By Sophie Marley By now most of us will be adorning our Christmas tree with dazzling decorations and scrummy treats. This year I have a new eye catching addition, strings…Read More >
Herbarium RNG
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 18: The Tangerine – Just Like a Virgin
By John Warren When I was a kid, every Christmas my dad would give me a tangerine, a six pence and a pat on the head. By the time I…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 17: Sgan t’sek
By Chelsey Geralda Armstrong On Day 4 of the advent botany series this year we heard about the world’s 4th largest nut crop, the European Hazelnut (Corylus avellena). But, it’s…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 16: Straw or Hay, which will make Dr M’s day?
By Dr M Goes Wild Poaceae, as the song goes, is a family of grasses green and wonderful, but just how green and just how wonderful even Poaceae aficionado Dr…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 15: Mahleb
By Andrew Bewsey, Jordan Bilsborrow, and Maria Christodoulou Mahleb is used many festive bakes for its aromatic properties. Found in texts dating to the medieval times, its popularity increased through…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 14: the Olive
By Louise Denning An olive branch shown with a dove is often depicted on Christmas cards to symbolise peace and goodwill amongst men. Where this concept of the olive branch…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 13: Putting Christmas on the map
By Rachel Webster I wonder whether a ship captain was pleased to spot land on an auspicious day? I can imagine that assigning names according to the calendar might remove the challenge…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 12: Anyone can grow paperwhites but their taxonomy is a different story
By Dawn Bazely Paperwhites, Narcissus papyraceus, are one of the most fragrant Narcissus species. Although they’re native to the Mediterranean region, the bulbs have become naturalized in other regions with mediterranean…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 11: Sweet Chestnuts
By Mary Williams My December buzzes along to the tune of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…,” otherwise known as The Christmas Song; Nat King Cole’s beautiful rendition will get…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 10: Rice Pudding
By Jana Vamosi and Sarah Walshaw Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice) Although we have evidence of rice being…Read More >