Resource-poor environments drive more prevalent habitat associations in Ectomycorrhizal tree species: Evidence from tropical, subtropical, and subalpine forest dynamics plots
Available online 28 May 2026
Niche differentiation is a fundamental mechanism underlying tree species distribution patterns and coexistence in forest communities. Beyond the topographic heterogeneity that shapes species local distributions,...
The spatial patterns and coupling relationships of the multidimensional α diversity (species, functional, and phylogenetic) of desert plants in the Tarim Basin
Available online 27 May 2026
Plant diversity serves as the foundation for maintaining ecosystem functions and services. Existing research has primarily focused on areas with high vegetation cover, such as forests and grasslands,...
Soil microbial nitrogen-cycling functional groups rather than phosphorus-cycling functional groups regulate plant functional diversity along the successional pathway in subtropical karst forests
Available online 26 May 2026
While it has been established that soil microbes mediate the element transformation and redistribution among soil, plants, and the atmosphere, the influence of microbe-mediated variations in key soil...
Genomic insights into origin of Rosa ‘Hetian’ along the Silk Road and EdiRose2.0, an update for the reticulate evolution of edible roses in China
Available online 25 May 2026
The Silk Road significantly expedited both cultural and biological exchanges between East and West, especially Eurasia. As an important source of essential oil, Rosa ‘Hetian’ serves as a popular edible...
Genome evolution shaped by post-polyploid diploidization in the paleo-allopolyploid mangrove Heritiera littoralis (Malvaceae)
Available online 22 May 2026
Polyploidy and the subsequent post-polyploid diploidization (PPD) are key drivers of plant evolution and adaptation, yet the genomic mechanisms underlying evolution in paleo-allopolyploids remain poorly...
A global phylogeny of Phlomoides (Lamiaceae, Lamioideae) based on chloroplast genomes: insights into infrageneric classification, character evolution, biogeography, and diversification
Available online 21 May 2026
Being the second largest genus in the subfamily Lamioideae (Lamiaceae), Phlomoides comprises approximately 180 species distributed mainly across Eurasia, with diversity centers in Central Asia, the...
Two Eremogone (Caryophyllaceae) genomes provide insights into alpine adaptation
Available online 21 May 2026
•Chromosome-scale genomes of two Eremogone species.•A recent shared genome triplication shaped Caryophyllaceae evolution.•Reconstruction of the ancestral Caryophyllaceae karyotype (ACK, n = 9).•Biased...
The small island effect modulates multidimensional nestedness in bryophyte assemblages on karst mountain habitat islands
Available online 20 May 2026
Nestedness is a pervasive pattern in island biogeography, yet most tests remain taxonomic, with far fewer evaluations in functional and phylogenetic dimensions, especially for bryophytes in karst “mountain...
Polyploidy meets the Cape: Evolutionary dynamics of Heliophila (Brassicaceae)
Available online 20 May 2026
The Cape Floristic Region (CFR), a global biodiversity hotspot, provides an exceptional setting for studying plant diversification. The South African genus Heliophila (Brassicaceae), notable for its...
Tougher leaves under global urbanization
Available online 16 May 2026
Urban environments expose resident organisms to intense, multifaceted selective pressures. Studies employing intraspecific responses of functional traits have proven particularly valuable for understanding...
Latitudinal diversity gradients of soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation in China
Available online 15 May 2026
The latitudinal diversity gradient is one of the most general biogeographical patterns. However, current latitudinal diversity gradients have been mostly focused on aboveground vegetation, while such...
From monotypic to multispecies: Integrative data redefine Rheum nobile complex (Polygonaceae) in Sky Island-Alpine habitats
Available online 14 May 2026
•Overturns the long-held view of Rheum nobile as a single species, revealing it to be a complex of four distinct species.•Each species is geographically restricted: Central Himalayas, Eastern Himalayas,...
Stone-like fruit is associated with reduced herbivory and enhanced reproductive success in an alpine legume (Phyllolobium heydei)
Available online 12 May 2026
•Fruits of Phyllolobium heydei evolved remarkably similar to stones;•This phenotypic adaptation may protect the fruits from herbivores and thereby increase ensure reproductive success in harsh alpine...
How does plant diversity drive productivity in China’s drylands: Through complementary or mass ratio effects?
Available online 12 May 2026
Dryland biodiversity–productivity relationships remain poorly resolved. Specifically, the environmental conditions governing the shift between complementarity and mass ratio mechanisms remain unclear,...
Divergent responses of microbial networks to global change scenarios during alpine cushion plant degradation
Available online 4 May 2026
The degradation of alpine cushion plants is known to disrupt soil microbial networks. To explore the mechanisms behind this, we collected soils across a degradation sequence on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau...
Unraveling phylogeny in Juglandaceae and endangered status of Carya sinensis via genome assembly and population genomics
Available online 29 April 2026
Carya sinensis is a national second-class protected plant species in China and has been listed among Plants Species with Extremely Small Populations since 2009. As an extremely rare species with fewer...
Functional traits and cross-year effects mediate the biodiversity–stability relationship in desert ephemeral plants
Available online 28 April 2026
Understanding the mechanisms of biodiversity-driven functional stability is crucial for predicting ecological resilience. For desert ephemerals, whose aboveground biomass (AGB) is highly transient and...
Flora of the Alpine Subnival Belt of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Available online 28 April 2026
The first telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the soybean male-sterile germplasm 88-428BY by massive parallel sequencing
Available online 28 April 2026
Soybean (Glycine max) is a key source of plant protein and oil, yet genomic resources for male-sterile germplasms remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by presenting the first telomere-to-telomere...
High-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for deciphering genome evolution and the whole transcriptomic response to osmotic stress in Stipa grandis
Available online 24 April 2026
Persistent aridification drives the migration of plants to more favorable habitats and promotes genomic evolution that contributes to speciation. Stipa grandis is a dominant and constructive species...
Disentangling intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of herbivory across forests: Leaf functional traits, insect richness, and climatic factors
Available online 24 April 2026
Leaf herbivory substantially affects plant physiology and performance, and may intensify under ongoing climate change. Nevertheless, how leaf functional traits, insect richness and climate jointly drive...
Phylogenomic conflict in Moraceae: Evidence for pervasive introgression and incomplete lineage sorting
Available online 21 April 2026
Although the phylogenetic backbone of Moraceae, an ecologically important angiosperm family in tropical rainforests, has been significantly improved, phylogenetic discordance among nuclear genes and...
Fire-embracers possess higher shoot flammability, lower litter flammability and a more acquisitive strategy than fire-tolerators in Pinus yunnanensis
Available online 10 April 2026
Plants in fire-prone environments have evolved traits to survive recurrent fires. Some traits enable plants to survive under crown fires (fire-embracer strategy), while others support persistence under...
Assessing the performance of remotely sensed functional traits and spectral metrics for estimating multidimensional plant diversity in wetlands using UAV data
Available online 9 April 2026
Plant diversity underpins wetland ecosystem stability and functional sustainability, and its reliable assessment is vital for effective conservation and management. Remote sensing provides an efficient...
Phylofloristic regionalization of woody plants in East Asia and the drivers of phylogenetic structure
Available online 9 April 2026
East Asia is characterized by a rich flora with many relictual and endemic plant taxa. However, the floristic subdivision of East Asia remains debated due to differences in data sources, methodological...