BSBI Botany

Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata), The Burren © Jon Dunn

Irish Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza kerryensis), Co.Kerry © Jon Dunn

The latest in the series of winter talks given online and in person by members of Team Mariposa is coming up this evening, an Orchids of Ireland online talk by @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for our friends at @bsbibotany.bsky.social. It's free to attend, and all very welcome!

bsbi.org/take-part/ev...

Find out more about Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia - including where it has been recorded in Ireland - on its #PlantAtlas2020 page:
plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9...
This subspecies of Round-leaved Wintergreen has seen an overall "marked decline" since 1930 but we're not entirely sure why.

Another tall purply thing seen today was Butterbur Petasites hybridus, here by the banks of the Dever, nr Sutton Scotney, Hampshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Still time to sign up for my 26 Feb 7pm webinar for
@nhm-london.bsky.social's the-urban-nature-network.mn.co in which I'll be sharing my fascination with the wild in our cities. The network's free to join to access this event & many others #WildPavements is out 5 March. #urbannature #urbanecology

Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium in West Berkshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

It is rare to find this abundance of Polypody on a Pedunculate Oak in Sussex. Clapham Woods. Dip-slops South Downs ancient woodland, on chalk (Tarrant Chalk) near Worthing. A rare form of ancient woodland. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #southdowns #ancientwoodland #polypody

Floral sunshine in Hampshire today. Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Hazel #macrophotography #earlyflowers Everdon Stubbs #WoodlandTrust #Northamptnshire @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Wild daffodils are starting to open their trumpets and welcome Spring #wildflowerhour

Crocuses

Primrose

Hellebore

Iris

Spring flowers providing a source of food for the early pollinators in the Lodge Grounds of #NorthBerwick.

#wildflowerhour #springflowers
#EastLothian

So good to see Lesser celandines starting to flower in local Hazelwoods. #wildflowerhour

2026 orchid season off to a start with some fine Giant Orchids Himantoglossum robertianum in Oxfordshire today. The wet winter has obviously done them some good. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

I wholeheartedly recommend this opportunity. My first job after graduating was doing a survey of the ancient woods of E Wales. It’s prime botanising & you can watch kites & owls to your hearts content. If you know anyone with botanical qualifications let them know!

Reminder the the deadline to apply to become our new Wales Officer is midnight tonight, Monday 23 Feb.
So if you plan to apply, better get your skates on: you don't want to miss out!
Here's that link again:
bsbi.org/about/people...

Thank you Steve for such a wonderful endorsement of ‘Urban Plants’, especially your suggestion that non-botanists would enjoy reading it too. There’s so much to discover on every wall & pavement and I hope this book brings it all to life. And yes, I love disappearing down a good rabbit hole!

Parnassia palustris, VU on the England Red List
Stroh, P.A., Leach, S.J., August, T.A., Walker, et al 2014. A Vascular Plant Red List for England. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Bristol.

Great find by Alex!

An awesome tricolor sport of Holly Ilex aquifolium spotted in rural mid-Norfolk today. A single variegated branch on an otherwise standard hedgerow tree. Collected for propagation as it should make an interesting garden plant.

Just 3 places remain available to join my good pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I for the Mariposa Nature Tours flagship orchid tour, #OrchidsOfRhodes in 2028.

Is it worth the wait? Just take a look at what our recent guests have to say!

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Out looking at Charophytes for a study and popped by Purwell Ninesprings. In August there was 60% cover (pictured) and now only 10% Common Stonewort (Chara vulgaris). It looked in a terrible state even for winter- now with 80 cm of silt. It's a Groundwater-fed springhead on calcareous geology.

What I think is Narcissus bulbocodium, Petticoat Daffodil, catching the evening sun in Cherry Hinton churchyard. Certainly planted.
#Botany #Gardening

One bunch of Primrose seen today, #wildflowerhour

We also spotted this Early Meadow Grass, Poa infirma, in flower today for #wildflowerhour. You can also see Parsley Piert and Mossy Stonecrop (but no flowers there!).

A wonderful #wildflowerhour tonight, despite the wet weather you have found lots in bloom! Next Sunday’s wildflowerhour is the last chance to find the winter ten as the following week the weekly challenges will be back! 😀 Hope you all have a great week & happy flower spotting!

Photo showing a number of green leaves of several types and, in the centre, a single simple yellow flower with about 9 petals - species known as lesser celandine in UK.

First lesser celandine that I have seen in 2026. Spotted today in Wilmslow, Cheshire. #WildflowerHour

Turned out to be a bit early today for scurvy-grass (Cochlearia) flowers, but what a perfect rosette...and just look at these gorgeous pink thrift (Armeria maritima) leaves!
A bit #vegetative for #wildflowerhour maybe, so an obliging dandelion too...
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @cleancoasts.bsky.social

Snowdrops, Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine today in Abbeyleix - nice to see some Spring flowers!#wildflowerhour

Naked Man Orchid (Orchis italica), Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

Ophrys mammosa, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

Tour update 🚨

With another place secured this morning on the 2028 edition of our flagship Orchids of Rhodes tour, there are just 2 places left available to book now.

The best orchids, with the best guides and, as always, a donation to @bsbibotany.bsky.social

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

#WildFlowerHour has been running for a decade and for most of that time it has been trending on social media on Sunday evenings, first on Twitter/ X and now on Bluesky.
It's also very popular on other SM platforms!
Evidence that lots of people love wild flowers and want to share their observations!

Great to see so many blooms for #WildFlowerHour, seems like Spring might be on the way at last!
Huge thanks to everyone who shared pix and brightened our evening.
Have a great week, see you next Sunday!
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social