In Defense of Plants Podcast
Plants are everything. They are also incredibly interesting. From the smallest duckweed to the tallest redwood, the botanical world is full of wonder. Tune in for a podcast celebrating everything botany.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 52 minutes
- Episodes
- 301
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Ep. 521 - Plant Conservation from the Sky
Go looking for information on rare plant population health and it can be surprisingly hard to come by. Plant monitoring, especially over the long term, is a challenge and data have not always kept up…
00:58:33 |
Sun 13 Apr 2025
Ep. 520 - Saving Orchids!
What does it take to save orchids from extinction? Saving Orchids by Dr's Philip Seaton and Larry Zettler showcase the dedicated folks who are making it happen across the world. From why orchids need…
00:53:40 |
Sun 06 Apr 2025
Ep. 519 - Sonoran Desert, Past & Future
Visit the Sonoran Desert and you too will fall in love with its beauty and diversity. It is truly one of the most incredible places on earth. Dr. Ben Wilder agrees which is why he has dedicated his l…
00:53:53 |
Sun 30 Mar 2025
Ep. 518 - The Complexities of Plant Reproduction
What does it mean to be a successful plant? Reproduction? Population growth? What factors influence these important events and which contribute more to a population through time? The answers to these…
00:57:43 |
Sun 23 Mar 2025
Ep. 517 - Demystifying the Woolly Devil
The woolly devil (Ovicula biradiata) is a fascinating and unique member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) that was only recently described to science. It was first found in Big Bend National Park in T…
00:55:11 |
Sun 16 Mar 2025
Ep. 516 - Plants in the Afterlife
Plants ARE habitat and that doesn't stop when they die. Countless species of microbes, fungi, arthropods, and more not only take up residence in dead plant material but also require it to complete th…
00:47:54 |
Sun 09 Mar 2025
Ep. 515 - Phenology is Important
The emergence of leaves, the blooming of flowers, the arrival of pollinators... these are all biological events that are closely tied to the changing seasons. The study of this linkage is called Phen…
00:50:17 |
Sun 02 Mar 2025
Ep. 514 - Parent/Offspring Conflicts in Moss
Parents and children don't always get along. Sometimes they can even be competitors. Conflicts often lead to interesting evolutionary adaptations and mosses are no stranger to this. Join me and Dr. J…
00:56:37 |
Sun 23 Feb 2025
Ep. 513 - The Enigma of the Galax Genome
Spend any time in the southern Appalachian Mountains and you are bound to cross paths with Galax urceolata. This wonderful little evergreen herb seems to be at home in a variety of habitats from fore…
00:45:08 |
Sun 16 Feb 2025
Ep. 512 - The Complexity of Mangrove Ecosystems
Mangrove forests are dynamic places and so too are the people that study them. From carbon capture and peat formation, to restoration and hydrology, these coastal habitats offer curious minds plenty …
00:48:11 |
Sun 09 Feb 2025
Ep. 511 - Paw Paw Randomness
Paw paw (Asimina triloba) is a charismatic and special species. It is the most northerly growing member of a mostly tropical family. It also has considerable influence on its herbaceous neighbors. Jo…
00:55:42 |
Sun 02 Feb 2025
Ep. 510 - Epiphytes & Phorophytes
Mosses, liverworts, and lichens live in a world of their own. Not unlike the trees they grow on, these tiny organisms must play out the dramas of obtaining the water, nutrients, and light they need t…
00:58:42 |
Sun 26 Jan 2025
Ep. 509 - The Power of Biotic Resistance
Invasive species reduce native biodiversity and hinder an ecosystem's ability to support life, including our own. Managing invasive species can be very challenging, but that doesn't intimidate people…
00:51:48 |
Sun 19 Jan 2025
Ep. 508 - The Cashew Family Revisited
What do cashews (Anacardium spp.), mangoes (Mangifera spp.), pistachios (Pistacia spp.), and poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.) have in common? They are all members of the family Anacardiaceae! Revisit …
00:50:04 |
Sun 12 Jan 2025
Ep. 507 - The Beginning Revisited
January 2025 marks the 10 year anniversary (!!!) of the In Defense of Plants Podcast. To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to revisit the first episode of the podcast. Travel back a decade to a ti…
00:14:26 |
Sun 05 Jan 2025
Ep. 506 - The Digital Future of Herbaria
The herbarium world is a fascinating one. These botanical repositories are goldmines of data and help us understand the present by looking at the past. But what kind of future questions can herbaria …
Sun 29 Dec 2024
Ep. 505 - Leave the Dang Leaves!
Leave the leaves! It is a phrase you hear a lot these days, but why is it so important to keep leaves and other plant debris on your landscape? These are the questions that drive Dr. Max Ferlato. Lea…
00:48:56 |
Sun 22 Dec 2024
Ep. 504 - The Genetic Mysteries of Creosote Bush
What is a species? On the surface, this seems like an easy question to answer. Get a bunch of biologists in the room together and you will quickly see it can be a bit of a loaded question. Questions …
00:59:18 |
Sun 15 Dec 2024
Ep. 503 - Pollen Specialization
Bees run the gamut from generalists to specialists. Whereas the generalists visit a variety of plants for the resources they need, many specialists exist on a single species. Such is the case for at …
Sun 08 Dec 2024
Ep. 502 - Unearthing the Mysteries of Underground Storage Organs
Tubers, corms, taproots, bulbs... There are many different kinds of underground storage organs in the plant world. Moreover, they form from many different kinds of plant tissues. This begs the questi…
Sun 01 Dec 2024
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of In Defense of Plants. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.