Herbarium of the Bizarre

Is it really possible that these trees walk around the rainforest like the Ents in Lord of the Rings?I forgot to mention that there won't be an episode next week. Here's your one-week notice that I'll be on vacation next Friday. ✈️Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Stilt-Root Walking by an Iriateoid Palm in the Peruvian Amazon by John H. Bodley and Foley C. Benson (1980). Biotropica, 12(1), pg. 67-71. https://doi.org/10.2307/2387775https://www.sciencealert.com/a-persistent-rumor-suggests-this-tree-can-walk-around-but-is-it-trueThe function of stilt roots in the growth strategy of Socratea exorrhiza (Arecaceae) at two neotropical sites by Gregory R. Goldsmith and Rakan A. Zahawi (2007). International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 55(3). https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v55i3-4.5955 [Abstract]https://www.treeres.com/the-walking-tree-phenomenon-unraveling-the-secrets-of-socratea-exorrhiza/https://www.natureandculture.org/directory/walking-palm-trees/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratea_exorrhizaThe epiphyte vegetation of the palm Socratea exorrhiza: Correlations with tree size, tree age and bryophyte cover by Gerhard Zotz and Birgit Vollrath (2003). Journal of Tropical Ecology, 19, pg. 81-90. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467403003092Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski (2007)

Today, at long last, I am revealing my favorite fact about witches' flying ointment.

A.k.a. the California Pitcher Plant or the Cobra Lily. It's not a lily, not even a little bit, but it does look surprisingly serpentine.

The carnivorous plants are back, and this time we're looking at my favorite bug traps, Sundews!I forgot to mention in the intro that I'm going to be at RavenCon in Richmond, VA this weekend—actually, as this airs, I'm probably already on my way—and AtomaCon in North Charleston, SC next weekend. Come say “hi!”Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/SundewsNational Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region (2nd ed.) by John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, & Nancy C. Olmstead (2001)https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DroseraNanofibers and nanoparticles from the insect-capturing adhesive of the Sundew (Drosera) for cell attachment by Mingjun Zhang, et al. (2010). Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 8(20). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-3155-8-20

Watch the real-life Zombie Fungus in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://screenrant.com/girl-all-gifts-fungal-infection-hungries-explained/https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/cordycepsInterkingdom host jumping underground: Phylogenetic analysis of entomoparasitic fungi of the genus Cordyceps by Naruo Nikoh and Takema Fukatsu (2000). Molecular Biology and Evolution, 17(4), pg. 629-638. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026341 https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/but-not-simpler/the-fungus-that-reduced-humanity-to-the-last-of-us/https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/cordycepsUnique bioactives from Zombie Fungus (Cordyceps) as promising multitargeted neuroprotective agents by Himadri Sharma, Niti Sharma, and Seong Soo A An (2023). Nutrients, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010102https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefitshttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps

Sometimes plants come in very silly shapes.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/3891/nepenthes-bokorensis-wildSpecies composition of ant prey of the pitcher plant Nepenthes bokorensis Mey (Nepenthaceae) in Phnom Bokor National Park, Cambodia by Shingo Hosoishi, et al. (2012). Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 5(1), pg. 3-7.Report of carnivorous plants (Droseraceae, Lentibulariaceae and Nepenthaceae) from seasonally dry savannahs in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia by Pierre-Olivier Maquart, et al. (2021). Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 14(1), pg. 1-4.Nepenthes bokorensis, a new species of Nepenthaceae from Cambodia by Francois Sockhom Mey (2009). Carniflora Australis, 7(1), pg. 6-15.Nepenthes holdenii (Nepenthaceae), a new species of pyrophytic pitcher plant from the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia (2010) by Francois Stockhom Mey, et al. In: Carnivorous Plants in their Habitats by Stewart McPherson.https://www.livescience.com/carnivorous-penis-pitcher-plant-pickedhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepenthes_bokorensis

