Ep. 530 - Our Relationship with the Joshua Tree
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...
Ep. 529 - Native Plants, Habitat, & Infectious Diseases
Whether you realize it or not, our lives depend on the native plant communities that comprise and support regional biodiversity. As we lose habitat, w...
Ep. 528 - Flower Color is Complex
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 flower...
Ep. 527 - A Deep Dive on Medinilla
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...
Ep. 526 - Biodiversity & Ecosystem Function
Changes in biodiversity are happening all over the globe. From losses to homogenization, understanding the affects of biodiversity change are paramoun...
Ep. 525 - Lessons from Ancient Grasslands
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 ...
Ep. 524 - Tackling the Oval Sedges
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 un...
Ep. 523 - Prickly Pear Cacti Are Wonderfully Complex
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 ch...
Ep. 522 - Shocking Relationships Between Trees & Lightning
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 chan...
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...