Publications — botanique

Nativars, often presented as a balance between native plants and modern horticulture, raise important questions about their ecological impact. These cultivars derived from native plants are selected for specific traits, such as a unique colour or a compact size. But what are their repercussions on local ecosystems and biodiversity?

October 30, 2023 In the world of environmental literature, some works transcend genre boundaries to offer a fresh and inspiring perspective on our relationship with nature. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer is one of those works. Published in 2013, this book invites readers on a masterful exploration of Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the profound lessons plants can offer us. This book immediately came to mind upon reading the recent “Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023” from the United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). The report...

March 22, 2023 Excuse me? Yes, you read that correctly. It is not a flower you are seeing in this image, but rather a collection of several flowers! Let me explain. In some plants, what might appear at first glance to be a flower is an inflorescence composed of many flowers. In the case of the Asteraceae family, all these flowers are grouped in a structure called a capitulum, and for the Araceae family, we refer to it as a spadix. In the picture, we see the inflorescence of the cup plant [Lien], a member of the Asteraceae family. Its...