Tag: South America

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Episode 83: The Peruvian Peppertree

Admittedly, I was drawn to this tree because I assumed it served as the inspiration for the Peruvian Puff Pepper that was mentioned in Season 3, Episode 2 of Nickelodeon’s “Drake and Josh.” I’m still not sure if it is or not, but that doesn’t lessen this tree’s right to get its own episode. The Peruvian Peppertree is the source of the pink peppercorns we see on grocery store shelves. And this pink pepper has found its way into pre-Incan civilizations, early California missions, and French food fads of the 1980s.
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources

https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.49028#sec-6

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/concocting-modern-day-cicha-de-molle/

http://ecotintes.com/en/content/molle-huinan

https://wildflowermeadows.com/2021/07/peppertrees-and-bees/

https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/usa/california/sandiegocounty/22882_missionsanluisreydefrancia/

https://www.gardenbetty.com/peruvian-pink-peppercorns/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/are-pink-peppercorns-poisonous

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/spanish-missions-in-the-united-states-cultural-and-historical-significance.htm

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Episode 78: The Balsa Tree

It’s no coincidence that model planes, cars, and other scale replicas are often made from the same material: Balsa wood. The wood of the Balsa tree is incredibly lightweight and uniquely strong given the former characteristic. And on top of the incredible biology associated with this, the Balsa Tree has been involved in some incredible adventures–like the Kon-Tiki Expedition from South America to Polynesia. Learn why I’ve decided to attribute symbolism of discovery with this jungle giant.
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script editing and social media is managed by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources

https://www.kew.org/plants/balsa-tree

https://myplantin.com/plant/5353

https://www.kon-tiki.no/expeditions/kon-tiki-expedition/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-voyage-kon-tiki-misled-world-about-navigating-pacific-180952478/

https://www.mat.uc.pt/~pedro/ncientificos/artigos/techbal.html

https://www.si.edu/object/de-havilland-dh-98-btt-mk-35-mosquito%3Anasm_A19640023000

https://futuretreehealth.com.au/balsa-tree/

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/08/indigenous-amazonian-communities-bear-the-burden-of-ecuadors-balsa-boom/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305346606_ANIMAL_VISITATION_AND_POLLINATION_OF_FLOWERING_BALSA_TREES_Ochroma_pyramidale_IN_PANAMA_VISITA_DE_ANIMALES_Y_POLINIZACION_DE_ARBOLES_DE_BALSO_Ochroma_pyramidale_EN_PANAMA

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Episode 67: The Coffee Tree

The roasted seed of the Coffee Tree helps me, and a billion other people, wake up and be productive every day. This alone gives it significance in our lives, but our relationship with this drink and the plant it comes from has left footprints throughout human history in the Common Era. Learn about where coffee came from, how it fueled modern capitalism, how it reflects our diverse cultures, and more. The music is by Academy Garden. Cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast. Share this episode and see if you can get the attention of Folgers or Starbucks!

Sources:

https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2015/12/Coffea.pdf

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coffea-arabica/

https://sprudge.com/what-is-the-coffee-belt-179028.html

Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergast

https://www.statista.com/statistics/263311/worldwide-production-of-coffee/

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine

https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2007/june/coffee-consumption-over-the-last-century/

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Episode 50: The Cacao Tree

Chocolate. That’s it, that’s the episode. This is the tree that gives us one of my greatest joys in life–learn about where it comes from, how it was worshipped, and how it’s made today. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast.

Sources:

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:320783-2

https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/cocoa-cacao/infos

http://www.chocolateproject.ca/news/2018/11/11/consider-the-cacao-flower

https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/where-do-cocoa-beans-grow/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/Malvaceae

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate

https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/maya/chocolate/cacao-in-ancient-maya-religion

https://aguarachocolate.com/en/the-chocolate-legends-about-cocoa-and-chocolate/

https://www.scienceofcooking.com/chocolate/how-is-chocolate-made.htm

https://www.simplychocolate.com/learn-what-is-fair-trade-chocolate

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Episode 44: Ranger’s Choice Medley (Limber Pine and Walking Palm)

 This episode celebrates the birthdays of two park rangers who have inspired my own path as a ranger. To make both their dreams come true, we are talking about both the Limber Pine and the Walking Palm. These two are very different trees that tend to get less time in the spotlight compared to some of their relatives. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast. 

Sources:

Moore, Gerry; Kershner, Bruce; Tufts, Craig; Mathews, Daniel; et al. (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York: Sterling. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-4027-3875-3.

https://www.nps.gov/crmo/learn/nature/limber-pine.htm

https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/can/alberta/nordegg/13764_whirlpoolpoint/

https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/LimberPine

https://www.nps.gov/gis/storymaps/cascade/v1/index.html?appid=cdf1e11268eb42f1bdb758725a7ebcb8

https://www.livescience.com/33663-walking-tree-socratea-exorrhiza.html

https://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442007000300005

https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Socratea+exorrhiza

https://palms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/v29n2p64-71.pdf

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1200702-2