Big Meadow Search

Mottled Grey, Colostygia multistrigaria.
Flies March to April. Larval food plants include Lady’s Bedstraw (left), Cleavers (middle) and Heath Bedstraw (right).

Crenate: with rounded teeth, scalloped.
From the Latin ‘crena’ meaning notch.
Betony (top left)
Ground-ivy (bottom left)
Daisy (top right)
Navelwort (bottom right)

Geniculate: abruptly bent, like a knee.
From the Latin ‘geniculum’ for little knee or node on a plant stem.
Example: Marsh Foxtail

Ocrea or Ochrea: a tubular stipule sheathing the stem.
From the Latin ‘ocrea’ for protective legging or greave (piece of armour for the shin).

Example: Redshank, Persicaria maculosa. Hairy ochrea with long, wispy hairs.

Can you find any wild or naturalised plants that have white blooms? That’s the #wildflowerhour challenge this week! Share your finds this Sunday 8-9pm using the hashtag #WhiteFlowers. Happy flower hunting!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Stipule: a pair of leaf-like, spine-like or scale-like appendages at the base of petiole. Originates from the stem or petiole.
From the Latin ‘stipula’ meaning straw or stalk.
Meadow Vetchling (left)
Spotted Medick (top)- toothed
Field Pansy (bottom)- deeply cut

Tendril: a terminal, thread-like structure used for climbing.
From the French ‘tendron’ for young shoot or sprout.
Example below of branched tendril on Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea

Thanks for adding that 👍

For #wildflowerhour it’s Common Dog-violet. Local names include blue mice and cuckoo’s-shoe

Are twisted, paler outer sepals found on any other species? Found these today 🤞🏼. Thanks

Apiculate: an abrupt, short point that is not an extension of the midrib.
From the Latin ‘apiculus’ meaning sharp point.
Example: Common Chickweed

Spot the moth…..Early Grey, Xylocampa areola. Flies March to May. Larvae feed on Honeysuckles

Mucronate: ending abruptly in a short stiff point. An extension of the midrib.
From the Latin ‘mucro’ meaning point or edge.
Spotted Medick (left)
Common Vetch (right)

Thanks for the lovely review 👍

Book 3 is however being considered 🤔🤓

I would buy a copy but I’ve not got the 🧠 to create one!

Cotyledon: a seed leaf. One of the first leaves to emerge from a germinating seed.
From the Greek ‘kotyledon’ meaning cup-shaped.
Beech (left)
Cleavers (right)

Thank uou

Plants and Habitats: An Introduction to Common Plants and Their Habitats in Britain and Ireland Buy Plants and Habitats (9780957608115): An Introduction to Common Plants and Their Habitats in Britain and Ireland: NHBS - Ben Averis, Ben and Alison Averis

A 2nd edition of my Plants and Habitats book is now out and available from the Natural History Book Store: www.nhbs.com/plants-and-h.... Main differences from 1st edition: many species added and nomenclature & further information (e.g. habitat classifications) updated. I hope people find it useful!

With it being World Book Day, I wanted to mention our BMS books.
Bk 1: focuses on grassland indicators with range of assocd species. Bk 2 has >200 different plants + assocd species. Example pages below.
£10 each: £2.70 postage for one, £3.90 for two,
bigmeadowsearch@gmail.com

Bract: leaf-like structure, usually on the upper stem.
From the Latin ‘bractea’ meaning thin metal plate.
Sheep’s-bit (left)
Wild Carrot (top)
Oxford Ragwort (bottom)

Petiole: the stalk of a leaf. Attaches the leaf blade to the stem. Petiole characteristics can be useful for ID.
From the Latin ‘petiolus’ meaning little foot or stem.
Lesser Celandine: two-channeled
Daisy: winged
Common Sorrel: angled
Hart’s-tongue: scaly

Whether it’s a first Lesser Celandine flower of the year or Elder leaves unfurling. The first #WildflowerHour challenge of the year is to spot #SignsOfSpring! Share your finds this Sunday 8-9pm. Below is the link if you would like to record your #NaturesCalendar sightings ⬇️ @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Latex: coloured sap, usually white. (Can be poisonous and a skin irritant).
From the Latin ‘latex’ meaning fluid or liquid.
Examples Greater Celandine (left), Dandelion (top), Petty Spurge (bottom).

Nipplewort, Lapsana communis: Look out for the rust fungus, Puccinia lapsanae, on young leaf blades and petioles. Seeing a lot of it around here at the moment

Ciliate: fringed with hairs (cilia). Usually used in relation to leaf margins.
From the Latin ‘cilium’ meaning eyelash or hair.
Examples: Great Wood-rush (left), Honeysuckle (top) and Germander Speedwell (bottom).

🌿 Read one of our latest Biological Flora accounts. It brings together all current knowledge on on Polygonatum multiflorum, a remarkable forest plant. Written by @FLEUR_network researchers & led by @ForNaLab & @INBO.be

buff.ly/DPDckMO

👍 thought it must have been likely

Has ‘supermarket car park plants’ ever been a challenge for wildflowerhour?

A beauty and a new record, perfect!