The Alien that Lives Inside a Cactus

Back at the lower elevations of the coastal range, deep within the fog belt and close to the Pacific Ocean, we explore the salty granite flats of the coastal Atacama Desert (because more than a mile or two inland, plant life, and ALL life, tapers off dramatically). We encounter a variety of wild-ass plant species adapted to these "cool" deserts with roughly the same climate as San Francisco, but by far the weirdest plant occurs at the end of the episode and has a distinct and wonderful relationship with birdshit.
Cast of species for this episode :
Skytanthus acutus (Apocynaceae)
Encelia canescens (Asteraceae)
Perityle emoryi (Asteraceae)
Frankenia chilensis (Frankeniaceae)
Southern Sea Lion
Many-Spotted Iguana
Copiapoa dealbata (Cactaceae)
Tristerix aphyllus (Loranthaceae)
Selliera radicans (Goodeniaceae)
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[@thedudegrowsfood284]

"sounds like a wookie torture dungeon" I'm dyin here.

[@Rob.P974]

😂😂😂😂😂😄😄😄😄wtf !!

[@mikelewellen4195]

That soil looks like something they would use for the intro in a 90's music video.

[@Iruparazzo]

"this soil's hilarious" lmao

[@nonoluigi]

Just as was thinkin', "Perfect for the bathroom . . . ," I turn over the card and see: "Psycho Ward Green". Sherwin! Williams! You're kiilin' me here!

[@TheNaturalProgressive]

I am SO excited for our interview when you get back! Safe travels!

[@valhala56]

There is much to learn on how climate change will act on vegetation. A big gap on my knowledge for sure. A must to learn post haste!

[@TheNaturalProgressive]

@@valhala56 Yes!

[@RatDad69]

I don't come here for the botany, that's just a bonus. I come here to listen to him talk s*** about Humanity

[@adobedoug2564]

Misspelled Username people are monsters.

[@captainboing]

@@adobedoug2564 agreed. I am horrified how even in the most remote areas from the deep desert to the deep ocean, there is always a fucken plastic bottle hanging around. I swear if i ever make it to the moon I'd find a burnt-out chevvy

[@DarkMoonDroid]

Yep.

[@louie9373]

No other animals go to such great lengths to prove their existence.

[@andypampreen8906]

(7:35) It's really striking how the flowers are growing in distinct patches, as opposed to growing tightly together to hold onto moisture better. It's like a petri dish of separate bacteria colonies.

[@cruelcimmcia859]

"Strong growth of garbage" Love ya Tony!

[@lsd25records]

8:30 "Smells like a dogs mouth"... hilarious my friend ... made me laugh.

[@corndogsanchez2752]

I can never watch another National Geographic special again. Unless they hire this chap to narrate.

[@Jameson1776]

After watching several of your videos I never realized cactus poaching was a problem. I now see why. When they might take 100s of years to grow. Thank you for enlightening me on the subject.

[@LindaB651]

Tony- if ever you get to New England, I've a couple of riparian acres that you're welcome to explore!

[@CactusCaffeine]

Those centuries old Copiapoa! 😍 And those parasitic plants growing on the cactus actually made the cactus look more attractive.

[@ab3000x]

"psych-ward-green" love it

[@doctor_fill]

the camerawork there is fucking flawless too 7:18

[@captainboing]

@27:xx crazy mistletoe thing. Shame you can't dissect that cactus so we could see how the parasite has populated the plant - curious how the flowers only emerge through the areole. I wouldn't chop up a 400 year old survivor either. That's kinda nice. Parasites that break out of the host freak me - some of those cordyceps fungi really spook the shit out of me (but not as much as the poor ants).

[@wtfiwant8304]

20:23 life flashes before eyes.

[@wtfiwant8304]

24:37

[@UnOrigionalOne]

I am grateful to the KZbin algorithm for delivering this to my suggestions.

[@saltytech5546]

When you first came across the Encelia canescens I thought to myself "Is that an aster?" I think you've been rubbing off on me.

[@blu12gaming44]

12:15 "You hear that sound over there? It's like a Wookie sado-masochism room." ROFL!!!!

