With cute tiny flowers and berries as cute as a button, the Shoebutton Ardisia is the best definitely in the running for cutest plant on our invasive plant list.  But just what makes this cute plant such a pest?  Join us and find out, on this episode of PlantStories.

Like many plants, this plant began as an ornamental that we valued for it's beautiful cute flowers and tiny button berries.  For a long time going unnoticed, more recently in 2020 we've noticed some of it's more invasive habits as it spreads throughout the Florida landscape and marshes.  While this plant hails from South East Asia, it looks suspiciously similar to other plants making it difficult to identify.  It also has some other traits that make it easy to hide.  While some plants we've known to be invasive for years, this plant is relatively recent to come on our radar as a potential invader.  Come take a listen to the story of the ShoeButton Ardisia.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

There are a lot of different places in the world where you've possibly seen a Norway Maple.  It's a tree capable of spreading itself far and wide even it's home territory.  Join us this week as we talk about this common plant with invasive traits.

Known to stretch as far as Norway to Turkey in Europe, the Norway Maple was actually brought over quite early in the history of North America.  In most places, it is a popular ornamental tree with it's beautiful Crimson leaves that adorn neighborhoods and parks come fall.  But this tree also has a sneaky way of invading forests and snuffing out light for other plants.  Learn more about these traits and this plants history with us as we talk about the Norway Maple.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

You've probably heard the name English Ivy if you're interested in plants, and you've definitely seen it.  English Ivy has long been a part of Western History, and is a quintessential symbol of nature.  Join us as we talk about English Ivy, where it comes from, and it's surprisingly invasive habits in the United States in the second episode of this week's double feature.

English Ivy was known to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, often used symbolically to represent their gods of immortality... and wine.  Since then, we've used it as a symbol for everything from wineries to universities, in part because of it's perseverance and strength as a plant.  It is this same quality that can make this plant dangerous unchecked in the wild.  It can blanket large fields, and take down large trees and structures if no natural predators or human intervention stops it.  English ivy is a symbol of nature, because even in it's simplicity it never ceases to amaze us.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Purple Loosestrife appears to be a beautiful flower, part of a group of popular loosestrife plants.  But this plant's ability to create a massive amount of seeds in one season, gives it the ability to quickly spread far and wide.  Join us for the first episode of our double feature this Monday, Purple Loosestrife!

Purple Loosestrife was initially brought to the United States by accident, and it's pretty pointed tapers of purple flowers made it seem harmless.  But this plant can take over wetland areas, and is considered a noxious weed in many parts of the United States and Canada.  Since then we've been trying to figure out how to use it and how to get rid of it.  While some are still fooled into planting it into their home gardens, many efforts had been made to try and eliminate the Purple Loosestrife.

Thanks again to Krista, our excellent editor!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Cogon Grass looks relatively harmless, sometimes even pretty.  But it hides a history of murderous and invasive habits.

Another plant introduced in an attempt to curb erosion, this plant's most dangerous trait is the fact that it can set entire hillsides on fire.  It can grow quickly and makes quick work of other plants by making difficult for them to survive at best, and burning them to a crisp at worst!  Come and listen to us talk about this interesting and terrifying plant, Cogon Grass.

Thanks again to Krista for her editing work!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

In the United States, Kudzu is a well known invasive plant.  Often known to be especially prevalent in the south, it is known to be particularly difficult and blankets entire areas.  But how did it get here and where did it come from? 

Coming from humble origins in areas of China and Japan, it's a bit of a surprise that this plant has become such a nuisance to us. The plant has medical uses and can be eaten in a variety of ways.  It's known for beautiful purple fragrant flowers as well, and for as many people who complain about it, there are just as many who love it's smell.  Join us today as we talk about how this plant got here, our uses for it, and why Kudzu might have just joined us in the right place at the right time.

Thanks so much for following us, and I'm so sorry we're late on posting this!  We hope you enjoy this week's episode.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Hyacinth plants are so beautiful aren't they?  So it's surprising to find out that water hyacinths are actually one of the world's most invasive plants!  Join us as we dive into this plant's incredible ability to grab all the attention wherever it goes.

Water Hyacinth is a beautiful plant native to the Amazon and well known as an easy plant for water gardeners.  But this plant hides some massively destructive capabilities beneath it's attractive flowers and foliage.  Since it's beauty became more wildly discovered in the 1880s, water hyacinth has made its way around the world.  And I mean made it's way.  From Asia to Africa and back to the America's this plant has invaded ponds, lakes and rivers.  With it's ability to multiply quickly, it manages to almost create islands of its own that damage everything within it's path if left unchecked.  Listen to today's podcast to learn the details of just how and why this plant has become one of the most invasive plants on earth.

Thanks again to Krista for her editing powers!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Have you ever heard a rumor about the danger of a food you eat all the time?  Today we are going to talk about some common foods that have dangerous qualities if not consumed properly. 

Sometimes the foods we eat all the time feel so safe, that we don't even know they have dangerous properties.  Today, we often have policies and guards in place to ensure that the food we buy from stores are safe and healthy.  But there are quite a few foods that at the very least can make you sick, if not resulting in more serious consequences.  In this episode we talk about Potatoes, Elderberries, Cashews, Red Kidney Beans, Corn, and Rhubarb, all of which have some dangerous properties than can result in harm to the regular human.  Join as we discover some important prep tips to these foods and talk about how they've effected us over time.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

What does the most dangerous tree in the world look like?  Pretty attractive actually.  But that's probably why it's so dangerous.  Join us this week as we talk about the Manchineel Tree, one of the most dangerous trees in the world.

You're sitting in a tropical paradise, and you look over and see a cute little apple on the ground.  Intrigued and curious about the fruit, you pick it up and take a bite.  Little did you know as you bit into the sweet delicious fruit, that you're about to experience a world of pain.  The Manchineel tree is dangerous from root to tip, fruit included.  Join us as we talk about where this tree grows, how its been used, who it's helped, and who it's hurt.

Thanks again Krista for all you editing skills!  (I still had a little bit of issue hearing the last time, but we're doing our best!  Soon we'll be able to record in the same room again I hope!)

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Ever wonder what kind of plants pack a punch?  In today's episode we talk about a few plants that have explosive tendencies including the Sandbox Tree and Dwarf Mistletoe.  They're certainly nothing to wag a finger at!  And I wouldn't suggest it because you know... explosions.

Just when can you expect an explosive plant to show up in your life?  Well some of the most well known ones might surprise you.  The Squirting Cucumber pops off when ripe... shooting seeds through the air directly to their destination.  The Sandbox tree has exploding fruit, and a few other issues.  The Rubber Tree, actually a cousin of the Sandbox tree, is known to have exploding fruit as well.  And Dwarf Mistletoe is a trees worst nightmare.  Join us as we talk about these plants and some of their interesting facts on PlantStories!

If you haven't already, please don't forget to tell your friends about us and follow/share us on Instagram and Facebook at PlantStoriesPodcast!

Thanks again to Krista for her great editing!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

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Published: Jun. 01, 2020 @12PM Edit

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