This gallery contains 10 photos.
The Whiteknights tree collection is famous for its Fagaceae! For example, in his twelve favourite Whiteknights trees, University of Reading’s tree expert Mr Rupert Taylor included 6 Fagaceae: 5 Quercus robur and 1 Castanea sativa (BBC, 2008). Three important genera of the Fagaceae in … Continue reading
According to Mast et al. (2001) the Primulaceae family is made up of 24 genera, found throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. They are herbaceous annuals or perennials, with various leaf arrangements, but never have stipules. The flower arrangements vary, but … Continue reading
LATIN NAME: Viola odorata WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE: The distinctive flowers on this plant are usually dark violet or white. Sweet violets are also characterised by their hooked style, and their rear-facing nectar capsule (behind the flower).
The Bellflower family (Campanulaceae) is widespread across the northern hemisphere. Species are commonly identified by their beautiful bell-shaped flower - often a distinctive shade of blue. Despite their delicate appearance the family is quite hardy and can grow on dry grassland, heaths, … Continue reading
Hypericaceae is a plant family containing ten genera (The plant list, 2010), although some classification systems consider it a subfamily of Clusiaceae (Heywood et al, 2007). One of the genera, Hypericum (or St John’s-wort) is widespread with 370 species, especially in … Continue reading
Common names for plants, although easy to remember, can often be misleading. So is the case with the family Typhaceae, which contains the Cattails (accurately describing the classic and unmistakable cylindrical inflorescense). However more ambiguous are the alternative names such … Continue reading
The Common stinging nettle Urtica dioica, is the most well-known and prosperous example of the Family Urticaceace in Britain. Infamous for its painful sting caused by chemical injection via trichome hairs, this dioecious plant is easily recognised by its opposite, … Continue reading
Several species of the Scrophulariaceae can be found on Whiteknights campus, notably the Figworts and Mulleins as well as Buddleja davidii, commonly known as Butterfly bush (Le Grice & Jury 2011). The strongly scented flowers of Buddleja are an example of … Continue reading
When walking around Whiteknights campus you will see numerous Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), especially in the woodland of the Wilderness. These members of the Olive family (Oleaceae) are easily recognised by their toothed pinnate leaves and grey fissured bark. Many people … Continue reading
You may not recognise either of the names in the title of this post, but do not worry both have many other names that you will almost certainly be familar with.
