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Explore every episode of the podcast Herbarium of the Bizarre

Dive into the complete episode list for Herbarium of the Bizarre. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Death Caps22 Sep 202400:12:59

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 pretty sure this is at least the second time Nero has come up on this show. I can’t escape that guy.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/05/17/1175494500/new-hope-for-an-antidote-to-death-cap-mushrooms-and-other-poison-fungi
  2. https://www.britannica.com/science/death-cap
  3. “Death Cap mushrooms can kill” from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
  4. https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/death-cap-mushrooms.html
  5. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/mushroom-poisoning-has-unreported-consequence-dog
  6. The death of Claudius, or Mushrooms for murderers by R. Gordon Wasson (1972)
  7. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_phalloides
Sunflowers14 Sep 202400:11:24

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 seasonal and they have taken over our front yard for some reason.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://gardencollage.com/change/sustainability/scientists-using-sunflowers-clean-nuclear-radiation/
  2. https://www.kew.org/plants/sunflower
  3. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a32638/sunflower-fun-facts/
  4. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-sunflowers-are-ukraines-national-flower-180979850/
  5. The National Sunflower Association (https://www.sunflowernsa.com/)
  6. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helianthus/
  7. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-disaster-sunflowers-idUSTRE77I0PG20110819/
  8. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/helianthus_annuus.shtml
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sunflower
Dead Man's Fingers12 Jul 202400:06:36

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.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/dead-mans-fingers-purdue-landscape-report/
  2. Xylaria polymorpha (Pers.)Grev. (Dead man's fingers) and its ethnomycological study by Ganesh Hedawoo (2021)
  3. https://www.allianceforthebay.org/2019/10/from-the-grave-dead-mans-fingers/
  4. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/dead-mans-fingers
  5. https://first-nature.com/fungi/xylaria-polymorpha.php
  6. https://extension.psu.edu/spooktacular-flora-and-fungi
  7. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria_polymorpha
  8. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dead-mans-fingers/
  9. https://woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/dead-mans-fingers/
Dyer's Croton06 Jul 202400:09:25

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 really think about the fact that my day off was also the day everyone sets off fireworks (even though they’re illegal in North Carolina) before I decided it would be a good time to record. At least it’s kind of on theme.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Prokinetic and Laxative Effects of Chrozophora tinctoria whole plant extract by Ayaz Ali Sher, et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules27072143
  2. https://discoverpollinators.org/all-about-pollinators/ants/
  3. A review on medicinal aspects of Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A. (Euphorbiaceae) by Sumaiya Fatima, et al. (2022)
  4. Desert Plants of Egypt’s Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud
  5. Pharmacological evaluation of Chrozophora tinctoria as wound healing potential in diabetic rat's model by Harikesh Maurya, Monika Semwal, & Susheel Kumar Dubey (2016) https://doi.org/10.1155%2F2016%2F7475124
  6. The book on how to make all the colour paints for illuminating books: unravelling a Portuguese Hebrew illuminators’ manual by Maria J. Melo, et al. (2018)
  7. https://www.maltawildplants.com/EUPH/Chrozophora_tinctoria.php
  8. A 1000-year-old mystery solved: Unlocking the molecular structure for the medieval blue from Chrozophora tinctoria, also known as folium by P. Nabais, et al. (2020) https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fsciadv.aaz7772
  9. Phytochemical analysis, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of Chrozophora tinctoria: a natural dye plant by Feyza Oke-Altuntas, et al. (2017) https://doi.org/10.1080%2F13880209.2016.1277767
  10. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/pollinators/who-are-the-pollinators/ants
  11. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrozophora_tinctoria
Triffids29 Jun 202400:10:30

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 from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/triffid-triffidus-celestus/
  2. Steve Sekeley (Director). (1963). The Day of the Triffids [Film]. Security Pictures, Ltd.
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triffid
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Triffids
  5. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)
Desert Cotton21 Jun 202400:07:19

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 at all when we were researching this episode. 😵‍💫


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Association of Morphological, Ecological, and Genetic Diversity of Aerva javanica Populations Growing in the Eastern Desert of Egypt by Noha A. El-Tayeh, et al. (2020) https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030402
  2. Desert Plants of Egypt’s Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud
  3. A Review on the Pashanbheda Plant “Aerva javanica” by Vinit Ravjibhai Movaliya and Maitreyi Zaveri (2014)
  4. https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/famine-foods/famine_food/aerva-javanica/
  5. https://www.enature.qa/specie/tuwaim/
  6. Phytochemical Analysis of Anastatica hierochuntica and Aerva javanica Grown in Qatar: Their Biological Activities and Identification of Some Active Ingredients by Vandana Thotathil, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules28083364
  7. https://www.medicinalplants.doh.gov.ae/en/Encyclopedia-of-medicine-plant-of-UAE/Aerva-javanica
  8. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Aerva+javanica
  9. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/aerva_javanica.htm
  10. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerva_javanica
Yarrow14 Jun 202400:07:39

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 think it’s a weed. Which it is, but a useful one.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Flowers and their Meanings by Karen Azoulay
  2. https://www.almanac.com/yarrow-and-its-medicinal-uses-healing-garden-herb
  3. https://www.almanac.com/plant/yarrow
  4. https://www.botanical.com/~botanid5/botanical/mgmh/y/yarrow02.html
  5. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/yarrow
  6. https://santafebotanicalgarden.org/march-2011/
  7. “Yarrow” from University of California Master Gardener Program
  8. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-151/yarrow
Mad Honey08 Jun 202400:10:15

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 1800s. These days, we have treatments for severe poisonings, one of which is actually atropine!


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://theapiarist.org/mad-honey/
  2. https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/mad-honey-red-hallucinogen
  3. Risks for human health related to the presence of grayanotoxins in certain honey by the European Food Safety Authority (2023) https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7866
  4. Grayanotoxin poisoning: ‘Mad honey disease’ and beyond by Suze A. Jansen et al. (2012) https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12012-012-9162-2
  5. https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/
  6. https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/hidden-poison-rhododendron-nectar
  7. Mad honey: uses, intoxicating/poisoning effects, diagnosis, and treatment by Sana Ullah et al. (2018) https://doi.org/10.1039%2Fc8ra01924j
  8. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_honey
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron
Catnip31 May 202400:09:22

Featuring several detours into catmint, which is almost, but not quite, the same thing.


Article on catnip from my defunct blog: https://encyclopaediafelidae.com/crazy-for-catnip/


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Catnip: Its raison d’être by T. Eisner (1964)
  2. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/catmint-vs-catnip/
  3. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211103125.htm
  4. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/catnip-nepeta-cataria/
  5. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e433
  6. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nepeta-cataria/
  7. Catnip and oestrous behaviour in the cat by G. F. Palen and G. V. Goddard (1966) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(66)80100-8
  8. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm
  9. Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats by N. B. Todd (1962) https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a107121
  10. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-catnip-work-on-cats/
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catnip
Deadly Nightshade25 May 202400:11:33

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. The flowers are my favorite color!


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Atropa Belladonna intoxication: a case report by Mohamed Adnane Berdai, et al. (2012)
  2. https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/belladonna
  3. https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/deadly-nightshade/
  4. https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/deadly-nightshade-botanical-biography
  5. https://www.rxlist.com/how_do_anticholinergic_agents_work/drug-class.htm
  6. An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Belladonna by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration by Catherine Ulbricht, et al. (2004)
  7. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/belladonna.shtml
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticholinergic
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna
  10. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/deadly-nightshade/
Guanacaste Tree18 May 202400:08:59

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 on time, so be proud of me, please. This tree is named after intestines. That’s pretty interesting, right?


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR372
  2. https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=734
  3. Chemical composition, secondary metabolites and nutritive value of elephant-ear tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb): A review by N.J. Ekanem, Udoh Inyang, & Kingsley Ikwunze (2022) http://dx.doi.org/10.51791/njap.v49i2.3489
  4. Enterolobium cyclocarpum Seed Passage Rate and Survival in Horses, Costa Rican Pleistocene Seed Dispersal Agents by Daniel H. Janzen (1981) https://doi.org/10.2307/1937726
  5. https://www.govisitcostarica.com/blog/post/elephant-ear-tree-history-costa-rica-national-tree.aspx#
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterolobium_cyclocarpum#cite_ref-14
  7. https://winrock.org/enterolobium-cyclocarpum-the-ear-pod-tree-for-pasture-fodder-and-wood/
  8. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski
Stinging Nettle11 May 202400:09:32

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 website is in French, because they are in France.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Nettle as a distinct Bronze Age textile plant by C. Bergfjord, et al. (2012) https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fsrep00664
  2. https://www.britannica.com/plant/stinging-nettle
  3. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.): Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Compounds, and Food Functional Properties by Hari Prasad Devkota, et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules27165219
  4. https://theecologist.org/2009/aug/20/second-skin-why-wearing-nettles-next-big-thing
  5. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/stinging-nettle
  6. The medicinal chemistry of Urtica dioica L.: from preliminary evidence to clinical studies supporting its neuroprotective activity by Prabhakar Semwal, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs13659-023-00380-5
  7. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-nettle-leaf
  8. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urtica_dioica
Kudzu06 Sep 202400:12:15

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’s meet the most hated plant in the South: kudzu.


If you’re in North Carolina and would like to try some of the kudzu delicacies I mentioned, look up Carolina Kudzu Crazy (https://www.facebook.com/p/Carolina-Kudzu-Crazy-100063473593361/).


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/true-story-kudzu-vine-ate-south-180956325/
  2. https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/dining/kudzu-edible-why-aren-eating/BXAct9CtIshpWaB8f9D2PO/
  3. https://conservingcarolina.org/get-rid-of-kudzu/
  4. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/the-history-and-use-of-kudzu-in-the-southeastern-united-states/
  5. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/kudzu-invasive-species/
  6. A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm by David M. Penetar, et al. (2015) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.05.025
  7. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu
  8. Fundamentals of Weed Science (6th ed.) by Robert L. Zimdahl
Bladderwort26 Apr 202400:10:34

It’s the last week of Carnivorous Plant Month. 😢 But we’re finishing up with a real overachiever.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://entomologytoday.org/2024/03/27/bladderwort-carnivorous-plant-mosquito-biological-control/
  2. https://www.britannica.com/plant/bladderwort
  3. http://www.batladyherbals.com/2021/03/bladderwort.html
  4. Evaluating the carnivorous efficacy of Utricularia aurea (Lamiales: Lentibulariaceae) on the larval stages of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) by Ajeet Kumar Mohanty, et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae038
  5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utricularia
Butterwort19 Apr 202400:08:06

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 provided by:

  1. https://botany.org/home/resources/carnivorous-plants-insectivorous-plants/pinguicula-the-butterworts.html
  2. https://www.learnaboutnature.com/plants/carnivorous/butterworts/
  3. https://www.ukhouseplants.com/plants/pinguicula-butterworts
  4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinguicula
  5. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/common-butterwort
Pitcher Plants12 Apr 202400:07:19

Make sure you celebrate International Plant Appreciation Day tomorrow!


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Carnivorous plants: Phylogeny and structural evolution by Victor A. Albert, Stephen E. Williams, & Mark W. Chase (1992) https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1523408
  2. Fluid physico-chemical properties influence capture and diet in Nepenthes pitcher plants by Vincent Bazile, et al. (2015) https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu266
  3. https://www.britannica.com/plant/pitcher-plant
  4. https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2023/11/how-carnivorous-Asian-pitcher-plants-acquired-signature-insect-traps.html
  5. How a sticky fluid facilitates prey retention in a carnivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana) by Victor Kang, et al. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.04.002
  6. Bait, not reward: CO2-enriched Nepenthes pitchers secrete toxic nectar by Chandni Chandran Lathika, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.25.568661
  7. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/carnivorous-pitcher-plants
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcher_plant
  9. https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/fall-2020/articles/tropical-pitcher-plants-are-beautiful-but-deadly
Venus Flytrap05 Apr 202400:10:24

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.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.zmescience.com/science/venus-flytrap/
  2. https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/01/five-things-about-venus-flytraps/
  3. Testing Darwin’s hypothesis about the wonderful Venus flytrap: marginal spikes form a ‘horrid prison’ for moderate-sized insect prey by Alexander L. Davis, et al. (2019) https://doi.org/10.1086%2F701433
  4. https://www.fws.gov/species/venus-fly-trap-dionaea-muscipula
  5. https://www.the-scientist.com/how-the-venus-flytrap-captures-its-prey-71429
Toothache Plant29 Mar 202400:07:00

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 from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  • The effect of toothpicks containing flavoring and flavoring plus jambu extract (spilanthol) to promote salivation in patients diagnosed with opioid-induced dry mouth (xerostomia) by Bennet Davis, et al. (2017) https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2017.0402
  • Phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Spilanthes acmella: A review by Suchita Dubey, et al. (2013) https://doi.org/10.1155%2F2013%2F423750
  • Rhamnogalacturonan from Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen: Gastroprotective and ulcer healing properties in rats by Daniele Maria-Ferreira, et al. (2014) https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0084762
  • https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/spilanthes-acmella-jambu
  • https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acmella-oleracea/
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/toothache-plant#summary
  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acmella_oleracea
Silphium23 Mar 202400:17:07

