Salty, Uncouth Slobs of the Atacama Desert

See a tree that's able to not only grow but thrive in some of the most incredibly saline, lousy soil on Planet Earth. How does it do it? Then slowly ascend to an elevation of 11,000' before coasting back down to sea level to be left at a hill draped in fog at sunset, the entire time being graced with the presence of a wonderful cast of species such as :
Tillandsia landbeckii (Bromeliaceae)
Prosopis tamarugo (Fabaceae)
Atriplex sp. (Amaranthaceae)
Tiquilia atacamensis (Boraginaceae)
Adesmia sp. (Fabaceae)
Cistanthe celosioides (Montiaceae)
Phacelia sp. (Boraginaceae)
Cristaria sp. (Malvace)
Aloysia atacamensis (Verbenaceae)
Trichocline sp. (Asteraceae)
Krameria lappacea (Krameriaceae)
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[@jordanneelaine4511]

Mainly due to your potty mouth and your rich knowledge of many things botanical, I may not be the first to consider you "the people's botanist." By sheer strength of your personality and your "everymanspeak" you have brought botany to thousand of people who would otherwise have to patience for it. As a fellow botanist, I salute you.

[@nancynickerson4341]

Well said!

[@jinagibson6818]

You just prefer squid-billies and pig vomit?

[@jasminewood395]

@@jinagibson6818 ill take pig billies and squid vomit...

[@jasminewood395]

Pretty awesome to see this taking off! Hopefully its impacting a few folks. Its really good content

[@haroldpaulson]

Also humor and obvious, genuine enthusiasm.

[@traviscallahan7178]

Thanks for letting us know wether or not someone took a dump in the toilet, that was actually exactly what I was wondering and I worried we would never know. (This was not sarcasm)

[@thesuprisedbitch4077]

"Do i look like the typa shmuck whos gonna come out here with a tripod?" Lol

[@MrPianoKnee]

Are you an "Iron and Wine" music fan? I like them.

[@thesuprisedbitch4077]

I am in fact an iron and wine fan, cool to see another one out here

[@jackwood8307]

Looks like he’s on movie set about the world being dead. Nice.

[@werlder]

As a native Phoenician, your definition of Tucson people could fit all of us honestly.

[@TylerMarsh43]

As an arizona man, you are right about us not coming out until late. But many times ive checked the temp at 1-2am and its still above 100 degrees

[@71andrew17]

I rarely comment, but never change your style! It's a refreshing change of pace to be educated with humor. Keep it up!

[@sjmazzoli]

thanks for your service...happy holidays

[@f.demascio1857]

Your mastery of Latin pronunciations is to be commended. I learned the key to Latin pronunciations from Paul Stamets. He said, "Say it with confidence."

[@bushpushersdaughter]

For everyone who says Latin isn't Important. Thank you sir for sharing your travels and superb knowledge.

[@ealaibracket1]

Please don't ever stop being you. Keep it real.

[@nancynickerson4341]

Installation art: a toilet in the desert...

[@ChefOrelleYoung]

Who is financially backing this dude? Great content as usual 👍🏾

[@thedudegrowsfood284]

Well, since he does not espouse any political beliefs, and does not seem to be selling anything, I would guess he backs himself. But hey, I'm a grumpy old autodidact.

[@TheOneAndOnlyLewis]

He has a patreon, and I think he has or is planning on selling a few shirts.

[@ChefOrelleYoung]

gene eric well, Godspeed to his passion and his journey.

[@HotelPapa100]

@@TheOneAndOnlyLewis The sales drive for his "department of unauthorized forestry" shirts ended a few days ago.

[@ChefOrelleYoung]

Lewis Wright I’ve never felt so inclined to donate to a KZbinr, his content is optimum.

[@unnatural_log6472]

You should put "Endless forms most beautiful and what the shit" on a shirt

[@NewMessage]

There was a time I'd be surprised to see a lone toilet on a barren volcanic flat... but those days of innocence and joy are gone. Long, long gone.

[@SeventhSamurai72]

As always, a great post! Thank you Sir!

[@robstone9628]

Smoked a fat joint and you post a video doesn't get much better than that, thanks!

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

i am 67yo and retired - your the best channel = you could do a child version and an adult version = i just like cousin Tony`s description real down to earth with all the right names - no matter what ! thank you cousin Tony .

[@tykoru]

Pls never change, Mr. Santoro

[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

The barrenness sharpens one’s appreciation of the species that have evolved to be able to call the Atacama their home.

[@lithostheory]

That's probably one of Rick Sanchez' toilets.

[@thomaskahler3940]

Just found your stuff, can't believe u made a video in Atacama. I'm from Chile and this kind of insight is priceless. Also love the way u casually explained all that shit. Gracias!

