Welcome to the blog of the Botanical Society of Scotland
We launched in May 2020. We wanted to provide a focal point for members, in view of the cancellation of our usual programme of visits and lectures. Through this blog, we are hoping to supplement the information available on our main website, our Facebook pages and our News publication.
So far, we have had a steady flow of blogs, and we introduced ‘Plant of the Week’ in which we feature a species which you may easily find on your walks. Feel free to submit a blog article to us, preferably with at least one image. Send us a message through the contact form and we will get back to you.
Our main field activity at present is to gather data for our Urban Flora Project (https://www.botanical-society-scotland.org.uk/Urban_Flora_of_Scotland), so part of the blog will be about this, and we hope to encourage more of you to participate.
To help newcomers, we have also added a LEARN page, which will be further developed in the coming weeks and we hope will be a valuable resource.
Don’t forget, our website (https://www.botanical-society-scotland.org.uk/) is useful for basic information about us and provides access for our members to our BSS News and our international journal Plant Ecology and Diversity. Our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/botsocscot/ is enjoyed by many people.
Plant family of the week – 6th July 2020 – Urticaceae, the Nettles.
Urtica, Parietaria and Soleirolia The stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is a perennial native flowering plant that can grow to two metres or so in height. It has a high demand for nitrogen and phosphorus and commonly grows in the vicinity of human habitation or animal husbandry on soils enhanced by animal dung. Its specific nameContinue reading “Plant family of the week – 6th July 2020 – Urticaceae, the Nettles.”
25 streets in Dundee – 19 years on
When this year’s lockdown came into force, I was faced with having to content myself with botanical exploration near home. In fact, for this project I stayed very near home, within 500 metres of my house in West Dundee. This is a residential area on a south-facing slope. In 2001 I had noted wild plantsContinue reading “25 streets in Dundee – 19 years on”
Plant of the week – June 29th, 2020 – The Dalmatian Bellflower (and its relative, the Trailing Bellflower)
Campanula portenschlagiana and Campanula poscharskyana. by John Grace, the University of Edinburgh At this time of year the garden walls in many of our towns and cities are adorned with blue bellflowers. Some people love these uninvited guests, others consider them to be weeds and pull them out. There are two main species, both evergreenContinue reading “Plant of the week – June 29th, 2020 – The Dalmatian Bellflower (and its relative, the Trailing Bellflower)”
Lesser trefoil and black medick – how to tell them apart
Distinguishing Trifolium dubium from Medicago lupulina. The lesser trefoil, T. dubium and black medick, M. lupulina are both sprawling clover-like plants with bright yellow heads of tiny pea flowers. They are members of the pea family, the Fabaceae. Both species are common in recently disturbed bare ground and waste places, and may occur at theContinue reading “Lesser trefoil and black medick – how to tell them apart”
Common plants: kerbs and cracks
These plant species are commonly found growing at the side of kerbs, in paving and cracks in pavements. Look for them along your street and along the sides of paths. Keep an eye out in other places too, though, because they grow in other places as well. Matricaria discoidea (pineapple weed) Yellow, domed flower headsFeatheryContinue reading “Common plants: kerbs and cracks”
Deadly Nightshade
Early in June several mature bushes of Deadly Nightshade, Atropa belladonna, were spotted in Warriston Recreation Ground, in Edinburgh, by local resident and BSS member, Anne Pankhurst. She informed the BSS and we informed the local councillor, Hal Osler (Lib Dem Councillor for the Inverleith Ward). Since 2-5 of its deceptively sweet and glossy berriesContinue reading “Deadly Nightshade”
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