While researching this episode, I stumbled across an Insta called @horrorcultureplants that I highly recommend giving a follow.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Biological flora of Central Europe: Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. by Lubomír Adamec (2018). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 35, pg. 8-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2018.10.001Studies on the leaf movement of Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., part I: Process and mechanism of the movement by Joji Ashida (1932). Memoirs of the College of Science, Kyoto Imperial University, Series B, 9(3), pg. 143-246.https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/waterwheel-plant/Fossil Aldrovanda by John D. Degreef (1997). Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, 26(3), pg. 93-97. https://doi.org/10.55360/cpn263.jd244Prey capture analyses in the carnivorous aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Droseraceae) by Simon Poppinga, et al. (2019). Scientific Reports, 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54857-w “This Carnivorous Plant Invaded New York. That May Be Its Only Hope.” by Mario Renault (13 August 2019). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/science/waterwheel-plants-carnivorous.htmlHow the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) snaps by Anna S. Westermeier, et al. (2018). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1878). https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0012https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrovanda_vesiculosa

"They took all the trees, and put ‘em in a tree museum…”—Counting CrowsThat will kind of make sense in about 10 seconds. I should totally make a playlist for this podcast. Drop your recommendations in the comments.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://extension.umd.edu/resource/serviceberry-early-flowering-maryland-native-tree/Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/amelanchier/Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America by Lee Allen Peterson (1977)The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl (2023)Magnificent Trees of Indiana by Caroll D. Ritter (2022)Trees of the Carolinas by Stan Tekiela (2007)https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanchier

I would like to introduce you to a tree that you can eat, brush your teeth with, and also use to make nanoparticles.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World by Akbar S. Ahmed (1999)Salvadora persica L. Toothbrush Tree with health benefits and industrial applications: An updated evidence-based review by Mohamed Farag, et al. (2021). Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 29(7), pg. 751-763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2021.05.007Desert Plants of Egypt's Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud (2010)https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Salvadora+persicahttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica

The Snowflake FairyRobed in white comes Snowflake Fairy,braving wintry winds and ice,pearly "Maid of February,"whom the glistening frosts entice.Gladly welcome Snowflake Fairy,on your terrace give her room.She alone in Februarybraves the cold to shed her bloom.—Elizabeth GordonMusic by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023)https://www.bloomandwild.com/the-blog/snowdrop-flowers-meaninghttps://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/plant_profiles/snowdropsPlants That Kill: A Natural History of the World's Most Poisonous Plants by Elizabeth A. Dauncey and Sonny Larson (2018)Galanthus trojanus: a new species of Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae) from north-western Turkey by Aaron P. Davis and Neriman Ozhatay (2001). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 137, pg. 409-412. DOI: 10.1006/boj1.2001.048.Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77118772-1/general-informationGalantamine for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment by Clement Loy and Lon Schneider (2006). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001747.pub3https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/galanthus-nivalis/Homer's Moly identified as Galanthus nivalis L.: Physiologic antidote to stramonium poisoning by Andreas Plaitakis and Roger C. Duvoisin (1983). Clinical Neuropharmacology, 6(1), pg. 1-6. [Abstract]. Collins Gem: Wild Flowers by Martin Walter (2002)https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthushttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/snowdrop/

I finally got to break out my Ancient Egyptian Herbal for this one!Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleiferaMoringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application by Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan, Kruthi Doriya, and Devarai Santhosh Kumar (2016). Food Science and Human Wellness, 5(2), pg. 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001Desert Plants of Egypt's Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud (2010)An Ancient Egyptian Herbal by Lise Manniche (2006)Traditional uses, pharmacological efficacy, and phytochemistry of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori: A review by Anndurai Senthilkumar, et al. (2018). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, pg. 465. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00465https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Moringa+peregrinahttps://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-moringaThe Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: 25th Anniversary Edition by Valerie Ann Wormwood (2016)https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_peregrina

