Herbarium of the Bizarre

There is COVID in our house, and I still have to get up at 5 a.m. tomorrow. I can’t think of a clever description, but I managed to make an episode on time, so be proud of me, please. This tree is na…

Meet the stinging nettle, a plant you don’t want to touch but might want to eat…or wear.

Alysse Creations: https://alysse-creations.info/

The website is in French, because they are in France.

Music…

It’s the last week of Carnivorous Plant Month. 😢 But we’re finishing up with a real overachiever.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

1. https://entomologytoday.org/2024/03/2…

This week’s carnivorous plant is bad news for gnats, flies, and mosquitoes, but maybe good for cows?

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

1. https://botany.org/home/resources/c…

Make sure you celebrate International Plant Appreciation Day tomorrow!

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

1. Carnivorous plants: Phylogeny and structural evolution by Victor …

April is Carnivorous Plant Month! Because I said so. This week, we’re talking about one of Charles Darwin’s favorite plants, the Venus Flytrap.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provide…

It’s electric! An Electric Daisy, that is, also known as Toothache Plant, Buzz Buttons, Jambu, and a bunch of other things.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• The effect o…

I forgot to plug in my microphone, but it’s late and that took a long time to record, so it’s just going to sound however it sounds. 🙃 I’m totally a professional.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

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Beware the Ides of March…and happy early Saint Patrick’s Day! Who doesn’t love some history? Today’s history lesson is about shamrocks. What actually is a shamrock, anyway? ☘️ It’s a more complicated…

I’m back from vacation with a new microphone. So, how do you feel about murderous trees?

P.S. The new microphone is great. It is a lot more sensitive than the old one, though, so I’m sorry about the…

Now that February is almost over, you’ll finally get to learn about a properly romantic plant. But hey, chocolate is always worth waiting for, right?

This episode references human sexual behavior. O…

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! 💚 These orchids definitely think that only fools rush in—in fact, they’re counting on it.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

1. https://www.eur…

Welcome back to Mandrakes! In part two, I’m covering the magical uses and folklore of Mandrake, as well as some of the places it has sprouted up in pop culture.

This is another plant we learned abou…

I accidentally made my first two-parter! Oops? Mandrake is just a really interesting plant, and there was a lot I wanted to tell you about it. In part one, I’ll cover what a Mandrake is, why this pla…

Scary story time! But like, seriously. Thanks to Dr. Jillian De Gezelle for introducing me to this beautiful, nightmarish flower.

Apologies if the sound editing is not my best work. It’s been that k…

Today’s topic, Carolina Horsenettle, was suggested by Kate Shaw. Check out her podcast, Strange Animals Podcast, here: https://strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net/

My Experience with Solanum carolinen…

It’s the first listener suggestion! Thanks to Ryan for today’s topic: Jack-o-Lantern Mushrooms. And my regards to your step-dad. I hope he learned from his mycological mistake.

Jack-o-Lantern Identi…

Happy New Years! 🧨 It’s not a new century, but we’re going to talk about the Century Plant anyway. Because I wanted to. It’s big and spiky, and once in a great while, it makes an asparagus tree (sort…

I want to tell you about one of my favorite botanicals! It’s a fungus you’re sure to recognize. The mushrooms are red with white spots. It’s called Amanita muscaria or fly agaric, and it is both hall…

It’s time for our holiday surprise! What’s green, sits in treetops, and makes people weirdly romantic? Yes, it’s mistletoe, my favorite festive parasite. 🎄

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Informa…