In Defense of Plants Podcast

Ep. 190 - A Love Affair With Palms

09 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Knell is completely enthralled by palms. What started with a small collection of plams growing in his office has morphed into a full blown obsess...

Ep. 189 - When Palms Grew in Wyoming

02 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join Dr. Sarah Allen and me as we journey back in time to the Eocene. Earth was a very different planet some 49 million years ago. Though we may recog...

Ep. 188 - On the Origin of Flowering Plants

25 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Despite their dominance on the landscape today, figuring out exactly when flowering plants got their start has been a challenge facing paleobotanists ...

Ep. 187 - In Love With Native Plants

18 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today has fallen in love with growing native plants. Joining us is Aubree Keurajian who has just recently started her own native plant nurser...

Ep. 186 - Being Totally Obsessed With Botany

11 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When Joey Santore went searching for a biological "origin story" of sorts, he stumbled into the world of botany. He hasn't looked back ever since. As ...

Ep. 185 - The Importance of Conservation Horticulture

04 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine you are at work and someone comes into your office and throws down a handful of plant cuttings on your desk. They look at you with hopeful con...

Ep. 184 - Fossilized Bryophytes: A Journey Back In Time

28 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The odds of any living material becoming fossilized are extremely rare, especially if that living thing is a moss, liverwort, or hornwort. It does hap...

Ep. 183 - On Spiny Solanum & SciComm

21 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by someone who is as passionate about doing science as he is with sharing his experiences with the world. Dr. Chris Martine is a t...

Ep. 182 - City Bee Diversity

14 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As far as native bees are concerned, we still don't know very much. That desperately needs to change as we gain a better understand of the role these ...

Ep. 181 - Protecting Alpine Plants in the Adirondacks

07 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Adirondack Mountains are home to a remarkable diversity of plant species. Situated in northern New York, these mountains are harsh enough that the...

Ep. 180 - A Mossome Citizen Science Opportunity

30 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is Dr. Rafa Medina from Augustana College in Rock Island Illinois and he comes to us with a wonderful citizen science opportunity. Dr. ...

Ep. 179 - Demystifying Orchids

23 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Orchids are some of the most popular plants in all of the world. This hyper-diverse plant family captures our imagination like no other. So often, the...

Ep. 178 - Forest Conservation in Laos

16 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Forest conservation has never been more important, especially in Southeast Asia. Rates of forest loss in this region are unprecedented. Much still rem...

Ep. 177 - Serpentine Specialists & Their Evolution

09 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is Shelley Sianta, a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz, and she studies evolution in a group of plants that have specialized on serpentine s...

Ep. 176 - On Pawpaw and Floral Mimicry

02 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The world of floral mimicry really busts open traditional views on pollination. This spectrum of strategies involves things like poop and carrion mimi...

Ep. 175 - Conserving Tree Diversity

26 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by Dr. Sean Hoban, a tree conservation biologist at The Morton Aboretum near Chicago. As you can guess by his title, Dr. Hoban spe...

Ep. 174 - Botanical Chemistry

19 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Plants cannot get up and move. This fact has driven the evolution of plants throughout time leading to a bewildering array of chemical compounds that ...

Ep. 173 - What the Dogbane Family Can Teach Us About Pollination

12 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Pollination is a fascinating phenomenon to ponder. There seems to be as many variations on the subject as there are flowering plant species. Wonder an...

Ep. 172 - Pinosaur Conservation: An Introduction to the Wollemi Pine

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wollemi pine is one of the world's rarest trees. These mysterious gymnosperms was unknown to science until 1994. Their discovery made headlines ar...

Ep. 171 - Restoring Plants & Saving a Salamander

29 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Habitat destruction is the leading cause of extinction on this planet. Plants = Habitat. There is no way around it. My guest today is Pierson Hill, a ...

Ep. 170 - Saving an Orchid Collection & Starting a Botanical Garden

22 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It is no small task to save a plant collection and start a Botanical Garden from scratch but that is exactly what my guest today is doing. Joining us ...

Ep. 169 - Herbaria Are Data Gold Mines

15 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Phenology, population size, distribution, genetic diversity - these are just some of the data locked up in herbaria around the globe. My guest today i...

Ep. 168 - Orchid Conservation at Mt. Cuba Center

08 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by botanist and orchid fanatic Adrienne Bozic to talk about how she turned a life long obsession with orchids into a career in try...

Ep. 167 - Trial Gardens at Mt. Cuba Center

01 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nativars are frequently seen as unnatural mutant versions of their wild counterparts whose use overlooks the whole point of natives in the first place...

Ep. 166 - Ants As Seed Dispersers a.k.a. The Myrmecochory Episode!

24 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ants are everywhere yet unless they find their way into our homes, we don't give them much thought. This episode is all about a group of ants that are...

