Flora
Banking the seeds of our precious plants
There are 37 native plant species listed as critically endangered - can a seed bank help save them from extinction? Audio
Challenges facing alpine NZ - Sir Alan Mark
The extremes of temperature, short summers and high rates of erosion are making for an uncertain environment for the flora and fauna in alpine areas, and also for the people who explore it. Sir Alan… Audio
Restoring names for indigenous flora
What's in a name? Two Auckland academics have just released a report arguing for a change to naming conventions for native plants. Audio
Philip Hulme: 'NZ is one of the weediest places on earth'
Introduced plant species are already taking over the New Zealand landscape, and ornamental garden plants could 'jump the fence' and get out of control too, says bioprotection specialist Philip Hulme.
…Ghosts of Gondwana
Trying to make sense of New Zealand's flora and fauna has kept entomologist, George Gibbs, occupied for six decades. Audio, Gallery
Native seed bank
The New Zealand Indigenous Flora Seed Bank is collecting and storing the seeds of native plants as a long-term insurance policy to ensure the survival of species. Audio, Gallery
390,900 plants known to science
More than 2000 new species of plants were discovered last year, and 21 percent of all plant species are at risk of extinction, a new tally shows.