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Cirsium vulgare, Onopordum acanthium, Carduus nutans, Cirsium heterophyllum – September 27th 2021 – The Scottish Thistle
Maria Chamberlain goes looking for the thistle that's properly Scottish.Continue reading »
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Phragmites australis – September 20th 2021 – Common Reed
It might be the most widely distributed flowering plant in the entire world.Continue reading »
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Common plants – edges and hedges (part 2)
These species are commonly found growing at the side of paths and buildings and at the foot of hedges. Keep an eye out in other…Continue reading »
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Oxytropis halleri – September 13th 2021 – Purple Oxytropis
Brian Ballinger, BSBI County Recorder for Easter Ross, introduces us to the very rare Oxytropis halleri (Purple Oxytropis) which occurs in his patchContinue reading »
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Calluna vulgaris – 6th September 2021 – Heather
A new look at an iconic species. To burn, or not to burn?Continue reading »
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Lactuca serriola – 30th August 2021 – Prickly Lettuce
The Prickly Lettuce is a southern species, quite scarce in Scotland, but it may be on the increase.Continue reading »
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Common plants – lawns and parks (part 2)
These species are commonly found growing in lawns and parks. Here we look at red campion, cock's-foot grass, white clover and broad-leaved dock.Continue reading »
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Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima – 23rd August 2021 – Sea Beet
Sea Beet is the wild ancestor of beetroot, chard and mangelwurzel. It contains an unusual pigment, betaine, which helps osmoregulation in the saline environment.Continue reading »
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Common plants – verges and waste ground
These species are commonly found growing on road verges, pathsides and waste ground. Here we look at hogweed, rosebay willowherb, shepherd's purse and foxglove.Continue reading »
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Solanum dulcamara – 16th August 2021 – Bittersweet
The nightshade family, Solanaceae, is a family of around 3000 species, known for its important edible species and infamous for its toxic species. There aren't…Continue reading »
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Daucus carota ssp. carota, sativus and gummifer – 9th August 2021 – Carrots
Wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota) is in bloom right now. It is the wild relative of the cultivated carrot.Continue reading »
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Mycelis muralis – 2nd August 2021 – Wall Lettuce
Wall Lettuce is native in England but probably not in Ireland and Scotland. However, it is spreading in the urban environment, although absent in some…Continue reading »
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Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus – 26th July 2021 – Sea Radish
Welcome to radishes! The Sea Radish is common on the west coast of Britain but very scarce on the east and missing from most of…Continue reading »
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Pseudofumaria lutea – 19th July 2021 – Yellow Corydalis
It came from the Alps long ago, now it thrives on the mortar of walls in many parts of Europe. One of the several decorative…Continue reading »
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Echium vulgare – 12th July 2021 – Viper’s bugloss
This week's Plant of the Week is Echium vulgare, viper's bugloss.Continue reading »
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Plantago maritima and Plantago coronopus – July 5th 2021 Sea plantain and Buck’s-horn plantain)
This week's blog features two different Plantain species. Both of them are salt tolerant, but their distributions are not the same.Continue reading »
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Geum urbanum – June 28th 2021- Wood Avens
They say it's a woodland plant but Linnaeus called it Geum urbanum. It finds plenty of places to grow in the urban environment.Continue reading »
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Oenanthe crocata – June 21st 2021- Hemlock Water-dropwort
This deadly poisonous plant may be expanding its range in the west of the country. It could put a smile on your face.Continue reading »
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Silene uniflora – June 14th 2021- Sea Campion
The maritime version of the familiar campion genus, with snow-white flowers that wave around and thus attract pollinators.Continue reading »
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Mertensia maritima – June 7th 2021- Oyster Plant
This is an iconic species of northern coasts; but it is in decline. We are not sure why but we know in doesn't like warm…Continue reading »
