What's the difference between a plant and a Weed?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Who Smarted? - Episode: "What's the Difference Between a Plant and a Weed?"

Release Date: July 23, 2025

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1. Introduction and Meet the Professor

The episode begins with the Trusty Narrator enjoying a day at the local botanical gardens, marveling at the variety of plants around him. Amidst the beauty, he spots a curious weed growing between the pavement cracks, prompting his interest in understanding the nature of weeds.

Notable Quote:

"[00:30] Bartholomew Birchwood: Indubitably. I would know. I'm Bartholomew Birchwood, professor of plants, pants and philosophy at a highly reputable online university."

Professor Bartholomew Birchwood introduces himself as an expert in plants and philosophy, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion about weeds versus desirable plants.

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2. Defining a Weed: Perception and Circumstance

The core of the conversation revolves around what distinguishes a weed from other plants. Professor Birchwood explains that the term "weed" is more about context and perception rather than the plant's inherent qualities.

Key Points:

• Definition: A weed is essentially a plant that grows in an area where it is not wanted. If a plant is desired in a particular setting, it is not considered a weed.
• Perception: What one person views as a weed, another might see as a valuable plant.

Notable Quote:

"[03:13] Bartholomew Birchwood: I was explaining how the dandelion is a perfect example of the ambiguity or uncertainty of what makes a weed a weed when it had its medicinal uses in the 17th century."

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3. The Dandelion: A Case Study

Dandelions serve as the perfect example to illustrate the complexities surrounding weeds. Initially brought to North America for their medicinal properties, dandelions are commonly seen as undesirable in manicured lawns today.

Key Points:

• Edibility: Every part of the dandelion is edible, though most people consume the greens after cooking to reduce bitterness.
• Health Benefits: Rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, and K, as well as iron and calcium. Historically used to aid digestion and treat liver diseases.
• Etymology: The name "dandelion" originates from the French "dent de lion," meaning "lion's teeth," referencing the plant's leaf shape.

Notable Quote:

"[07:22] Bartholomew Birchwood: They sure are. Dandelions are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, D and K, as well as iron and calcium."

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4. Seed Dispersal: How Weeds Spread Everywhere

The conversation delves into the remarkable adaptability and dispersal mechanisms of weeds, explaining why they thrive in diverse environments.

Key Points:

• Natural Adaptability: Weeds have evolved to survive in various human-altered environments.
• Seed Spread Methods:
  • Accidental Transport: Seeds often get carried along with harvested grains.
  • Wind: Many weed seeds are lightweight and dispersed by wind currents.
  • Animals and Insects: Birds, insects, and even mud on shoes contribute to seed distribution.

Notable Quote:

"[13:21] Bartholomew Birchwood: Well, sometimes when grains are harvested, the seeds of other plants become accidentally transported with the crops. Very often, seeds are spread by wind."

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5. The Hidden Benefits of Weeds

Despite their reputation, weeds offer several ecological benefits that are often overlooked.

Key Points:

• Soil Improvement: Plants like clover and dandelions enhance soil quality.
• Support for Insects: Weeds provide essential food sources for various insects.
• Aesthetic Appreciation: Some plants, previously deemed as weeds, such as the corn cockle, are now celebrated for their beauty.

Notable Quote:

"[13:56] Bartholomew Birchwood: Weeds like clover and dandelion can improve soil quality. And some weeds provide food for insects."

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6. The Science Behind Weed Killers

The episode explores how selective weed killers target unwanted plants without harming desirable ones, focusing on the differences between dicot and monocot plants.

Key Points:

• Plant Classification:
  • Dicots: Broad leaves or petals (e.g., dandelions).
  • Monocots: Narrow leaves (e.g., grasses).
• Selective Targeting: Certain herbicides are formulated to affect only dicots or monocots, allowing for targeted weed control.
• Mechanism: These herbicides disrupt specific metabolic processes in the targeted plants, leading to their demise while sparing others.

Notable Quotes:

"[16:01] Bartholomew Birchwood: Dicot. Many plants can fit into one of two categories, Dicot plants and monocot plants."

"[16:32] Bartholomew Birchwood: Well, monocots and dicots metabolize in different ways. And the selective weed killer is formulated to stimulate growth in the weed, but not the grass."

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7. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the Trusty Narrator expressing newfound appreciation for weeds, thanks to Professor Birchwood's insightful explanations. Listeners are encouraged to reconsider their perceptions of weeds and recognize their potential benefits.

Notable Quote:

"[17:05] Bartholomew Birchwood: Likewise, Trusty Narrator. I'm glad I was able to open your mind about weeds."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of "Who Smarted?" effectively combines humor and education to challenge common misconceptions about weeds. By using the dandelion as a focal point, it highlights the intricate relationship between human perception and plant classification, while also shedding light on the ecological importance of these often-overlooked plants.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for who Smarted? Psst. Hey, smartypants. I'm so glad you can join me on such a beautiful day. I decided to visit my local botanical gardens. And I am seriously enjoying all the nature around me. Between all the different flowers and trees and cool plants, I mean, this place has everything. There's rose bushes, sunflowers, hydrangeas. And is that stringy little weed growing between the cracks in the pavement? How'd that get here?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Ah, clever little weeds find all sorts of ways of making their presence known.

[Trusty Narrator]

Uh, they do?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Indubitably. I would know. I'm Bartholomew Birchwood, professor of plants, pants and philosophy at a highly reputable online university.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. And did you say you teach plants, pants and philosophy?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Why, yes. It's the three big P's. Plants being my favorite, of course.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay. Is that why you're conveniently hanging out here in the botanical gardens?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Convenient indeed. And I couldn't help overhear you sneering at that little weed as if it weren't as beautiful as all the other flowers and plants on display.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's because weeds aren't beautiful. They're. Well, they're weeds.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Ah, but a weed is a plant like any other.

[Trusty Narrator]

Is it, though? I mean, if weeds were so great, how come people are always trying to get rid of them? And how is it they show up, well, everywhere? And what makes a weed a weed and a flower a flower?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Fine questions indeed. Fine and dandy. Like the dandiest of dandelions. Which we'll most certainly get to as well. Why don't you take a seat beside me on this bench, and we'll philosophize about plants and if there's time, pants.

[Trusty Narrator]

Only if they're Smarty Pants. And speaking of get ready, Smarty Pants, because it's time for another big whiff of science and history on who's Smarted.

[Smarty Pants]

Who's Smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun on who's Smart.

[Trusty Narrator]

And.

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[Trusty Narrator]

All right, Professor Bartholomew Birchwood, first things first. I need to know just what makes a weed a weed.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Circumstance and perception, young fellow. Nothing less, nothing more.

[Trusty Narrator]

Circumstance and perception. I don't quite follow.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

I wasn't kidding earlier when I said a weed is a plant like any other. You see, the definition of a weed is simply thus, a weed is a plant in an area where it is not wanted. If it were wanted, it would not be a weed. That's it. Case closed. Good day, sir.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wait, seriously? That's it? But. But weeds are uglier than flowers, aren't they?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Are they? Have you ever picked a weed and looked at it by itself, away from the other flowers in the garden? Or maybe even made a bouquet of weeds? They have stems and leaves like other plants, and most of them produce flowers, too, just like the more desirable plants in a garden.

[Trusty Narrator]

I gotta say, Professor Birchwood, this is kind of mind blowing. But if weeds are like any other plant, then why do they have such a bad reputation?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

The answer to that, dear sir, is found in their very definition. It's just because they show up where they're not wanted. You see, for a gardener, a weed might just be a nuisance.

[Smarty Pants]

Aw, man, not another weed.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

But for a farmer, a weed can be much more troublesome. Depending on the type of weed it is. It can affect crop growth by getting all mixed up in the same area the crops are growing. A weed can also grow too tall and spread very rapidly, stealing all the sunlight from nearby smaller plants.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. What else?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Some weeds are poisonous, but even that is only an issue depending on where they are. For example, if some poison oak is growing on a hill in the middle of nowhere, it's essentially harmless. But if that same poison oak is growing at a campsite where it can give people a nasty red rash, then suddenly it's a dangerous, unwelcome weed.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. Who knew there was so much philosophy around what makes a weed a weed?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

I did. But I'm not alone. People have been squabbling over weeds since they invented a word for them. Oh, by the way, the word weed comes from the word woad, which is itself a type of plant. It comes from the mustard family and has a long history of being used to make dyes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. The flower of the woad plant is yellow, but the dye that it produces is a different color. What color do you think that is? Is it blue, green, or red? If you said blue, you're right.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

It may interest you to know that woad, along with indigo, are the two main plants that produce blue dyes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Cool, cool. But let's get back in the weeds. You said people have had issues with weeds throughout history. I'm guessing they've always been a nuisance.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Well, yes, but the reasons were always the same. A weed was only a weed if it was not wanted. But long ago, many plants we consider weeds today had medicinal uses or were edible. So if a plant had a purpose, it was not considered a weed. Instead, they were a food or a cure.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hmm. Is there an example of a weed like that that the smarty pants would be familiar with?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Why, certainly. In fact, it's one of the most common and dandiest weeds of all.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hmm. Any guesses what it could be? Smarty pants? We mentioned it earlier, and the professor just gave a bit of a hint. Did you say the dandelion?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

If you did, good job. Dandelions are definitely a crowd pleaser and definitely a weed.

[Trusty Narrator]

But hold on. I didn't know you could eat a dandelion.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Sure. They're actually quite delicious. In fact, every part of the dandelion is edible.

[Jane Lindholm]

Whoa.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

However, most people just eat the greens.

[Smarty Pants]

Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

They're usually cooked or boiled to remove some of their natural bitterness.

[Smarty Pants]

Yuck.

[Trusty Narrator]

Are dandelions good for you?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

They sure are. Dandelions are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, D and K, as well as iron and calcium. Long ago, people used dandelions to help with digestion issues and liver disease. And in the 16th century, it was even believed dandelions cured baldness.

[Trusty Narrator]

Interesting. Was it true?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

No. There's no permanent cure for baldness.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, well, sorry, Uncle Steve. Anyway, you were saying the dandelion is a weed that was praised for its health benefits?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Why, yes, so much. So the dandelion was actually brought to North America from Europe on purpose.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smarty pants, true or false? Dandelions were likely brought to North America aboard the mayflower in the 1620. If you said true, you're right. How about that? The Mayflower was transporting weeds. It should have been called the May Weeder.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Shall we philosophize on why that's not very funny?

[Trusty Narrator]

Nope. Moving on. Where were we?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

I was explaining how the dandelion is a perfect example of the ambiguity or uncertainty of what makes a weed a weed when it had its medicinal uses in the 17th century People praised it, but when it appears in the middle of a beautifully manicured Lawn in the 21st century, well, then it's a weed.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. Here's a question, Professor Birchwood. Why is a dandelion called a dandelion anyway? Is it because lions like to eat it?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Uh, no. But it does have something to do with lions. The word dandelion comes from the French den de lion, which means lion's teeth. That's because the leaves of the dandelion plant have a tooth like pattern. Take a look next time you see one. In fact, the dandelion is so common, it's had many different names throughout its existence.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ooh, that gives me an idea for a game we can play, Smarty pants. I'll give you three other names for the dandelion plant. All you have to do is tell me which one of the three is fake.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Ah, the old two truths and a lie.

[Trusty Narrator]

Exactly. Okay, Smarties, which of these is not another name for a dandelion? A, Milkwitch, B, Irish Lip, or C, Peabed? Okay, do you have your answer? The one that's fake is Professor.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

That would be Irish Lip. Both Milkwitch and Peabed are both names that have been used for the dandelion at one time or another.

[Trusty Narrator]

How funny and weird is that? Okay, another thing I'd love to know is how do dandelions and all weeds really get to be so all over the place? I mean, weeds seem to be able to grow pretty much anywhere. On the sidewalk, in a parking lot, next to the highway, sticking out of the side of a building. How? How do they do it?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Great question. The answer is coming up right after.

[Trusty Narrator]

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[Jane Lindholm]

Kids, you have a lot of questions.

[Curious Kid]

Is a crocodile a dinosaur? Why do people vote? How does your food turn into your poop?

[Jane Lindholm]

But why? A podcast for curious kids has answers. I'm Jane Lindholm. Join me as we dig deep into everything from science to history, nature, emotions, and sometimes even the weird why are.

[Curious Kid]

Jellyfishes made of jelly? Or are they made out of jelly?

