Comments on: Amy Stewart’s Wicked Plants: Bear vs Castor Bean, Whomping Willows, and Terrifying Mushrooms http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/ Jeff VanderMeer Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:21:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul Riddell http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22896 Paul Riddell Fri, 22 May 2009 20:25:45 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22896 Oh, and on the Omnivoracious interview, I have to add that I'm getting a good example of a carnivorous plant that encourages insect symbiosis. It's an Asian pitcher plant called <i>Nepenthes bicalcarata</i>, and the pitchers have two fangs coming down off the lid: they look as if the plant could bite, but apparently they're an adaptation to prevent the pitchers from being robbed of insect prey by monkeys and birds. The pitcher plant encourages one species of ant to live in the vicinity, and it even grows "rooms" in its leaves to allow them to set up nurseries. The ants make daisychains into the pitchers and tear up prey caught inside: not only does the plant benefit by the ants eating large prey before it rots and damages the pitcher, but the ants also drop their dead into the pitchers and give back the nutrients. Finally, if anything is dumb enough to try to eat the plant, the ants converge and sting the predator until it leaves. The more I come across stories like these, how could I not stick with botany as far as it will take me? Oh, and on the Omnivoracious interview, I have to add that I’m getting a good example of a carnivorous plant that encourages insect symbiosis. It’s an Asian pitcher plant called Nepenthes bicalcarata, and the pitchers have two fangs coming down off the lid: they look as if the plant could bite, but apparently they’re an adaptation to prevent the pitchers from being robbed of insect prey by monkeys and birds. The pitcher plant encourages one species of ant to live in the vicinity, and it even grows “rooms” in its leaves to allow them to set up nurseries. The ants make daisychains into the pitchers and tear up prey caught inside: not only does the plant benefit by the ants eating large prey before it rots and damages the pitcher, but the ants also drop their dead into the pitchers and give back the nutrients. Finally, if anything is dumb enough to try to eat the plant, the ants converge and sting the predator until it leaves. The more I come across stories like these, how could I not stick with botany as far as it will take me?

]]> By: Paul Riddell http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22895 Paul Riddell Fri, 22 May 2009 20:19:31 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22895 I already bought my copy directly from her, just so I could get it autographed. Aside from one minor quibble, about the ginkgo being a member of the cashew family, it was A Beautiful Thing. I already bought my copy directly from her, just so I could get it autographed. Aside from one minor quibble, about the ginkgo being a member of the cashew family, it was A Beautiful Thing.

]]> By: Hellbound Heart http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22880 Hellbound Heart Fri, 22 May 2009 06:33:56 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22880 dammit you get all the cool stuff, not fair!!!!!!! (throws self down and throws a willy).... dammit you get all the cool stuff, not fair!!!!!!! (throws self down and throws a willy)….

]]> By: Jeff VanderMeer http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22874 Jeff VanderMeer Fri, 22 May 2009 00:20:07 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22874 I'm assuming it'll be on display at least. I’m assuming it’ll be on display at least.

]]> By: Magess http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22873 Magess Fri, 22 May 2009 00:17:46 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22873 I don't suppose there will be copies of this at BEA? :) I don’t suppose there will be copies of this at BEA? :)

]]> By: undeadbydawn http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/05/21/amy-stewarts-wicked-plants-bear-vs-castor-bean-whomping-willows-and-terrifying-mushrooms/comment-page-1/#comment-22869 undeadbydawn Thu, 21 May 2009 21:53:18 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=4744#comment-22869 i was convinced to buy this book within seconds of seeing the cover you posted first time. Just gotta wait 'til I can afford it :-) Thanks loads for posting further info. i was convinced to buy this book within seconds of seeing the cover you posted first time. Just gotta wait ’til I can afford it :-)

Thanks loads for posting further info.

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