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 totally a professional.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170907-the-mystery-of-the-lost-roman-herb
  2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/miracle-plant-eaten-extinction-2000-years-ago-silphion
  3. https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/silphium-mystery
  4. Next chapter in the legend of silphion: Preliminary morphological, chemical, biological and pharmacological evaluations, initial conservation studies, and reassessment of the regional extinction event by Mahmut Miski (2021) https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010102
  5. https://allthatsinteresting.com/silphium
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium
Shamrock15 Mar 202400:08:27

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 actually is a shamrock, anyway? ☘️ It’s a more complicated question than you might think.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.britannica.com/plant/clover-plant
  2. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/22170#page/113/mode/1up
  3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/30126#page/235/mode/1up
  4. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/how-ireland-lost-the-battle-for-the-shamrock-in-germany-1.17004
  5. https://time.com/5550579/shamrock-history/
  6. https://www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/article/the-difference-between-irish-shamrocks-and-four-leaf-clovers/
  7. https://extension.psu.edu/the-botany-behind-the-shamrock
  8. https://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/traditions/fun-facts-about-four-leaf-clovers/
  9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock
Strangler Fig08 Mar 202400:07:34

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 sensitive than the old one, though, so I’m sorry about the airplane (?) at about 4:35.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/strangler_figs.php
  2. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST250
  3. https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/detail/F.1975.14.5.S/
  4. https://www.science.org/content/article/being-strangled-may-save-tree-s-life
  5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_aurea
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_benghalensis
  7. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig
  8. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski
Theobroma cacao23 Feb 202400:10:40

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?


This episode references human sexual behavior. Only very mildly, but in case the kiddos like to listen, here’s your advance notice.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://doi.org/10.1215/00141801-52-4-673
  2. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeology-chocolate-180954243/
  3. https://www.secondshistory.com/home/2021/2/21/chocolate-mesoamerican-aphrodisiac
  4. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate
  5. https://www.keithscacao.com/blogs/keiths-cacao-blog/the-taste-of-love-how-chocolate-became-the-world-s-favorite-aphrodisiac
  6. Chocolate, “food of the gods”: History, science, and human health by Maria Teresa Montagna, et al. (2019) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph16244960
  7. Cocoa and chocolate consumption: Are there aphrodisiac and other benefits for human health? By Eo. Afoakwa MPhil (2016) [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2008.11734163
  8. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski
Wasp-Mimicking Orchids16 Feb 202400:07:19

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! 💚 These orchids definitely think that only fools rush in—in fact, they’re counting on it.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/995293
  2. https://www.science.org/content/article/orchids-deceive-amorous-male-wasps
  3. https://phys.org/news/2017-05-sexually-deceptive-spider-orchids-wasps.html
  4. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Plant_Strategies/mimicry.shtml
  5. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2014/09/deceptive-orchids-luring-wasps-for-pollination/
Mandrake, Part 209 Feb 202400:07:19

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 pop culture.


This is another plant we learned about in my ethnobotany class, so shout out #2 to Dr. De Gezelle.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. The rise and fall of mandrake in medicine by Guillermo Benítez, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115874
  2. https://youtu.be/xSdD-mVsjRg?si=sfyNighAK-K3ZmPb
  3. Myths and mandrakes by Anthony John Carter (2003) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.96.3.144
  4. https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/mandrake
  5. https://www.wired.com/2014/06/fantastically-wrong-mandrake/
  6. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/mandrake.shtml
Mandrake, Part 102 Feb 202400:08:02

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 one, I’ll cover what a Mandrake is, why this plant was so important to the ancient world, and why it’s one of my “romantic” plants for February.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. The rise and fall of mandrake in medicine by Guillermo Benítez, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115874
  2. https://youtu.be/xSdD-mVsjRg?si=sfyNighAK-K3ZmPb
  3. Myths and mandrakes by Anthony John Carter (2003) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.96.3.144
  4. https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/mandrake
  5. https://www.wired.com/2014/06/fantastically-wrong-mandrake/
  6. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/mandrake.shtml
Datura26 Jan 202400:12:03

Scary story time! But like, seriously. Thanks to Dr. Jillian De Gezelle for introducing me to this beautiful, nightmarish flower.


