Jen Farrar
@botany-jen.bsky.social
I am a botanical trainer with a deep love of the natural world and everything in it.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Bush Vetch, Vicia sepium. Scrambling. Tendrils simple or branched. Leaves divided in to 5-9 leaflets finely hairy and with a fine bristle tip. Leaflets widest below the middle. Leaflets folded when young. Stipules semi-sagittate (half arrow shape). Stems 4-ridged
January 25, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Bush Vetch, Vicia sepium. Scrambling. Tendrils simple or branched. Leaves divided in to 5-9 leaflets finely hairy and with a fine bristle tip. Leaflets widest below the middle. Leaflets folded when young. Stipules semi-sagittate (half arrow shape). Stems 4-ridged
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Too early for Cherry-plum blossom (& rather hedgecutter-hacked) but cheering to find a whole bank of Barren Strawberry (in January though? 🤔) with its happy gappy smile & softly furry leaves. And a lucky Earthstar thrown in: my reward for freezer-defrosting @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Too early for Cherry-plum blossom (& rather hedgecutter-hacked) but cheering to find a whole bank of Barren Strawberry (in January though? 🤔) with its happy gappy smile & softly furry leaves. And a lucky Earthstar thrown in: my reward for freezer-defrosting @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Blue-Black Fox | Franz Marc
January 24, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Blue-Black Fox | Franz Marc
Reposted by Jen Farrar
A Hagstone with a shell from the species of animal that made it. Common Piddocks (Pholas dactylus) are bivalve molluscs that drill holes in certain rock types.
County Clare, Ireland.
"Aillte" documentary Episodes 1 and 2 available for streaming on the TG4 player.
www.tg4.ie/en/player/ca...
County Clare, Ireland.
"Aillte" documentary Episodes 1 and 2 available for streaming on the TG4 player.
www.tg4.ie/en/player/ca...
January 24, 2026 at 9:39 AM
A Hagstone with a shell from the species of animal that made it. Common Piddocks (Pholas dactylus) are bivalve molluscs that drill holes in certain rock types.
County Clare, Ireland.
"Aillte" documentary Episodes 1 and 2 available for streaming on the TG4 player.
www.tg4.ie/en/player/ca...
County Clare, Ireland.
"Aillte" documentary Episodes 1 and 2 available for streaming on the TG4 player.
www.tg4.ie/en/player/ca...
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare. Basal leaves up to 5cm and with long petiole. Leaves with 5-10 blunt teeth per side. Midrib raised below.
January 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare. Basal leaves up to 5cm and with long petiole. Leaves with 5-10 blunt teeth per side. Midrib raised below.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa. Leaves hairless, shiny up to 15cm long. Lower leaves stalked (upper leaves clasp the stem). Pointed basal lobes pointing downwards, away from the leaf tip (rather than outwards as in Sheep’s Sorrel). Petiole angled
January 23, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa. Leaves hairless, shiny up to 15cm long. Lower leaves stalked (upper leaves clasp the stem). Pointed basal lobes pointing downwards, away from the leaf tip (rather than outwards as in Sheep’s Sorrel). Petiole angled
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Don’t know about anyone else but this is the densest display of Maidenhair Spleenwort I have ever seen
January 23, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Don’t know about anyone else but this is the densest display of Maidenhair Spleenwort I have ever seen
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Wildlife photography of a raven 🐦⬛ in a snowstorm ❄️
📹Isaac Spotts/isaacspicz
📹Isaac Spotts/isaacspicz
January 22, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Wildlife photography of a raven 🐦⬛ in a snowstorm ❄️
📹Isaac Spotts/isaacspicz
📹Isaac Spotts/isaacspicz
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Shining Crane’s-bill, Geranium lucidum. Glossy green, shallow 5-7 lobed leaves up to 6cm across. Brittle, fleshy stems. Whole plant can turn red.