Today is No-Buy Friday in the U.S. Aren't you glad you can listen to this podcast for free? ;)Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by: Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023) Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (2014) https://www.flowermeaning.com/bleeding-heart-flower-meaning/ Wild Flowers of North Carolina and Surrounding Areas by William S. Justice and C. Ritchie Bell (1979) https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/perennials/bleeding-heart/all-about-bleeding-hearts https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dicentra/ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/293049/lamprocapnos-spectabilis/details National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region (2nd ed.) by John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, & Nancy C. Olmstead (2001) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicentra_formosa https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bleeding-heart-dicentra-spectabilis/

Roses are red,But can never be blue.Thanks for listening,Welcome back for part two!Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by: Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023) https://bouqs.com/blog/roses-meaning-symbolism-what-roses-signify/ https://www.britannica.com/plant/rose-plant Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (2014) Herb Magic for Beginners: Down-to-earth Enchantments by Ellen Dugan (2016) Herbal Magick: A guide to herbal enchantments, folklore, and divination (2nd ed.) by Gerina Dunwich (2019) Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright (2021) Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers by Marta McDowell (2023) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rosa/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_symbolism

This episode appears not to have published last week when it was supposed to, and I don't know why. I'm sorry about that. It was finished and scheduled, but it still said "draft."Today's topic is the Musk Plant. No relation to Elon. It's a flower that smells like that stuff that's in all the perfumes and colognes. Except, it doesn't anymore, and that's a mystery!Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by: Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023) https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Erythranthe%20moschata https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/mimulus/moschatus/ The lost scent of Mimulus moschatus by W.B. Gourlay (1947). Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 72, pg. 285-287 Lost fragrance of musk by Eric Hardy (1934). Nature, 134, pg. 327. https://doi.org/10.1038/134327c0 The lost scent of Mimulus moschatus by J.P. Hudson (1948). Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 73, pg. 24-25 The lost fragrance of musk. Nature, 134, pg. 54–55 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/134054a0 The scent of Mimulus moschatus by H.N. Ridley (1947). Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 72, pg. 373 National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region (2nd ed.) by John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, & Nancy C. Olmstead (2001) The musk mystery: A suggestion by Sir W. Beach Thomas (15 November 1930). The Spectator, pg. 10 Mimulus moschatus in Massachusetts by M. E. Ward (1904). Rhodora, 6(71), pg. 227-228 https://www.jstor.org/stable/23293612 https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/erythranthe_moschata.htm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythranthe_moschata

I've been humming “Every Rose Has it's Thorn” for a week.

Let's take a Peyote trip (sort of)!

This plant is deadly poisonous. But there seems to be some disagreement on how deadly, which seems like something that would be easy to come to a conclusion on. Just don't eat it. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.jeremybartlett.co.uk/2017/01/24/corncockle-agrostemma-githago/ https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488938/Poisonous-Corncockle-spotted-in-the-UK Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright (2021) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agrostemma-githago/ https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Agrostemma+githago https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/corn_cockle.htm Phytochemistry and biological activities of Agrostemma genus: A review by Aleksander Smakosz, Adam Matkowski, & Izabela Nawrot-Hadzik (2024) https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121673 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrostemma_githago

You remember that time I forgot to plug my microphone in?

Fun Fact: Sweet Gum seeds were carried onboard the space shuttle in 1984. The seeds were brought back down to earth and planted, and the trees survive to this day. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (2014) Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014) https://americanorchard.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/the-most-dangerous-tree-in-the-suburbs/ Kill the flu with this common backyard tree from Legacy Wilderness Academy (15 July 2024). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YGnksW_adH8 Sweetgum: An ancient source of beneficial compounds with modern benefits by Jody M. Lingbeck, et al. (2015) https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.156307 https://ufi.ca.uky.edu/treetalk/ecobot-sweetgum Magnificent Trees of Indiana by Caroll D. Ritter (2022) Trees of the Carolinas by Stan Tekiela (2007) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar

Let me tell you a little story about how star slime took over the world. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/2115 https://www.britannica.com/science/Nostoc https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/nostoc/ https://themeaningofwater.com/2024/06/02/when-a-cyanobacteria-takes-over-the-world/ https://www.plant-lore.com/plantofthemonth/nostoc-commune/ https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/nostoc-commune-star-jelly-zzs2rwhrb https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/nostoc_a_green_jelly_like_substance_growing_in_lawns

Happy Holidays! This tree tastes like gingerbread! Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://500wordsmag.com/food/everything-you-need-to-know-about-doum-palm-fruit/ Influence of doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.) flour addition on dough mixing properties, bread quality and antioxidant potential by Waleed Aboshora, et al. (2015) https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-015-2063-1 https://infonet-biovision.org/trees/doum-palm Desert Plants of Egypt's Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud (2010) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hyphaene+thebaica https://shevaundoherty.com/the-fruits-of-doum/ https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Hyphaene_thebaica https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphaene_thebaica

It's festive Friday the 13th! Today we're looking at English Ivy, a plant that makes me want to rage. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023) Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (1985) Garden Witch's Herbal by Ellen Dugan (2009) Herbal Magick: A Guide to Herbal Enchantments, Folklore, and Divination by Gerina Dunwich (2019) The attachment strategy of English ivy: a complex mechanism acting on several hierarchical levels by Björn Melzer, et al. (2010) https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2010.0140 https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hedera-helix/ https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/english_ivy.htm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedera_helix

I'm returning to my tradition of wintry and holiday-themed plants for December. You can call it a tradition once you've done it two years in a row, right? First up is Holly, which I've always considered a bush, but apparently it's a tree? Maybe it's just a matter of perspective. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.cloudforests.ie/blog/the-holly-tree Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (1985) Garden Witch's Herbal by Ellen Dugan (2009) https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/holly/holly-mythology-and-folklore/ https://www.moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/holly-uses-in-witchcraft https://www.thespruce.com/eighteen-species-holly-trees-and-shrubs-3269647 https://thepresenttree.com/blogs/tree-meanings/holly-tree-meaning Trees of the Carolinas Field Guide by Stan Tekiela (2007)

Yesterday was Thanksgiving here in the U.S., so Happy Harvest! This week, we're reviewing the year in new botanical discoveries. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/new-fungus-species-at-worlds-end.htm Exophiala chapopotensis sp. nov., an extremotolerant black yeast from an oil-polluted soil in Mexico; phylophenetic approach to species hypothesis in the Herpotrichiellaceae family by Martin R. Ide-Perez, et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297232 https://phys.org/news/2024-02-species-story.html Simocybe ramosa, a new species from the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area by Libelje Mortier, et al. (2024) [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1656/045.031.0108 https://blog.pensoft.net/2024/10/09/drone-discovers-new-plant-species-in-hawaii/ https://blog.pensoft.net/2024/03/07/five-new-plant-species-with-striking-flowers-discovered-in-china/ Revealing brownish Mycena diversity in China: New discoveries and taxonomic insights by Renxui Wei, et al. (2024) [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060439

I broke out my Intro to Plant Biology textbook from college for this. I just want you to know that. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.britannica.com/plant/banana-plant Raven Biology of Plants (8th ed.) by Evert Eichhorn (2013) A Dictionary of Plant Pathology by Paul Holliday (1989) https://asm.org/articles/2021/june/clone-wars-how-fusarium-fungi-control-the-banana-i https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-bananas PBS News Hour. (16 January 2016). Inside the fight to save the bananas we know (and love). [Video] https://www.thespruce.com/banana-tree-growing-profile-3269353 https://www.inverse.com/science/artificial-banana-flavor-real-science https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.365.6450.207 Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski (2007)

