What are C4 plants? Then Jill talks about an entire genus! Ficus! Steve goes down a rabbit hole on a lawn weed and ends up exploring psychedelics. Later, a reading from Sylvia Plath’s the Bell Jar.

C4 Photosynthesis from the Khan Academy
List of C4 plants on wikipedia
Corn Kid
The Ficus Genus on wikipedia
How a fig tree strangles other plants
Are There Dead Wasps In Figs?
The Moreton Bay Fig Tree in Balboa Park
Paspalum dilatatum in wikipedia
Aves y Plantas de los Pastizales Naturales del Cono Sur de Sudamérica
The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants on Google Books
Ergot: the story of a parasitic fungus (1958)
Ergotism on wikipedia
Tripping in LSD's Birthplace: A Story for "Bicycle Day"
Fig tree quote from Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar

What grows underground? Steve is a little confused. Then Kimani talks about a rhizome, skin care and happiness. Steve shares a common tuber with an fascinating history. Finally, some dazzling details about curcumin and piperine.

Show Notes!
Rhizomes, Corms, Tubers, Bulbs
How to Grow Tumeric in Pots in Cold Climates
Homemade and Commercial Skincare Made with Turmeric
Significance Of 'Haldi' Ceremony
Curcumin in Depression: Potential Mechanisms of Action and Current Evidence—A Narrative Review
Potato Etymology
Crispy Sweet Potato Leaves
Sweet potato cultivation in Polynesia
Can You Juice a Sweet Potato?
Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers
Kimani Anku on Instagram
GardeningandBeats.com

Time, not Thyme. Then Eric shares a house plant that its an indicator of time. Then Steve share about a plant and a cocktail with a confusing name. Finally, more details about the cocktail.

Show Notes!
The Thyme episode of rootbound
The National Phenology Network
Phenology, A Matter of Time
Japan’s Kyoto cherry blossoms peak on earliest date in 1,200 years, a sign of climate change
Beginner’s Guide to Caring For Alocasia ‘Polly’ (Alocasia Amazonica or African Mask Plant)
More info on Alocasia Amazonia (and perhaps why it is called that
Rewild DC
PictureThis App
Albizia julibrissin on wikipedia
Mimosa brings spring to the South of France
Justin Robinson (@countrygentlemancooks on instagram) discusses Mimosa
How the Mimosa Became the Official Drink of Brunch
Domestique Wineshop - One of the top five natural wine shops in America according to Wine Enthusiast
Eric Moorer and instagram

Summer Madness! Then Karla, Maggie, Marc, Trin and Steve eat strawberries and talk about summer, plants — and also mosquitos. Then they drink beer. Summer!

Show Notes!
Breaks With Tradition: “Summer Madness”
WhoSampled Summer Madness
Strawberries with Sour Cream and Brown Sugar
The Rise of the City Bee—How Urbanites Built the 21st-Century Apiculture
What Purpose do Mosquitoes Serve?
It Works for Vampires: Can Garlic Scare Off Mosquitoes?
How Mosquitoes Helped Shape the Course of Human History
How Trees Survive and Thrive After A Fire
Duckweed on Wikipedia
Maggie Dewane on the web

Defining herbaceous with or without pronouncing the ‘h’. Then, my Mom is on the podcast to talk about Gardenia and I talk about another fun flower. Finally, more talk about silent ‘h’s.

Show Notes!
Gardenia on Wikipedia
Gardenias: A Fragrance That Captivates
Alexander Garden on Wikipedia
Blog about Gardenia Fruit
Rediscovering Don’s “Other” Essential Tiki Mix
Academic paper on gardenia and gastritis
History of the Peony Flower
Plants with Extrafloral Nectaries
How to Eat a Peony
Adam Ragusea on Herb vs (H)erb

On this episode of rootbound we take a unique historical look at Sassafras with Dr. Clare Griffin and of course we end up talking about Paracelsus. Then steve thinks about history and trees.

Show Notes!

Sassafras on wikipedia

Disentangling commodity histories: pauame and sassafras in the early modern global world

How were the english introduced to Sassafras

A Short History of Gumbo

The Real Reason Sassafras Root Beer Is Illegal

Mixing Medicines: The Global Drug Trade and Early Modern Russia by Clare Griffin

Clare Griffin’s Website

What is medicine? Steve isn’t sure. Then Lorena discusses a flower, abuelas and bruises. Later, steve talks about an aggregate of drupelets. Plus, a bonus plant!

Show Notes!
Medicine on Wikipedia
A picture of Arnica de la Abuela
Antiinflammatory constituents from Heterotheca inuloides
Rubus Idaeus on Wikipedia
Raspberries, the fruits of the Olympus Gods
Primocane vs Floricane
Info on Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Re(plantea)ndo on Instagram

Some foraging info. Later Mallory talks about common misconceptions regarding milkweed and Steve shares a plant that may or may not be eaten by bears. Finally, Steve learns a lesson. This also counts as the ramps episode.

Show Notes!
Milkweed on Wikipedia
Stalking the Wild Asparagus on Goodreads
Making a Milkweed Pillow
When picking milkweed was a patriotic pursuit
Recipe for Milkweed Stew by Mallory O’Donnell
Allium ursinum on Wikipedia
What’s the difference between Ramps and Ramsons?
Can we eat our ramps and have them too?
The Bear's Garlic - Bärlauch and its deadly doppelgänger
How to Cook a Weed - Mallory' O’Donnell’s website
Follow Mallory O’Donnell on Instagram

Nectar is cool. Then Rebecca shares a floral discovery during a hike. Steve doesn’t poison anybody while sharing a flower-based beverage. Finally, Steve shares his mead journey.

Show Notes!
Nectar on wiki
World list of plants with extrafloral nectaries
VA Native Plant Society on Bluebells
Post on bluebells from Wisconsin Horticulture
Grow It Build It guide to Bluebells
Musings on Bluebells from Rebecca’s blog
UK Herb Society on Elderberry
Elderberry: an abundant native medicine
Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers
Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review
Making an Elder Whistle
Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry
The Elder Mother in Folklore
Post about one gallon mead batches by Pixie’s Pocket
wildfermentation.org - the website of Sandor Ellix Katz (you can by the art of fermentation here)
Rebecca’s blog

What’s in a name? Apparently, quite a bit. Then Moon talks about about peeling leaves of the edible duct tape of the yard. Later, Steve talks about oregano, lightning and spoiled milk. Finally, we get to the bottom of the mystery of two plants with the same name.

Show Notes
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet on wikipedia
Common Names--Too Many Shared Names from the Wandering Botanist
Plantago on Eat the Weeds
Eat this, common plantain seeds
Herb Society of America Guide to the Genus Origanum
Carvacrol on wiki
Stack exchange thread on lightning and curdled milk
Listen to Goldschatz!

This week on rootbound we talk about berries… and berries that aren’t berries… and things that aren’t berries that are berries. Then Jewel, general manager and creative director of the Gibson describes her resilient fennel plants and various facts about them — including how to repel ghosts. Steve brings visual aids to an audio medium and talks about berries some more. Finally, drinks are made.

Show Notes!
Berry (botany) on wikipedia
Fennel quick facts from the Herb Society of America
What is Kummel?
What is Fennel Pollen and How Should You Use it
Juneberry on Eat the Weeds (with recipes)
BlackForager video on Serviceberry
Cedar-Quince Rust
The Gibson (Jewel’s bar in DC - go there!)

Evergreen or Deciduous? Then Eoin talks about a ubiquitous and flammable shrub. He doesn’t know whether he can smell it or not. Steve talks about a creeper that he is inviting to his backyard. Lastly, a song a bout a train.

Show Notes!
Gorse, Furze, Whin
Gorse Flowers on widlflowersofireland.net
Gorse and Fire Risk
A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh
Gorse Fires by Michael Longley
Virginia Creeper on Wiki
Virginia Creeper on Fassaden Grün
The Last Scream of the Virginia Creeper
Rhaphides
New Virginia Creeper by Old Crow Medicine Show
How to spell Eoin

Housekeeping. Then Imke and Steve talk about their respective peach trees — plus other peach fun facts and dazzling details! Finally, we move out to the country and eat a lot of peaches. 🍑🍑🍑

Show Notes!
Peach wikipedia entry
European Earwig: Fruit Pest, Potential Ally, or Both?
How to thin peaches
Learn to recognize ladybug larvae
Plum Curculio Control
Peach Cobbler Recipe
The Cherokee Blood Peach on the Abundant Living and Gardening Podcast(Apple podcasts link)
🍑 emoji on wikipedia
’Impeachment’ has nothing to do with fruit
Peaches by the Presidents of the United States of America

Record scratch! Vivaldi! This is a special spring episode of rootbound. Steve, Karla, Anwesha and Sinchan talk about spring and how it applies to plants while gazing at the Matterhorn. They also drink whisky.

Show Notes!
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons Sonnets
The Matterhorn on Wikipedia
Location of Riffelalp
Tussilago (Coltsfoot) on Wiki
The Difference between Corms, Bulbs, Tubers and Rhizomes
Wikipedia on seed stratification
The Rise of the State Machines
Switzerland offers an unexpected trove of rare whiskies

This is not the chocolate episode. Then Max talks about the connection between a flower and family. Steve tells about backyard syrup experiments. The episode closes with a song about jasmine and a train ride in the Swiss mountains.

Show Notes!
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Blog about Indonesian jasmine by Lois
Video about jasmine tea scenting
Silver Maple vs Sugar Maple
Matt’s Habitats - DC area foraging walks
How to collect sap and make syrup
Melati Dik Melati
Visuals by Maximilian de Vree

Robots that sing! Then Shaun plants a tree and Steve eats more weeds. Later, things get avant-garde when Steve creates a song with Shaun and a few robots.

Show Notes!
Daisy Bell
Daisy Bell by an IBM 704 computer
Daisy Bell by HAL 9000 from 2001 a space odyssey
wikipedia on Carl Linnaeus
Lagerstroemia on Wikipedia
Crape Myrtle from Arbor Day Foundation
John Denver Plant a Tree PSA
Lambsquarters wiki
the Eastern Agricultural Complex
Huaozontle, a pre-Hispanic delicacy you must try
Make your own AI music
Listen and Download Daisy II

rootbound goes to Switzerland! Later, Monica explains her passion for the pie plant. Then, Steve talks about a tree he overlooked as a child. Finally, Steve eats on mic.

Show Notes!
John Bartram introduces Ben Franklin to tofu
Mysteries of the Rhubarb Triangle Revealed
Zoroastrian creation myth
History of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians
The Oasis of Mara from the National Park Service
Fan palm fruit info on specialtyproduce.com
29 Palms by Robert Plant
The Environmental Film Festival in the Nations Capitol
Hedgerow Helpings (Monica’s Website)

The Wardian Case! Then, the very first house plant on rootbound! Shirley talks about her delicious monster and Steve discusses a plant he is fighting but also trying to make peace with.

Show Notes!
Houseplant on Wikipedia
On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases
Leafy Legends: The Vibrant History Of Houseplants
Monstera Deliciosa on Atlas Obscura (see the fruit here)
How to Turn an Ikea Cabinet Into an Indoor Greenhouse
Ivy on Fassaden Grün
Ivy summary for the public from EU Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products
www.shirleyshotyu.com (Shirley’s Photography Website)
Choosii.us, a social marketplace for collectors

Wind-loving or Insect-loving? Then a guy named Steve talks about a plant that is not a skunk or a cabbage. Next, another guy named Steve talks about a plant that is not from Jerusalem nor an artichoke.

Show Notes!
Pollen.com
Spring’s Weird, Smelly Wonder
Thoreau on What Skunk-Cabbage Can Teach Us About Optimism and the Meaning of Human Life
Jerusalem Artichoke Facts
Portrait of an Urban Beekeeper
Meadow Sweet Apiaries

Lets ferment! Chantal explains a misunderstood plant and its alcoholic counterpart. Steve talks about the first domesticated fruit… and also alcohol. Later, Steve goes to bar and drinks alcohol.

Ethanol Fermentation on Wikipedia
Wormwood on Wikipedia
The Wormwood Society (Start your absinthe journey here)
NPR story about wormwood
Plums: A brief introduction
Tuica - Romania’s “White Lightning”
Hungary/Romania: Spirited Dispute Looms Over Right To Use Plum Brandy Name In The EU

Cocktails for the End Times — Chantal Tseng’s website.
Check out Chantal Tseng’s events, or get your own custom cocktails recipe, also read Chantal Tseng’s blog

The anatomy of a tree trunk. Then Timothy Jaromir discusses how his pet bunny introduced him to a healing plant that has been used for over 2000 years. Steve tells a story of a tree that is a bit of a bummer.

Show Notes!
Anatomy of a tree
Comfrey: A Clinical Review
Pyrrolizidine on my Mind from Eattheweeds.com (discussion of the toxic alkaloid in Comfrey)
Comfrey on Witchipedia
Fraxinus on Wikipedia
How guitars are changing because of the climate crisis
monitoringash.org
Ghosts by Timothy Jaromir feat Vania on Bandcamp (Buy it!)
Hiraeth an album by Timothy Jaromir
timothyjaromir.com
GoldSchatz

Ding ding ding! Another special single plant episode, this time about the mulberry! Stephanie explains her connection to the mulberry and some dazzling details about this ubiquitous but often overlooked tree. Later, Steve does a deep dive on two nursery rhymes.

Show Notes!
What is WWOOFing
Mulberry Wiki
Sericulture Wiki
Cassie Dickson Textiles on Instagram (small scale silk producer)
Here we go round the Mulberry Bush Poem Analysis
Stop Beatin’ ‘Round the Mulberry Bush, Count Basie and his orchestra
Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales, James Orchard Halliwell - 1849
Pop goes the weasel on Wikipedia
The Smarty Pants Podcast hosted by Stephanie Bastek

Steve notices some dangling things. Later Aja talks about nuts, milk, cheese and fuel. Steve talks about a common plant with a morbid name and, of course, bees again.

Show Notes!
Corylus americana on wikipedia
Current Hazelnut Growing Area from Arborday.org
Easy Fermented Nut Cheese
Growing Hazelnuts for Biofuel Production
The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper
How to Harvest Purple Dead Nettle
Nettle Wine by Ralph McTell
Aja’s Website
Abundant Living and Gardening on Apple Podcasts

Some botanical vocabulary. Then, Wenting shares about a furry furry plant. Steve makes herbal puns. Brought to you by Water!

Show Notes!
Machine Translation of the Compendium Materia Medica in English
Setaria on Wikipedia
A Brief History of Thyme
Thymol Varroa Control
first recording of Time Is On My Side
Photography by Wenting Gu

Today’s episode is all about Corn! Raluca and Steve compare notes about that ubiquitous plant. Sponsored by RuBisCo!

Show Notes!
wikipedia on mămăligă
Everything you need to know about Nixtamalization
Cultural ignorance paved the way for pellagra
Gorditas made in the comal (YouTube)
Corn by Blake Shelton (YouTube)

Steve tries to pronounce Asteraceae. Later Christian explains Edelweiss and trough gardening. The conversation then shifts to a desert bush, chimney fires, Ötzi the Ice Man and Dune. Sponsored by Rocket Greens!

Show Notes!
An article on trough gardening
The Mystical and Mythical Edelweiss
Facts about chimney fires
The Wikipedia on Creosote
King Clone on Atlas Obscura
Copper in Ötzi the Iceman’s ax came from surprisingly far away
H.R. Giger on Dune
Alien Fondue
Listen to Christian Kriegeskotte’s LYNXX project

All about salad! Jen explains her love for a spicy leaf. Steve talks about a questionable culinary choice. Brought to you by Spring!

Show Notes!
Acetaria: a Discourse on Sallets
America Blew it On Arugula
A recipe for Rucolino
Green Deane on Pokeweed
Listen to Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White on YouTube
Or on Apple Music

The theoretical limit of rootbound. Then Anwesha talks about Mangroves and peak climate change behavior. Steve talks about Yerbaníz and his herbal tea experiments.

Show Notes!

The Kerala Backwaters on Wikipedia
Green Deane on Mangroves
2011 Story about Everglades tour guides charged with misdemeanor for feeding wild animals marshmallows
How to make fireweed tea (I used a similar process)
Las Hierbas de Tláloc

The definition of rootbound. Then Dave tells us about lavender, proper Latin pronunciation and a 16th century Swiss alchemist. Steve shares a beloved plant with an unfortunate Latin name. Brought to you by Scarlet Begonias.

Show Notes!

English vs Spanish Lavender (The lavender in my garden is English lavender, btw)
Paracelsus: the man who brought chemistry to medicine.
An old, and a bit strange documentary on Paracelsus (this is where the Paracelsus audio in this episode originates.)
Atlas Obscura article on Yaupon Holly

What is a Drupe? Harmony Ellington tells us about the Rose, The Galactic Center, feces and how humans are destroying the planet — among other things. Then Steve talks about an Amazonian fruit, regret and sorrow. This episode was brought to you by the Calvin cycle.

Show Notes!
wikipedia for rose oil
Is the really poo in your favorite perfume?
The music video for Roses by OutKast
Slowfood Foundation article on Umari
Youtube video about Umarí in Portuguese

rootbound theme music by Christian Kriegeskotte
Fake ads by David Lanni

Steve uses an app in the woods. Then Steve talks with Karla about cilantro and mint. Also, be prepared for some noises. This episode is sponsored by Dirt.

Show Notes!
The Seek App
Wikipedia for pápaloquelite
Mint Car by the Cure
Cilantro by Patricia Taxxon

The guest on episode 2 of rootbound is Maggie Dewane. You can listen to her on the excellent podcast The Watering Hole. Also over at maggiedewane.com. Steve talks with Maggie Dewane about Basil and Dandelion + the definition of Sepal and clips from a German children’s television show. Brought to you by the color Green.

Show Notes!

Wikipedia entry on African Blue Basil
The intro to the german children’s television show Löwenzahn
The episode of Löwenzahn called Der Unkrautgärtner

The guest on the first episode of rootbound is Ashley Holmes, co-host of The Watering Hole podcast and created of the YouTube channel, Ashley and the Planet

Show Notes!
An interesting episode of Radio Lab featuring Mimosa Pudica

Smarter Everyday films Bittercress in slow motion