3 JUL 2024 · Dr. Daniela Cristina Zappi is a Brazilian botanist, plant collector, and research scientist at the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew noted for studying and describing Neotropical flora, Rubiaceae, and Cactaceae. She has described over 90 species, most recently a new species in the cactus genus Uebelmannia (U.nuda).  In this episode of Crime Pays, we discuss the different biomes and plant communities of Brazil, what "ecological islands" are, the biogeography of the cactus family, bat pollination in Pilosocereus, edaphic endemism in "ironstone" habitats of Northern Brazil and how iron-rich soils affect the evolution of the plants that grow on them, and why truckstop food in Brazil is not only tasty but also so damn healthy. 

27 JUN 2024 · Zoe Schlanger is the author of newly released book "The Light Eaters", which shines a new light on researchers studying plant "intelligence" and behavior.

24 JUN 2024 · The state of Texas is one of the most diverse states for plants (and geology) in the US, and contains a large number of plant species that can't be found anywhere else in the United States, yet at the same time an enormous amount of land and plant habitat is being destroyed every day (240,000 acres a year) ,pushing more than a few plant species towards population decline. This episode is a conversation with botanist and author Michael Eason from San Antonio Botanic Garden about plant conservation in Texas, why the Edwards Plateau is so special, walking the sometimes tenuous line between conservation and coordinating with private property owners in a state where 96% of the land is private, Texas Native Plant Landscaping, and a bunch more.

18 JUN 2024 · In this we talk with Andrew Conboy about street trees, urban forestry, habitat restoration, getting stoked on native plant life and how it's practical more than puritanical, Philly, botanic gardens, and more.

13 JUN 2024 · Two hours of rants about wonderful plants in Central Mexico. A follow-up to the previous episode and a description of plant species, taxonomic affinities and habitats encountered in the mountains of Querétaro and Guanajuato States, Mexico. Also a brief gear list and explanation of the various tools used when botanizing desert mountains. Why the genus Garrya (the silktassels) is so cool, A new Astrolepis sp. (Undescribed) Stevia pyrolifolia (Asteraceae) - it's waxy-as$ leaves at 10,000 feet Dyscritothamnus filifolius (Asteraceae) and the limestone cliffs and sketchy roads it inhabits Vallesia glabra (Apocynaceae) Spondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae) Strombocactus disciformis (Cactaceae) Lophophora diffusa (Cactaceae) Mammillaria perezdelarosa ssp andersoniana  Arctostaphylos pungens (Ericaceae) Comarostaphylis polifolia (Ericaceae) and a ton more 

11 JUN 2024 · This episode sponsored by Fiberpad, where you can glue duct-taped wheatgrass and fiberglass to your face in order to clear up any blemishes nice. What can limestone do for you and how does it form? A long, winding rant through the mountains of Querétaro about habitats and species encountered at elevations between 6,000' and 10,000' including: Karwinskia humboldtiana (Rhamnaceae) Baccharis conferta (Asteraceae) Penstemon campanulatus (Plantaginaceae)  Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus (Cactaceae) Kadenicarpus pseudomacrochele (Cactaceae) Isolatocereus dumortieri (Cactaceae) Opuntia stenopetala (Cactaceae) Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae) Quercus crassipes (Fagaceae) Agave salmiana subsp. crassispina (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) Dasylirion longissimum (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae) Various Stevia sp.  (Asteraceae) featuring mountains made out of marble, seafloors made out of calcium-rich muck, and much more.

28 MAY 2024 · Jeff Ollerton is a pollination biologist and researcher based out of the EU and currently working in KunMing, Yunnan Province, China. He has written two excellent books - one entitled "Pollinators and Pollination" and another entitled "Birds and Flowers" about birds as pollinators. In this nearly two hour long conversation we talk about a variety of taxa as well as ecological phenomena. I am still kicking myself for forgetting to bring up the topic of the South African monocot genus Strelitzia (Order Zingiberales) which has a weighted-lever-mechanism that allows only birds to access the stamens.

25 MAY 2024 · In this episode we talk with field botanist Ernest Herrera about the rich floristic diversity of the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas and Northern Mexico. We talk about a variety of cool plant species as well as the cultural history and cultural repression of this unique region, how it will adapt to climate change, how to change culture in order to get people to start appreciating their native flora more, how to convince people to kill their lawns, what happened to horned lizards, what's up with Texas Tortoises, and a sh*t ton more. Ernest Herrera is a botanist, herper, and field biologist born and raised in South Texas.

22 MAY 2024 · In this episode we talk about why plant "rescue" is a bullshit term, how Epipactis is probably pollinated hoverflies that it dupes, whats up with this new species of Asteraceae discovered in the Chihuahua desert, why people who don't know much about botany or ecology initially prefer non-native plants orver native ones, best place to get a Texas toast waffle machine, stealing a bus bin from Olive Garden, etc Note : I mistakenly say Deb "described" this new species of composite. I meant to say "discovered". Blame my sleep deficit gfy

30 APR 2024 · In this episode we talk with Botanist Matt Berger about Death Valley Plants, discovering new species, Limestone endemic plants, Dune Beetles, Desert Shrimp, specifist.ecology and more.