Why Do These Unrelated Plants Form Leaves Like This?

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originallly filmed in Southern Hemisphere winter, July 2023.
In this episode we make a trek to see the recently-described xerophytic bromeliad Encholirium agavoides in the mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil but get distracted by the evolutionarily-convergent leaf morphology exemplified by all these incredible goddamn plants. Plants take on otherworldly forms on the nutrient-poor, ancient metamorphosed sandstone in this unique habitat, many of them possessing sessile leaves that clasp the stem and overlap each other like snake scales or roofing shingles, which seems to be an adaptation to both the nutrient-poor soil chemistry and the long dry season in this seasonally-dry tropical habitat.
Plants featured include :
Kielmeyera sp.
Mikania sessilifolia (Asteraceae)
Declieuxia deltoidea (Rubiaceae)
Chamaecrista vauthieri (Fabaceae)
Dasyphyllum reticulatum (Asteraceae)
Cipocereus minensis (Cactaceae)
Lychnophora ericoides (ASteraceae)
Vellozia nivea (Velloziaceae)
Richterago (Asteraceae)
Lagenocarpus sp. (Cyperaceae)
Aulonemia effusa (Poaceae)
Microlicia avicularis (Melastomataceae)
Cyrtopodium parviflorum (Orchidaceae)
Aegiphila lhotzkiana (Lamiaceae)
Eremanthus elaeagnus (Asteraceae)
Odontadenia lutea (Apocynaceae)
Lafoensia pacari (Lythraceae)
Bowdichia virgilioides (Fabaceae)
and many more.
Encholirium agavoides footage gratefully donated by Dylan Zoller
Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.co... to get 20% o your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!). Oers are subject to change. #birchliving ●

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring. Click here birchliving.com/crimepays to get 20% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!). Offers are subject to change. #birchliving

[@artistlovepeace]

I'm dead.

[@artistlovepeace]

Thank you for talking out your ass. I'm learning and being influenced by your lectures and cinema so much.

[@artistlovepeace]

I'm starting to recognize the patterns of plants more and more. Why? Because I was and am influenced by your channel of the beauty of evolution.

[@ronm3245]

I didn't understand the meditation jokes.

[@pvtpain66k]

I keep sending AL my money, and he keeps takin' it, but I ain't gotten mah tapes YET!!

[@avryptickle]

I’ve been watching this channel religiously for like 4-5 years, and this might be one of the best episodes ever. I don’t even understand what I’m seeing. I get off on the wonder of plants, but this episode requires a total recalibration.

[@Somethinghumble]

Amen

[@kwullums]

ha ha some of those leaf patterns were amazing right?!

[@avryptickle]

@@kwullumsstraight up alien.

[@Deltablade21]

It's Al Scorch at work!

[@HD-xk3km]

Everything was so unfamiliar that somehow it was the surprise orchid that reminded me we were still on planet Earth

[@ghewins]

This area is known as the Serra do Espinhaço. A singer/songwriter, who goes by the name Bernado do Espinhaço, has a KZbin channel of the same name, where he posts videos of his songs set against the spectacular scenery of the region. In addition to sweeping landscapes, the vegetation plays a prominent role in these videos. One of his videos, “Que é pra Você Saber”, has a special meaning for me personally. I used to fantasize about decorating the cross (Brazilians are obsessive about planting crosses on peaks) with the colors of the rainbow. The inflorescences of the grass relatives that you show (21:16) are known locally as “sempre vivas”. They are the basis of a local cottage industry, where they are cut, dried, and sold.

[@evilsharkey8954]

Birch seems pretty chill with whatever ad you guy come up with.

[@brewswillas6635]

They're lucky to be sponsoring him, some bored rich person will undoubtedly buy one just to feel like they're sitting near the cool kids.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@brewswillas6635 I asked about the quality of the mattress the first time they did a Birch sponsorship, and he responded that it’s a good mattress and that he replaced his old one with it.

[@jerrypeppler1484]

@@brewswillas6635 Are we cool? (finally!)

[@samrockefeller7803]

That intro was a work of art.

[@marceloperellobotti9113]

Hands down the best youtube channel, top-grade botany, modern urban world criticism and positive sarcasm? Gnaisse

[@SemiFeralJill]

Your ruler tattooo is the coolest thing, so smart.

[@anschn7166]

I'm going to shamelesly copy that tattoo

[@heavymetalhomesteading]

Must've hurt like a mofo though.

[@GrandDawggy]

​@@heavymetalhomesteadingstick and poke might not look as fine lines but for me it wouldn't hurt as much.

[@dollarstorevodka]

@@heavymetalhomesteading and prob fades quick too

[@lemonyskunkketts7781]

I can relate to that mild road rage. The constant braking drives me insane! 😂

[@krissteel4074]

Man, huffing and puffing on this episode doing the work Ericoid round leaf patterns are in the weirdest places, we have some like the Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) in Tasmania that develops them on the younger plants and new growth, but later switches over to more conventional lance shaped leaf. Then up in Queensland about 3000km away there's also the Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia) that also has a similar Imbricate shape and pattern of leaf growth as the Eabaceae down there in Brazil which is what I almost mistook it for. So strange (and strangely comforting!) to see similar plants literally on the other side of the world, course there's a whole heap of stuff in there I've never so much as ever heard of

[@uhaneokalanijames8029]

i would love to see you go to hawaii and go to the big island, kauai, maui, and molokai to check out the diversity. i'm sure you would enjoy it.

[@LydJaGillers]

Everyone needs to either BE the Al Scorch in a friendship or have an Al Scorch in their friendships. This is a must for all successful BFFs.

[@grannyplants1764]

Ooh that Lophoensia flower at the end…if I were 30 years younger I’d make a book of close up pics of weird flowers. Again, landscape BJ ( before Joey) I wouldn’t give another look at, now I know to look at all the treasures to be found, thank you 🌿 And learning lots of new descriptive botanical words too 🤗

[@alistercaddy1208]

Ditto

[@an_otherwanderer]

"Having your mind blown 24/7 here in Brazil." As a Biology student in Minas Gerais you couldn't be more right, this place is insanely biodiverse and we never get enough of going out in the field to figure stuff out. And yeah, there's a *LOT* of quartz around these parts xD

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Hit me up via email I'll be back in January

[@lucyb15]

this is a mind-blowing flora.

[@Angraecum]

Al's the only guy I like seeing a mattress ad from

[@MCx570x]

I finally listened to his music. That man really is a great artist

[@brewswillas6635]

@@MCx570x What should I search to check it out?

[@lucasotis9525]

Oh, yo, that's cool! Could you post a link to his music?

[@CatharticCurios]

Sorry plants, I'm just here for that commercial today ♥️♥️♥️🤙

[@calnative4904]

Thank goodness for your channel 🙏

[@Superkuh2]

Plant at 24:18 looks like something out of a Stargate SG-1 (scifi) episode.

[@throwaway450]

Gotta avoid those Goa'uld plants for sure

[@jakemelinko]

You guys got the sponsor spot down paaat!

[@Germankipp]

Some of these crazy flowers with crazy styles and stamen and all I can think is 'I wonder what the seeds and distribution methods look like'.

[@Exquailibur]

Hearing you talk about plants reminds me of how I talk about them, there is something about exclaiming "look at this glorious idiot!" upon finding some random moss i haven't seen before. Most people dont get it but when you get to be passionate about taxonomy you find yourself way too excited about moss sometimes. Botany just has such a vast volume of things to get excited about for me. Especially that woody Oxalis shrub because my god I didnt know such a thing existed, where I live they are all shade tolerant weeds that are rather thirsty. That is very interesting that South America has shrubs like that, makes me wonder what an Oxalis tree would be like.

[@Silligoose501]

Amazing diversity!! Ty for this video. So enjoyable.

[@jakemelinko]

I'd watch a video of just all of Al's commercials❤

[@richarddavies7419]

Sandstone IS almost all quartz; baked it becomes quartzite. Flora even better than southern Africa, mindblowing as that is. Thanks for the experience.

[@anaritamartinho1340]

This is me talking in my car😅...Brasil with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Vellozia is to blow your mind for sure😮🤯

[@Yabbagabbagool]

Going to have to rewatch this one a few times; every single plant is incredible!

[@cruztj1]

Gotta love the well loved carthart jacket in the intro

[@hectorfr]

gracias, no decepcionáis nunca

[@joycefairfield9102]

The time has come for CPBBD to put together an Al compilation, real nice.

[@deathgripsenthusiast]

desperately need the clip of the "what're they doing in there?" bit

[@christianhunt7382]

you guys have the best ad reads out of any youtube channel. Can't wait for season 2 of KYL, 3ven though ima have to subscribe to one of them subscription services again

[@user-pe4bv7vm2y]

I'm in the mood for an imprahmptu sea shanty

[@hamsandwich780]

arlington heights with a carhart tshirt is the youtube I needed today

[@bartendersdaughter6003]

Pic of Harold Washington! I have a poster from the Chicago Department of Rodent Control from Harold's administration - it priceless. Thanks!

[@grannyplants1764]

Hi Al, nice green screenshot of Namaste you taken to go on fridge nice 📿

[@debg7710]

I love your trips to Minas Gerais, it's a fave place of mine which I'll never get to visit in person. Thanks for the vicarious tour!

[@Bootsz2010]

I can't believe that amazing beauty and so many different species of flowers and plants! OMG it's magical and beautiful! 💙🤗

[@susiefairfield7218]

Just got home from spending the weekend in Lake Wales at Kissimmee Lake State Park in the woods camping and lol this video really hit me hard .dang ..this may be your best video yet!!

[@SuperDjwasabi]

I need to show dry habitats more love, I tend to love my swamps and bogs. Loved the sarracenia dungeon video, would love to see more bogs featured 🤘

[@fuxan]

Southeast US? Upland pocossin?

[@fuxan]

Southeast US? Upland pocossins?

[@SuperDjwasabi]

@@fuxan Southeastern US, yes. The Gulf Coast of Mississippi, around DeSoto National Forest is my stomping grounds

[@bobair2]

Such a wonderful video and again I have learned new information! Thanks Tony/Joey you inform us all!

[@fluuufffffy1514]

Each video I'm making bets as to how many times he'll say "that's all I got for ya" 👌😂

[@ignaciocarreohilders1408]

So many Hypericaceae lookalikes yet not one Hypericaceae damn

[@boggeorge]

One of Al's best performances thus far.

[@baTonkaTruck]

This is an absolute masterpiece I’m dead.

[@hestheMaster]

Al's intro was off the chain! Thought your were in southwestern Utah until I saw the strange looking flora. They are all simply just beautiful!

[@ramonbril]

There's a few things about this episode that I extra enjoy. The place, the esthetics, a bit of calm.

[@craggall]

do you like Pawpaw trees? I don't remember if you've found any or not

[@canadiangemstones7636]

So where do I get that relaxation tape.

[@TheGrmany69]

I think the main reason why these plants grow like this is because those dry biomes are actually all granite and there is almost no substrate ( they are all mostly lithophytic) so the form helps them with the competition for resources, including light... There are cover plants that start growing above any thumb-like plant like cacti if given the correct conditions of shade and humidity and as you can see all these plabts grown in crevices in the land so they need to handle stiff terrain, shade and wind!

[@wasylbakowsky5199]

convergent evolution

[@abc-dj3dx]

Amazing biodiversity and convergent evolution... wow!!! Some of that leaf growth resembles Eucalyptus.

[@mecatlcacao9351]

There is no better advertising methodology.

[@johnbharris]

Loooooombard...Loooooooombard. I nearly wet my pants.

[@Cquoya]

Very cool mind-blowing trip. ' why you do that? '❤❤

[@plutoniumiscool]

Minas Gerais is great indeed, have to get myself up there again one day. If you ever come to south Brazil (Paraná state) let me know, there´s tons of good stuff around here too.

[@eduardomariano8450]

The orchid was a Cyrtopodium

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Yes, like the caption stated.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Nevermind I just checked and it appears I didn't add text to that bit. My bad. What a bummer. It was Cyrtopodium parviflorum.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1045832-Cyrtopodium-parviflorum?locale=en-us

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Everyday life is giving me aneurisms too, AL Scorch.

[@thegodofhellfire]

Arlington Hights oooohmmmm

[@amoth7757]

“If you can learn a common name you can learn a genus name” aha jokes on you I’m ✨dyslexic✨😎

[@WastrelWay]

Why? It might be a way for the plant to conserve water. When the plant breathes, which it must do, a small amount of water is released as water vapor through the stomata on the bottom of the leaves. The tops of the leaves below may be able to capture some of that water vapor by trichomes or some other means. For more efficient water recycling, the leaves on the plants have evolved to be closer together and along a single long stem. That's the best I can come up with. During the dry season, recapturing even a small percentage of the water would be important. It would take some very delicate experiments to see if this is happening.

[@luisfelipeteixeira6486]

Nanuza, for whom Esterhazya nanuzae was named, was my professor!! Incredible botanist and a very nice person.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

That's great to know!

[@joshk5686]

That Lychnophora looks so much like an Auracaria just going by the leaves

[@itookallthenames]

Wow that Mikania’s form is so similar to our Pimeleas (celastraceae) in Australia

[@Elbrimar]

I’ve got to say that is the most original & awesome ad read I’ve ever seen! Businesses are sleeping on y’all’s talent. Also, loved the video too as always! 🌵🌱🌿

[@rodoceros]

Al's ads are so perfect.

[@nathanielparker4421]

Variations on a theme... the imbricate waxy leaves which come to a point reminds me of Donkey Spurge (erhm sorry, Euphorbia myrsinites). I guess they're from Turkey, I was introduced via yards of the PNW (HA). Noxious, just how I like, anyway, great episode!

[@reefshadow1]

PNW here too. And I hate that euphorbia. My MIL planted a bunch in our yard and it was going to seed by the time I noticed. I pulled it off and got some of the latex on my skin. And have been battling seedlings for five years. Moral of the story- don't ever let MIL put things in your yard.

[@randallmunson9909]

It's good you didn't mention Berwyn. Thanks again 😂

[@brewswillas6635]

I can't hear the name Berwyn without thinking of Son of Svengoolie.

[@AloeLover]

Cinematic masterpiece

[@snuugumz]

I heard you mention the name Rusty Indumentim: I dated that guy! Not the brightest knife inna drawer, but whaddya gonna do , eh? Hey tell Al I said he’s a goddamned rock star. Love ya, Joey!!

[@Tminus89]

28:20 my god that's gorgeous

[@chris-808]

I wish these videos existed when I was getting my botany degree.

[@ronm3245]

"Metamorphosed quartzitic sandstone" can just be referred to as quartzite.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Don't know if you noticed but amidst the dildo jokes this is an educational channel and two words that sandwich the other one help explain the term lol. Pedantic turds ahoy

[@jerrypeppler1484]

ok so just asking a legit question here. How did the quartz and sandstone which I think require two completely separate geologic processes and time frames become entangled with each other?

[@jerrypeppler1484]

I realize not in your purview, curious though.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

@@jerrypeppler1484 both are silica dioxide. Sand is essentially already quartz in many cases. When they're metamorphosed, IE "cooked" and partially melt or get close to it, I would suppose the sandstone gardens and in some cases the silica dioxide crystallizes as quartz. There's probably actual vernacular that applies here but I'm not familiar with it because don't Jim I'm a botanist not a rock jock

[@colinwonnacott6654]

Man, the sunflowers and legumes that look like euphorbia at @8:25 is something else.

[@residentenigma7141]

Eucalyptus kruseana (and many other Euc's in juvenile-leaf stage) has imbricate leaves. Some Regelia's, Pimelea's, Lachnostachys, Melaleuca's and many more have the same. I like to peek inside and see who's hiding in there.

[@lovelywolff]

One of my favorite videos from you! Thanks for all the info, wow

[@CIemCon]

Am I the only one who looked in the description for Chicagoland Meditations? 😭

[@wildebt]

I really hope Mordor doesn't attack Minas Girais after taking on Minas Tirith, for the sake of the biodiversity..

[@kso808]

I love those alien looking plants! You discover the most interesting ones.

[@dariemclaughlin1012]

The platform you guys use is. emphatic. First of all your advertising is so very complimentary to a sustainable mindset. The honest rendition of a product to the point where an interested party might make convenient use of the information while it leaves no questions for anybody else that they might need just to try to buy another piece of crap they won't really want.. I don't know how much of this was specifically intended but you did it better than anybody else and I've heard people talk of trying, On the KZbin. Let me just get a little personal here and say the kind of people that might like to watch maybe they watch far too much. Maybe they watch something and they would like to support your channel just by watching really long commercials that are pretty freaking good like the old old days. They'd rather watch your commercials even after a long stint of Latin they wouldn't mind just hearing from you guys but not about something that takes any effort. Letting them support you without any burden or any niche. Advertise for anybody honestly supporting negative growth economics everything gets a little better and nicer every time it changes hands instead of profit on the bell curve. You guys could just push your platform on other people to make the world better. You remember the 80s diagram pick two out of three right. Now we're quadruplexing. It's cheap, easy, fast, and sleazy. All four.

[@user255]

Very nice! More.

[@lillith665]

Contemplative Griping!!? I never knew there was a name for what I do in traffic!

[@ub-4630]

Al, you are a treasure.

[@TheGrmany69]

All very similar to Venezuela's coast line. You should go to Caracas and climb the Naiguatá peak in the avila mountain. Not only you get to see the different strata but the mountain range have a cool area known as 'la explanada' which have similar species like those in the video, and I'm sure much more rarer species as it is an isolated tundra like biome.

[@michaelperrone3867]

That actinocephalus is wild! It just grows a whole boquet right there!

[@sagetmaster4]

Those quartzites are nice and clean. It was either a desert or beach (those environments winnow away or chemically weather everything other than quartz sand) and now it's an arid landscape again

[@HLBear]

At 24:00, I thought you had an edelweiss for a few seconds. Such wild diversity. 😊

[@ADDAxyz710]

The blue looked like it rubbed off the cactus fruit 🫐 Is it super glaucous wax? Would the dark pigment absorb heat?

[@patrickgarner]

Center for Contemplative Griping aaaaHAHAHA Love you guys 🤣😂😅🙃 Namaste😘

[@jakemelinko]

Love the glowing green eyes

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

That intro/plug is a thing of beauty lol

[@wildweeds]

I thought the Orobanchaceae was commonly known as the Broomrape Family, but you called it the Paintbrush Family. Weren't the paintbrushes only recently in the Schrophulariaceae? Seems unfair for them as newcomers to change the name of their new family!

[@blackturtleshow]

That's my understanding of the situation!

[@evilsharkey8954]

So many weird plants! Even the totally normal looking cactus throws a crazy shade of blue onto its buds and fruits.

[@MrSquekersUPSB]

If y’all actually sold those cassettes I would buy.

[@heavymetalhomesteading]

Well now that's freakin' relatable and what the shit. Like driving in RI.

[@_NewtonMeter]

Chicagoland meditations 😂

[@brightmooninthenight2111]

Its crazy how similar many of these plants look like to where i live in south Georgia close to Florida. Our plants contend with sandy soils, periods of drought, unbearably hot sun. On a hot day in a dry spell i run my fingers in the sand and i can't believe anything can live in it. Anyways cool to see some of these plants evolving with the similar patterns

[@vitorabdala1]

The orchid is a Cyrtopodium sp.

[@fuxan]

Baptisia has entered the chat.

[@OrionsMako]

So, what about overly wet ecosystems, you ever check out south Louisiana? Love your vids, haven't missed many the past few years.

[@eastindiaV]

Convergent evolution