January 22, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Shining Crane’s-bill, Geranium lucidum. Glossy green, shallow 5-7 lobed leaves up to 6cm across. Brittle, fleshy stems. Whole plant can turn red.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea. Up to 60cm. Narrow, pointed, grey-green leaves up to 8cm long. Leaves opposite and decussate. Comb-like fringe of hairs on leaf margin. Square stem with prickles on the angles
January 21, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea. Up to 60cm. Narrow, pointed, grey-green leaves up to 8cm long. Leaves opposite and decussate. Comb-like fringe of hairs on leaf margin. Square stem with prickles on the angles
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Great aurora in Greenland tonight!
January 20, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Great aurora in Greenland tonight!
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Forget 'Blue' Monday! Today we're celebrating #BlueBugs with the stunning Small Blue (Cupido minimus) 💙🦋
With a wingspan up to 30mm, it is the UK's smallest resident butterfly.
This friendly individual was filmed by Species on the Edge Officer Tracy Munro.
With a wingspan up to 30mm, it is the UK's smallest resident butterfly.
This friendly individual was filmed by Species on the Edge Officer Tracy Munro.
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Forget 'Blue' Monday! Today we're celebrating #BlueBugs with the stunning Small Blue (Cupido minimus) 💙🦋
With a wingspan up to 30mm, it is the UK's smallest resident butterfly.
This friendly individual was filmed by Species on the Edge Officer Tracy Munro.
With a wingspan up to 30mm, it is the UK's smallest resident butterfly.
This friendly individual was filmed by Species on the Edge Officer Tracy Munro.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
These are a day late for #wildflowerhour, but I'm too excited to wait until next Sunday!
My lunchtime walk and routine check of the local hazel hedge finally came good today with lots of tiny, hot-pink, female flowers now erupting from their buds. Gorgeous! A welcome splash of colour on a dull day.
My lunchtime walk and routine check of the local hazel hedge finally came good today with lots of tiny, hot-pink, female flowers now erupting from their buds. Gorgeous! A welcome splash of colour on a dull day.
January 19, 2026 at 2:08 PM
These are a day late for #wildflowerhour, but I'm too excited to wait until next Sunday!
My lunchtime walk and routine check of the local hazel hedge finally came good today with lots of tiny, hot-pink, female flowers now erupting from their buds. Gorgeous! A welcome splash of colour on a dull day.
My lunchtime walk and routine check of the local hazel hedge finally came good today with lots of tiny, hot-pink, female flowers now erupting from their buds. Gorgeous! A welcome splash of colour on a dull day.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
"It’s #TheWinter10 Jim, but not as we know it."
Hazel female flowers all of which are red plus accompanying male catkins. Worts' Causeway #Cambridge today. #Botany
Hazel female flowers all of which are red plus accompanying male catkins. Worts' Causeway #Cambridge today. #Botany
January 19, 2026 at 7:53 PM
"It’s #TheWinter10 Jim, but not as we know it."
Hazel female flowers all of which are red plus accompanying male catkins. Worts' Causeway #Cambridge today. #Botany
Hazel female flowers all of which are red plus accompanying male catkins. Worts' Causeway #Cambridge today. #Botany
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data?
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
January 19, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data?
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Jen Farrar
🌸Got a botanical study in mind?🌾🌼You can apply for a helpful @bsbibotany.bsky.social Study Grant- but do it soon: the deadline is 31 January. More info at bsbi.org/learn/grants.... @atu-ie.bsky.social @uniofgalway.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social @phoebeobrien.bsky.social @mikekally.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 3:49 PM
🌸Got a botanical study in mind?🌾🌼You can apply for a helpful @bsbibotany.bsky.social Study Grant- but do it soon: the deadline is 31 January. More info at bsbi.org/learn/grants.... @atu-ie.bsky.social @uniofgalway.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social @phoebeobrien.bsky.social @mikekally.bsky.social
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata. Up to 50cm. Basal rosette. Strap-shaped or long oval leaves with 3-5 prominent parallel veins and up to 30cm long. Silky hairs at extreme base
January 19, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata. Up to 50cm. Basal rosette. Strap-shaped or long oval leaves with 3-5 prominent parallel veins and up to 30cm long. Silky hairs at extreme base
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris radicata. Hairy basal rosette. Leaves 4-25cm long and narrowed to indistinct petiole. Leaves bristly hairy sometimes with brownish-based hairs on midrib (as shown here)
January 17, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris radicata. Hairy basal rosette. Leaves 4-25cm long and narrowed to indistinct petiole. Leaves bristly hairy sometimes with brownish-based hairs on midrib (as shown here)
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Pineappleweed, Matricaria discoidea. Pineapple scented when crushed. Much-branched, up to 35cm. Bristle tipped, yellowish-green leaflet lobes.