If you've ever eaten a Pawpaw, let me you what you think it tastes like. Is it “sunny and electric”? You can buy frozen Pawpaw pulp (and other forest-foraged goodies) from Integration Acres: https://integrationacres.com/ Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.seriouseats.com/what-are-pawpaws-wild-fruit-midwest-how-to-prep-and-eat-pawpaws https://wilkes.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/01/establishing-a-pawpaw-tree-in-your-backyard/ https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm “Where's a Good Giant Ground Sloth When You Need One?” by Carol Ann McCormick (March-April 2010) in North Carolina Botanical Garden Newsletter. Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America by Lee Allen Peterson (1977) Trees of the Carolinas Field Guide by Stan Tekiela (2007) The Appalachian Project. (2024, Sept. 21). The pawpaw, often referred to as "America's forgotten fruit," holds a special place in the history and culture of Appalachia. [Social media post] Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianProject/posts/pfbid02xtvQgHH4f4NDMw5gfh1RQn75ji8Bk89xHSPkZBZQUBL1Fwoty3TYVEXtAU6xXigEl https://heritageconservancy.org/pawpaw-a-big-fruit-in-need-of-bigger-love/

Oh my stars, I finished editing early this time! Which is good, because I'll be in Berlin next week, and I need to hustle to get an episode banked for when I'm gone. Give a holler in the comments if you also have childhood head lice trauma.

Less late than last time! We are approaching being back on schedule! Moving into my first house is harder than I thought, y'all. Recipe for Bengali Mashed Elephant Food Yam: https://seasonalflavours.net/ol-bhaate-elephant-foot-yam/#google_vignette Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/amorphophallus-paeoniifolius.html https://conservatory.cals.cornell.edu/2016/05/18/featured-plant-amorphophallus-paeoniifolius/ A phytopharmacological review on an important medicinal plant - Amorphophallus paeoniifolius by Yadu Nandan Dey, et al. (2012) https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.100303 https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/2021/07/15/the-mystery-of-the-missing-amorphophallus/ https://garden.org/plants/view/177687/Elephant-Yam-Amorphophallus-paeoniifolius/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphophallus_paeoniifolius

This time, we're going to talk about something truly terrifying: medical fraud!

Special thanks to the production of the Little Shop of Horrors stage musical I saw at NC State when I was in college. That was a first class play. I say as someone who goes to the theater maybe twice a year. But I have seen my fair share of horror musicals. There are more of them than you think. I don't quite have my recording setup ready in the new house yet, so sorry the audio is kind of bleh. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/audrey-ii/ The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). Roger Corman [Dir.]. https://playbill.com/article/did-you-know-that-audrey-ii-in-little-shop-of-horrors-is-a-female-man-eating-plant https://littleshop.fandom.com/wiki/Audrey_II Little Shop of Horrors (1986). Frank Oz [Dir.].

a.k.a Monkshood or Aconite This episode has it all: murderers, witches, werewolves, vampires, and tips for your poison garden! And it would have been on time, if not for Spectrum.

Spooky, scary mushrooms are glowing in the forest.

Someday I should cover the plantain fruit, too, just to be chaotic—I mean informative. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/plantain-weed https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Plantago%20major https://www.weedsandwildmedicine.co.uk/blog-1/plantain-the-sacred-herb-under-our-feet Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (2013) Plantago major in Traditional Persian Medicine and modern phytotherapy: A narrative review by Younes Najafian (2018) Therapeutic uses and pharmacological properties of Plantago major L. and its active constituents by Ali Nazarizadeh, et al. (2013) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/plantago-major/ The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L.: A review by Anne B. Samuelsen (2000) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major

We're getting a bit of a head start on Spooky Season. Poisonous mushrooms! Political intrigue! Murder most foul! Like, seriously. So foul. And I'm pretty sure this is at least the second time Nero has come up on this show. I can't escape that guy. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/05/17/1175494500/new-hope-for-an-antidote-to-death-cap-mushrooms-and-other-poison-fungi https://www.britannica.com/science/death-cap “Death Cap mushrooms can kill” from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/death-cap-mushrooms.html https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/mushroom-poisoning-has-unreported-consequence-dog The death of Claudius, or Mushrooms for murderers by R. Gordon Wasson (1972) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_phalloides

