth is full of diverse and fascinating species, and more than 2,200 of them have been lost to science for at least 10 years. That’s why the Texas-based conservation group Re:wild has launched its “top 25 most wanted lost species” list, and on Wednesday it added eight new species to replace those that have […]
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