Ep. 165 - Cacti Explorer

17 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by cacti explorer Stefan Burger who has been exploring South America in search of its wonderful cactus species. His goal is to fin...

Ep. 164 - Carnivorous Plants: Their Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution

10 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by Dr. Aaron Ellison to talk about a new book called "Carnivorous Plants: Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution. Among other things, ...

Ep. 163 - A Lifetime With Gesneriads

03 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much more to The Gesneriad family than African violets. It is a relatively diverse group of plants and many species make great houseplants...

Ep. 162 - Of Dinosaurs and Plants

27 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who hasn't marveled at the fossilized remains of a dinosaur? Though their lineage lives on today in the form of birds, historically, dinosaurs were on...

Ep. 161 - Bucket Orchids, Ant Nests, and Fragrance-Collecting Bees

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today is Dr. Günter Gerlach from the Botanical Garden Munich to discuss a group of orchids in the genus Coryanthes. These bizarre orchids g...

Ep. 160 - Dalechampia, the Non-Model, Model System

13 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are focusing on a strange genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. The Dalechampia can be found growing in tropical forests throughout mu...

Ep. 159 - An Orchid That Mimics Aphids?

06 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is Melissa Díaz-Morales from the Jardín Botánico Lankester in Costa Rica and her work focuses on orchid pollination. Orchids are kno...

Ep. 158 - Pollination of Neotropical Aroids: A New Look At Some Old Friends

29 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join University of Vienna PhD student Florian Etl for an in depth look at a pollination system involving some of our most beloved houseplants. Florian...

Ep. 157 - Plants In Space

22 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If humanity has a future in space travel, plants are going to play a significant role. That is why people like Dr. Rob Ferl have dedicated their caree...

Ep. 156 - Botanizing a Lowland Tropical Rainforest in Costa Rica

15 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join Dr. Mark Whitten and me as we explore a lowland tropical forest in Costa Rica. I have never experienced such a warm, humid forest environment bef...

Ep. 155 - Understanding Floral Chemistry

08 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For Dr. Rob Raguso, the phrase "stop and smell the roses" takes on a whole new meaning. Dr. Raguso studies the intricate world of floral chemistry. Yo...

Ep. 154 - The Columnar Cacti Trifecta: My First Sonoran Experience

01 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Columnar Trifecta: the saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), the organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi) and the senita (Pachycereus schottii) - Organ Pipe Nati...

Ep. 153 - Botany & Culture at Longwood Gardens

25 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is plant breeder, horticulturist, and botanical explorer Dr. Peter Zale. As part of the research staff at Longwood Gardens, Dr. Zale is...

Ep. 152 - Forests, Ozone, and Earth's Largest Mass Extinction

18 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The End-Permian Extinction occurred some 252 million years ago. It has been referred to as "the day the earth nearly died.  It is estimated that the ...

Ep. 151 - On The Ledge With Jane Perrone

11 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I love houseplants which is why I am so excited for my guest this week. Joining us is the one and only Jane Perrone. Jane is the host of the amazing h...

Ep. 150 - Growing the Amazon Spheres

04 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Amazon Spheres are all about changing the "character of a workplace and an extended conversation about what is typically missing from urban office...

Ep. 149 - Are These Herbs Working feat. Erin & Erin from This Podcast Will Kill You

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by Erin and Erin from This Podcast Will Kill You to take a closer look at a few herbs that are commonly used by us humans. In this...

Ep. 148 - Cecropia Trees, Ant Bodyguards, and Collective Personality

18 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Plants, being sessile organisms, must go to great lengths to protect themselves from herbivores. Sometimes this takes the form of spines or thorns, so...

Ep. 147 - Inspiring the World Through Plants

11 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is entrepreneur, author, and gardening enthusiast Summer Rayne Oakes. Summer fell in love with plants at an early age and has always fe...

Ep. 146 - Vascular Plants of the World feat. Maarten Christenhusz, Mark Chase, and Michael Fay

04 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How does one create an encyclopedia of the vascular plants of the world? My guests today are here to discuss exactly that. Joining us are Dr.'s Maarte...

Ep. 145 - Obscure Apocynaceae Appreciation

28 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There are far too many plants in this world that get little to no attention. Such is the case for a group of milkweed relatives in the genus Chthamali...

Ep. 144 - Speciation in Parasites & Pitcher Plants

21 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The study of evolution among parasitic and carnivorous plants is a fascinating world ripe for discovery. My guest today is botanist Dr. Chris Thorogoo...

Ep. 143 - Botanizing in Bolivia

14 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by two of my favorite people - expert horticulturist Dave Janas and restoration ecologist Estefania Fernandez - to talk about thei...

Ep. 142 - The Hemlock Restoration Initiative

07 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Eastern North America has two species of hemlock - the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and the Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) - both of which...

