In a mature forest, woody vines, flowering shrubs, ferns and other plants all blend together in a medley of greens and browns on a floor shaded by a thick overstory. To the casual hiker, a cluster of saplings standing a few feet tall isn’t much to stop and look at. Gordon McNickle, however, sees something that most people don’t. Those saplings, just a few leaves shooting off from thin green stems, have been locked in a waiting game for years. If the opportunity arises, they’ll set off on an arms race that will end with only one survivor.
March 4, 2020