Herbarium of the Bizarre

By Meredith Hemphill

A podcast about strange, spooky, and misunderstood plants (and sometimes fungi).

Support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/HerbariumoftheBizarre... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Herbarium of the Bizarre:

How many episodes does Herbarium of the Bizarre have?

The podcast currently has 89 episodes available.

Herbarium of the Bizarre episodes:

February 23, 2024Theobroma cacao
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:
https://doi.org/10.1215/00141801-52-4-673

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeology-chocolate-180954243/

https://www.secondshistory.com/home/2021/2/21/chocolate-mesoamerican-aphrodisiac

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate

https://www.keithscacao.com/blogs/keiths-cacao-blog/the-taste-of-love-how-chocolate-became-the-world-s-favorite-aphrodisiac

Chocolate, “food of the gods”: History, science, and human health by Maria Teresa Montagna, et al. (2019) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph16244960

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

Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by Willow Zuchowski
...more
11min
February 16, 2024Wasp-Mimicking Orchids
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:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/995293

https://www.science.org/content/article/orchids-deceive-amorous-male-wasps

https://phys.org/news/2017-05-sexually-deceptive-spider-orchids-wasps.html

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Plant_Strategies/mimicry.shtml

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2014/09/deceptive-orchids-luring-wasps-for-pollination/
...more
8min
February 09, 2024Mandrake, Part 2
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:
The rise and fall of mandrake in medicine by Guillermo Benítez, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115874

https://youtu.be/xSdD-mVsjRg?si=sfyNighAK-K3ZmPb

Myths and mandrakes by Anthony John Carter (2003) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.96.3.144

https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/mandrake

https://www.wired.com/2014/06/fantastically-wrong-mandrake/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/mandrake.shtml
...more
8min
February 02, 2024Mandrake, Part 1
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:
The rise and fall of mandrake in medicine by Guillermo Benítez, et al. (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115874

https://youtu.be/xSdD-mVsjRg?si=sfyNighAK-K3ZmPb

Myths and mandrakes by Anthony John Carter (2003) https://doi.org/10.1258%2Fjrsm.96.3.144

https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/mandrake

https://www.wired.com/2014/06/fantastically-wrong-mandrake/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/mandrake.shtml
...more
9min
January 26, 2024Datura
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:
https://www.unilad.com/news/worlds-scariest-drug-crime-gangs-20220822

“Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium L. as a potential medicinal tree: An overview” by Priyanka Soni, et al. (2012)

https://sunrisehouse.com/herbal-drugs/datura/

“Million dollar ride: Crime committed during involuntary scopolamine intoxication” by Sonja Reichert, et al. (2017)

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/poisonous-flower-tiktok-angels-trumpet-b1877286.html

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/datura.shtml

“World’s Scariest Drug: Columbian Devil’s Breath” from VICE (2012)

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/datura/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura
...more
13min
January 19, 2024Carolina Horsenettle
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:
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/horsenettle

https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/how-toxic-is-this-weed/

https://www.misin.msu.edu/facts/detail/?project=misin&id=393&cname=Horse+nettle

https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/horse-nettle

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-carolinense/

"Pasture Weed Fact Sheet: Horsenettle" by G. Neil Rhodes, Jr. & William P. Phillips, Jr., University of Tennessee Extension

https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/horse-nettle-poisoning
...more
9min
January 12, 2024Jack-o-Lantern Mushroom
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:
https://foragerchef.com/know-thy-enemies-jack-olantern-mushrooms/

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/omphalotus-illudens.php

https://defector.com/an-ode-to-the-jack-o-lantern-mushroom-a-poisonous-friend

https://grocycle.com/jack-o-lantern-mushroom/

“Irofulven – Halloween Trick or a Beacon of Light” by Elinoar Shavit in Medicinal Mushrooms, Vol 1(1), Spring 2008

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalotus_olearius
...more
9min
January 05, 2024Century Plant
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:
https://facts.net/nature/plants/13-astounding-facts-about-century-plant/

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/agave-americana-century-plant

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=agam

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agave/

https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/an-ode-to-the-century-plant/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_americana

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/century-plant-bloom-palmdale-agave-americana/3190660/
...more
8min
December 29, 2023Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)
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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkCS9ePWuLU

“Amanita muscaria: Chemistry, ecology, myths” by Carboue, Q. & Lopez, M. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia1030069

“The deceptive mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria poisoning” by Rampolli, F.I. et al. https://doi.org/10.12890%2F2021_002212

https://www.acslab.com/mushrooms/amanita-muscaria-vs-psychedelic-mushrooms

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/flyagaric.shtml

“Fly agaric and man” by R. Gordon Wasson in Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs (1967)

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/fly-agaric/
...more
14min
December 15, 2023Mistletoe
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:
https://www.dictionary.com/e/mistletoe/

https://blog.nwf.org/2012/12/12-things-to-know-about-mistletoe/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/biology-mistletoe-180976601/

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/mistletoe/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/parasitic-plant
...more
10min

FAQs about Herbarium of the Bizarre:

How many episodes does Herbarium of the Bizarre have?

The podcast currently has 89 episodes available.