[@ShastaKath]

Merry Christmas, pisan! I love visualizing you in Berkeley. I lived there in the middle 60s. Country Joe (of the Fish) goofed on the pretensions and poses of the ivory tower folk. I distributed LSD to all sorts of people and gave MMPI (a psych eval) before & after--Jefferson Airplane and the Dead, among various engineers and probably the UniBomber at the EGG ShOP & Apple Press where a lot of us math nerds got together to eat eggs at a common table. You must be a caution, with your brilliance and your affectations. Thank you for trekking all over the place and sending back your glimpses of reality. I'm half Italian (the other side is old line Virginian Celt) SF wine growers in Sonoma (bootleggers on my dad's side) I was born in Santa Cruz and have been a sober alcoholic since New Year's Eve in 1975. Smiles and appreciation!

[@meganlangreck2488]

I love these videos so much, I don't even think you suck for being able to going all these neat places I wish I could go or having the awesome life I wish I had.

[@allonesame6467]

I like the hate-mail ending quote. I wonder if he will mine those. Gold!

[@andymelero9316]

no change needed on your part. you're refreshing in a sea of stale people.

[@Love2Destroy]

@ 7:29 The soil texture here is produced by haloturbation. As the salt crystallizes it heaves and churns the soil.

[@ALLIWANNADOISCOMMENT]

you make my day perfect evertime you upload ive been watchin you forever thank you so much please never stop

[@joyg2526]

Love your videos!

[@kawabungadad8945]

9:52 OKAY WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF FUCKING NOWHERE. Thanks for all the laughs man.

[@theboxcaradventurer1874]

Ah yes... The dribbly shit sand castle technique. I know it well.

[@Bimtavdesign]

Loool

[@prajaktajoshi6280]

You keep on introducing us to such diverse flower plants. Thanks

[@dbrowne9341]

the wonder continues..thanks so much!

[@CindyBallreich]

I keep watching and waiting for the switch to click so suddenly I can start naming off plants like that.

[@dontalkt2meboutheros]

The Trichocline has Post-coital dysphoria.

[@michaelhockus8208]

thanks for all these new bookmarks

[@mikexibalbafarms4169]

Amazing area to search for cool stuff! GFY bye!

[@igot99problemsbutmyaltaint81]

A view fit for a king ;-p Cheers Brother Thanks again

[@royahold1966]

God how I love it when one of these pops up on my notifications.

[@cynergy4]

Was thinking that it reminded me of desert holly, and then you said it! I'm fond of canescens and confertifolia because they are a beautiful lime green is spring, and by fall start turning oranges and yellows. They also look kinda Rasta to me, haha! Fascinating landscape, thanks for taking us along! May you never lose your passion. By the way, it's not a good idea to fondle flannelbush, but you prolly already know that

[@brianballa3086]

nice I like thank you for sharing

[@oldairyheir]

Thanks, Joey! Happy Festivus from tropical Minnesota! ;-)

[@lionscircle4700]

Trainspotting in the the Atacama! Received the merch. Thanks

[@tailwheel65]

God, I wish I was there with my camera. What an amazing landscape.

[@megasocky]

If there ever was an apocalypse i want this guy not only for the geologic and botanic knowledge, but because hes someone who can make a party about the end of mankind lol

[@barbarabroeske1061]

MegaSocky Um, there IS an apocalypse and he's surviving it.

[@christinemccullough8765]

The glands do make me feel nice

[@nataliatran4878]

Good thing there is a toilet there cause I just about lost my shit. Lmao

[@Stripeydave3]

Good work. What camera set up do you use to get such good closeups? Thanks for all your sharing of knowledge. -Dave

[@pardotkynes1]

standing in the privy, toilet paper all around and still complementing the trees smell smell. gotta love this guy

[@ABurgess]

Goddamnit, Vinnie.

[@Killercreek]

I just love putting on your videos to fall asleep to. There's just something about your hatred of our species that I find comfortable

[@meismeems1]

Me too! Just knowing he doesn't care if I listen or not just lulls me right to sleep. Reminds of me growing up in Chicago, hearing the adults yak away, I guess. Makes me feel safe and secure.

[@payday510]

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

[@charleshopkins3598]

Yeah, but if you changed your speech pattern, it would not be you, thanks again for another installment of your travelog. Great work.

[@dreadbaron10]

I think that toilet is a Banksy installation

[@Mr.misdemeanor]

Those boxcars were so damn voluptuous.. so clean and innocent, nice to see endemic trains, consider a drail into some foaming/benching? I can't be the only one in the audience that likes trains!

[@lucancherby]

do you ever disperse the seeds? at 13:40 you gotta a bunch of them in your hand. it would only take a few minutes to plant those seeds a few millimetre deep

[@marin4311]

It is amazing to see that , like humans, plant species can become nomadic to survive in desertic areas, like Tillandsia does.

