Hyacinthoides
It’s been a few weeks since I last posted on here as my life has been taken over by a project I’m currently working on for my internship. However this weekend I have spent back in Somerset where I grew … Read the rest
Red in wildflowers-Anthocyanin
The colour red appears quite often in angiosperms but in various shades. Think of all the pink, purple, red and blue flowers, the bright fruits and the deep shades of autumn leaves.
This is due to anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is a … Read the rest
Common woodland flowers: leaf ID
Here are some common woodland flowers I discovered today in Stanmer Park, Brighton. Unfortunately I could not find any in flower as we have had such cold weather, however I have included some important leaf ID tips. For help on … Read the rest
Buttercup family – Ranunculaceae (“a little frog”)
Key features of the family:
- Alternate leaves (except woody Clematis)
- No stipules
- Leaves mostly palmately-lobed or divided
- Flowers usually have 5 sepals and 5 petals
- More or less common to all are the many stamens and carpels free from … Read the rest
Creatures of change
Wherever you were on Tuesday 5th March, I’m sure you would agree that it was nothing short of a beautiful spring day. The first days of sunshine in spring are always the most appreciated after a long, bitter winter … Read the rest
A quick guide to identifying flowers by their leaves
At this time of year, with spring slowly emerging around us, it can sometimes be a time of slight frustration for ecologists living in our seasonal climate. They cannot wait until the full summer sun is shining on their skin, … Read the rest
The tortoise and the hare
There are not many places you will go and not encounter trees. Trees really are everywhere. Everybody recognizes their famous body plan of a thick stem, branching limbs and towering crown, often sketched out by people all over the world … Read the rest
The flower of hope
Common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is one of the first flowers to carpet the floor in spring and it is for this reason it is deemed the flower of hope. These featured above were pictured just earlier today after … Read the rest
Island Junkie
A few weeks ago I received the fantastic news that the Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers (SNCV’s), had accepted me onto their ‘Biodiversity Graduate Training Programme’. Unlike everybody else who dismissed the opportunity as‘stupid’ or ‘crazy’, I was quite happy to … Read the rest
For old times’ sake: Tracking hedgehogs with the University of Brighton.
For the past few weeks I have been lucky enough to re-visit the University of Brighton where I undertook my undergraduate degree, to assist with a project on the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). A current student of … Read the rest