Tag Archives: Taxonomy

You’re a botanist, what’s this then? (Or Tradescantia spathacea, this one’s for you mum!)

Posted on January 14, 2015 by phoebe1

That sentence may sound familiar to many of you who frequent this blog (followed closely by “Botany, so you’re a gardener then?” but we won’t go in to that). Being asked about the identity of a random plant that mysteriously … Continue reading →

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The Date Palm: A Special Plant from the Old World

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Thuraiya Al-Jabri

The Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is grown throughout the arid and semiarid regions of the world, particularly in West Asia and North Africa. It is well adapted to the desert environment, where a dry and warm climate is important … Continue reading →

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The world’s most wonderful weed?

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Sara Barrios

During one of my first days of study for a masters degree in Plant Diversity at Reading University, we visited the Tropical Biodiversity Greenhouse. A pungent odour from a very brightly coloured plant came straight to my nose! The plant … Continue reading →

Posted in Americas, Australia, Countries, Evolution, Neotropics, People, Species, Students | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Edible Araceae

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Sara Barrios

Now that winter is on our doorstep, some of us like to think of warmer places. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend December in a tropical country? I like to imagine what a traditional Christmas meal could be in a … Continue reading →

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Camellia sinensis: A Blood Boiling and Tea Stained History

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Chris Reilly

Family, Genus and Species Limits Commonly known in the West as ‘Tea’, Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze is an evergreen shrub assigned to the family Theaceae. The most recent circumscription of this family includes 3 sub-families: Theeae, Gordonieae and Stewartieae, … Continue reading →

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