Latest Plants News
A rare plant emits a stink of death when it blooms. Thousands in Australia queued to get close to it
SYDNEY (AP) — The rare unfurling of an endangered plant that emits the smell of decaying flesh drew hundreds of devoted fans to a greenhouse in Sydney on Thursday where they lined up to experience a momentous bloom -– and a fragrance evoking gym socks and rotting garbage. Tall,...
What makes a landslide and why they are familiar in Indonesia
Flash flooding and landslides on Indonesia’s main island of Java have killed at least 21 people and damaged villages and rice fields. The nation is located in a busy earthquake zone and faces high levels of deforestation – factors that are linked to flooding and landslides,...
Rio's thirsty zoo animals get icy treats to cool down in Brazil’s stifling summer heat
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Rio de Janeiro zoo is giving ice pops to a bear, a jaguar, wolves and monkeys as Brazil swelters. The cold treats are part of the animals’ well-being program, providing thermal comfort. Some also have access to water tanks or air-conditioning to cool down....
Extreme cold and snow across the South isn't a threat to most native plants and animals, experts say
About 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow covered the ground and plants outside Braden Doucet’s Lafayette, Louisiana, home Tuesday afternoon. It's also cold. Much colder than normal. The temperature Tuesday night is expected to sink to 12 degrees F (minus 11 Celsius) and evening lows...
Sting, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at FireAid benefit concert
NEW YORK (AP) — Sting, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the performers slated to take the stage at FireAid, a benefit concert for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief. Announced last week, FireAid was originally scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in...
How the invasive water hyacinth is threatening fishermen's livelihoods on a popular Kenyan lake
NAIVASHA, Kenya (AP) — For someone who fishes for a living, nothing says a bad day like spending over 18 hours on a lake and taking home nothing. Recently, a group of fishermen were said to be stranded on Kenya's popular Lake Naivasha for that long and blamed the water hyacinth...
Major Florida grower to end citrus operations after years of hurricanes and tree disease
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A major grower said this week it was abandoning its citrus growing operations, reflecting the headwinds Florida's signature crops are facing following a series of hurricanes and tree diseases. Alico Inc. announced Monday that it planned to wind down its citrus...
Houseplants that don't require soil and can be displayed any which way? Look to air plants
If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s as unique as it is low-maintenance, let me introduce you to air plants, members of the Tillandsia genus in the Bromeliad family. I first became acquainted with Tillandsia circa 2007, when I was invited to tour the Epcot Flower and Garden...
Agency approves expanding Okefenokee wildlife refuge, setting up possible buyout of mining project
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A federal agency said Friday that it has approved a plan to expand the Okefenokee Swamp's vast wildlife refuge, setting up a potential buyout offer for land intended for a private company's mining project that conservationists have fought for years. The plan...
Wyoming governor approves $100 million sale of state land to join Grand Teton National Park
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming will sell a 1-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) parcel of pristine land bordering Grand Teton National Park to the U.S. government for $100 million after Gov. Mark Gordon signed off on a deal Friday that ends the state's longstanding threats to unload it to a...