Happy Friday the 13th! This plant has nothing to do with that, I just wanted to say it. We're actually talking about Sunflowers, because they're seasonal and they have taken over our front yard for some reason. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://gardencollage.com/change/sustainability/scientists-using-sunflowers-clean-nuclear-radiation/ https://www.kew.org/plants/sunflower https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a32638/sunflower-fun-facts/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-sunflowers-are-ukraines-national-flower-180979850/ The National Sunflower Association (https://www.sunflowernsa.com/) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helianthus/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-disaster-sunflowers-idUSTRE77I0PG20110819/ https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/helianthus_annuus.shtml https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sunflower

I'm back, everyone! My voice doesn't sound the best still, but I'm plowing ahead anyway. For the belated final week of Southern Plant Month, let's meet the most hated plant in the South: kudzu. If you're in North Carolina and would like to try some of the kudzu delicacies I mentioned, look up Carolina Kudzu Crazy (https://www.facebook.com/p/Carolina-Kudzu-Crazy-100063473593361/). Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/true-story-kudzu-vine-ate-south-180956325/ https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/dining/kudzu-edible-why-aren-eating/BXAct9CtIshpWaB8f9D2PO/ https://conservingcarolina.org/get-rid-of-kudzu/ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/the-history-and-use-of-kudzu-in-the-southeastern-united-states/ https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/kudzu-invasive-species/ A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm by David M. Penetar, et al. (2015) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.05.025 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu Fundamentals of Weed Science (6th ed.) by Robert L. Zimdahl

I'm sick.

Today, we're talking about the world's favorite natural fiber. It's pretty strange, if you think about it, that Cotton plants grow these fluffy, candy floss clouds. To be clear, it's cotton boll, not bowl. My accent is not my friend in this episode. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.fairindigo.com/blogs/news/what-is-pima-cotton-and-how-is-it-different https://www.cottoninc.com/cotton-production/quality/classification-of-cotton/overview/ https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/cotton-and-wool/cotton-sector-at-a-glance/ http://www.historyofclothing.com/textile-history/history-of-cotton/ “Cotton: From Field to Fabric” from the National Cotton Council of America “The Story of Cotton” from the National Cotton Council of America https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/what-cotton https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/what-is-egyptian-cotton-explainer.html https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cotton/evolution/ https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cotton/what/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossypium

This one goes out to you, D'Bravius. I have never known anyone else to get so excited about a Magnolia tree. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://shop.arborday.org/treeguide/333 https://gardens.si.edu/learn/blog/the-botany-of-magnolias/ https://www.gardenia.net/genus/magnolia-tree https://www.gardenia.net/plant/magnolia-virginiana-sweet-bay-magnolia https://blog.natureplusme.com/types-of-magnolia https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-acuminata/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-fraseri/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-macrophylla/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-tripetala/ A review of pollination of Magnolia by beetles, with a collecting survey made in the Carolinas by Richard S. Peigler (1988) in Magnolia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora

With (sort of) special appearances by Tobin Bell, Rosalind Franklin, and a 19th-century Dutch scientist whose name I certainly did not get right. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) - A model system for tissue culture interventions and genetic engineering by Thumballi R. Ganapathi, et al. (2004) [Abstract] In vitro transformation of cultured cells from Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens by L. Marton, et al. (1979) [Abstract] https://www.pmiscience.com/en/smoke-free/nicotine/tobacco-plant-research/ On the historical significance of Beijerinck and his contagium vivum fluidum for modern virology by Neeraja Sankaran (2018) Therapeutic potential and phytoremediation capabilities of the tobacco plant: Advancements through genetic engineering and cultivation techniques by Nidhi Selwal, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2023.102845 PLANT vs. PATHOGEN: Enlisting Tobacco in the Fight Against Anthrax by Graeme Stemp-Morlock (2006) https://doi.org/10.1289%2Fehp.114-a364 “Tobacco Research and Its Relevance to Science, Medicine and Industry” by T.C. Tso (2006) DOI: 10.2478/cttr-2013-0824 Phytochemicals derived from Nicotiana tabacum L. plant contribute to pharmaceutical development by Wenji Zhang, et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffphar.2024.1372456

