Herbarium of the Bizarre
Episodes
New Species Discovered in 2025
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I learned some lessons from the 2024 discoveries episode, and I think this one is not quite so messy. I also managed to contain it all in one episode ...
Pohutukawa
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas? Happy New Year? Happy Holidays! That covers it. Personally, I celebrated four this year. Enjoy this more-or-less seasonal episode abo...
Cranberry
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pass the cranberry sauce! Did you read that to the tune of the Bob’s Burgers song? I hope so.Music by James MilorInformation provided by:https://www...
Skeleton Flower
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sorry it sounds so echo-y. I’m dog/housesitting for my parents, so I’m not in my usual recording space. Ruby the Beagle says “hi.” Music by Ja...
Narrow-leafed Campion
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There seems to be disagreement whether it ought to be spelled narrow-leafed or narrow-leaved. Neither is easy to say, for the record.Music by James Mi...
Dutch Elm Disease
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode ended up being way more involved that I expected, but I learned so much, and I thought I knew Dutch Elm Disease pretty well already. Hope...
Vegetable Lamb
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We will resume my trilogy of invasive plants next week once I find my mind. Has anyone seen it?Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided b...
Episode 88 Delayed (feat. Autumn)
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don't worry, I'm okay. My car is very much not okay, unfortunately.
Privets
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re thinking of planting a Privet, you should pivot and plant something else. Well, if you live in North or Central America, anyway, but that ...
Callery Pear
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I have a complicated relationship with this stinky dead fish tree.For your entertainment, a Reddit thread about Bradford Pears: https://www.reddit.com...
Rafflesia, a.k.a. Corpse Flower
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the world’s biggest (and possibly stinkiest) flowers.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/wo...
Fairy Lanterns
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re in the U.S., I hope you try and have a happy 4th of July. And as a public safety professional in my day job, I must remind you to please n...
Lavender
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Be a lavender menace.Music provided by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of ...
Pansy
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Support the Pansy Project and get a cute shirt: https://birdscanflystore.com/collection/the-pansy-project/Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation...
Violets
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roses are (sometimes) red,Violets are (sometimes) blue,And if you ask Sappho,Violets are gay, too!Happy Pride Month 🌈Music by James Milor from Pixa...
Ginkgo
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These extra-special trees are similar to both conifers and fruit trees, but they are actually something much, much older. Ginkgoes are the only tree s...
Walking Palm
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 epis...
Henbane
10 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, at long last, I am revealing my favorite fact about witches’ flying ointment. 🧹Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:ht...
Cobra Plant
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. 🐍Music b...
Sundews
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Cordyceps
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Watch the real-life Zombie Fungus in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https...
Cambodia's Penis Pitcher Plants
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes plants come in very silly shapes.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:https://sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/3891/nepen...
Aquatic Waterwheel
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While researching this episode, I stumbled across an Insta called @horrorcultureplants that I highly recommend giving a follow.Music by James Milor fr...
Serviceberry
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"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...
Toothbrush Tree
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 PixabayI...
Snowdrops
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Snowflake FairyRobed in white comes Snowflake Fairy,braving wintry winds and ice,pearly "Maid of February,"whom the glistening frosts en...
Moringa
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bleeding Heart
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Roses, Part 2
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Musk Flower
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Roses, Part 1
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve been humming “Every Rose Has it’s Thorn” for a week. 🌹🌹🌹Music by James Milor and LuminousPresence from PixabayInformation provid...
Peyote
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s take a Peyote trip (sort of)! 🌵 This cute, little, hallucinogenic cactus was one of the first plants I put on my list when I started this p...
Corncockle
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 conc...
Lobelias
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You remember that time I forgot to plug my microphone in? 😅 Well, I didn’t do that again, but I think I didn’t have the recording settings corr...
Sweet Gum
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Nostoc
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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.o...
Gingerbread Tree
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Holidays! This tree tastes like gingerbread! Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://500wordsmag.com/food/everyth...
English Ivy
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Informat...
