Author Archives: Fay Newbery

About Fay Newbery

PhD student in the Plant Pathology Research Group.

Pollination: by wind or insect?

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

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

Loddon Lily in the Wilderness

  A single plant of Leucojum aestivum ssp aestivum is flowering near the wooden bridge in the Wilderness. This is the subspecies that is known as the Loddon Lily. Most garden plants belong to ssp pulchellum. It’s on the bank where alder trees … Continue reading

Posted in Liliaceae, Plants | 1 Comment

Orange pustules 2

Most fungi prefer warm and moist conditions so it’s not surprising that fungal pathogens are harder to find on plants in winter. A pathogen that is common on campus at the moment is Puccinia malvacearum, the Hollyhock Rust. This occurs … Continue reading

Posted in Flowering Plants, Fungi, Galls, Malvaceae, Plant Pathology Research Group | Tagged | Leave a comment

Shocking pink is back!

It was shocking pink lipstick in the 1960s. Now shocking pink fungus is appearing on our trees! Illiosporiopsis christiansenii is a bright pink fungus which grows on various lichens that are common in nitrogen-enriched places. Although Whiteknights is not close … Continue reading

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Orange pustules

Puccinia lageniphorae is a common rust fungus that occurs on a large number of host plants. Among these are Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel) and Bellis perennis (Daisy). Both of these plants are common on campus. Groundsel occurs on disturbed ground, in flowerbeds and in paving cracks. … Continue reading

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Interesting plants near Earley Gate

There are some interesting plants appearing around the old buildings near Earley Gate. A particularly interesting piece of ground is the site of an old greenhouse adjoining the lawn to the north-east of the Agriculture Building. This looks like a … Continue reading

Posted in Brassicaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Flowering Plants, Geraniaceae, Plants, Ranunculaceae, Violaceae | 5 Comments

Lichens on lime

A young lime tree in the centre of a patch of grass on the SW side of the University Library is particularly rich in both foliose and fruticose lichens.

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Redwing or fieldfare?

Saw a bird in a tree outside HUMS cafe just before Christmas. About the size of a blackbird but in shades of brown. Bright red patch on the body, just below the wing if I remember rightly. Redwing or fieldfare?

Posted in Animals, Birds | 1 Comment