Botanical snippets for May

Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Sepals are not reflexed; pedicel is not groovy
Image: J. Crellin

A few things I've spotted in the past few days:

Article in the Irish Times on putting a value on nature - see also this post with comments by Oliver Rackham

Some great resources on the Wildflower Society website, like this Guide to Bittercresses. Very helpful if you are just getting to grips with this genus.

And for anybody starting out on identifying Bulbous, Meadow and Creeping Buttercups, this post (written by a BSBI member) is well worth a read. 

Leaf of Meadow Buttercup
Image: J. Crellin

For fabulous photos of plants, try this website run by John Crellin, BSBI Blogger and one of two County Recorders for Brecknockshire. [The other is Mike Porter]. 

Info on botany courses at various skill levels is available on the Linnean Society website. If you want to find out about a new post-graduate course in plant pathology, click here.


Tim Rich spotted this nice video on plants and evolution.

Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus
Groovy pedicel; sepals usually become reflexed
Image: J. Crellin

On 17th May, the second Festival of Plants is being held at Cambridge Botanic Gardens - details here.

The National Bioblitz Network has revamped its website and there is now a calendar showing where Bioblitzes are taking place this year. If your local botany group is thinking of having a stand at a Bioblitz this summer, we can provide you with BSBI display material. Email me to find out what is available and make a booking.

If you spot anything that you think might interest other botanists, send me the link and I'll add it to the next bunch of snippets.

And if you want to see more of this sort of thing, try clicking here and scroll down.