Ayecohtli (pictured left) as the scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus): 1931-33 reproduction of The Badianus Manuscript, 1552; Rare Book Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University, Washington, DC
Plant of the Month

Plant of the Month: The Runner Bean

From Aztec medicinal remedies to Darwin’s study of flower pollination, local knowledge about the runner bean reveals the importance of biodiversity.
Svalbard Seed Bank
Science & Technology

How Does the “Noah’s Ark” of Seeds Work?

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest of a global network of seed vaults; many countries retain vaults for their own use.