Why are seeds important?
Seeds are among the most important biological structures on this planet. Seeds have been instrumental in the diversification of plants, allowing them to spread into new habitats all over the glo…
Do cacti have independent organisms?
Cacti may appear like strong, independent organisms but that simply isn't the case. No organism operates in a vacuum and cacti are no exception to this. This episode, we talk with Stefan Burger…
The Carnivorous Plant Guild Welcomes a New Member
It is a rare but special day when we can add a new plant to the relatively small list of carnivorous plants. It is even more exciting when that plant has been “hiding” in plain sight all this time. Meet the western false asphodel ( Triantha occidentalis ), a lovely monocot native to nutrient-poor wetlands in western North America.
Pitcher Plant Moths and their Pitcher Plant Homes
Discussions about pitcher plants usually revolve around the fact that they trap and eat insects and other animals. However, there are a handful of organisms out there that turn the table on pitcher plants, reminding us that these botanical carnivores can become food themselves.
My Unforgettable Encounter with a Fevertree
When someone asks you if you would like to see a wild fever tree, you have to say yes. As a denizen of cold climates defined by months of freezing temperatures, I will never miss an opportunity to encounter any species in its native habitat that cannot survive frosts.
Bearcorn: A Mysterious Parasite from Eastern North America
Bearcorn ( Conopholis americana) is one of those plants that really challenges mainstream assumptions of what a plant should look like. It produces no leaves, no chlorophyll, and all you ever see of it are its strange reproductive structures. One can easily be forgiven for thinking they had encountered some type of fungus.
A North American Lily-of-the-Valley?
The flora of the southern Appalachian Mountains will never cease to amaze me. Every time I visit this region of the world, I am blown away by the sheer number of plant species that grow on and around these ancient peaks.
When Trillium Flowers Go Green
The first time I encountered a white trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum) with green stripes on its flowers, I thought I had found a new variant. I excitedly took a bunch of pictures and, upon returning home, shared them among friends.
Roadside Seeding and Bluebonnet Genetics
The mass blooming of bluebonnets ( Lupinus texensis) is truly one of southern North America’s most stunning natural spectacles. Celebrated across its native range, the bluebonnet has greatly benefited from supplemental planting by humans.
Why are seeds important?
Seeds are among the most important biological structures on this planet. Seeds have been instrumental in the diversification of plants, allowing them to spread into new habitats all over the globe. In fact, you and I would not be here if it were not for seeds. For these reasons and more, Dr. Cecilia Zumajo is fascinated by how seeds evolved. By looking at the genetic mechanisms that control seed development in various gymnosperms, Dr. Zumajo is opening new doors into our understanding of the...
What is rock gardening?
Rock gardening is so much more than gardening with rocks. No one knows this better than Panayoti Kelaidis. A self-proclaimed acolyte in the cathedral of chlorophyll, Panayoti has spent a lifetime steeped in plants and gardening. As you will learn, rock gardening is truly a magnificent blend of science and art that celebrates plants as organisms and brings people together from all across the world. Join us as we take a deep dive on what it means to be a rock gardener. This podcast was...
Did flowering plants evolve over night?
Resolving the origins of flowering plants requires an understanding of how their morphology came to be. After all, despite their rapid appearance in the fossil record, flowering plants did not evolve over night. There had to be transitional phases between what we recognize as a gymnosperm and what we recognize as an angiosperm and that is what this episode is all about. Sir Peter Crane of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation joins us to discuss some intriguing fossils that he and his colleagues...
