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Discussion thread: FERNS episode is published! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-04 23:57:52
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Aaah, somehow I forgot to post this yesterday! We finally have an episode on FERNS and the Ologist is as charming and hilarious and enthusiastic as they come. Dr. Fay-Wei Li loves ferns, and he will delight you with facts about spores, Lady Gaga, fossil ferns, dinosaurs, transgenic crops, and how to treat your houseplants.

Have you listened yet? What did you think? And if you have fern advice, leave it in the comments. (We also of course have Tyler Thrasher's Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) episode if your thumbs are less than green. )

Onward!

Alison Ward, father of the podcast Ologies

Files

Pteridology (FERNS) with Dr. Fay-Wei Li - alie ward

Fronds. Forest dwellers. Spores. Houseplants. Queer icons. We've got ferns. The charming and hilarious professor and author of "Ferns: Lessons in Survival from Earth's Most Adaptable Plants," Dr. Fay-Wei Li, tells me all about fern evolution, what ferns not to have in your house, the most expensive

Comments

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

I don't feel as bad about the ferns I've killed. I mean, if a fern SCIENTIST kills them, then how am *I* supposed to keep them alive? 😂

Lizzy Martinez

Invasive ferns?!?! Never!!! Jk I can understand how many things we love may not be best for where they are (I see you cute little invasive mantis species). Also I think it's time I finally get myself a house fern since it sounds like I have a good spot from what I learned from the episode!

Lee Horton

Loved this episode so much. I'm a fern people.

Peregrine

I really enjoyed listening and I’m looking forward to doing some more research on all those cool ferns!! I love symbioses and I hadn’t heard about those ant ferns before!! So cool!! Thanks for the fun adventure :)

Staci Pinkowitz

He has the coolest energy I wanna hang out with him and ask him more questions

Stephanie Coombes

His laugh was amazing!! Made my day. I wish I had asked if all those ferns that I ran my hand along as a child to strip of there fronds all died as a result. SO satisfying when I was child but maybe not the best for the plant :)

Sunflower star

Sliiiightly offended in the pacific northwest that he would insinuate our ferns aren't cool or diverse enough. But now want to visit Taiwan and meet some more ferns. And I love the bits about desert ferns being similar to moss as well.

Noasusan

This was so fascinating! Also I just started studying biology this year and we've learned quite a bit about ferns so it was really fun to actually already know a lot on the subject, made me feel cool :)

Wraptile

Really enjoyed this one but it's one of those you have to listen actively with a web browser to look up the visuals. Very good timing too - I just got a bunch of ferns for my garden as every year around January birds nest in my ferns (yellow-vented bulbuls) and it's such joy to have them around 🤗

Colby Evans

Is the "ter" as discussed in the episode the same root as found in chiropTERology?

Alie Ward

Yep! Chiro: hand. Pter: wing! Handwing babies!

GhoulNextDoor

Such a fun and interesting episode!! I am both humbled and encouraged to know that when I was trying to grow ferns I think I had some gametophytes starting. But I had thought they were mold and set them free outside 😅 with this new info though I’m closer to establishing a tiny fern forest!

Barbara Blackie

I'm glad he mentioned Azolla - it's taking over a pond of friends of mine. I wanted to ask how they reproduce by spores - do they float? I'll have to find my answer myself! Loved the episode!

JillyDoogs

Does anyone know how to contact Alie? I have something I really need to show her, I finally got the ologies logo tattooed on today!

Matt Schmidt

Thanks for asking my question! Had no idea how fascinating ferns were until recently. We are definitely thick with them. They easily outnumber the native flowering plants in NZ. Allie, you simply must come to NZ. Not only do we have tree ferns, but we have Wetas, that are insects that freeze over, we have Kiwis (the bird not the people), hairy, nocturnal, flightless birds, we have Tuataras (look them up, you won’t be disappointed), and we have 4 different species of penguins, 2 of which are the smallest and cutest of all.

Tommy McElrath

Thanks for answering my and Fern's audio question! Great episode about great organisms.

Tommy McElrath

I'm an entomologist and I cannot keep insects alive to save my life. He and you are not alone. :)

Alie Ward

i would looove to come there one day!

Alie Ward

AAAHHH Message me here!!! Or on IG! Or send Noel an email aliewardassistant@gmail.com!

Alie Ward

Ooooh, I wish we could have covered every single fern!

Alie Ward

Oh my word that is so cute and tragic that there was mistaken gamteophyte identity!

JillyDoogs

I will totally email you or send me your IG if you have one! 😊💜💜

Ted Vician

“In the botanical world, the fern people have the reputation of being really rowdy…” Go fern people! Get some!

Ted Vician

Also, can verify the Florida has plenty of non-fern issues, as a resident for the last 20 years.