The carnivorous plants are back, and this time we’re looking at my favorite bug traps, Sundews!

I forgot to mention in the intro that I’m going to be at RavenCon in Richmond, VA this weekend—actually, as this airs, I’m probably already on my way—and AtomaCon in North Charleston, SC next weekend. Come say “hi!”

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)
• https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Sundews
• National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region (2nd ed.) by John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, & Nancy C. Olmstead (2001)
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosera
• Nanofibers and nanoparticles from the insect-capturing adhesive of the Sundew (Drosera) for cell attachment by Mingjun Zhang, et al. (2010). Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 8(20). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-3155-8-20

Watch the real-life Zombie Fungus in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• https://screenrant.com/girl-all-gifts-fungal-infection-hungries-explained/
• https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/cordyceps
• Interkingdom host jumping underground: Phylogenetic analysis of entomoparasitic fungi of the genus Cordyceps by Naruo Nikoh and Takema Fukatsu (2000). Molecular Biology and Evolution, 17(4), pg. 629-638. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026341
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/but-not-simpler/the-fungus-that-reduced-humanity-to-the-last-of-us/
• https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/cordyceps
• Unique bioactives from Zombie Fungus (Cordyceps) as promising multitargeted neuroprotective agents by Himadri Sharma, Niti Sharma, and Seong Soo A An (2023). Nutrients, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010102
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps

Sometimes plants come in very silly shapes.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• https://sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/3891/nepenthes-bokorensis-wild
• Species composition of ant prey of the pitcher plant Nepenthes bokorensis Mey (Nepenthaceae) in Phnom Bokor National Park, Cambodia by Shingo Hosoishi, et al. (2012). Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 5(1), pg. 3-7.
• Report of carnivorous plants (Droseraceae, Lentibulariaceae and Nepenthaceae) from seasonally dry savannahs in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia by Pierre-Olivier Maquart, et al. (2021). Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 14(1), pg. 1-4.
• Nepenthes bokorensis, a new species of Nepenthaceae from Cambodia by Francois Sockhom Mey (2009). Carniflora Australis, 7(1), pg. 6-15.
• Nepenthes holdenii (Nepenthaceae), a new species of pyrophytic pitcher plant from the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia (2010) by Francois Stockhom Mey, et al. In: Carnivorous Plants in their Habitats by Stewart McPherson.
• https://www.livescience.com/carnivorous-penis-pitcher-plant-picked
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepenthes_bokorensis

While researching this episode, I stumbled across an Insta called @horrorcultureplants that I highly recommend giving a follow.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Biological flora of Central Europe: Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. by Lubomír Adamec (2018). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 35, pg. 8-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2018.10.001
• Studies on the leaf movement of Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., part I: Process and mechanism of the movement by Joji Ashida (1932). Memoirs of the College of Science, Kyoto Imperial University, Series B, 9(3), pg. 143-246.
• https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/waterwheel-plant/
• Fossil Aldrovanda by John D. Degreef (1997). Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, 26(3), pg. 93-97. https://doi.org/10.55360/cpn263.jd244
• Prey capture analyses in the carnivorous aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Droseraceae) by Simon Poppinga, et al. (2019). Scientific Reports, 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54857-w
• “This Carnivorous Plant Invaded New York. That May Be Its Only Hope.” by Mario Renault (13 August 2019). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/science/waterwheel-plants-carnivorous.html
• How the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) snaps by Anna S. Westermeier, et al. (2018). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1878). https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0012
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrovanda_vesiculosa

"They took all the trees, and put ‘em in a tree museum…”

—Counting Crows

That will kind of make sense in about 10 seconds. I should totally make a playlist for this podcast. Drop your recommendations in the comments.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• https://extension.umd.edu/resource/serviceberry-early-flowering-maryland-native-tree/
• Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)
• https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/amelanchier/
• Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America by Lee Allen Peterson (1977)
• The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl (2023)
• Magnificent Trees of Indiana by Caroll D. Ritter (2022)
• Trees of the Carolinas by Stan Tekiela (2007)
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanchier

I would like to introduce you to a tree that you can eat, brush your teeth with, and also use to make nanoparticles.

