Author Archives: drmgoeswild

About drmgoeswild

Field botanist and ecologist, with a passion for plants and vegetation and teaching and learning (follow me at www.drmgoeswild.com)

Bees in the grass

Every one loves bees these days and pretty much everyone loves bee orchids (Ophrys apifera) too! The University of Reading campus is no exception and there is a small population flourishing in purposefully unmown grass opposite the Hopkins Building and … Continue reading

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The Greeks have a word for it…

The Paeony is a flowering plant of the family Paeoniaceae, not native to Britain (though occasionally becoming naturalised) their native distribution includes Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America. Most are herbaceous perennials much beloved by gardeners for their attractive foliage … Continue reading

Posted in Flowering Plants, Paeoniaceae, Plants | 1 Comment

I say, I say, I say! When is a lily not a lily? When it’s a Camassia, boom boom!

Camassia, variously known as Camas Lily, Quamash, Indian Hyacinth and Wild Hyacinth is a handsome lily-like plant native of North America and currently looking magnificent in the Harris Garden and elsewhere on campus.

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Reading Science Week and the Symbiosis Project

Reading Science Week is here! The resident exhibition, open from Saturday 15th March and all week, is the Imagining Science Symbiosis Project. A key member of the Symbiosis project is Immy Smith, an artist and a neuroscientist, with a fascination for biological and surreal … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Herbarium RNG, Lichen | Leave a comment

Dr M and his students go on a New Year Plant Hunt!

Dr M’s New Year Plant Hunt (borrowed from the idea by BSBI) took place on Tuesday 14th January 2014. Three groups of MSc Plant Diversity and MSc SISS students walked the University of Reading Whiteknights campus for 1 hour each in the chilly sunshine … Continue reading

Posted in Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Flowering Plants, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, Legumes, Phenology, Plants, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Surveys, Urticaceae, Veronicaceae | Leave a comment

Ink Caps, Hare’s Feet: Toadstools on campus

A combination of mild damp autumnal weather and an abundance of wood chippings on campus seems to be paying dividends for the fungal flora of Whiteknights. Here we see the Hare’s Foot Ink Cap (Coprinopsis lagopus) flourishing on wood chippings near … Continue reading

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More orchids on campus

The recent BioBlitz drew attention to the orchid species on campus; including Bee Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids and the recently discovered White Helleborine.  A further species is the Broad-leaved Helleborine of which there is a small but healthy population growing under … Continue reading

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Whitenights BioBlitz 2013: The Movie!

Back in June Dr M posted about the University of Reading Whiteknights BioBitz,  a large scale biodiversity event which ran between 7th-8th June 2013. During this 24 hour period a wide range of people got together to identify as many … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Plants, Surveys | Leave a comment

Bee Orchids on campus

The Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) are flowering once more in the lawn outside the RSSL building just down the road from the Harborne Building.  Five flowering spikes noted so far and hopefully the relaxed mowing regime will allow them to … Continue reading

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BioBlitz vascular plant species quiz…and the winner is…

Question: How many vascular plant species were recorded on campus during the 24 hours of the University of Reading BioBlitz 2013? Well the records have now all been submitted and checked and here at Whiteknights Biodiversity  Dr M is proud to announce … Continue reading

Posted in Meetings/Events, News, Orchidaceae, Plants, Surveys | 3 Comments