plantlife Archives

Obsessed with moss? You should read this first

Almost anything green can become a weed, even moss.

Australia’s little-known, misunderstood succulent plants

For centuries Australia’s succulent plants have been undervalued by botanists, neglected by world encyclopaedias and considered pests by backyard gardeners. But now Attila Kapitany, the authority on Australia’s succulent plants, tells Australian Geographic that it’s about time the record is set straight.

News

Secrets of leaf size revealed

New findings reveal the real reasons behind varying leaf sizes.

Creatura Blog

Feather stars are the closest thing we have to walking plants

In nature, the best form of defence is camouflage, and feather stars have got that down to an art.

Science & Environment

People are ‘blind’ to plants, and that’s bad news for conservation

Plant blindness is more than an interesting quirk of human perception. It impacts on our efforts to care for and understand plant species.

Wildlife

The sensitive plant

Known also as tickle-me plant, touch-me-not, shy plant, humble plant and sleeping grass, this weed has intrigued naturalists for hundreds of years.

Destinations

Gallery: Australia’s top 10 botanic gardens

While there’s no legal accreditation to become a botanic garden, it’s generally held that these gardens should involve some sort of scientific study. Of course, for the everyday lover of flowers and plants, the term simply represents a place to enjoy some of the best sights and smells nature has to offer. Australia is home to a terrifically diverse range of natural environments, and some of the best plant life in the world. So, whether your interest is in science, leisure or just a good place to picnic, check out our list of Australia’s top 10 botanic gardens.