[Plant-education] articles to interest students in plants

[Vinson Doyle]

I am trying to find some good articles to get my students interested in
plants, specifically plant evolution and conservation.  95% of the students
that I teach are pre-med.  The course is introductory biology.  I give them
an article to read every week that is current topics related.  Something
that gives them a sense of how dynamic science really is.  Every year
students moan when we get to the plant stuff.  In the past I have gotten
their attention by talking about economically important plants,
hallucinogenic species, ethnobotanical research.  However, if anyone has a
good article that might combine the aspects of plant conservation, medicinal
plants, plant systematics/evolution, or atleast address one of them in an
interesting way, it would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Vinson