Beneath the rising sun of Japan, amidst temple grounds, city avenues, and ancient woodlands, grows a tree both stately and serene—the Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata). A cousin of the elm, yet with a character...
If you’ve ever traveled through Southeast Asia, chances are you’ve stumbled upon food that pushed your culinary boundaries. But few dishes spark as much curiosity (and controversy) as balut—a fertilized duck egg that’s considered...
Hidden in the lush forests of the Philippines Palawan Island lives a bird so stunning, it’s often mistaken for a creature from a fairytale. With its iridescent feathers and mysterious nature, the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant...
When we think of majestic North American trees, the towering redwoods of California or the colorful sugar maples of New England often steal the spotlight. But hidden among them is a tree just as...
When you think of iconic trees, your mind might jump to the towering oak, the whispering pine, or maybe the graceful willow. But tucked away along riverbanks, marshy lowlands, and quiet forest edges is...
Tucked into the cool, damp corners of North America’s northern forests is a tree that may not scream for attention, but it has quietly shaped ecosystems, cultures, and even cemeteries for centuries — the...
If you’ve ever wandered through a quiet North American woodland and noticed a small, unassuming tree with shaggy bark and hop-like seed clusters, you might’ve met the American Hophornbeam, also known as Ostrya virginiana....
If nature had its own patisserie, the Wedding Cake Tree would be its showstopper. With tiered branches arranged like the layers of a grand celebration cake, this tree doesn’t just grow, it performs. Officially...
Deep in the rainforests of Sumatra, a strange botanical event unfolds only once every few years. It’s rare, it’s huge, and it absolutely stinks. Meet the Corpse Flower or Titan arum Amorphophallus titanum, one...
Deep in the heart of South Africa, hidden among the subtropical thickets and shaded rocky slopes, lives one of the world’s rarest—and loneliest—plants: Wood’s Cycad plant (Encephalartos woodii). With a backstory that reads like...
High in the rugged cliffs and forested valleys of Central and South Asia roams a creature that seems pulled from legend, a wild goat with twisted, spiraling horns and a regal stance. Meet the...
