In Defense of Plants Podcast

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Ep. 70 - The Great Thismia Hunt Aug 21, 2016

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Thismia americana was unique to Chicago. Unfortunately it hasn't been seen in 100 years. That minor detail didn't stop a group of us from heading out to the spot where it was last sighted to see if we couldn't relocate this peculiar little parasite. It is wonderfully uplifting to watch as a group of dedicated volunteers set off into this post-industrial marshland to find a plant no bigger than you pinky nail. Along the way we met some really cool plants. Join us on the hunt for Thismia americana. This episode was produced in part by Gregory, Mark, and Bryan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 69 - Mallows, Clovers, and Questions Aug 14, 2016

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The Kankakee mallow is getting a lot of attention this month and rightly so. The Langham Island population is flowering for the first time in over a decade! I checked in with Robb Telfer to get some updates on the push for making the Kankakee mallow the official state flower of Illinois. We also get an update on how his leafy prairie clover seeds are doing as he and others attempt to resurrect them from 100+ year old herbarium collections. We also update you on the Thismia Centennial Hunt coming up on August 20th, 2016. It's always fun talking with Robb. This episode was produced in part by Gregory and Mark. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 68 - From Seed to Orchid: A Behind the Scenes Look at Orchid Conservation Aug 07, 2016

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Growing orchids from seed is no simple task. It's not a matter of throwing seeds in soil and waiting for nature to take its course. That is where people like Matt Richards come in. Using specific laboratory techniques, Matt has made a career out of propagating rare and endangered orchids from all over the world. His efforts have led to amazing conservation efforts that are working towards restoring native orchid populations in places like Georgia and Florida. Join me for a fascinating discussion about what it takes to grow and orchid and find out what places like the Atlanta Botanical Garden are doing to save some of our most precious botanical treasures. This episode was produced in part by Mark and Gregory. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 67 - For the Love of Moss Jul 31, 2016

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For Dr. Lily Lewis, a love for mosses came early. This passion for bryophytes has taken her far up into Alaska and all the way down into Subarctic Chile. She has made some incredible discoveries along the way. From the feces of mammals to the feathers of birds, Dr. Lewis and her collaborators have uncovered some incredible aspects of moss ecology no one knew existed. Join us for a fascinating discussion about these underrated plants and learn how moss conservation may have serious consequences for ecosystem health. This episode was produced in part my Mark and Gregory. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 66 - Botanizing the Atlanta Botanical Garden Pt. 2 Jul 24, 2016

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The long awaited sequel to our behind the scenes tour of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is here! Listen as Plant Recorder, Mike Wenzel shows us the amazing botanical diversity within the garden. We meet orchids, carnivorous plants, and even Amborella! This is a fun episode full of discovery. This episode is produced in part by Gregory and Mark. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 65 - Botanizing the Atlanta Botanical Garden Pt. 1 Jul 17, 2016

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The opportunity to go behind the scenes at a place like the Atlanta Botanical Garden doesn't come often. As such, a few of us jumped on the opportunity to do so. Led by their resident Plant Recorder, Mike Wenzel, we were taken on a day-long adventure to explore the myriad plants they have in their collection. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is the real deal and should serve as an example for how other botanical gardens should be run. Mike was an amazingly generous and knowledgeable guide and needless to say we had a blast. So, without further adieu, please enjoy part 1 of our tour. This episode was produced in part by Gregory and Mark. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 64 - Bryophyting Jul 10, 2016

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When you meet someone like today's guest, you hold on to them tightly and make them go hiking with you. I met Sarah Hecocks earlier this summer. She joined our research station as a seasonal avian tech. However, she wasn't into birds alone. Sarah has a deep passion for mosses, liverworts, and lichens alike. As such, we spent many hours in the woods geeking out over the often overlooked organisms. What follows is a recording of our final hike before she returned to California to start a new adventure. Sarah and I are not experts on bryophyte or lichen ID but we do hold a deep passion and appreciation for these plants. Armed with a hand lens and the recorder we set off into the woods to see what we could find! This episode was produced in part by Mark and Gregory. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 63 - In Search of an Appalachian Bog Jul 03, 2016

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Bogs are not a common occurrence in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. That's why when we heard rumors of a re spruce bog not far from where we are staying we had to check it out. Join my friends and I on a journey to find this bog. Along the way we met many different species of plants, fungi, and birds. What better way to spend the holiday weekend than geeking out in the woods with friends? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 62 - In Search of the Mountain Camellia (Stewartia ovata) Jun 26, 2016

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Up until a little over a week ago I had no idea mountain camellia existed. Belonging to the same family of plants that give us tea, Stewartia ovata is something you have to see to believe. Had I not been briefed in advance, I probably would have thought I had stumbled into some sort of escaped garden cultivar. What follows is my first encounter with this lovely native tree. A group of us were guided by Stewartia expert, Jack Johnston on a fun adventure to see them in bloom. We were not disappointed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 61 - Building the Angiosperm Tree of Life Jun 19, 2016

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If you have paid attention to flowering plant taxonomy over the last few decades you have undoubtedly come across the work of Dr.'s Pam and Doug Soltis. Evolutionary geneticists by training, these two have devoted their lives to figuring out the relationships between the world's flowering plants. This is no small task and the collaborative effort put forth is both astounding and inspiring.Their early efforts to tackle such relationships led to the birth of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG), which is now in its 4th iteration. Throughout their career, the Soltis Lab has been on the forefront of technological advances in genetics and conservation. Their work goes beyond theory and tackles difficult questions of not only what it means to be a species but also how to conserve plants in an age of accelerated climate change. This is one conversation you don't want to miss! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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