Ep. 464 - Back from the Brink

Good news is hard to come by in the world of plant conservation, but it is out there! Take, for instance, some recent examples on Santa Cruz Island in which the recovery of a handful of endangered plants, including island bedstraw (Galium buxifolium) and Santa Cruz Island Dudleya (Dudleya nesiotica), has been so successful, they have been delisted. That doesn't mean conservationists no longer have to worry. Join me and John Knapp from The Nature Conservancy as we explore the ins and outs of plant conservation on Santa Cruz Island and what it is going to take to keep rare plants from getting back on the Endangered Species List. This episode was produced in part by Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

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Music by Moneycat

Ep. 227 - A Quest to Find the "Stinking Cedar"

Today we go in search of the so-called stinking cedar or torreya pine (Torreya taxifolia) at wonderful site owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy called Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve. Of course, this tree is neither a cedar nor a pine. It is a member of the family Cephalotaxaceae and it is in trouble. Habitat destruction and a terrible fungal blight have nearly wiped this species off the face of the earth. Join as as we go in search of this rare tree and meet a lot of interesting plants along the way. This episode was produced in part by Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Lisa, Liba, Lucas, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Anthony, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Brian, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

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Some of the plants we met in this episode

Sand squares (Paronychia rugelii)

Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia)

Gopher apple (Licania michauxii)

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)

American holly (Ilex opaca)

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius)

Netted chain fern (Woodwardia areolata)

Pennywort (Hydroctyle sp.)

Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)

Doghobble bush (Leucothoe sp.)

Lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus)

Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

False rosemary (Conradina sp.)

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Runner oak (Quercus pumila)

Resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)

Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)

Matalea (Matelea decipiens)

Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea)

Rhododendron (Rhododendron austrinum)

Ratany (Krameria sp.)

Buckwheat (Eriogonum tomentosum)

Michaux’s croton (Croton michauxii)

Stinging “nettle” (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)

Devil’s grandmother (Elephantopus tomentosus)

Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)

Stinking cedar (Torreya taxifolia)