Ep. 517 - Demystifying the Woolly Devil

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The woolly devil (Ovicula biradiata) is a fascinating and unique member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) that was only recently described to science. It was first found in Big Bend National Park in Texas and serves as an important reminder of not only the need for protecting wild places but also how little we still know about the natural world. Join me and Dr. Isaac Lichter Marck as we discuss what makes this plant unique, what it can teach us about plant evolution in stressful habitats, and what it takes to describe a new species. This episode was produced in part by Aaron, Gillian, Abi, Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, 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, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

Transcript

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0:00.0	In defensive plants exists to bring you the most scientifically accurate botanical and ecological
0:04.6	conversations that we can possibly have, and we need that now more than ever. But In defensive
0:10.0	plants can't happen unless you support the show. There are so many great ways to do that, but one of the
0:14.3	best is to become a patron over at patreon.com slash In Defensive Plants, where in return for your
0:19.5	support, you get great kickpacks, like access to
0:22.0	bonus episodes. You can only get them through the Patreon, and currently our focus is on learning
0:26.6	to garden better. We're talking everything from food to native plants and even some aquascaping
0:31.5	in my freshwater aquarium. So come join us on this journey, learn with us, and the only way to do that
0:36.6	is to become a patron over
0:38.0	at patreon.com slash indefensive plants. Now on with the show. Hello everyone and welcome to the
0:44.6	Indefensive plants podcast, the official podcast of indefensiveplants.com. What's up? This is your host,
0:49.4	Matt. Welcome to the show. How is everyone doing this week? Today, we have a really fun story about the discovery
0:55.5	and description of the woolly devil. If you spend any time on the internet in recent weeks,
1:00.6	focusing on scientific things at least, this plant might have turned up on your news feed.
1:05.0	Joining us to talk about this is Daisy taxonomist Dr. Isaac Lichtenark, who is part of a huge team that has put in a ton of effort
1:12.2	to quickly understand and describe this species. We talk about everything from why this species is
1:16.9	unique, where it fits on the tree of life, and what it means to discover a new species in this
1:20.9	modern era. I really love talking to people like Dr. Lichtenark, so much passion, so thoughtful,
1:26.7	and puts plants like this into the context
1:29.1	of some really cool big picture ideas. I don't want to steal any more of us than there, so let's
1:33.1	just jump right into it. Without further ado, here's my conversation with Dr. Isaac Lictermark.
1:37.4	I hope you enjoy. All right, Dr. Isaac Lichten, Mark, welcome back to the podcast.
	...

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