Big Meadow Search
@bigmeadowsearch.bsky.social
UK project to raise awareness and interest in plants, highlighting species interactions (plants and inverts, galls, fungi etc) & encouraging plant recording during the Big Meadow Search (1st June-31st Aug). All welcome #nature #plants bigmeadowsearch.co.uk
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
Are you interested in learning more about identifying plant pathogens in the wild? Come along to my webinar at 7pm on the 27th of January!
bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
#FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease
bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
#FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease
December 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Are you interested in learning more about identifying plant pathogens in the wild? Come along to my webinar at 7pm on the 27th of January!
bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
#FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease
bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
#FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease
Common Whitlowgrass, Erophila verna agg. Spoon-shaped (spathulate) basal leaves, (0.5-2x0.1-0.4cm) with few hairs. Petiole can be as long as leaf.
December 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Common Whitlowgrass, Erophila verna agg. Spoon-shaped (spathulate) basal leaves, (0.5-2x0.1-0.4cm) with few hairs. Petiole can be as long as leaf.
Maidenhair Spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes. Evergreen. Wiry, dark brown-purple rachis. Simply pinnate. Pinnae up to 8mm, rectangular with slight serrations. Linear sori. 3 subspecies.
December 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Maidenhair Spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes. Evergreen. Wiry, dark brown-purple rachis. Simply pinnate. Pinnae up to 8mm, rectangular with slight serrations. Linear sori. 3 subspecies.
Hard-fern, Blechnum spicant. Two types of leaves. Fertile (F) fronds arise from centre of plant & grow up to 75cm. Pinnae are narrow and widely spaced. Their underside have brown linear spore bearing sori. Sterile (S) leaves up to 60cm, glossy with close together, linear pinnae
December 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Hard-fern, Blechnum spicant. Two types of leaves. Fertile (F) fronds arise from centre of plant & grow up to 75cm. Pinnae are narrow and widely spaced. Their underside have brown linear spore bearing sori. Sterile (S) leaves up to 60cm, glossy with close together, linear pinnae
Hart’s-tongue, Asplenium scolopendrium. Shiny. Strap shaped leaves up to 6cm wide with cordate base and distinct midrib. Each vein ends in submarginal hydathode. Petiole up to 30cm and scaly
December 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Hart’s-tongue, Asplenium scolopendrium. Shiny. Strap shaped leaves up to 6cm wide with cordate base and distinct midrib. Each vein ends in submarginal hydathode. Petiole up to 30cm and scaly
White Clover, Trifolium repens. Very variable. Up to 50cm. Roots at the nodes and forms mats. Leaves on long stalks. Leaflets up to 30mm, finely toothed with 5-20 teeth per side. Usually with pale chevron near the base.
December 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
White Clover, Trifolium repens. Very variable. Up to 50cm. Roots at the nodes and forms mats. Leaves on long stalks. Leaflets up to 30mm, finely toothed with 5-20 teeth per side. Usually with pale chevron near the base.
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
#Evolution of #conifer seed cones
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#TansleyReview by @kmatsunaga
@WileyPlantSci #PlantScience
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#TansleyReview by @kmatsunaga
@WileyPlantSci #PlantScience
December 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
#Evolution of #conifer seed cones
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#TansleyReview by @kmatsunaga
@WileyPlantSci #PlantScience
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#TansleyReview by @kmatsunaga
@WileyPlantSci #PlantScience
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝Botanical University Challenge 2026! Teams universities & plant-related institutions UK & Ireland starting to sign-up. University Southampton has competed most years since BUC started 2016! Look out what is happening at your university or organisation. #BUC2026 @unisouthampton.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝Botanical University Challenge 2026! Teams universities & plant-related institutions UK & Ireland starting to sign-up. University Southampton has competed most years since BUC started 2016! Look out what is happening at your university or organisation. #BUC2026 @unisouthampton.bsky.social
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
Plant ID apps: how useful are they?
In this week's @bsbibotany.bsky.social webinar, Hamlyn Jones demonstrates, reviews & compares free plant ID #apps, and their suitability for different applications - from citizen science to academia.
www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
@daera-ni.gov.uk #plants
In this week's @bsbibotany.bsky.social webinar, Hamlyn Jones demonstrates, reviews & compares free plant ID #apps, and their suitability for different applications - from citizen science to academia.
www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
@daera-ni.gov.uk #plants
December 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Plant ID apps: how useful are they?