Ep. 141 - Beware of Beech Bark Disease

31 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is one of the dominant forest trees in eastern North America. It is also under attack by a disease complex known as...

Ep. 140 - Discussing Impatiens With Mr. Impatiens

24 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Impatiens is the largest of two genera in the family Balsaminaceae. Its myriad species hail from a variety of habitats and exhibit a multitude of inte...

Ep. 139 - Tropical Dry Forests

17 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Despite representing nearly half of the tropical forests around the globe, tropical dry forest ecosystems have largely been overshadowed by rainforest...

Ep. 138 - The Botanical Wonders of Southeast Asia

10 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It is hard to wrap your head around the floristic diversity of places like Southeast Asia. Indeed, it is one of the most biodiverse regions of the wor...

Ep. 137 - Question Show #2!

03 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You asked and In Defense of Plants answers! The long awaited second question show has arrived. You all sent in some excellent questions and we cover t...

Ep. 136 - Uncovering Antarctica's Forested Past

26 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It may be hard to believe but Antarctica has a green past. Throughout its history, our southern polar continent has been the home to a variety of now-...

Ep. 135 - Cycads: The Most Endangered Organisms On The Planet

19 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that cycads are the most endangered group of organisms on the planet? We are officially facing a cycad crisis but luckily there are peopl...

Ep. 134 - Growing Gondwana Relicts

12 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Join me and my guest Robbie Blackhall-Miles as we discuss his love and passion for growing the remains of a flora whose lineage arose many millions of...

Ep. 133 - Pollinator Pathway: A Design Challenge For The Planet

05 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As we dive deeper into the new epoch we have created - the Anthropocene - we are going to have to face a lot of harsh realities about the way we treat...

Ep. 132 - The Oak Origin Story And What It Means For Conservation

29 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't love oaks? This episode is all about their evolutionary origins. Joining us is a powerhouse team of scientists - Dr. Jeannine Cavender-Bar...

Ep. 131 - Lycopsids: What An Ancient Lineage Can Teach Us About Extinction

22 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you're into growing plants and looking at fossils, then this is the interview for you! Joining us today is Jeff Benca, a grad student at UC Berkely...

Ep. 130 - A Passion For Passion Flowers

15 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is all about the passion flower family - Passifloraceae. Joining us from her post at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew is the one and on...

Ep. 129 - Garden Inspiration With Peter Donegan of The SodShow

08 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I can't think of a gardener with a better sense of humor than Peter Donegan. Peter not only owns and operates an award-winning landscape design compan...

Ep. 128 - Native Plant Appreciation

01 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by John Magee, landscape designer and co-host of The Native Plant Podcast. John has always been a fan of gardening with natives an...

Ep. 127 - What Is Going On With Seed Dispersal In Hawai'i?

24 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The title says it all. My guest today is Amy Hruska, a PhD student at the University of Hawai'i. Her research bridges the gaps between invasive specie...

Ep. 126 - For The Love Of Growing Plants

17 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I think growing plants is one of the most important skills humanity has ever stumbled across. People like Dr. Chad Husby are a wonderful example of ju...

Ep. 125 - A Conversation With The Plant Messiah

10 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Carlos Magdalena has been called "The Plant Messiah" for good reason. His propagation work at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew has seen species like...

Ep. 124 - Darwin's Backyard

03 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Few may realize just how important plants were to the great Charles Darwin. Luckily, Dr. James Costa is bringing Darwin's botanical interests to the f...

Ep. 123 - Legumes and Their Nitrogen-Fixing Partners

27 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us are aware that planting legumes helps enrich soils but how do they do this? By partnering with bacteria, of course! My guest today studies ...

Ep. 122 - Understanding Ferns and Lycophytes

20 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Ferns and lycophytes have been around for a long time. Still, they often get overshadowed by angiosperms but not in the Sessa lab! Our guest today is ...

Ep. 121 - Mosquitoes: The Unlikely Pollinators

13 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mosquitoes are maligned the world over and often for very good reason. However, there are a plethora of different species of mosquito on this planet a...

Ep. 120 - Understanding Rapid 'Ohi'a Death

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The 'Ohi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the dominant tree on the Hawai'ian Archipelago and it is under attack by two different species of invasive fun...

Ep. 119 - Plant Architecture

30 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today is Dr. Karl Niklas. His work utilizes mathematics to explain plant growth and form in relation to four basic physical constraints: 1) ...

Ep. 118 - Reflections On Summer Botanizing

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I am back in Illinois and I met up with my good friend Steve (co-host of The Field Guides Podcast) to wax poetic about summer botanizing. Steve has sp...

Ep. 117 - Alfred Russel Wallace and Evolution

16 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are continuing our conversation with Dr. James Costa. This week, we take a deeper look at the life of Alfred Russel Wallace, a man who indepe...

