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Podcast Episode

Botany, bryophytes and a bizarre discovery

Branch Out·Botanic Gardens of Sydney·21 July 2026·18 min

About this episode

They're among the first types of land plants to appear on Earth about 470 million years ago, but bryophtes are easy to overlook - unless you're Matt or Trevor. On a field trip to the very tip of Far North Queensland, they came across a curious new species growing in a highly unusual place... Order our book: What the Flora? Blending science, true crime and history, What the Flora? offers a fresh perspective on the ingenuity and wonders of the plant kingdom. You’ll encounter trees that survived atomic blasts and deadly species that have shaped medicine and myth, discover the mind-bending secrets of plant intelligence and learn how pollen can be used to crack a murder case. The print copy is available to order from book retailers across Australia. Find out more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you live overseas, you can enjoy What the Flora? on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other audiobook platforms.