By Alastair Culham Today’s blog starts with a misquote of Matthew 2:9 and then wanders away from botany and on to mycology. Yesterday I was sent a photo of some…Read More >
Public Engagement with Science
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 9 – Christmas moss
By Alastair Culham We’ve already had some excellent moss blogs in past #AdventBotany years but there are still new species available. Today we have a moss from Australia through southeast…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 8 – Myrtus communis (myrtle)
By Alastair Culham “And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land.” brings us to another story. The common myrtle, Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae), is…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 7 – Ives has no names
By Alastair Culham Joseph Christmas Ives is perhaps best known for his exploration of the Colorado River published as Report upon the Colorado River of the West explored in 1857…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 4 – Garlic
By Alastair Culham Allium sativum L., or garlic, has not previously featured in #AdventBotany although it is an ingredient in many receipes. It’s also the fourth plant in our Christmas…Read More >
#AdventBotany – 2021 – Day 3 – Rosa ‘Paul Noël’
By Alastair Culham The third plant mentioned in our mystery Christmas entitled book is the rose. I’ve chosen ‘Paul Noël’ as the most appropriately named cultivar for an Advent blog…Read More >
#AdventBotany – 2021 – Day 2 – Ipomoea tricolor
By Alastair Culham I’m using my botanical knowledge to interpret ‘blue convolvulus’ as morning glory (Ipomoea tricolour Cav.). The second plant mentioned in this Christmas book is described as ‘clinging’,…Read More >
#AdventBotany – 2021 – Day 1 – Plumbago auriculata, the cape leadwort
By Alastair Culham Previous #AdventBotany blogs have been a fairly passive read but this year I’m throwing you a challenge. Some of the blogs will feature a plant mentioned in…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2020 Day 3 – Ilex or Holly
By Alastair Culham Ilex is the only genus in the family Aquifoliacaeae. In Europe we know Holly (Ilex aquifolium) which is the third of our Christmas evergreens alongside Ivy and…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2020 – Day 2 Mulled Wine
By Jonathan Mitchley (heavily edited by Alastair Culham) The first #Adventbotany post by @DrMgoeswild was an exciting medly of fruit, spices and wine. Dr M offers a botanical extravaganza with…Read More >