Ep. 116 - Social Caterpillars, Their Host Trees, and the Origins of Evolutionary Science Pt. 1

09 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For Dr. James Costa, a love of biology started early. It eventually evolved into a career studying social insects and their interactions with plants. ...

Ep. 115 - On Old Growth Forests and Disturbance

02 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are talking about one of my favorite subjects - old growth forests. Joining us is Dr. Beverly Collins, an associate professor at Western Caro...

Ep. 114 - A Tour of the Tilden Park Botanical Garden or The Flora of California Condensed

25 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, In Defense of Plants is going back in time a bit to my visit to San Francisco. What you are about to hear is a tour of Tilden Park's ...

Ep. 113 - Restoring Ecosystems Across the Globe

18 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Restoration ecology is a topic near and dear to my heart. The idea of nursing the land back to health is something we all must rally behind. Plants ar...

Ep. 112 - The Wild World of Moss Sex

11 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Plants have interesting sex lives. In this episode we take a closer look at reproduction in the mosses, in particular, a species known as fire moss. ...

Ep. 111 - Leaf Miners

04 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You have all probably seen them, however, many probably don't realize what they are. Leaf miners are any sort of arthropod that lives part or all of i...

Ep. 110 - Resolving Ice Age Ecosysems: Using the Past to Understand the Future

28 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Trying to piece together an accurate picture of past ecosystems requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. That is why I am so amazed by the ...

Ep. 109 - Phylogenetics and the Largest Flower in the World

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Joining us today from Harvard University is Dr. Charles Davis. His lab focuses on elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among the plants of the w...

Ep. 108 - Being a Botanist in Laos

14 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today is Bryony Smart who is a botanist at the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden in Laos. This is the first botanical garden in the country and be...

Ep. 107 - Chestnut Blight: Causes and Solutions

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take a deep dive into the world of chestnut blight. This fungal pathogen was introduced to North America in the early 1900's and has all ...

Ep. 106 - Are Vines Parasites?

30 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Vines are iconic the world around. Some are maligned whereas others are celebrated. Regardless of these viewpoints, their ecological importance cannot...

Ep. 105 - Talking Soil With Author Paul Bogard

23 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The soils beneath our feet comprise a complex ecosystem in and of themselves. Soils support literally every major ecosystem on this planet. Despite al...

Ep. 104 - Rock gardens, alpines, and aquatics, oh my!

16 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I don't think I have to say that my favorite people are plant people. Joining us today is Tom Freeth, the man in charge of the rock, alpine, and aquat...

Ep. 103 - The Trout Lily Project

09 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Calling all citizen scientists! The Trout Lilt Project needs your help! Joining us today is Dr. Emily Austen, a post doc at the University of Ottawa. ...

Ep. 102 - Building a Flora of Syria

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that there are many regions around the world that incomplete floras? Syria is one such place and my guest today is working very hard on a...

Ep. 101 - Life at an Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center

26 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we get a sneak peak of what its like to work at a germplasm lab. Joining us is Andy Schenkel, a research assistant at The Ohio State University ...

Ep. 100 - A Tour of My Plant Collection

19 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Wow, 100 episodes! I can't thank you enough. Your support over the last few years really means the world to me. In celebration of this milestone I tho...

Ep. 99 - Living Collections: Exploring Ex Situ Conservation at Kew Gardens

12 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are joined by Kew Horticulturist Andrew Luke for a conversation about the importance of living plant collections. Ex situ conservation is...

Ep. 98 - Our Changing Planet, a Paleobotanical Perspective

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I have always loved fossils, which is why I am so excited about my guest this week. Joining us from the University of Washington is Dr. Caroline Strö...

Ep. 97 - Bulbs, Bulbs, Bulbs!

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode we are taking a dive into the world of bulbs. In order to find out more about the various plants that fall under this category, I reac...

Ep. 96 - Guam's Changing Forests

19 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Guam is a sort of poster child for invasive species. Following the accidental introduction of the brown tree snake, this tiny Pacific Island lost near...

Ep. 95 - Epiphyte Restoration

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Protecting and restoring biodiversity to tropical forests is paramount to maintaining the ecological integrity of these areas. My guest today is Estef...

Ep. 94 - Winter Botanizing

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head out into the prairie to do some winter botanizing. We meet a handful of cool plants along the way. This episode was produced in part...

Ep. 93 - Botanizing Ichetucknee Springs

29 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are doing something a little different. We're trading in our hiking boots for a kayak and a paddle. We're going for a paddle on the Ichet...

Ep. 92 - The Flora of Middle-Earth

22 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week's interview is one of the most unique that I have had to date. Joining us this week is Dr. Walter Judd, distinguished professor, emeritus fr...

Ep. 91 - Botanizing a Long Leaf Pine Savanna

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take an enlightening hike through a long leaf pine savanna. Our guide is botanist extraordinaire, Dr. Mark Whitten of the Florida Museum ...