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World by Akbar S. Ahmed (1999)
• Salvadora persica L. Toothbrush Tree with health benefits and industrial applications: An updated evidence-based review by Mohamed Farag, et al. (2021). Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 29(7), pg. 751-763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2021.05.007
• Desert Plants of Egypt’s Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud (2010)
• https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Salvadora+persica
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica

The Snowflake Fairy

Robed in white comes Snowflake Fairy,

braving wintry winds and ice,

pearly "Maid of February,"

whom the glistening frosts entice.

Gladly welcome Snowflake Fairy,

on your terrace give her room.

She alone in February

braves the cold to shed her bloom.

—Elizabeth Gordon

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023)
• https://www.bloomandwild.com/the-blog/snowdrop-flowers-meaning
• https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/plant_profiles/snowdrops
• Plants That Kill: A Natural History of the World’s Most Poisonous Plants by Elizabeth A. Dauncey and Sonny Larson (2018)
• Galanthus trojanus: a new species of Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae) from north-western Turkey by Aaron P. Davis and Neriman Ozhatay (2001). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 137, pg. 409-412. DOI: 10.1006/boj1.2001.048.
• Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (3rd ed.) by Steven Foster and James A. Duke (2014)
• https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77118772-1/general-information
• Galantamine for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment by Clement Loy and Lon Schneider (2006). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001747.pub3
• https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/galanthus-nivalis/
• Homer's Moly identified as Galanthus nivalis L.: Physiologic antidote to stramonium poisoning by Andreas Plaitakis and Roger C. Duvoisin (1983). Clinical Neuropharmacology, 6(1), pg. 1-6. [Abstract].
• Collins Gem: Wild Flowers by Martin Walter (2002)
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus
• https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/snowdrop/

I finally got to break out my Ancient Egyptian Herbal for this one!

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleifera
• Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application by Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan, Kruthi Doriya, and Devarai Santhosh Kumar (2016). Food Science and Human Wellness, 5(2), pg. 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001
• Desert Plants of Egypt’s Wadi El Gemal National Park by Tamer Mahmoud (2010)
• An Ancient Egyptian Herbal by Lise Manniche (2006)
• Traditional uses, pharmacological efficacy, and phytochemistry of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori: A review by Anndurai Senthilkumar, et al. (2018). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, pg. 465. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00465
• https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Moringa+peregrina
• https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-moringa
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: 25th Anniversary Edition by Valerie Ann Wormwood (2016)
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_peregrina

Today is No-Buy Friday in the U.S. Aren’t you glad you can listen to this podcast for free? ;)

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023)
• Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (2014)
• https://www.flowermeaning.com/bleeding-heart-flower-meaning/
• Wild Flowers of North Carolina and Surrounding Areas by William S. Justice and C. Ritchie Bell (1979)
• https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/perennials/bleeding-heart/all-about-bleeding-hearts
• https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dicentra/
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/293049/lamprocapnos-spectabilis/details
• National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region (2nd ed.) by John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, & Nancy C. Olmstead (2001)
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicentra_formosa
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos
• https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bleeding-heart-dicentra-spectabilis/

Roses are red,

But can never be blue.

Thanks for listening,

Welcome back for part two!

Music by James Milor from Pixabay

Information provided by:

• Flowers and Their Meanings: The Secret Language and History of Over 600 Blooms by Karen Azoulay (2023)
• https://bouqs.com/blog/roses-meaning-symbolism-what-roses-signify/
• https://www.britannica.com/plant/rose-plant
• Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2nd ed.) by Scott Cunningham (2014)
• Herb Magic for Beginners: Down-to-earth Enchantments by Ellen Dugan (2016)
• Herbal Magick: A guide to herbal enchantments, folklore, and divination (2nd ed.) by Gerina Dunwich (2019)
• Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright (2021)
• Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers by Marta McDowell (2023)
• https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rosa/
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_symbolism