Apologies if the sound editing is not my best work. It’s been that kind of week.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.unilad.com/news/worlds-scariest-drug-crime-gangs-20220822
  2. “Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium L. as a potential medicinal tree: An overview” by Priyanka Soni, et al. (2012)
  3. https://sunrisehouse.com/herbal-drugs/datura/
  4. “Million dollar ride: Crime committed during involuntary scopolamine intoxication” by Sonja Reichert, et al. (2017)
  5. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/poisonous-flower-tiktok-angels-trumpet-b1877286.html
  6. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/datura.shtml
  7. “World’s Scariest Drug: Columbian Devil’s Breath” from VICE (2012)
  8. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/datura/
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura
Carolina Horsenettle19 Jan 202400:08:55

Today’s topic, Carolina Horsenettle, was suggested by Kate Shaw. Check out her podcast, Strange Animals Podcast, here: https://strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net/


My Experience with Solanum carolinense in the Treatment of Epilepsy, by Dr. C. F. Barber (1895): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/458507


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/horsenettle
  2. https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/how-toxic-is-this-weed/
  3. https://www.misin.msu.edu/facts/detail/?project=misin&id=393&cname=Horse+nettle
  4. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/horse-nettle
  5. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-carolinense/
  6. "Pasture Weed Fact Sheet: Horsenettle" by G. Neil Rhodes, Jr. & William P. Phillips, Jr., University of Tennessee Extension
  7. https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/horse-nettle-poisoning
Jack-o-Lantern Mushroom12 Jan 202400:08:18

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 from his mycological mistake.


Jack-o-Lantern Identification: https://youtu.be/gwjabCshMI4?si=EsJaSrsjhcgByyfs


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://foragerchef.com/know-thy-enemies-jack-olantern-mushrooms/
  2. https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/omphalotus-illudens.php
  3. https://defector.com/an-ode-to-the-jack-o-lantern-mushroom-a-poisonous-friend
  4. https://grocycle.com/jack-o-lantern-mushroom/
  5. “Irofulven – Halloween Trick or a Beacon of Light” by Elinoar Shavit in Medicinal Mushrooms, Vol 1(1), Spring 2008
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalotus_olearius
Century Plant05 Jan 202400:07:10

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, and once in a great while, it makes an asparagus tree (sort of).


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://facts.net/nature/plants/13-astounding-facts-about-century-plant/
  2. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/agave-americana-century-plant
  3. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=agam
  4. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agave/
  5. https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/an-ode-to-the-century-plant/
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_americana
  7. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/century-plant-bloom-palmdale-agave-americana/3190660/
Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)29 Dec 202300:13:02

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 called Amanita muscaria or fly agaric, and it is both hallucinogenic and poisonous. What’s not to love? 🍄


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkCS9ePWuLU
  2. “Amanita muscaria: Chemistry, ecology, myths” by Carboue, Q. & Lopez, M. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia1030069
  3. “The deceptive mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria poisoning” by Rampolli, F.I. et al. https://doi.org/10.12890%2F2021_002212
  4. https://www.acslab.com/mushrooms/amanita-muscaria-vs-psychedelic-mushrooms
  5. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/flyagaric.shtml
  6. “Fly agaric and man” by R. Gordon Wasson in Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs (1967)
  7. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/fly-agaric/
Mistletoe15 Dec 202300:09:08

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 parasite. 🎄


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.dictionary.com/e/mistletoe/
  2. https://blog.nwf.org/2012/12/12-things-to-know-about-mistletoe/
  3. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/biology-mistletoe-180976601/
  4. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/mistletoe/
  5. https://www.britannica.com/plant/parasitic-plant
Myrrh09 Dec 202300:08:34

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, we meet a tree that cries bitter tears and kills intestinal worms. Happy Holidays!


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  • “Commiphora myrrh: a phytochemical and pharmacological update” by Gaber El-Saber Batiha et al. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00210-022-02325-0
  • https://www.botanicalrepublic.com/blogs/beauty/what-is-myrrh-oil-used-for-in-skincare
  • https://www.drugs.com/npp/myrrh.html
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/myrrh
  • “The Role of Myrrh Metabolites in Cancer, Inflammation, and Wound Healing: Prospects for a Multi-Targeted Drug Therapy” by Rasha Saad Suliman et al. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fph15080944
Frankincense01 Dec 202300:08:55

Welcome to the first of three holiday-themed episodes! Thanks for the suggestion, Mom. This week’s subject is Frankincense. Not a plant, exactly, but a plant product that has enormous importance in human history and culture.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/frankincense
  2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/frankincense-trees-declining-overtapping
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/05/science/frankincense-trees-collapse.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
  4. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2009.1472.1479
  5. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/boswellia
  6. https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/brief-history-frankincense
Cotton23 Aug 202400:09:36

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, candy floss clouds.


