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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 »
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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 »
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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 »
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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 »
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Goodyera repens – November 1st 2021 Creeping Lady’s-tresses
This orchid is ‘faithful’ to pinewoods, and distinctly northern in its British distribution.Continue reading »
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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 »
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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 »
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Chlorociboria aeruginascens – October 11th 2021 –The green elf-cup
This unusual fungus was spotted at Vogrie Country Park. It's a rotter.Continue reading »
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Rosa rugosa – October 4th 2021 – Japanese Rose
A pretty rose from Asia that can be invasive.Continue reading »
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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 »