[Jane Lindholm]

Find. But why? Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hi Smartypants. It's the trusty narrator, the host of who's Smarted First, a big welcome to all our new listeners. Welcome to the Smart Smarty family. Here's a nice five star review from one of you. Hi, Trusty. This is my new favorite podcast. I listen in the car with my sister, and even before bed. I'm telling all my friends, too. Sean P. Ohio. Thanks, Sean. And that's a great idea. So, smarty fam, would you mind doing me a favor? Tell one friend or another parent or an educator today about who's smarted. Because the only thing that's better than listening to who smart is listening to who smarted with a friend. Now back to who smarted. Okay, smarty pants, we're talking weeds. And other than my uncle Steve's bald head, weeds seem to be able to grow practically anywhere. So how do they do it, Professor?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

It's a simple fact of nature, really. Weeds have been around for so long, they tend to grow easily and can survive in human environments. But the other reason you see them so much is because the seeds of weeds can be spread in many different ways.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, really? Like how?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Well, sometimes when grains are harvested, the seeds of other plants become accidentally transported with the crops. Very often, seeds are spread by wind. They can also be spread by insects, birds, or even stuck in some mud at the bottom of your shoe that you end up moving somewhere else.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, so it's my fault weeds end up all over the place? I mean, I do tend to walk a lot in muddy shoes.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Oh, it's not all your faults, Trusty. Besides, there are benefits to weeds.

[Trusty Narrator]

You don't say.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Sure. Weeds like clover and dandelion can improve soil quality. And some weeds provide food for insects. Sometimes, when people finally stop to admire the beauty of a Weed? It's no longer a weed, but a flower.

[Trusty Narrator]

What do you mean?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Well, the corn cockle plant is a perfect example. It used to be considered a weed, but it became so popular that it's now considered a flower. And people actually want it in their garden. And I don't blame them. The corn cockle produces a very pretty pinkish purple flower.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. When it comes to weeds, I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

That's what I've been saying all along. Oh, but make no mistake, the corn cockle is quite poisonous if ingested. So look but don't eat.

[Trusty Narrator]

I'll be sure to remember that. And you too, smarty pants. No eating any weeds, even dandelions. Anyway, back to my questions. There's something else I really want to know that's kind of. Kind of crazy.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Is it? Why do they package bacon in such a ridiculous way that you're forced to remove all of it just to get a few slices out, and then your hands get all greasy and when you put the rest of the bacon back, the whole package is greasy and it doesn't reseal properly?

[Trusty Narrator]

Uh, no, that. That wasn't my question.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Good, because I don't have an answer for that.

[Trusty Narrator]

What I wanted to know is how do weed killers work? Like, how do they know to kill the weed but not harm the grass or flowers next to it?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Ah, that's an excellent question with a fascinating answer.

[Trusty Narrator]

Let me guess. Is there some kind of weed killing magic?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

More like weed killing science. But it really depends on the type of weed killer you use. Some weed killers will definitely kill any old plant they come in contact with, so be sure you're buying the right one. The ones that know what to kill are formulated to work on dicot plants only.

[Trusty Narrator]

Dye. What now? Plants.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Dicot. Many plants can fit into one of two categories, Dicot plants and monocot plants. A dicot plant has broad leaves or petals. A dandelion, for example, is a dicot. But grass, on the other hand, is a monocot.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, I see. So if the weed killer only works on dicots, it'll kill the dandelion in the middle of a lawn, but leave the grass around it unharmed.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Bingo.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's so cool. But how does it work?

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Well, monocots and dicots metabolize in different ways. And the selective weed killer is formulated to stimulate growth in the weed, but not the grass. It basically makes the weed grow too much until it can no longer cope. So it dies because the surrounding grass, a monocot, doesn't metabolize the same way, it remains unharmed.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's so cool. Well, Bartholomew Birchwood, professor of plants, pants and philosophy, you are definitely one of the most interesting guys I've ever met.

[Bartholomew Birchwood]

Likewise, Trusty Narrator. I'm glad I was able to open your mind about weeds.

[Trusty Narrator]

You really did. I'll never look at them the same way again. And I hope that goes for you too, Smarty pants. Next time you see a random plant growing in the cracks of a sidewalk or out of the side of a brick wall, be sure to stop and smell the weeds. A long distance shout out to smarty fan Aaron in Nottingham, England, who wrote, and I quote, Dear Trusty Narrator, me and my mummy listen to you all the time and we love your show. Thanks for making learning fun and super funny. Aw. A big thanks to you and your mummy for being such an amazing smartie family this episode. Weeds was written by Phil Geranium Jarmy and voiced by Taya. Get out of My Garden Garland Adam Dandelion Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hydrangea Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Carnation Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Sunflower Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Culver. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.