To be clear, it’s cotton boll, not bowl. My accent is not my friend in this episode.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.fairindigo.com/blogs/news/what-is-pima-cotton-and-how-is-it-different
  2. https://www.cottoninc.com/cotton-production/quality/classification-of-cotton/overview/
  3. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/cotton-and-wool/cotton-sector-at-a-glance/
  4. http://www.historyofclothing.com/textile-history/history-of-cotton/
  5. “Cotton: From Field to Fabric” from the National Cotton Council of America
  6. “The Story of Cotton” from the National Cotton Council of America
  7. https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/what-cotton
  8. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/
  9. https://nymag.com/strategist/article/what-is-egyptian-cotton-explainer.html
  10. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cotton/evolution/
  11. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cotton/what/
  12. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossypium
Maize24 Nov 202300:08:14

Happy Native American Heritage Day in the United States! We’re talking about a plant that featured heavily in traditional Native American agriculture which has now become a huge global crop. In the U.S., it’s called corn, but the international name is maize.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.britannica.com/plant/corn-plant
  2. https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/%E2%80%98all-corn-is-the-same%E2%80%99-and-other-foolishness-about-america%E2%80%99s-king-crops
  3. “A single domestication for maize shown by multilocus microsatellite genotyping” by Yoshihiro Matsuoka, et al. https://doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.052125199
  4. https://www.popcorn.org/All-About-Popcorn/History-of-Popcorn
  5. https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN2632641520080226/
  6. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/evolution/corn
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_maize
Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)17 Nov 202300:08:20

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


Information provided by:

  1. “Mimosa pudica L. (Laajvanti): An overview” by Hafsa Ahmad et al. https://doi.org/10.4103%2F0973-7847.99945
  2. https://www.britannica.com/plant/mimosa
  3. https://www.aaas.org/news/weird-wonderful-creatures-sensitive-plant
  4. https://greenhouse.biology.indiana.edu/features/fun-plants/Mimosa-pudica.html
  5. “Neutralisation of lethality, myotoxicity and toxic enzymes of Naja kaouthia venom by Mimosa pudica root extracts” by Monimala Mahanta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00373-1
  6. “The potential of Thai indigenous plant species for the phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated land” by P. Visoottiviseth, K. Francesconi, & W. Sridokchan https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(01)00293-7
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica
Welwitschia10 Nov 202300:09:00

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 mirabilis. It’s weird and wonderful, and there is literally nothing else like it.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. “Distribution of Welwitschia mirabilis” by Robert J. Rodin https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1953.tb06480.x
  2. https://pza.sanbi.org/welwitschia-mirabilis
  3. “Pollination Biology of Welwitschia mirabilis HOOK. f. (Welwitschiaceae, Gnetopsida)” by Wolfgang Wetschnig and Barbara Depisch
  4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Namibia
Tomato03 Nov 202300:11:36

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 in the world, especially for home gardeners. But there might be a thing or two you didn’t know about this very common food plant.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. “Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Solanine Toxicity (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanum lycopersicum L.)” by Dr. Donald G. Barceloux
  2. Genetic Diversity in Plants, Chapter 8: Genetic Diversity in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its Wild Relatives, by Guillame Bauchet & Mathilde Causse
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221008015
  4. https://www.britannica.com/plant/tomato
  5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-007-9085-x
  6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2012.657809
  7. https://www.planetnatural.com/tomato-gardening-guru/history/
  8. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-the-tomato-was-feared-in-europe-for-more-than-200-years-863735/
  9. https://www.uvm.edu/news/extension/history-tomatoes
Bleeding Tooth Fungus27 Oct 202300:08:41

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 Bleeding Tooth Fungus, a mushroom that looks scary but is actually pretty nice to have around.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.aaas.org/news/weird-wonderful-creatures-bleeding-tooth-fungus
  2. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/fungus-lichen/is-bleeding-tooth-fungus-safe.htm
  3. https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/devils-tooth-fungus.html
  4. http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/f2012/deflorin_patr/index.htm
Doll's Eyes20 Oct 202300:06:53

