Episode 401: Seeing Plants Differently

We tend to think of plants as static things: rooted to the spot, quietly getting on with being plants. But what if, beneath our feet, there's a much more dynamic world of movement, adaptation and decision-making going on? In this episode I'm talking to plant ecologist and artist Curtis Lubbe about roots, bulbs and rhizomes, plant 'animacy' and why changing the way we think and talk about plants might change the way we treat them too. Benny's Insect of the Week: Fig-Leaf Skeltoniser Links Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences – Curtis Lubbe Journal of Ecology profile: Curtis Lubbe  Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you enjoyed this week's episode with Curtis, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives: Episode 109: The Botanical Mind with Gina Buenfeld This episode explores the relationship between art and the natural world, including ideas around plant intelligence, symbolism and the ways plants have been understood across different cultures. It's a particularly good companion to Curtis's thoughts on plant perception and the role of art in helping us see plants differently. Episode 245: The Language of Trees Artist and activist Katie Holten explores our relationship with trees through art, language, literature and ecology. Like Curtis's work, it asks us to rethink how we perceive plants and to find new ways of communicating their importance and complexity.