The hollyhock plant, a favorite in gardens worldwide, has had its genetic blueprint mapped out in stunning detail. Scientists have put together a complete set of instructions for this plant, known as its genome, which is about 1. 01 billion pieces of information long. This is like having a very detailed map of a big city, where each street and landmark is clearly mar...

In the heart of Northeastern Brazil, there's a group of small shrubs known as the Mimosa Cordistipulae. These plants were first spotted by botanist Barneby in 1991. What makes them special? They're tiny, have sticky hairs on their leaves, and their flowers have three parts. Some of these plants are so similar that even experts have trouble telling them apart. So, a t...

The shamrock, that iconic symbol of Ireland, has been shrouded in mystery for centuries. What exactly is a shamrock? Is it a type of clover, and if so, which one? The answer is far from straightforward. Botanists have been debating the definition of a shamrock for years, with some claiming that wood sorrel or black medick are the "true" shamrock. The problem begins ...