Nature's Garden: Plant World News

Plants That Save Lives Need Saving Themselves: "A global survey carried out by more than 100 botanists and other scientists has found that more than 10,000 species of medicinal plants face extinction, including many used in prescription drugs that cannot be commercially synthesised."
13 rating(s)
More In A Pitcher Plant Than Dead Bugs: "To avoid sharing precious food resources with other micro-organisms such as fungi, the carnivorous plant has developed a host of agents that act as natural anti-fungal agents, …The idea that liquid from a plant pitcher could stave off infection has been documented in the folk literature of India, where people drink carnivorous plant pitcher juice as a general elixir."
5 rating(s)
Plant-based Pharmaceuticals After The Plants Are Gone: "Devil's claw extracts are in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of hip and knee arthritis. Other promising uses are not far behind. But while the demand for these beneficial compounds is increasing, the supply of natural Devil's claw is dwindling."
5 rating(s)
Landscape Tonic: "A native holly tree called yaupon can be used to make a drink similar to green tea… the ornamental holly is the only plant in the United States that produces substantial amounts of caffeine. It grows wild throughout the Southeast."
8 rating(s)
Can the Common Sweetgum Fight Avian Flu?: "One of the most common trees in North America provides ingredient for Tamiflu"
8 rating(s)