I actually planned to have two parts this time. And I hope this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes, not medical advice. Please, please do not attempt using tobacco for any of the historical medical purposes mentioned in this episode just because I said it's been done before. Not everything that has been done should be repeated. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Medicinal uses of tobacco in history by Anne Charlton (2004) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.97.6.292 Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) by Marianna Jennifer Datiles & Pedro Acevedo-Rodriguez (2014) https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.36326 https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/tobacco-in-colonial-virginia/ https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1677/a-brief-history-of-tobacco-in-the-americas/ https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/tobacco-the-early-history-of-a-new-world-crop.htm https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/nicotiana/tabacum/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nicotiana-tabacum/ https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/MN/Nicotiana Tobacco smoking: the leading cause of preventable disease worldwide by Jonathan M. Samet (2013) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thorsurg.2013.01.009 https://www.st-group.com/about-us/our-tobacco/history-of-tobacco/ https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Nicotiana+tabacum

Special thanks to Brooke for suggesting today's episode topic, Mariposa Lilies. Also, “mariposa” and “lily” have ceased to sound like words to me. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Mariposa_Lily.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil Butterfly Mariposa Lily Phylogeography and population genetics reveal ring species patterns in a highly polymorphic California lily by Adriana I. Hernández, Jacob B. Landis, & Chelsea D. Specht (2022) [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14313 “Plant Guide: Mariposa Lily” from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, & National Plant Data Center https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/calochortus_venustus.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus_venustus Catalina Mariposa Lily https://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Liliaceae/Calochortus%20catalinae.htm https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Catalina_Mariposa_Lily.php https://theodorepayne.org/nativeplantdatabase/index.php?title=Calochortus_catalinae Plummer's Mariposa Lily https://messengermountainnews.com/the-rare-plummers-mariposa-lily/ https://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/mariposa-lily/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus_plummerae Causes and correlates of interannual variation in flowering of Calochortus plummerae (Liliaceae) by Kimberlyn Williams, Erica Burck, & Cesar L. Garcia (2021) https://doi.org/10.3120/0024-9637-68.4.360

Should there ever be another toilet paper shortage, just grow this plant in your yard, and you'll be good to go. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2016/jul/29/plant-lambs-ears-and-keep-wool-carder-bees-happy https://hilltop.indiana.edu/news-events/_news/news9i.html https://mimiciftligi.com/en/blogs/gastronomi_ve_dogal_sifa/kuzu-kulagi-bitkisi-faydalari-nelerdir https://www.joellane.org/history/the-gardens/lambs-ear https://shorehomeandgarden.com/2022/08/02/the-lore-behind-alluring-lambs-ears/ https://ourpermaculturelife.com/edible-medicinal-ornamental-herb-lambs-ear/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/stachys-byzantina/ https://nativebeeology.com/2020/05/12/carder-bees-and-lambs-ear/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachys_byzantina

We haven't done a fungus in a while, and this one was separately sent to me by both of my parents. So, it was practically an order from on high. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/dead-mans-fingers-purdue-landscape-report/ Xylaria polymorpha (Pers.)Grev. (Dead man's fingers) and its ethnomycological study by Ganesh Hedawoo (2021) https://www.allianceforthebay.org/2019/10/from-the-grave-dead-mans-fingers/ https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/dead-mans-fingers https://first-nature.com/fungi/xylaria-polymorpha.php https://extension.psu.edu/spooktacular-flora-and-fungi https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria_polymorpha https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dead-mans-fingers/ https://woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/dead-mans-fingers/