[@johannesdietrich724]

You got me laughing until my butt hurts. So much love in such hard words is a pointe in every sentence.

[@rachiesayd9423]

So would you say that you are "butthurt"? I keep hearing that word mostly from right wingers talking about Chump's inevitable election victory in 2020?!?!?! Just curious........

[@johannesdietrich724]

@@rachiesayd9423 no idea what you talking about. I‘m from Germany and completely uninterested in american politics and right wings. I’m exclusivly interested in plants, insects and geology. But my rear abdomen really, not literally, was hurting a lot from laughing over minutes.

[@aick]

The nostalgia is overwhelming! I LOVED that area when I was a kid, still one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Thank you.

[@GoatPrint]

My kids and I enjoy the information and different landscapes. Cheers from Eldorado...Ontario lol

[@sagetmaster4]

Love the reptilian side-eye

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

"That's a sorry looking Cactus anyway" ! If you had a parasitic Alien actively feeding off your Guts you might look pretty sorry too !

[@CreditR01]

7:10 - What a pretty leezard. :3 The sea lions are so cute too. The soil is so cracked there it almost looks like an artificial design.

[@jamescanjuggle]

Man 11,000 people watched this in less than 24 hours that's insane, good job

[@maxad117]

These videos are incredible, I've added more of your videos to my favorites than anyone else

[@richardhsiung7007]

You don't sound anything like a scholar, but you know your Latin scientific stuff... Thank you for an informative and enjoyable tour.

[@kevincelniker8499]

Cant wait for the South Africa episodes

[@jedanderson8172]

The age of these plants is shocking. I would never have thought they would be that old, but it makes sense if you think about it. Similar to trees on the edge of the tundra line.

[@DaddyBlueJay3207]

Your videos are more educational than any school will ever try to be

[@ruthkeeling-holt2031]

Enjoy your videos, I always learn something and truly appreciate the "don't be a prick" and "look it's another fuzzy bastard" comments ... love the seal footage !

[@bretthuet1396]

Received one of your shirts today- super cool! Thanks.

[@licklowandslitch9095]

Here in MN i have a sunflower type plant that grows from a bulb as a perrenial. Gets very tall with 3.5 inch across bright yellow petals gets very thick came up from some bird seed we think.

[@rachiesayd9423]

If it grows from a tuber (bulblike) it's likely Jerusalem Artichoke... Helianthum Tuberosum! It's edible and if you harvest them in the autumn or winter while dormant, you can cook them up and eat them!!! Just like you would cook potatoes! Enjoy!

[@TheNaturalProgressive]

There is a lot of rock here that is black with the white vein I always thought that was so interesting.. I live in an ancient sea bed.. Salty area also..

[@jessecardenas5223]

I Love Copiapoa, I have three seedlings:) I know itll take a long time but I'm okay with that, mine is copiapoa columna alba

[@cynergy4]

Beautiful 'guana! Love the topography there, fascinating geology as well! Plants are such a trip!

[@markkaidy8741]

"And how the shit did it get down here?!...." :) Bravo ..keep up the fascinating work, extant knowledge, and hilarious commentary.

[@katiekane5247]

Looks a little like an over poured patio someone drove over with a truck. Spectacular & super tough plants.

[@bkbland1626]

Timeless. You're my second favorite botanist.

[@leannaerickson9745]

I love your channel and I'm gonna try to hook you up with my lovely niece, who lives in Oakland. You mentioned the brownish foam on the waves coming into shore. You probably know this stuff already. I'm assuming the Atacama Desert is at 30-something degrees south latitude like the California coast is at 30-something degrees north latitude., and that there are kelp forests along the Atacama coast as there are in California, and that the Atacama Desert has seasonal variations much as does California. In December the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing summer. During late spring and early summer, the kelp forest has a big growth spurt due to more sunshine. As it grows the kelp consumes great quantities of oxygen and nutrients from the water. When the kelp has exhausted the supply of nutrients, growth is curtailed and the kelp dies back and disintegrates in the water. The small particles make the waves foamy and brownish for a while. To further insult your intelligence, now that the dying kelp has released the nutrients back into the water and summer days are still long, nutrients are now available, and the kelp forest experiences a second summer bloom. Many marine organisms depend on this annual cycle for life. On the other hand, the brown gunk on the seafoam could just be from petrochemicals leaking from a passing freighter. You're welcome. Now, go ---- yourself.😄🌴🌸🌵

[@toddstropicals]

Love that Frankenia!!!

[@karinawashere]

this is awesome. Quite a unique and knowledgeable human. Love it! new subscriber :-)

[@shepdgc.og.soldier7732]

Looks like a different world than what I’m accustomed to. Would love to visit,that’s about it. Very nice.

[@NewMessage]

There's your first children's book title right there.

[@PokefreakMaster333]

Botany For Kids Underrated Overneeded

[@cgriggsiv]

That is one extremely odd seed pod My first thought would have been in the pea family

[@TheJimford]

I must say the striations and abrasions on and in the coastline stones were amazing...the entire video, excellent intellect entertainment...as always

[@RlxRlx1]

I am Chilean from Iquique, currently living in Oakland CA. I am growing some copiapoas and so far so good, Thanks for the advice!

[@RlxRlx1]

there are many chilean stories about the Quintral del Quisco Tristerix aphyllus, also the mapuches used it for medicine back in the days

[@moo1388]

😊this guy...fabaecae, realistii, truthneedusall. Good stuff. Thank you Candenscent being

[@MercMercury]

That wookie dungeon comment killed me. Thanks for the knowledge and laughs, as per usual lol

[@Alteasea]

Ok, this one was beautiful, I like your eye for the world, you see where others glaze over.

[@lucyb15]

good episode, I thank you.

[@Seamasr2112]

Hey thanks for showing this! Probably won’t get there this lifetime before I leave this mortal coyle.

[@geoffbreen2386]

At 12.51 Looks to be a metal tag attached by wire near the base of the Eulychnia. Maybe someone is recording what is happening to some of these plants in this extreme environment. It could have a unique accession number and info about it kept on a research data base. Well that's what I think it looks like. And then at 13.01 you confirm what I was thinking. The Copiapoa dealbata..... amazingly perfect clumps when left alone to do their thing... to dealbate.

[@labrador7373]

The road is made of a salt material called bischofite wich is great for paving roads in places where it doesnt rain, the bad part is that is slippery as hell when there's fog.

[@riverrat235]

Hello from Nova Scotia botany guy. My wife and I love your videos, keep up the great work. Maybe some day you come to my island of Cape Breton and check out some o da shit around here eh?

[@Thecampingrocks1]

woah that parasitic plant was so interesting!

[@santiagocamacho1077]

God I wish we could have roads like that in Arizona. Peace from the desert.

[@igot99problemsbutmyaltaint81]

Be glad you aint in vegas :-p

[@Randomeaninglessword]

Bagnold seems like a cool guy; I recommend that anybody curious look him up.

[@goiterlanternbase]

Your story is as fascinating, as your videos.

[@__hetz]

I was waiting to see the mistletoe featured since the photos were posted by Woody and yourself. Insta's mobile app is pretty lax as far as inspecting images (pinch-to-zoom that reverts the moment you let go). Do either of you post high resolution images elsewhere? Also you got my curiosity running and I looked up Bagnold. I'm thinking it's named after Captain T.M. Bagnold who, in the late 1820's, brought back some hundred specimens of Araucaria imbricata from Chile to England by planting them in native soil in a wine crate for the return trip. Two went to Scotland (one to some Duke) and a number of them went to the botanical gardens of Kew. He received some silver medal of Cool Dudeness for it. I can't seem to find if he made any other contributions in the fields. He did get another medal of some sort for design improvements of "Coast Mortars," which I learned now weren't just for defense against invading ships but also used to launch lines to wrecked ships for rescue purposes. Anyway, you helped put a few extra wrinkles in the brain this evening. Might just keep digging through these old historical ledgers for a while tonight. It'd be interesting to know if he'd done other things for plant sciences.

[@rachiesayd9423]

You sir are a true gentleman and scholar!!! Kudos for the effort!!! Keep it up!!!

