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Deadly Nightshade
Early in June several mature bushes of Deadly Nightshade, Atropa belladonna, were spotted in Warriston Recreation Ground, in Edinburgh, by local resident and BSS member,…Continue reading »
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PLANT VARIATION AND CITIZEN SCIENCE
Citizen science - the public participation in scientific research - has a long tradition in the study of plants in Britain and Ireland, particularly in…Continue reading »
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Heracleum mantegazzianum – June 22nd, 2020 – Giant Hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum, the Giant Hogweed by John Grace, The University of Edinburgh Giant Hogweed and botanists. Photo: Chris Jeffree The Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum, is…Continue reading »
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Papaver rhoeas and Papaver dubium
A field of common poppy, Papaver rhoeas, near Whitecraig, East Lothian There are two common red poppies in our area that at first glance look…Continue reading »
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Sagina procumbens – June 15th, 2020 – Procumbent Pearlwort
Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort by Cameron Diekonigin A check on the distribution of this plant and one thing is very clear, it occurs throughout the…Continue reading »
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Woodland regeneration in Glen Feshie – online exhibition – last chance to see!
One of our members, Patricia Macdonald, specialises in imaging vegetation from her aircraft. We thought you might like to see some of her work which…Continue reading »
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Arabidopsis thaliana – June 8th, 2020 – Thale Cress
Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) by Maria Chamberlain For plant biologists Arabidopsis thaliana is an iconic species – it’s the Drosophila of the plant world. This…Continue reading »
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50 Walls in Dundee
Brian Ballinger Stone walls are a feature of many of our towns and cities and provide a unique and demanding habitat for plants. Some plants…Continue reading »
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Three of our common Buttercups, telling them apart
There are many species of Buttercup. You are most likely to find Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup), R. acris (Meadow Buttercup) and R. repens (Creeping Buttercup).…Continue reading »
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SEX and SILENE
Red and White campion (Silene dioica and S. latifolia) light up our roadsides in May and June with splashes of magenta and white flowers. A…Continue reading »
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Counting species on Edinburgh’s streets
This year our pavements and roadsides are greener than usual. Some of them are very green indeed – under COVID-19 lockdown the regular weed control…Continue reading »
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Cardamine pratensis – 1st June 2020 – Cuckooflower
Cardamine pratensis is an herbaceous perennial with clusters of 4-petalled flowers that appear between April and June. They are pink, white or lilac-tinged and the…Continue reading »
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Hybrid Swarms of Geum
Coming together but keeping apart: Genetic distancing in Geum Walk along many country roads in May and June and you might chance across a hybrid…Continue reading »
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Senecio squalidus – 24 May 2020 – Oxford Ragwort
Senecio squalidus on an old stone wall, East Lothian © Chris Jeffree Senecio squalidus is a member of the Asteraceae (Compositae) – the same family…Continue reading »
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By Leaves We Live
A perspective by Jonathan Silvertown, University of Edinburgh (c) Jonathan Silvertown “By leaves we live. Some people have strange ideas that they live by money.…Continue reading »
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Polyploid Harebells – a commentary on Julia Wilson’s recent paper
Very many plant species have polyploid forms, in which more than one paired set of chromosomes are present in all the cells. The recent paper…Continue reading »
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Ponds and Sponge Cities
You may have admired the pond at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. It is an attractive feature, visited by many people including families with small…Continue reading »
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Urban Flora Lockdown Diary, May 2nd 2020
Whilst we humans are locked down, the urban flora is unfettered, and seems to be looking better than usual. It’s been cold in Edinburgh, but…Continue reading »
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City Streets, 8th May 2020
City streets are not generally thought of as habitats, but a walk down almost any one of them in Edinburgh will produce an impressive list…Continue reading »
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Veronica arvensis – 10 May 2020 – Wall Speedwell
Veronica arvensis is a very common native plant, often overlooked, and frequently found in the crack between pavement and wall. Its tiny blue flowers, appearing…Continue reading »
