Few brittle prickly pear cacti remain in Illinois. Will they persist in a changing climate?

On the 21st: Following Wednesday's shooting, members from both sides of the aisle have sent messages of support and have called for civility in this heated political climate. We spoke with current and former politicians and a communications expert about political rhetoric, bipartisanship and what this moment means for our country. We also got the latest on an appellate court hearing in southern Illinois over state worker pay and learn about plants that can be toxic to pets.

What’s wrong with garlic mustard? Probably nothing in itself, but garlic mustard is one of many plants that can produce bad effects when propagated them in the wrong place. Natural areas in Illinois are definitely the wrong place for garlic mustard, where it can crowd out native plants, depriving insects and the animals that eat them of an important food source, depriving birds of the cover they need for nesting, and more.

The “skunk cabbage,” is a plant that lives up to its name, giving off a distinct, skunk-like odor. But this distinct early spring flower also distinguishes itself from all other plants native to Illinois by the fact that it generates heat--enough so that its flower can remain 36 degrees F warmer than the surrounding air for a period of about two weeks.

Invasive Species: Impacts of Biological Invasions