Ep. 524 - Tackling the Oval Sedges

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sedges (genus Carex) can be an intimidating group of plants to get your head wrapped around, but it doesn't have to be that way. One key element to understanding them is knowing what to look for, which is why I am so excited to talk about a new book/key to the oval sedges - “Carex of Illinois and Surrounding States”. Join me and authors Michael Murphy, Greg Spyreas, and Paul Marcum as we explore what it took to put together their beautifully illustrated guide to these Carex, why they spent years trying to make sure it was useful, and all the unexpected finds they made along the way. This episode was produced in part by Elle, Steve, Cassie, Chuck, 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	Now more than ever, botanical and ecological information needs to be hitting as many ears as possible.
0:06.3	We need to stick up for biodiversity and understand its impact on our lives.
0:10.8	And that's what In Defensive Plants aims to do with every conversation.
0:14.2	But In Defensive Plants as a podcast does not happen unless you support the show.
0:18.1	And one of the best ways to support it is to become a patron over at
0:21.2	patreon.com slash indefensive plants. For a tiny contribution each month, you get access to things
0:27.2	like bonus episodes. We are running a really fun series on learning how to garden better. We're
0:32.1	talking everything from germinating native plants to sewing food, picking different varieties
0:37.2	that suit your climate, and so much more.
0:39.9	It's a really fun series. It's pretty much an entirely distinct podcast in and of itself,
0:44.0	and you can have full access to it if you just become a patron over at patreon.com slash
0:48.6	In Defensive Plants. So please consider supporting the show today. Speaking of the show,
0:53.1	let's get on with it. Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the show today. Speaking of the show, let's get on with it.
0:58.6	Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the official podcast of Indefenseauplants.com. What's up? This is your host, Matt. Welcome to the show. How is everyone
1:02.8	doing this week? It has been said, though I don't know by who, that botanical keys are written
1:07.7	by people who don't need them for people who don't know how to use them.
1:14.8	And although that's kind of a strongly worded statement, there is some truth to that. Oftentimes,
1:20.3	botanical keys are incredibly complex and hard to just pick up and use. You need to learn a whole new vocabulary.
1:29.8	Most of the time they're not illustrated. And if you have no practice in doing that, they can be very intimidating, especially for complex groups such as the sedges, the genus Carricks.
1:35.2	This notoriously challenging group has turned a lot of people away for fear of the difficulty that's sometimes inherent in trying to understand them.
1:38.1	But it doesn't have to be that bad.
1:40.0	And today I've got three fantastic botanists on the show to talk about a book that they've put
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