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Top 20 plant families

Do you really know your Prunus from your Malus and Pyrus?

Dr M has already posted on the eXtreme botanical and floral distinctions between three fruit trees currently in beautiful bloom in our parks, gardens and countryside. So here, by way of an eXtreme botanical teaser, is a chance for you to test your knowledge and skill in two easy steps (and one slightly trickier one!).


Up the Malus and Pyrus and down the Prunus?

Malus and Pyrus is Dr M’s eXtreme botanical rhyming slang for “going upstairs” – up the the good old apples and pears! More of that later!


On hearing the first cuckoo of spring – and spying that first bit of skirt…

According to Ian Skelly on BBC Radio 3, Dr M’s radio channel of choice, the 15th of April seems to be a reliable date for hearing the first cuckoo of spring (in Dorset at least!), though not many get to actually see these extraordinary and rather elusive birds.


That was Cherry blossom time, that was!

Dr M says: So what’s your favourite Cherry blossom? Dr M is particularly fond of the purest white blossoms of the native Prunus spinosus (Blackthorn) but he’s a sucker for most cherry blossom. There’s something about cherry blossom time; first there’s winter, greyness, rain, greyness again, possibly snow and ice and certainly cold! And then somethings says “let there be Prunus” AND THERE IS PRUNUS!
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Dr M on the road: eXtreme botany through the car window!

With Bank Holiday travels (and traffic jams!) in prospect Dr M says: Let’s play that classic travel game “eXtreme botany through the car window!”


Dr M’s pink, blue and purple flower quiz – the answers

As part of Dr M’s “are you getting enough botany?” campaign, Dr M has posted the third of his spring plant ID quizzes, the pink, blue and purple flower quiz.


Dr M’s pink, blue and purple flower plant ID quiz

Dr M asks: Are you getting enough eXtreme botany? As part of Dr M’s  “are you getting enough botany?” campaign, here is the third spring plant ID quiz; the pink, blue and purple flower quiz.


Dr M’s yellow flower plant ID quiz – the answers

As part of Dr M’s “are you getting enough botany?” campaign, Dr M has posted the second of his spring plant ID quizzes, the yellow flower quiz.


Dr M’s yellow flower plant ID quiz

Dr M asks: Are you getting enough Plant ID? As part of  Dr M’s “are you getting enough botany?” campaign, Dr M has prepared the next of his spring plant ID quizzes, this is the yellow flower quiz.


Dr M’s white flower quiz – the answers

As part of Dr M’s one man (or one doctor) “are you getting enough botany?” campaign, Dr M has posted the first of his spring plant ID quizzes, the white flower quiz.