Computer models developed by the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory predict that hotter, drier conditions in North America will limit the growth of a fungus that normally curbs the spread of the spongy moth, an invasive species that has caused millions of dollars in damage to forests. The research, published in Nature Climate…
White horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is an annual or perennial flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia Europe but now has a global distribution. It has a woody, branched taproot and numerous stems from 20 to 100 cm high. The use of white horehound as a folk medicine…
The squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) owes its name to the way that its fruit, which resembles a small cucumber, explodes when the pressure of the liquid inside it builds up and this liquid carrying seeds of the plant bursts out. This can happen spontaneously when the fruit falls off the plant or when the fruit…
Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is not a native species and has only very limited medicinal applications. It is listed here, however, since it is becoming widespread in Greece and is also toxic to humans and domestic animals. The plant itself is not unattractive and for that reason, in urban environments, it may often been seen…