In this week's @bsbibotany.bsky.social webinar, Hamlyn Jones demonstrates, reviews & compares free plant ID #apps, and their suitability for different applications - from citizen science to academia.
www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
@daera-ni.gov.uk #plants
In this week's @bsbibotany.bsky.social webinar, Hamlyn Jones demonstrates, reviews & compares free plant ID #apps, and their suitability for different applications - from citizen science to academia.
www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
@daera-ni.gov.uk #plants
Ononis repens – December 8th 2025 – Common Restharrow
Once a weed, now a cherished native
botsoc.scot
December 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Red Clover, Trifolium pratense. Leaves hairy below and often above. 3-leaflets each up to 30mm long and often with white chevron. Petiole variable: hairy-hairless.
December 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Red Clover, Trifolium pratense. Leaves hairy below and often above. 3-leaflets each up to 30mm long and often with white chevron. Petiole variable: hairy-hairless.
#wildflowerhour folk, I have just looked at the flowering time stated in my 1972 Keble Martin, The Concise British Flora and that also says May-Aug. I wonder if it will say the same in another 53 years?
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
December 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
#wildflowerhour folk, I have just looked at the flowering time stated in my 1972 Keble Martin, The Concise British Flora and that also says May-Aug. I wonder if it will say the same in another 53 years?
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
December 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga. Up to 60cm. Patch-forming. Hairless. Fleshy leaves and stems. Roots at the stem nodes. Leaves opposite, short-stalked and with shallow, blunt teeth
December 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga. Up to 60cm. Patch-forming. Hairless. Fleshy leaves and stems. Roots at the stem nodes. Leaves opposite, short-stalked and with shallow, blunt teeth
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
The British Lichen Society photo competition is open to all. The themes this year are ‘Under the microscope’ and ‘The bigger picture’. Find the full details at the bottom of our AGM Weekend page. Judging will take place by popular vote during this event. britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
December 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The British Lichen Society photo competition is open to all. The themes this year are ‘Under the microscope’ and ‘The bigger picture’. Find the full details at the bottom of our AGM Weekend page. Judging will take place by popular vote during this event. britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
I mentioned ‘elastic stele’ in my earlier post. Below is definition & video to demonstrate (Video shows it on Bog Stitchwort).
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
December 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I mentioned ‘elastic stele’ in my earlier post. Below is definition & video to demonstrate (Video shows it on Bog Stitchwort).
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Mat forming. Evergreen. Hairy stem and sparsely hairy leaves. Opposite pairs of short-stalked rounded leaves up to 20mm. Up to 7 blunt teeth per leaf edge. Channelled petiole. Elastic stele
December 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Mat forming. Evergreen. Hairy stem and sparsely hairy leaves. Opposite pairs of short-stalked rounded leaves up to 20mm. Up to 7 blunt teeth per leaf edge. Channelled petiole. Elastic stele
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis. Basal rosette: Hairy, stalked, toothed leaves up to 15cm long. Large terminal leaf lobe and 1-3 pairs of smaller lateral lobes
December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis. Basal rosette: Hairy, stalked, toothed leaves up to 15cm long. Large terminal leaf lobe and 1-3 pairs of smaller lateral lobes
Malva arborea – December 1st 2025 – Tree Mallow
Tree Mallow but not really a tree
botsoc.scot
December 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Stuck for Christmas gift ideas…. how about a Big Meadow Search book? 🤔😉🤓
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Stuck for Christmas gift ideas…. how about a Big Meadow Search book? 🤔😉🤓
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
Window now open to apply for a BSBI grant for 2025!
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
December 1, 2024 at 6:50 PM
Window now open to apply for a BSBI grant for 2025!
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
Cleavers, Galium aparine. Leaves in whorls of 6-8. Bristly hairs above. Prickles (can be strongly curved) below. Stems up to 3mm wide, retrorsely scabrid (rough hairs curved back or down) on stem angles.
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Cleavers, Galium aparine. Leaves in whorls of 6-8. Bristly hairs above. Prickles (can be strongly curved) below. Stems up to 3mm wide, retrorsely scabrid (rough hairs curved back or down) on stem angles.
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg. 5-angled stem (most noticeable when young). Leaves have 3-7 leaflets measuring 4-12cm with serrated margin. Hairy (often lost in older plants)
December 3, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg. 5-angled stem (most noticeable when young). Leaves have 3-7 leaflets measuring 4-12cm with serrated margin. Hairy (often lost in older plants)
Daisy, Bellis perennis. Basal leaves only. Sparsely hairy, crenate leaf margin, typically with 4-5 teeth per side. Midrib raised below. Petioles winged.
December 2, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Daisy, Bellis perennis. Basal leaves only. Sparsely hairy, crenate leaf margin, typically with 4-5 teeth per side. Midrib raised below. Petioles winged.
Here we go with the first vegetative ID species tips for December:
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Here we go with the first vegetative ID species tips for December:
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks