Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA) with Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum

Photo via California Academy of Sciences

Gather 'round fellow nerds, you’re about to learn about the wildest not a fern not a bush not a cactus plant you never knew you never knew about: CYCADS. These endangered ancient plants have been around for 270 million years, give or take, and now they’re some of the most valuable vegetation in the world. Come along to learn about these uncomfortably sexy gymnosperms and the international crimes people do to steal them. Also: neurotoxins, Jurassic Park, and one of the best fixes for procrastination we’ve ever heard with the world’s favorite botanist and cycadologist, Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum.

Listen via Stitcher, Apple, Podbay, Podcast Addict, Overcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Visit Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum’s website, Evolution of Plants

Follow Dr. Nagalingum on Twitter

Dr. Nagalingum’s profile at California Academy of Sciences

Speaking of which, Alie will be moderating a Women in Science Nightlife event there coming up March 3rd, and you can get tickets for that here

A donation was made to Ovarian Cancer Australia


More links you may enjoy:

New cycads on the block: plants only 10 million years old

What are the Big Five in Australia: Depends on who you ask

Things Australians say

All-Female Vegan Rangers Leading Anti-Poaching in Zimbabwe

Cycads: Are you living next door to a poacher?

Assam: Kaziranga records lowest poaching figure in 21 years

DOJ memo: FEDERAL AGENTS ARREST SIX MEN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN RARE PLANTS

Nathalie details cycad spotting in Queensland in 2018

Dr. Irene Terry studies smelly cycad sex

Refreshing, almost citrusy, but warm-balsamic, and ethereal-sweet

Plant has hot, stinky sex

Hot plant sex: Scent, warmth aid pollination

More on that hot stinky plant sex

The good scents company

How to leech cycad seeds

Just don't feed them to your chickens!

Prince Charles with a cycad frond skirt but also fully clothed

Article about “Last Survivor”

Last Survivor by Tony Park


More episodes you might like:

Dendrology (TREES)

Bryology (MOSS)

Wildlife Ecology (FIELDWORK)

Paleontology (DINOSAURS)


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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

PlantsAlie Ward