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. Doll’s Eyes.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

Ghost Pipe13 Oct 202300:10:29

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 ghost! And also like a mushroom. A mushroom ghost, perhaps? 👻


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

Magnolia16 Aug 202400:11:13

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


Information provided by:

  1. https://shop.arborday.org/treeguide/333
  2. https://gardens.si.edu/learn/blog/the-botany-of-magnolias/
  3. https://www.gardenia.net/genus/magnolia-tree
  4. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/magnolia-virginiana-sweet-bay-magnolia
  5. https://blog.natureplusme.com/types-of-magnolia
  6. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-acuminata/
  7. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-fraseri/
  8. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-macrophylla/
  9. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-tripetala/
  10. A review of pollination of Magnolia by beetles, with a collecting survey made in the Carolinas by Richard S. Peigler (1988) in Magnolia
  11. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia
  12. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora
Tobacco, Part 210 Aug 202400:12:20

With (sort of) special appearances by Tobin Bell, Rosalind Franklin, and a 19th-century Dutch scientist whose name I certainly did not get right.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) - A model system for tissue culture interventions and genetic engineering by Thumballi R. Ganapathi, et al. (2004) [Abstract]
  2. In vitro transformation of cultured cells from Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens by L. Marton, et al. (1979) [Abstract]
  3. https://www.pmiscience.com/en/smoke-free/nicotine/tobacco-plant-research/
  4. On the historical significance of Beijerinck and his contagium vivum fluidum for modern virology by Neeraja Sankaran (2018)
  5. Therapeutic potential and phytoremediation capabilities of the tobacco plant: Advancements through genetic engineering and cultivation techniques by Nidhi Selwal, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2023.102845
  6. PLANT vs. PATHOGEN: Enlisting Tobacco in the Fight Against Anthrax by Graeme Stemp-Morlock (2006) https://doi.org/10.1289%2Fehp.114-a364
  7. “Tobacco Research and Its Relevance to Science, Medicine and Industry” by T.C. Tso (2006) DOI: 10.2478/cttr-2013-0824
  8. Phytochemicals derived from Nicotiana tabacum L. plant contribute to pharmaceutical development by Wenji Zhang, et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffphar.2024.1372456
Tobacco, Part 103 Aug 202400:13:05

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 educational purposes, not medical advice. Please, please do not attempt using tobacco for any of the historical medical purposes mentioned in this episode just because I said it’s been done before. Not everything that has been done should be repeated.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. Medicinal uses of tobacco in history by Anne Charlton (2004) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.97.6.292
  2. Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) by Marianna Jennifer Datiles & Pedro Acevedo-Rodriguez (2014) https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.36326
  3. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/tobacco-in-colonial-virginia/
  4. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1677/a-brief-history-of-tobacco-in-the-americas/
  5. https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/tobacco-the-early-history-of-a-new-world-crop.htm
  6. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/nicotiana/tabacum/
  7. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nicotiana-tabacum/
  8. https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/MN/Nicotiana
  9. Tobacco smoking: the leading cause of preventable disease worldwide by Jonathan M. Samet (2013) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thorsurg.2013.01.009
  10. https://www.st-group.com/about-us/our-tobacco/history-of-tobacco/
  11. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Nicotiana+tabacum
Mariposa Lily26 Jul 202400:10:46

Special thanks to Brooke for suggesting today’s episode topic, Mariposa Lilies. Also, “mariposa” and “lily” have ceased to sound like words to me.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  • https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Mariposa_Lily.php
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil

Butterfly Mariposa Lily

  • Phylogeography and population genetics reveal ring species patterns in a highly polymorphic California lily by Adriana I. Hernández, Jacob B. Landis, & Chelsea D. Specht (2022) [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14313
  • “Plant Guide: Mariposa Lily” from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, & National Plant Data Center
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/calochortus_venustus.shtml
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus_venustus

Catalina Mariposa Lily

  • https://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Liliaceae/Calochortus%20catalinae.htm
  • https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Catalina_Mariposa_Lily.php
  • https://theodorepayne.org/nativeplantdatabase/index.php?title=Calochortus_catalinae

Plummer’s Mariposa Lily

  • https://messengermountainnews.com/the-rare-plummers-mariposa-lily/
  • https://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/mariposa-lily/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus_plummerae
  • Causes and correlates of interannual variation in flowering of Calochortus plummerae (Liliaceae) by Kimberlyn Williams, Erica Burck, & Cesar L. Garcia (2021) https://doi.org/10.3120/0024-9637-68.4.360
Lamb's Ear20 Jul 202400:07:35

