Episode 168: a planty quiz, plus Aloe vera advice
Photograph: Jane Perrone.
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I test your planty podcast knowledge in an On The Ledge quiz, plus I answer a question about an Aloe vera and we meet Alannah in Meet the Listener.
I’ll be revealing the quiz answers in a bonus episode released on Saturday December 19 - when that goes live I’ll also add the answers below
A couple of notes before the quiz:
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Want to find out more about the mysterious story of the origins of the peanut cactus, Echinopsis chamaecereus, here.
After December 24 2020’s bonus episode, OTL is taking a break until January 15 2020.
While On The Ledge is off the air, do take sanctuary in the Facebook group Houseplant Fans of On The Ledge.
The quiz…
Question 1
You’ve heard of CAM in Meet The Listener, but what does CAM stand for?
a) Crassulacean Arid Mechanism
b) Californian Arid Metabolism
c) Crassulacean Acid Metabolism
Question 2
Anders Røyneberg, aka The Arctic Gardener (who was featured in episode 118), is not only a plant expert. He is also a professional what?
a) Dancer
b) Sexologist
c) Interior Designer
Question 3
According to Lithops expert Brian Fearn of Abbey Brook nursery, featured in episode 115, what is the number one pest of Lithops?
a) Baboons
b) Slugs
c) Rabbits
Question 4
Which is one of these species has the rare honour of being both a houseplant and an edible?
a) Zamioculcas zamiifolia
b) Dieffenbachia
c) Oxalis triangularis
Question 5
Tyler Thrasher mentioned (in episode 145 ) that he is writing a work of fiction about which of these topics:
a) A botanist
b) Donald Trump
c) Dungeons and Dragons
Question 6
I’m currently crowdfunding a book about houseplants, but what is it called?
a) Secrets of the Stem
b) Legends of the Leaf
c) Folklore of the Flowers
Question 7
What is the technique for propagating Peperomias that expert Sally Williams shared with me in episode 110?
a) The Jiffy Bag technique
b) The kettle technique
c) The hummus pot technique
Question 8
Most of the species in the genus Calathea have been moved to another genus - what is it named? This one is not multiple choice, but here’s a clue: it starts with a ‘G’. One point for getting the name phonetically right, and another point for getting the spelling correct.
Question 9
When I started On The Ledge, I came up with lots of possible names for the show, but which of the following was my husband’s suggestion, which he is still annoyed I didn’t use?
a) Sage Against the Washing Machine
b) Don’t Get Your Planties in a Twist
c) Jane Perrone is a Plant Addict and Needs to be Stopped
Question 10
What do Crassula ovata, Pachira aquatica and Pilea peperomiodes all have in common?
Question 11
The cactus known as Opuntia or bunny ears is covered in tiny spines, but what is their official name?
a) Peltates
b) Areoles
c) Glochids
Question 12
What kind of dog is show mascot Wolfie? No multiple choice here, but I will say there are two right answers: you get a point for each.
The answers!
Question 1
You’ve heard of CAM in Meet The Listener, but what does CAM stand for?
The answer was c) Crassulacean Acid Metabolism
Question 2
Anders Røyneberg, aka The Arctic Gardener (who was featured in episode 118), is not only a plant expert. He is also a professional what?
The answer was b) Sexologist
Question 3
According to Lithops expert Brian Fearn of Abbey Brook nursery, featured in episode 115, what is the number one pest of Lithops?
The answer was of course a) Baboons
Question 4
Which is one of these species has the rare honour of being both a houseplant and an edible?
The answer was c) Oxalis triangularis - it’s super lemony!
Question 5
Tyler Thrasher mentioned (in episode 145 ) that he is writing a work of fiction about which of these topics:
It was a) A botanist
Question 6
I’m currently crowdfunding a book about houseplants, but what is it called?
b) Legends of the Leaf of course!
Question 7
What is the technique for propagating Peperomias that expert Sally Williams shared with me in episode 110?
It was c) The hummus pot technique
Question 8
Most of the species in the genus Calathea have been moved to another genus - what is it named? This one is not multiple choice, but here’s a clue: it starts with a ‘G’. One point for getting the name phonetically right, and another point for getting the spelling correct.
Goeppertia! One point for getting the name phonetically right, another for spelling it correctly!
Question 9
When I started On The Ledge, I came up with lots of possible names for the show, but which of the following was my husband’s suggestion, which he is still annoyed I didn’t use?
The answer was a) Sage Against the Washing Machine
Question 10
What do Crassula ovata, Pachira aquatica and Pilea peperomiodes all have in common?
They are all given the common name of the money plant.
Question 11
The cactus known as Opuntia or bunny ears is covered in tiny spines, but what is their official name?
The answer was c) Glochids
Question 12
What kind of dog is show mascot Wolfie? No multiple choice here, but I will say there are two right answers: you get a point for each.
Wolfie is a lurcher, but more specifically he is a beddy whippet. One point for each answer, or two points if you got both!
Jenni’s Aloe vera.
Question of the week
Jenni got in touch about a frosted Aloe vera… I advised bringing the plant into a frost free environment in winter, although Jenni’s plant doesn’t look as if it has suffered too much - it helps that it is a really big specimen, which limits the risk of damage from the cold.
Aloe vera is an amazing plant wit many medical applications. Check out the plant’s page on the Kew Gardens website for more information. There’s also an article there about how scientists untangled the genetic heritage of the species, which originates in the Arabian peninsula. You can read about the many medicinal applications of Aloe vera in this paper from The Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
Want to ask me a question? Email ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com. The more information you can include, the better - pictures of your plant, details of your location and how long you have had the plant are always useful to help solve your issue!
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CREDITS
This week's show featured the tracks Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops, Chiefs by Jahzzar, Blueprint by Jahzzar and Candlelight by Jahzzar.