Plant Facts
“The cordyceps erupts from the ant’s head.” Deadly parasitic fungus infiltrates an ant’s body and mind in this BBC Planet Earth clip
In footage captured for BBC’s Planet Earth, an ant is infected by deadly zombie fungus.
Is this genius plant better at math than you? The answer is probably yes
The first informal use of Voronoi diagrams can be traced back to 1644 – but the Chinese money plant has had it figured out for much longer.
"Within a few hours the prey has become a nutritious soup, broken down by digestive enzymes released from the inside of its prison..."
The sinister secret of this free-floating pond plant lies beneath the water’s surface. Meet the bladderwort and its highly effective trap
"1 in 10 people will sustain long-term damage to their lungs, & for 1%, the infection can spread to their brain & spinal cord." What you need to know fungus storms
Top 10 facts about fungus storms
Which species are named after Sir David Attenborough? And how many of them are there?
Sir David Attenborough has over 50 species named after him, ranging from a prehistoric marine reptile to a native British flower only found in the Brecon Beacons of South Wales.
What's new?
David Attenborough as you've never seen him before – him laughing at the noisiest plant in the world might be the most joyful thing you'll watch today
The noisiest plant in the world is actually quite amusing, as this BBC video with David Attenborough proves.
Fungi may survive extreme conditions of Mars and space, say scientists
New study suggests microbes could survive the long trip to Mars
It rains poison, blinds on contact – and its fruit could kill: Inside the ‘Tree of Death'
"The ghostly trunks of a vast forest, submerged for tens of thousands of years, rose out of the sediment. These mighty trees had lived for hundreds of years before their watery grave"
The mystery of 60,000-year-old trees that still smell like fresh incense
"It explodes with a loud bang, flinging toxic seeds at speeds of up to 150MPH." 8 weirdest, wackiest trees on the planet, including one that walks...
Meet some of the weirdest and oddest trees on the planet
Flowers
Do plants sleep?
When the sun goes down, some flowers appear to tuck themselves in for the night.
But this curious habit is actually driven by a fascinating piece of plant science.
“These beacons of light in the mud do so much more than promise us brighter days ahead.”
The first signs of spring aren’t just beautiful – they’re essential to awakening wildlife, too
It's as big as a tractor tyre and smells like a rotting corpse
Why the biggest flower in the world is also the smelliest...
Flowers
"When it blooms, it emits a horrendous aroma, similar to that of rotting meat" – 14 weirdest, bizarrest flowers on the planet
Nature has a wild imagination, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the world of flowers. From leaves shaped like lips to enormous flowers that smell of rotting flesh, these are some of the weirdest, most unusual flowers in the world
It looks like an extra-terrestrial being that fell to Earth, behaves like a vampire and smells like rotting meat
We take a look at one of the world's strangest and smelliest plants
It’s longer than a blue whale, is thousands of years old and drinks fog – meet this weird ‘living fossil’
This living fossil (having unchanged for more than 200 million years) can survive some of the harshest conditions on Earth
Fungi
Strange organism that looks like a tongue found in English woodland. It has never been seen before in the UK
The rare blue-based earthtongue fungus was discovered at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex.
Mysterious red cups are appearing on woodland floors. But they're not fairy baths, as people once thought...
Look to the floor on your next forest walk and you may spot these vivid jewels among the leaf litter, says Ben Hoare.
"Eating it leads to liver failure, kidney failure, and death." 9 deadliest fungi on the planet – mushrooms you don't want to mess with
Mushrooms can be a great and tasty source of food, but foragers beware, some should be avoided at all cost!
Fungi
It's the equivalent of a humongous 1,500 soccer fields and is 8,650 years old
This humongous fungus is the biggest organism in the world
It may look like ice – but don't be fooled for this is a rare and alive eerie woodland phenomenon that even astounds the experts...