I was hoping this plant was going to be a little more explode-y, but you can paint and make cheese with it, so that's pretty cool. I didn't really think about the fact that my day off was also the day everyone sets off fireworks (even though they're illegal in North Carolina) before I decided it would be a good time to record. At least it's kind of on theme. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Prokinetic and Laxative Effects of Chrozophora tinctoria whole plant extract by Ayaz Ali Sher, et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules27072143 https://discoverpollinators.org/all-about-pollinators/ants/ A review on medicinal aspects of Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A. (Euphorbiaceae) by Sumaiya Fatima, et al. (2022) Desert Plants of Egypt's Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud Pharmacological evaluation of Chrozophora tinctoria as wound healing potential in diabetic rat's model by Harikesh Maurya, Monika Semwal, & Susheel Kumar Dubey (2016) https://doi.org/10.1155%2F2016%2F7475124 The book on how to make all the colour paints for illuminating books: unravelling a Portuguese Hebrew illuminators' manual by Maria J. Melo, et al. (2018) https://www.maltawildplants.com/EUPH/Chrozophora_tinctoria.php A 1000-year-old mystery solved: Unlocking the molecular structure for the medieval blue from Chrozophora tinctoria, also known as folium by P. Nabais, et al. (2020) https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fsciadv.aaz7772 Phytochemical analysis, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of Chrozophora tinctoria: a natural dye plant by Feyza Oke-Altuntas, et al. (2017) https://doi.org/10.1080%2F13880209.2016.1277767 https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/pollinators/who-are-the-pollinators/ants https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrozophora_tinctoria

I'm trying a new thing today. Y'all will get to hear my “radio voice.” Is that a treat or a punishment? You tell me. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/triffid-triffidus-celestus/ Steve Sekeley (Director). (1963). The Day of the Triffids [Film]. Security Pictures, Ltd. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triffid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Triffids The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)

Our plant this week is Desert Cotton, which is also known as Kapok Bush. It turns out there is also a Kapok Tree, and that was totally not confusing at all when we were researching this episode.

Our plant today symbolizes both war and healing. It's been used to make beer, soup, and tea, but if you see it in the wild, you would probably just think it's a weed. Which it is, but a useful one. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Flowers and their Meanings by Karen Azoulay https://www.almanac.com/yarrow-and-its-medicinal-uses-healing-garden-herb https://www.almanac.com/plant/yarrow https://www.botanical.com/~botanid5/botanical/mgmh/y/yarrow02.html https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/yarrow https://santafebotanicalgarden.org/march-2011/ “Yarrow” from University of California Master Gardener Program https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-151/yarrow

I forgot to mention this in the episode, so bonus fact: mad honey poisoning can theoretically be fatal, but no one has actually died from it since the 1800s. These days, we have treatments for severe poisonings, one of which is actually atropine! Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://theapiarist.org/mad-honey/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/mad-honey-red-hallucinogen Risks for human health related to the presence of grayanotoxins in certain honey by the European Food Safety Authority (2023) https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7866 Grayanotoxin poisoning: ‘Mad honey disease' and beyond by Suze A. Jansen et al. (2012) https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12012-012-9162-2 https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/ https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/hidden-poison-rhododendron-nectar Mad honey: uses, intoxicating/poisoning effects, diagnosis, and treatment by Sana Ullah et al. (2018) https://doi.org/10.1039%2Fc8ra01924j https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_honey https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron

Featuring several detours into catmint, which is almost, but not quite, the same thing. Article on catnip from my defunct blog: https://encyclopaediafelidae.com/crazy-for-catnip/ Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Catnip: Its raison d'être by T. Eisner (1964) https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/catmint-vs-catnip/ www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211103125.htm https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/catnip-nepeta-cataria/ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e433 https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nepeta-cataria/ Catnip and oestrous behaviour in the cat by G. F. Palen and G. V. Goddard (1966) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(66)80100-8 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats by N. B. Todd (1962) https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a107121 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-catnip-work-on-cats/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catnip

It's one of history's favorite poisons, Deadly Nightshade! It's also one of my favorite plants, because it is both pretty and horribly toxic. The flowers are my favorite color! Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Atropa Belladonna intoxication: a case report by Mohamed Adnane Berdai, et al. (2012) https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/belladonna https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/deadly-nightshade/ https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/deadly-nightshade-botanical-biography https://www.rxlist.com/how_do_anticholinergic_agents_work/drug-class.htm An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Belladonna by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration by Catherine Ulbricht, et al. (2004) https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/belladonna.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticholinergic https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/deadly-nightshade/