Plant Crimes

The Butterwort Vandal

Someone has been planting spotted butterwort in Tongariro National Park in New Zealand. They seem to be trying to establish a population, which could put native plants at risk. In this episode, we investigate who might be responsible, and their motives for this plant crime. 

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

The Case of the Big Green Slime Monster

Today, we’re investigating harmful algae blooms, the mysterious bacteria that killed a dog this in Austin. 

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

How Lemons Led to the Rise of the Mob

In this episode, we learn how the biology of lemons, combined with the historic weakness of the Italian state, is tied to the rise of the Silician mafia. We’ll also learn about what it takes to grow lemon in present-day San Francisco. 

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

Guitars On Trial

For plant crimes, we need plant laws. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations are the closest thing to international plant laws in existence. Today, we’re going to learn about who decides whether one gorgeous electric guitar can legally enter the U.K. We’re also going to learn about the groups who are fighting those laws, and why. 

 

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

How a Botanist Nearly Solved the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping

In this episode, we learn about Arthur Koehler, who pioneered the field of forensic botany. He brought this evidence strategy onto a national stage at the trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

Miley Cyrus Versus the Joshua Tree

In April 2019, Miley Cyrus sat on a Joshua tree. In this episode, we investigate the consequences of that plant crime. While trying to figure out basic information about Joshua trees, we learn how mysterious they are. And how these iconic trees have way bigger problems than the Hannah Montana star. 

 Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

The Case of the Missing Water Lily

In this episode, we learn about how the world’s smallest water lily was stolen from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2014. We speak to those closest to the crime to hear their stories of what happened that day and their theories on the identity of the thief. We look forward to the future of this species, which is relatively bright, and the future of life on this planet, which is not. 

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

Plant crimes trailer

Plants don’t have rights in the same way that humans do. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be the victims, the drivers, and the perpetrators of crime. Join host Ellen Airhart on September 30 as she investigated the seedy underworld of our chlorophylled friends.