-
Eranthis hyemalis – January 31st 2022 – Winter Aconite
The winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisbury, is a beautiful, diminutive winter flowering plant. It is not really an aconite and was originally interpreted as…Continue reading »
-
Petasites pyrenaicus = fragrans – January 24th 2022 -the Winter Heliotrope
This plant is now at the height of its flowering season (January-February). It really is fragrant - smells of cherry pie.Continue reading »
-
Lamium album – January 17th 2022 -the White Dead-nettle
The white dead-nettle, another winter-flowering plant, is a member of the Lamiaceae, a family which contains many of our culinary herbs. Although their common names…Continue reading »
-
New Year Flower Hunting – January 1st- 8th 2022
You can still see a few wild plants in flower. Some are blooming reluctantly, some seem to have mistaken the seasons, but a few are…Continue reading »
-
Senecio vulgaris and S. viscosus – January 3rd 2022 Groundsel
Groundsel, one of the most common native plants, in flower even in mid-winter needs little introduction. Its sticky relative suggests the question, why sticky?Continue reading »
-
Symphoricarpos albus – December 27th 2021 Snowberry
Snowberry’s fruits are as white as snow, highly visible in winter months. Why are they ignored by birds?Continue reading »
-
Pyrola media – December 20th 2021 Intermediate Wintergreen
Brian Ballinger has encountered this scarce species many times in the Scottish Highlands. This week he shares his knowledge with us.Continue reading »
-
Which is the best month for wild flowers in Scotland?
Brian Ballinger has been recording flowers in East Ross during all twelve months of the year. He shows there is plenty to record, even in…Continue reading »
-
Moneses uniflora, Orthilia secunda, and three Pyrolas 13th December 2021 – Wintergreen
Wintergreens are plants of damp and shady places, usually in woods. These are not the wintergreens of “oil of wintergreen”; that comes from another plant…Continue reading »
-
Viscum album – December 7th 2021 Mistletoe
It’s the season for Holly and Ivy, and ...Mistletoe. This week we take a second look at this magical plant.Continue reading »
-
Leycesteria formosa – November 29th 2021 Himalayan honeysuckle
This introduced species has spread rapidly since the year 2000. We wonder why.Continue reading »
-
Rhinanthus minor – November 22nd 2021 Yellow Rattle
It’s a hemiparasitic species, always on the look-out for a host and it doesn’t much mind which species to grab.Continue reading »
-
Chemical relations
Many people know that fungi produce a host of different chemical compounds. It's also well-known that plants produce a range of aromatic, medicinal, poisonous and…Continue reading »
-
Quercus robur – November 15th 2021- the common oak, the English oak or the pedunculate oak.
There is nothing common about this magnificent plant except the frequency with which it is encountered throughout the British Isles.Continue reading »
-
Solanum nigrum – November 8th 2021 Black Nightshade
Some people think it’s poisonous, but others tell us to make soup or jam from it. What is the truth?Continue reading »
-
Goodyera repens – November 1st 2021 Creeping Lady’s-tresses
This orchid is ‘faithful’ to pinewoods, and distinctly northern in its British distribution.Continue reading »
-
Lycium barbarum – October 25th 2021 Duke of Argyll’s Tea Plant
This introduced species is found in some coastal districts of Scotland. It has been a component of Chinese medicine for a thousand years, and some…Continue reading »
-
Calystegia sepium – October 18th 2021 – Hedge Bindweed
Many fine wild flowers are considered to be 'weeds'. Some of the most hated weeds are inherently beautiful.Continue reading »
-
Chlorociboria aeruginascens – October 11th 2021 –The green elf-cup
This unusual fungus was spotted at Vogrie Country Park. It's a rotter.Continue reading »
-
Rosa rugosa – October 4th 2021 – Japanese Rose
A pretty rose from Asia that can be invasive.Continue reading »
