Botany

Dandelions have culinary benefits and also produce a latex that can be used to make rubber. This is important, since the supply of natural rubber is decreasing.

Recent research has shown that four plant extracts inhibit the growth of some dangerous bacteria in the lab. Three of them may have been helpful during the American Civil War.

The American sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is an ornamental tree grown in BC. Its leaves are a gorgeous colour in autumn, but its spiky fruits may be a problem.

Unripe lychees and ackee fruits contain toxins. Both fruits should be eaten only when ripe. In addition, it's very important that ripe ackee is prepared properly.

I am in awe of our world of nature, particularly the tree kingdom. Visit any local arboretum and just experience them and you will think twice about the legacy you leave. Don't litter, be kind to the earth and appreciate what you have.

Horse chestnut trees are beautiful ornamental plants. They produce a nut-like seed called a conker that is used to play a traditional game known as conkers.

Maple trees belong to the genus Acer and family Sapindaceae. Maple trees are admired for their stunning display of fall leaf colors. This article is an in-depth look at the red maple, sugar maple, and silver maple trees.

Trees are so much more than plants waiting to be turned into building materials and paper.

Irises are beautiful flowers that have a wide variety of colours. Some are used to make orris root, which has a lovely scent but can cause an allergic response.

The monkey puzzle tree is a strange and very interesting plant. It's native to South America but grows in parks and gardens in other areas as an introduced species.

Ferns are attractive plants with interesting features. They exist in both wild and cultivated forms. The western sword fern is a common plant in coastal British Columbia.

What is pollination? How does pollination occur? Does pollen serve a useful purpose or does it just make people sneeze? What is the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination? What are pollinators? These are some of the many questions gardeners, kids and others have about pollination.

Oregon grape is an attractive plant with edible berries. The plant contains berberine, which may have health benefits. Further research is needed to prove this.

You think your barbeque mushroom skewer is safe? Alright, it is. But those delicious caps have some pretty badass cousins.

The Himalayan blackberry is a beautiful plant in spring and summer. It produces delicious blackberries, but it's an invasive species and grows aggressively.

Water hyacinth is a beautiful and invasive plant that causes major problems. It has the ability to act as a great biofuel, especially when combined with cow dung.