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird phenomenon that produces hair ice, a rare winter wonder formed by a bit of alchemy magic
It has bizarre tentacles, oozes yucky black goo and stinks of death – and could be near you right now
The octopus stinkhorn, also known as devil's fingers, is a type of fungus that grows from egg-like spores
Plant ID
Wild garlic guide: how to identify, when and how to forage, and recipe ideas
In the forager's calendar, spring is one of the best times – when wild garlic grows in shaded woodlands, filling the air with a light garlicky scent.
Wild roses and rosehips guide: how to identify, and how to make rosehip syrup
With its white-pink flowers in summer and bright red rosehips in autumn and winter, the dog rose is a familiar plant of our countryside.
How to identify non-native summer flowers
If you get the urge to gather a guilt-free garland of colourful midsummer blooms, these garden escapees may fit the bill. Naturalist and presenter Brett Westwood shares 12 for you to spot this summer.
Plant ID
Elder guide: how to identify, when and how to forage for elderflowers and elderberries, and recipe ideas
Elder has made the slow journey from protective mother-spirit to often being deemed as a hedgerow and garden weed, fit only to be sawn down.
How to identify common 'weeds'
‘Weeds’ are familiar plants to many of us, sprouting up and thriving on pavements and disturbed ground. Learn to identify 12 common species in this illustrated guide.
British wildlife in March
As spring brings an abundance of new life, it’s time to talk about the birds and the bee-flies. Here is selection of the month's best wildlife spectacles from around the British countryside in March.
Trees
Scientists looked beneath one of oldest trees on Earth. What they found is astounding
The researchers discovered a hidden world of life among the roots of Chile's ancient alerce trees. Here's why that's important.
It’s taller than Big Ben, can live for thousands of years and even regenerates after an entire forest burns down
Did you know the tallest tree species in the world can grow to more than 100 metres? Learn all about them
Does a tree know it's being eaten?
Can a tree protect itself if being eaten?
Trees
It’s older than the Roman Empire, taller than the Statue of Liberty and as heavy as 7 blue whales
Meet the General Sherman tree – the largest tree on the planet.
It weighs up to a whopping 30kg, has a diameter of 50cm and is the biggest seed on the planet
BBC Wildlife section editor Sarah McPherson answers your wild question.
10 epic photos of the most monumental trees on Earth
Astonishing images of some of the world's largest trees, from towering giant sequoias and coastal redwoods to colossal cedars and statuesque baobabs.
Water Plants
What is seaweed and how does it differ to plants?
What exactly is seaweed? Is it a plant and how does it grow? Lara Howe, Marine Officer at Manx Wildlife Trusts, explains the mysteries of this slimy water plant
Algae: What it is, why algae blooms can be toxic and how it differs to plants
All you need to know about algae, from what it is to why algae blooms are toxic
How do plants breathe underwater?
We all know plants need air to survive, so how do aquatic and underwater plants cope?
Water Plants
Red seaweed: why is it red?
Matt Doggett explains why red seaweed is red - and why sometimes its green...
Eelgrass guide: what it is and why eelgrass meadows are crucial for some marine and bird life
Phil Gates explains all you need to know about eelgrass, an often overlooked sea plant that is important for conservation
British wildlife in February
From fruiting fungus to winter birds, here is selection of the month's best wildlife spectacles from around the British countryside in February.
Wildlife Garden
Why do flowers point up or down?
Botanist Phil Gates discusses the adaptations of flowering plants.
Best plants to grow for pollinators in your wildlife garden
Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle, reveals some of the best plants you can grow to give garden pollinators and other species a helping hand.
Best garden plants for wildlife
Discover the best plants to attract more wildlife and colour to your garden with our expert guide.
Wildlife Garden
How to build and care for your wildlife pond
Ponds are one of the most important features to include in a wildlife-friendly garden as a huge variety of species depend on them. Learn how to care for your wildlife pond with our expert guide, including best pond plants to grow each season and how to attract more visitors to your pond.
Truth or fiction: gardens can save our wildlife
Can small isolated patches of habitat really offset the damage we are doing to our environment? Professor of biodiversity and conservation Kevin Gaston provides the answer.
How to make a butterfly-friendly garden
It's easy to attract a range of butterfly species to your garden, and our expert guide offers some top tips for doing so.
