Trees play a central role in life on Earth. They store CO₂, provide habitats for animals, fungi, and insects, stabilize soils ...

Ancient sediments reveal how rapid warming collapsed Arctic forests in centuries, triggering fires, erosion, and long-lasting ...

Plant biologists report that a species of tree fern found only in Panama reanimates its own dead leaf fronds, converting them into root structures that feed the mother plant. The fern, Cyathea ...

Probably the first pioneer plants to arrive in Hawaii were mosses and ferns. Ferns have been around for over 360 million years. Giant tree fern forests were common for millions of years but they gave ...

Scientists have discovered a zombie tree that converts its leaves into roots as it dies. The Cyathea rojasiana tree fern, which is native to Panama in Central America, was studied by plant biologists ...

A forest with high tree-species diversity is better at buffering heat peaks in summer and cold peaks in winter than a forest with fewer tree species. This is the result of a study led by researchers ...

Land plants evolved 470 million years ago from algae and have since reshaped our world. Throughout their evolution, ferns have undergone a series of changes that have helped them survive on land. For ...

They are stout stalwarts of our forests, among the largest ferns of our flora. Although they most commonly inhabit the forest floor, sometimes you will spot one growing out of a rock face or crotch of ...

Ordinarily, once a fern's leaf fronds have died, the plant has no further use for them. Such is not the case with the Cyathea rojasiana fern, though – a scientist has discovered that its dead fronds ...

Walking the woods of November is always a delight. On these “AutWin” days, there are no leaves on the trees and the snow has not yet coated the ground. And insect companions of the summer are no ...