Holly
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Plants and Fungi Discovered in 2024
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Mil...
Bananas, feat. Fusarium
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 pr...
Pawpaw Tree
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Desert Squash
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Elephant Foot Yam
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bloodroot
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This time, we’re going to talk about something truly terrifying: medical fraud! 😱 But also a bleeding plant, because you have to have balance. An...
Audrey II
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Wolfsbane
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ghost Fungus
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spooky, scary mushrooms are glowing in the forest. 👻 Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/...
Plantain (Plantago)
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Someday I should cover the plantain fruit, too, just to be chaotic—I mean informative. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: ...
Death Caps
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Sunflowers
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Kudzu
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Cotton
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Magnolia
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Inf...
Tobacco, Part 2
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With (sort of) special appearances by Tobin Bell, Rosalind Franklin, and a 19th-century Dutch scientist whose name I certainly did not get right. Mus...
Tobacco, Part 1
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Mariposa Lily
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special thanks to Brooke for suggesting today’s episode topic, Mariposa Lilies. Also, “mariposa” and “lily” have ceased to sound like words ...
Lamb's Ear
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Dead Man's Fingers
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. Mu...
Dyer's Croton
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 reall...
Triffids
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fro...
Desert Cotton
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Yarrow
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mad Honey
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Catnip
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Featuring several detours into catmint, which is almost, but not quite, the same thing. Article on catnip from my defunct blog: https://encyclopaedia...
Deadly Nightshade
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. Th...
Guanacaste Tree
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Stinging Nettle
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 web...
Bladderwort
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the last week of Carnivorous Plant Month. 😢 But we’re finishing up with a real overachiever. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Informat...
Butterwort
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Pitcher Plants
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Make sure you celebrate International Plant Appreciation Day tomorrow! Music by James Milor from Pixabay Information provided by: Carnivorous plan...
Venus Flytrap
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. M...
Toothache Plant
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fr...
Silphium
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 to...
Shamrock
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Strangler Fig
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 sensiti...
Theobroma cacao
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Wasp-Mimicking Orchids
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! 💚 These orchids definitely think that only fools rush in—in fact, they’re counting on it. Music by James Milo...
Mandrake, Part 2
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mandrake, Part 1
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Datura
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scary story time! But like, seriously. Thanks to Dr. Jillian De Gezelle for introducing me to this beautiful, nightmarish flower. Apologies if the so...
Carolina Horsenettle
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s topic, Carolina Horsenettle, was suggested by Kate Shaw. Check out her podcast, Strange Animals Podcast, here: https://strangeanimalspodcast...
Jack-o-Lantern Mushroom
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Century Plant
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, a...
Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 cal...
Mistletoe
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Myrrh
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I apologize if you can hear my mom wrapping presents in the background of this episode, but ‘tis the season. For Part 2 of our festive plant trio, w...
Frankincense
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first of three holiday-themed episodes! Thanks for the suggestion, Mom. This week’s subject is Frankincense. Not a plant, exactly, bu...
Maize
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Native American Heritage Day in the United States! We’re talking about a plant that featured heavily in traditional Native American agricultur...
Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s plant is a little shy, so be sure to give it a warm welcome! Just don’t try to give it a hug. Music by James Milor from Pixabay Info...
Welwitschia
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m dedicating this week’s episode to one of my plant biology professors, Dr. Larry Blanton, because it’s about his favorite plant: Welwitschia ...
Tomato
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about one of my favorite fruits, the tomato. You’re probably pretty familiar with it, as it’s one of the most popular crops ...
Bleeding Tooth Fungus
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Halloween! For our (almost) Halloween episode, I wanted something that felt like it belonged at a Halloween party. I hereby introduce you to the...
Doll's Eyes
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are always eyes watching you in the woods—even on the plants! This week’s plant continues the October vibes with White Baneberry, a.k.a. Dol...
Ghost Pipe
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the very first episode of Herbarium Bizarre, and for this very spooky Friday, October 13th, we’re learning about a plant that looks like a gh...