[@Icehippieviking1001]

You had me at the toilet in the middle of the desert. I'd like to know who put that out there. Great video. 🙂

[@c0rnsocks]

Thanks

[@whatabouttheearth]

Oh...Misquite. I was like "what's Miskee?"

[@Killercreek]

Is it possible the ridges in the mountains be from the Tellansia stopping blowing particulates? Might be a feedback cycle

[@TheDancingHyena]

"That wash didn't make itself." Uh...perhaps you misspoke. lul

[@valhala56]

lOOKS LIKE MARS.

[@rachiesayd9423]

I heard that under-the-breath shout out to Martin Grantham!!! Why am I not surprised you two know each other? He is just as driven horticulturally as you are!!! I don't know if he ever mentioned to you that he is a member of the Hortisexuals of the Bay Area? Like me and my recently deceased partner he is a charter member and highly esteemed among us for his superior knowledge and experience in propagation in particular!!! I'm certain the group would not mind at all to welcome you in with open branches........

[@cruelcimmcia859]

This is great, I love the subtle Shits N fucks. And straight up knowledge.

[@towersong]

We need you to come to Central Florida and check out in the Lake Wales Ridge. hit me up

[@Nirrrina]

Are you sure that toilet didn't just spontaneously grow there?

[@Garblegox]

I don't know anything, but I heard from a bald guy that if you hang some weight from the bottom of your camera somehow, it'll make the picture less shaky.

[@lcbrme138]

Never change

[@TheDancingHyena]

GABBRO NICE

[@meganlangreck2488]

If it were not a soul destroying profession I think you would be outstanding in teaching or professing.

[@k.m.223]

I know I'd have enjoyed botany a lot more with a teacher like this.

[@Doctor_Subtilis]

❤️

[@dwainkitchel1316]

This is why we can't have nice things!!!!!

[@Raterheim]

3:44 isn't it the other way around? the ridges are where the Tillandsia roots trap the sand?

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

I don't think that's how it works. More likely the ones that didn't grow on the ridges did not receive enough condensation to survive.

[@aaronmoravek]

Of course that accent is entertaining, but I also like to know about plants that can thrive in a hostile desert. It's pretty awesome.

[@profanegunman7586]

One of my favorite maps in Battlefield Bad Company 2.

[@gillmanchillman311]

Please never stop swearing in your videos.

[@ab-zg8pt]

The first plant looks like a gigantic moss

[@Waster_War_Boss]

I’m from Layton Utah and I think your fuckin great

[@Jet0919]

Please make some “race to nowhere” shirts. I will buy some

[@eddiewiller]

Living in the Provo area, I know a lot of Bummer Steves.

[@christinemccullough8765]

I definitely got the worst sunburn of my life looking for plants when I was there...

[@DemonicIntegrity]

That random ass “you like when I say that you sick fuck” got me cracking up. You’re a weird man, keep it up

[@thomasfimbres852]

Yeeee

[@HebaruSan]

The swearing is the reason I'm watching this in the first place

[@ShastaKath]

Pretty sparse!

[@Skeptic2006]

I like milky almost amber trichomes.

[@FrankEdavidson]

0:19 At least someone is making the effort to resoil the desert.

[@foobargorch]

3:44 - chicken/egg type situation? my guess would have been that they are responsible for the ridges forming

[@c0rnsocks]

Yea their roots held the surrounding soil in place while the rest fell away

[@apextroll]

Is that an Americanus Standardus?

[@ComblessMan]

Tolerable Disdain, good name for a band.

[@kileace9610]

Tony my dude you been helping through a hard time I found your videos last month or some shit watched the majority in a day and laughings been a rarity as of late and accept wen I watch your videos I gotta go to jail an shit but uh was hoping id get too see some more adicama wonderments of extromphile flowers or maybe some sub troppic jungle Shit anyways your awesome Polk county oregon is beautiful but got people government 🚫👮🌿🍀🌹🌱🌾🌺🌵🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

[@chiseldrock]

possible the tillandsia causes the ridges by anchoring the soil?? creating their own enviromental advantage. 3:51

[@eyeluvviewtwo1814]

7:29 mood

[@calamagrostis88]

The Stranger: "There's just one thing Dude, do have to use so many cuss words?" The Dude: "The fuck you talkin' about?"

[@CrystalFlames]

Chance of asteraceae 100%

[@priceandpride]

His dystopian reality

[@PoHazard]

i love watching your videos WITH a side of cursing because the cursing makes you less intimidating. a lot of science videos feel overly formal to me, even if that's how the presenter naturally talks. i need the casual vibe. its relaxing. thats just how i see it personally though

[@Iruparazzo]

i do fuckin like it when you say it

[@muscovyducks]

Palms are in arecales, as opposed to poales. Both are commelinids.