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


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2016/jul/29/plant-lambs-ears-and-keep-wool-carder-bees-happy
  2. https://hilltop.indiana.edu/news-events/_news/news9i.html
  3. https://mimiciftligi.com/en/blogs/gastronomi_ve_dogal_sifa/kuzu-kulagi-bitkisi-faydalari-nelerdir
  4. https://www.joellane.org/history/the-gardens/lambs-ear
  5. https://shorehomeandgarden.com/2022/08/02/the-lore-behind-alluring-lambs-ears/
  6. https://ourpermaculturelife.com/edible-medicinal-ornamental-herb-lambs-ear/
  7. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/stachys-byzantina/
  8. https://nativebeeology.com/2020/05/12/carder-bees-and-lambs-ear/
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachys_byzantina
Bloodroot28 Oct 202400:12:13

This time, we’re going to talk about something truly terrifying: medical fraud! 😱 But also a bleeding plant, because you have to have balance. And no, we are not going to talk about how late this episode is. In fact, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.


If you want to know more about black salve, check out episode 253 of Sawbones (link below).


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.verywellhealth.com/bloodroot-4175168
  2. Sanguinaria canadensis: Traditional medicine, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and current uses by Andrew Croaker, et al. (2016) https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17091414
  3. Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)
  4. https://dsps.lib.uiowa.edu/roots/bloodroot/
  5. Wild Flowers of North Carolina and Surrounding Areas by William S. Justice and C. Ritchie Bell (1979)
  6. McElroy, Sydnee and McElroy, Justin. (2018, 16 November). Black Salve (No. 253). In Sawbones. Maximum Fun. https://maximumfun.org/episodes/sawbones/sawbones-black-salve/
  7. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/bloodroot-sanguinaria-canadensis-l
  8. https://extension.psu.edu/spooktacular-flora-and-fungi
  9. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanguinaria
Audrey II19 Oct 202400:13:15

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 say as someone who goes to the theater maybe twice a year. But I have seen my fair share of horror musicals. There are more of them than you think.


I don’t quite have my recording setup ready in the new house yet, so sorry the audio is kind of bleh.


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/audrey-ii/
  2. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). Roger Corman [Dir.].
  3. https://playbill.com/article/did-you-know-that-audrey-ii-in-little-shop-of-horrors-is-a-female-man-eating-plant
  4. https://littleshop.fandom.com/wiki/Audrey_II
  5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986). Frank Oz [Dir.].
Wolfsbane13 Oct 202400:14:56

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 on time, if not for Spectrum. 😒


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8492936.stm
  2. https://www.chicagobotanic.org/blog/plants_and_gardening/monsters_magic_and_monkshood
  3. https://www.britannica.com/plant/monkshood
  4. Aconite poisoning by Thomas Y. K. Chan (2009) https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650902904407 [Abstract]
  5. https://www.drugs.com/npp/aconite.html
  6. Mode of antinociceptive and toxic action of alkaloids of Aconitum species by U. T. Gutser, et al. (1997) https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00005136 [Abstract]
  7. Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright (2021)
  8. https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-toxic-root-president-four-patients-hospital-poisoning/31215533.html
  9. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/aconitum-napellus-monkshood-wolfsbane-05-13-2016.aspx
  10. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconitum
Ghost Fungus04 Oct 202400:09:06

Spooky, scary mushrooms are glowing in the forest. 👻


Music by James Milor from Pixabay


Information provided by:

  1. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https:/id.biodiversity.org.au/node/fungi/60094367#overview
  2. “Fungus of the Week: Ghost Fungi Bioluminescence” by Alison Downing, et al. from McQuarie University
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/15/hunting-the-ghost-fungus-glowing-mushrooms-in-australias-forests
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tTWBt00vVU
  5. https://theconversation.com/the-glowing-ghost-mushroom-looks-like-it-comes-from-a-fungal-netherworld-111607
  6. The ghost fungus Omphalotus nidiformis (Berk.), new to Indonesia, poisoned foragers by Ivan P. Putra, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjs.2023.01.002
  7. Bioluminescence in the ghost fungus Omphalotus nidiformis does not attract potential spore dispersing insects by Philip Weinstein, et al. (2016) https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2016.07.02.01
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