[@jonathanschadenfreude9603]

I like the chillensis.....esp when im chillin with santoro

[@livinlikelarry8782]

Some of Cali got some rain

[@richardlynch1094]

You're the only webcaster who brings that massive bush and thank you for that.

[@tonylaurenzi8011]

I really like your videos I learn a lot thank you

[@ColinMcCormack]

Cool fog dessit!

[@theunknowngamer5477]

My second view of this channel. Not sure why/how it found me. Random YT surfing does reward. So many questions...your library will melt me good, yes. I subscribe.

[@christopheklinger3217]

Robert de NIRO as a botanist ? only kidding. Interesting video and narration, Mars freeks should take a look/listen.

[@craigkeller]

Best classroom experience ever.

[@alexrogers777]

How much would I have to donate to send you to the island of Socotra? I'm sure you'd love it

[@annv.48]

Alex Rogers I want to chip in for Namibia and back to Aus for the Daintree :)

[@aussiegardener5703]

12:37 There's a wookie face in that rock lol

[@brianballa3086]

hey thank you for sharing

[@prescott5328]

Brilliant

[@mickeythemaltipoo3756]

@24:00 that rock formation is fucking amazing

[@mikewendland4982]

Are you going to come to the East Coast of America to botanize anytime soon ?

[@UninstallGoogleChrome]

20:21 The sound of a man who REALLY did not want to trip.

[@HashFace253]

A minute after that he finds a dead trichocereus... hmm..

[@Barro_1]

ah yes, very barren and glandular as usual

[@Shadowman4710]

"If I was a kid still I'd be picking up clumps of it and throwing at my friends..." Why the fuck doesn't this channel have a million subs by now?

[@thomaswattsjr.7]

I cant even explain what I am feeling right now. I see this man as brilliant! I watch all his vids and recommend them. Anywhere he goes he can name every goddamn plant he sees...fucking amazing! And yet...looking at cracked mud spreading fingers apart he says about 3 inches... Brother, did you forget that you have a ruler tattoo ed on your other hand?

[@jonassalk1387]

When you going to visit Galapagos Islands? You'll make some good discoveries there.

[@RussellBallestrini]

I never knew how fucking important sealions are until just now, seeing them in the wild with your eyes... Man you rock dude... Could sealion shat green a desert?

[@muskylemon2310]

You should come work in Western Montana in the spring/summer. You'd love it.

[@lsd25records]

:pops out to bloom then goes back inside to hang out ... wow .. makes you think about things....

[@woodstockjon420]

Psych Ward Green🤣🎭

[@names9530]

I always thought psych wards were white.

[@Gage54908]

27:40 Nice.

[@DarkMoonDroid]

Fog. That's what the little hairs are for. That's their water. Amazing....

[@lsd25records]

23:00 the geography is mind blowing to see.....

[@injunsun]

I want to take home a truckload of those salt clay bricks, seal them, and use them as pavers.

[@mastershadowreaper]

bruh im tripping on acid and stumbled upon this video, and at 3:05- 3:18 i swear to god that was a fish, i see it breathing and shit 😂😂😂

[@stavinaircaeruleum2275]

It's amazing how some of those plants look like they're growing out of solid rock.

[@superdupergrover9857]

I want to hear a lecture from this guy at a botany conference. Controversial perhaps, but it wouldn't be boring!

[@CHASRIZM]

I wonder if those seeds curl like that so that they roll on the ground in the wind

[@anaritamartinho1340]

Surprising growing plants there

[@teriyakimoto9296]

psych-ward green is a nice

[@detritic]

Wookie Torture Dungeon is definitely a band name

[@lsd25records]

I am in awe of your knowledge .. soothes my brain in this age of anti-science religious rhetoric ..... I have to replay it to digest the information bit by bit... thank you.

[@c0rnsocks]

Thanks

[@drewdemien481]

youre my new favorite personality. thanks for the education. very fuckin cool what you're doing there.

[@bdhanes]

Naming my new band, Wookie Torture Dungeon 🤘😂

[@SKLLedOne]

man I could totally go for some empanadas