In Defense of Plants Podcast

If you could travel back in time 4.5 million years, how different would the flora look in your area? That is a difficult question to answer because we don't know of many fossil beds that capture this time period. That is one of the reasons the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee is so amazing. Join me and Paleobotanist Dr. Liz Hermsen for a discussion about some of the amazing discoveries she and her co...

For geologist turned botanist Paul Heiple, sitting back and letting an invasive plant outcompete the plants that support native ecology was not an option. Join us as we discuss what he has learned from years of grassroots efforts to remove yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), an invasive member of the aster family from the Mediterranean Basin. Paul's efforts are a wonderful example of how...

What started as a question about some strange "seeds" in ant ant nest turned into an explosion of scientific investigations into the links between oaks, gall wasps, and ants. Join Dr. Robert Warren and me as we discuss the mind-blowing evolutionary insights that can come from natural history observations and what they could mean for seed dispersal in spring ephemerals. This episode was produced in...

In this episode, we revisit a conversation I had back in 2017 with Dr. Karl Niklas. This is one of my favorite conversations because his work changed the way I look at plant evolution. Dr. Niklas utilizes mathematics to explain plant growth and form in relation to four basic physical constraints: 1) Plants have to capture sunlight and avoid shading their own leaves, 2) Plants have to support thems...

Pollen, stress, ecosystem health... These three things are more connected than you may think. Join me and my guest Dr. Jeff Benca as we dive into research that is uncovering a whole new way to gauge how plants and the ecosystems they comprise react to everything from odd warming patterns to global catastrophe. This episode was produced in part by Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie,...

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a mysterious floating aquatic fern from Brazil. It is also one of the most aggressive aquatic invasive species, able to clone itself over water bodies big and small. My guest today is Stacy Holt Jr who is using big theory to understand the dynamics of giant salvinia invasion and what we can do to lessen its impacts. This episode was produced in part by Michelle...

The relationship between orchids and mycorrhizal fungi is not necessarily a harmonious one. From day one, orchids live more like parasites than mutualists. Understanding these relationships is not only fascinating but crucial to orchid survival. Join me and Dr. Lawrence Zettler as we explore what has been learned about this relationship and how it is being used in orchid conservation efforts. This...

If you thought you knew sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridanus), think again! Join botanist Katie Horton and me for a deep dive into the amazing and mysterious world of this ancient lineage. This episode was produced in part by Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristi...

Eastern North America and eastern Asia share a surprising amount of plant lineages. Termed the "eastern Asian–eastern North American floristic disjunction," this phenomenon has fascinated botanists for centuries. Interestingly, eastern Asia usually boasts more representatives of these shared genera than North America and our guest today has spent some time trying to figure out why. Joining us is D...

What does it take to save a rare palm from extinction? You are about to find out! Listen in as we sit down with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's Conservation Program Manager, Jennifer Possley to learn about one of North America's rarest palms - Pseudophoenix sargentii. You will learn why conservation needs to be a long-term investment and how even a single individual can make a huge difference....

You may have heard about exploding fruit but what about exploding flowers? That is exactly what we are discussing in this episode. For Dr. Joan Edwards, there is no substitute for a walk in the woods, especially when we know so little about our botanical neighbors. This episode was produced in part by Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon,...

What would you rather have for a backyard, an industrial ag field or your own homegrown patch of prairie? For entomologist Fred Delcomyn, the choice was simple. Converting your yard into a functional prairie requires attention to detail and a fair amount of patience, but the rewards are endless. Joining us to talk about these efforts is botanist Jamie Ellis who, together with Fred, have published...

In this episode, we sit down with Ecologist Dr. Leila Pinchot to learn about her work on American elm (Ulmus americana) restoration. Devastated by the combination of invasive fungi and bark beetles, American elm and its relatives present a challenge to species and ecosystem conservation. Learn why city trees were more heavily impacted than rural trees and find out how selective breeding and proper...

The invasive emerald ash borer has devastated North America's ash trees (genus Fraxinus), but we aren't going to stand by and let it happen. Join Ecologist Dr. Kathleen Knight and me about all the incredible work being done to keep ash from going extinct. This episode was produced in part by Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina,...

This time of year has me thinking of friendships both past and present, which is why I wanted to revisit this old episode. What you are about to hear is my first experience botanizing a longleaf pine savanna with the wonderful Sara Johnson and our late friend and botanical mentor, Dr. Mark Whitten. Those of you who have been listening to the podcast since the early days may remember parts of this...

Understanding the role of fire in an ecosystem is very important. It can also be a very difficult task where good data are limited. This hasn't stopped Dr. Greg Spyreas and colleagues from trying! By scouring over two centuries worth of historical documents for first-person accounts, Dr. Spyreas and others have been able to track 200+ years of fire history in the tallgrass prairies of the Midwest....

Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) just might be one of the most intensely studied endangered plants in the world and yet its numbers are still in decline. From habitat loss to biocontrols gone awry, this poor dune specialist just can't catch a break. As stacked as the battle to save this species might be, that doesn't mean people like Dr. Kay Havens of the Chicago Botanic Garden aren't trying....

Unlocking the mysteries of seed germination is vital for effective plant conservation and restoration. Join Dr. Marcello De Vitis and me as we discuss the ins and outs of native seed science. This episode was produced in part by Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeff...

Gardener, author, and environmentalist Lyndon Penner returns to the podcast to talk about his new book, "The Way of the Gardener: Lost in the Weeds Along the Camino de Santiago." This book details his 825 km (512 mi) journey across Spain and all of the wonderful plants he met along the way. This episode was produced in part by Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jer...

In this episode, we explore the mysterious world of moonworts (Ophioglossaceae) with botanist and moonwort fanatic, Steve Popovich. Whereas we still have a lot to learn about these strange ferns, the insights we have gained have revealed amazing things about evolution, ecology, and soil health. Warning: listening to this episode may cause Botrychulosis! This episode was produced in part by Ben, Li...

Upwards of 170 million acres of prairie once covered North America. Today, humans have reduced this to only 0.01%. The remnant prairies (fragments of the original, pre-colonial prairie landscape) that remain represent vestiges of this once great ecosystem and harbor many threatened and endangered species. In this episode, we discuss the impending destruction of one of Illinois last great remnant p...

Lichens have so much to teach us about our planet and yet we have so much to learn about them! That is where people like Dr. Jessi Allen come in. She has devoted her life to understanding lichens and their diversity in addition to sharing her passion for these symbiotic organisms with the world. Join us as we discuss the importance of lichens, some threats to their survival, and her new book - "Ur...

How long can a tree live? How old are the oldest trees? The answers to questions like these are more nuanced that some might think. We sit down with curator of the Gymnosperm Database, Dr. Chris Earle, for some insights on tree longevity. This episode was produced in part by Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jef...

In this episode, we journey back in time with the help of DNA and fossil evidence to learn what they can teach us about plant evolution. Specifically, we explore how genome duplication events has influenced the evolutionary history of gymnosperms. Joining us to talk about this is Dr. Greg Stull who has built his research career around being able to connect what we see in the present to what occurr...

How do parasitic plants find an appropriate host and what determines their range of host possibilities? These are the kinds of questions that drive Dr. Caitlin Conn's research. Join us as we explore some of the insight she has gained into parasitic plant ecology. This episode was produced in part by Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren,...