Monthly Archives: April 2014

Bluebells… and pinkbells and whitebells

Posted on 2014/04/30 by Fay Newbery

There is something quintessentially English about the bluebell. The sight of a blue carpet spread beneath newly greening leaves in woodland is rarely repeated in the remainder of Europe. Our native species of bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the Common bluebell, is found … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowering Plants, Liliaceae, Plants | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Rare rust on lords and ladies

Posted on 2014/04/29 by mikeshaw

This is the parasitic rust fungus Puccinia sessilis stated to be rather rare on Arum maculatum.  Many rusts manage the difficult trick of parasitising two entirely unrelated host plants, in both cases establishing a close relationship which allows the fungus … Continue reading →

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Under attack!

Posted on 2014/04/24 by Fay Newbery

Holm oak (Quercus ilex) is a Mediterranean tree species that was introduced to Britain in the 1500s. Unlike our native oak species, Holm oak is evergreen and holds its leaves all year round. It’s latin name, ilex, refers to the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fagaceae, Flowering Plants, Galls, Lepidoptera, Moths, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You can’t keep a good plant down

Posted on 2014/04/13 by Fay Newbery

It always amazes me how strong plants can be when they have a huge store of food underground to draw upon. American skunk-cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) produces vivid yellow spathes behind the cylindrical spike of its rather small and insignificant flowers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Araceae, Flowering Plants, Plants | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Pollination: by wind or insect?

Posted on 2014/04/06 by Fay Newbery

In many plant genera the same pollination method (or combination of methods) is found in every species. Not so in Acer. The vast majority of Acer species are insect pollinated. The flowers are strongly scented due to the presence of large amounts … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowering Plants, Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Smothered in white

Posted on 2014/04/03 by Fay Newbery

White blister rust is a disease that is mis-named as it is not actually caused by a rust fungus. The perpetrator is an oomycete. This group have traditionally been included in the fungi and have long been studied by mycologists … Continue reading →

Posted in Brassicaceae, Flowering Plants, Galls, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments