Garden reveals how plants survive

The Temperate House at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden has reopened to the public.

From this week it will feature a Continents Apart exhibition, showcasing plants from South Africa and Australia.

The plants on display include Kangaroo Paws, Grass Trees, Pincushion flowers, eucalyptus and tea trees.

The project is the first in a major plan to show how plants have evolved to survive in a variety of conditions from tropical rain forests to desert.

Rob Brett, glasshouse supervisor at the Botanic Garden, said: "In designing Continents Apart, we have really tried to evoke the sun-baked landscapes of South Africa and Australia.

"We will even be burning part of it to show how bushfire is actually essential to the survival of some plants."