January 15, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Pineappleweed, Matricaria discoidea. Pineapple scented when crushed. Much-branched, up to 35cm. Bristle tipped, yellowish-green leaflet lobes.
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Here is a bit of a necro-botany (if there is such a thing) challenge…..anybody want to hazard a guess?
January 16, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Here is a bit of a necro-botany (if there is such a thing) challenge…..anybody want to hazard a guess?
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Hemlock Water Dropwort, Oenanthe crocata. Up to 150cm. Hairless, shiny. Leaves smell weakly of celery/parsley. Sheathed base to petioles. Leaves 3-4 pinnate, toothed. Tuberous roots
January 14, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Hemlock Water Dropwort, Oenanthe crocata. Up to 150cm. Hairless, shiny. Leaves smell weakly of celery/parsley. Sheathed base to petioles. Leaves 3-4 pinnate, toothed. Tuberous roots
Reposted by Jen Farrar
For #wildflowerhour from Carmarthenshire, it’s Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis.
Local names include lazy-bones, storytellers and craisey
Local names include lazy-bones, storytellers and craisey
January 11, 2026 at 8:17 PM
For #wildflowerhour from Carmarthenshire, it’s Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis.
Local names include lazy-bones, storytellers and craisey
Local names include lazy-bones, storytellers and craisey
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Vegetative identification of ‘small’ Geranium species can be tricky and you need to take a close look at hair length and glands as well as degree of lobe incision. Here are a couple of useful resources
archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews99.pdf
pg 22-28
thewildflowersociety.org.uk/wp-content/u...
archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews99.pdf
pg 22-28
thewildflowersociety.org.uk/wp-content/u...
January 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Vegetative identification of ‘small’ Geranium species can be tricky and you need to take a close look at hair length and glands as well as degree of lobe incision. Here are a couple of useful resources
archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews99.pdf
pg 22-28
thewildflowersociety.org.uk/wp-content/u...
archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews99.pdf
pg 22-28
thewildflowersociety.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Huge thanks to @jessica-hamilton.bsky.social & the #BSBIKerry team!
They survey the lovely Muckross peninsula every winter for #NewYearPlantHunt.
Strawberry Tree is part of the famous Lusitanian flora but how did it arrive in Ireland?
A possible answer:
britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
They survey the lovely Muckross peninsula every winter for #NewYearPlantHunt.
Strawberry Tree is part of the famous Lusitanian flora but how did it arrive in Ireland?
A possible answer:
britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
January 6, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Huge thanks to @jessica-hamilton.bsky.social & the #BSBIKerry team!
They survey the lovely Muckross peninsula every winter for #NewYearPlantHunt.
Strawberry Tree is part of the famous Lusitanian flora but how did it arrive in Ireland?
A possible answer:
britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
They survey the lovely Muckross peninsula every winter for #NewYearPlantHunt.
Strawberry Tree is part of the famous Lusitanian flora but how did it arrive in Ireland?
A possible answer:
britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
Reposted by Jen Farrar
Broad Buckler-fern, Dryopteris dilatata. Fronds almost triangular and form a shuttlecock shape. Tripinnate. Stipe dark green with brown-black base. Scales have a dark stripe down the centre.
January 6, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Broad Buckler-fern, Dryopteris dilatata. Fronds almost triangular and form a shuttlecock shape. Tripinnate. Stipe dark green with brown-black base. Scales have a dark stripe down the centre.