Cistus, or commonly “rock rose” in english, refers to a genus of wild flowers native to the Mediterranean Basin. Many Cistus species can have seeds that require high temperatures of a fire to break their dormancy. The heat from the fire cracks the plants’ hard seed coats, allowing them to germinate when conditions are favorable. The existence of Cistus in the wild might be an evidence of a previously burnt forest.
By associating the presence of Cistus to a former forest fire, we unlock a story. Today, we are looking towards a reality where Artificial Intelligence can be used to detect these patterns and help scientists unlock unknown stories about our earth.