DNA shows that rare plants are adapting

Research scientists at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens have been able to show there’s hope for the survival of rare plants despite climate change.

A year-long study of a rare plant in the Northern Territory, a new species of Erythroxylum, has shown plants can adapt and survive despite having been restricted to very small populations by long-term climatic change.

By extracting DNA from plants cells, they can test the health and viability of the population.

Dr Maurizio Rossetto, Botanic Gardens Trust