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Ep. 531 - Native Plants Feed Ecosystems
Episode 531
This episode explores the nuances of why it is so important to plant native plants. Native plants are the cornerstone of nearly every ecosystem on Earth because they are both food and habitat wrapped…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago
Ep. 530 - Our Relationship with the Joshua Tree
Episode 530
The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) has attained celebrity status in recent times, but that hasn't always been the case. For over a century, the Joshua tree was viewed as a useless and repulsive plant…
Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Ep. 529 - Native Plants, Habitat, & Infectious Diseases
Episode 529
Whether you realize it or not, our lives depend on the native plant communities that comprise and support regional biodiversity. As we lose habitat, we lose species, and we lose the checks and balanc…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Ep. 528 - Flower Color is Complex
Episode 528
On face value, flower colors would seem to have everything to do with pollination, but it is far more complex than that. The pigments that give flowers the colors we can see can have many different f…
Published on 3 months ago
Ep. 527 - A Deep Dive on Medinilla
Episode 527
Understanding the relationships among plants can reveal so much about the history of our planet and the mechanisms of evolution. This is why Dr. Peter Quakenbush has spent so much time trying to unde…
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago
Ep. 526 - Biodiversity & Ecosystem Function
Episode 526
Changes in biodiversity are happening all over the globe. From losses to homogenization, understanding the affects of biodiversity change are paramount to understanding how ecosystems function. Nowhe…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Ep. 525 - Lessons from Ancient Grasslands
Episode 525
Say "old growth" and we all too often picture ancient forests with large, gnarly trees. However, forests aren't the only habitat types that can reach old growth status. Prairies, savannas, and woodla…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Ep. 524 - Tackling the Oval Sedges
Episode 524
Sedges (genus Carex) can be an intimidating group of plants to get your head wrapped around, but it doesn't have to be that way. One key element to understanding them is knowing what to look for, whi…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Ep. 523 - Prickly Pear Cacti Are Wonderfully Complex
Episode 523
The odds of encountering a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) in your lifetime is high no matter where you live. That is how abundant, diverse, and charismatic these cacti truly are. For all of their…
Published on 4 months, 1 week ago
Ep. 522 - Shocking Relationships Between Trees & Lightning
Episode 522
Getting struck by lightning is always thought of as a bad thing, but what if it wasn't? Trees can't get up and escape when storms roll in and the chances of one getting struck by lightning increases …
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago