I love this video because it is itself a “type specimen” of what a science video should be. It is precise, clever and funny all at the same time. The text is stunningly accurate and explains EXACTLY what taxonomy is and what a taxonomist does (…people whose working life consists of giving Greek and Latin names to every being that exists – just in
Learn more »
Back in early Spring, Dr M had a call from Channel 4 TV about a new high profile TV series “Ben Earl – Trick Artist” scheduled for the prime-time Friday evening slot. The producer explained that this exciting new television star would explore a different theme in each episode – Crime, Art, Money. But it was the theme of the Nature, and a trick
Learn more »
Dr M is spreading the botanical word and he will not rest until there is World Domination by botanists! Ambitious? You might think so but then you haven’t reckoned with Dr M’s energy and determination! And to help reach his goal Dr M invented eXtreme botany and the cult is on the rise. Just recently, with an eye to the eXtreme botany vote, Education Minister
Learn more »
By any reckoning 2013 has been a phenomenal year for Dr M. 2013 is the year when Dr M finally and Officially “Went Wild”. 2013 is also the year that Dr M invented “eXtreme botany”, thereby ensuring that botany will never quite be the same again. Despite its undoubted and growing prominence in the cultural life of Britain, occasionally, very occasionally, Dr M gets
Learn more »
It’s an open secret that Dr M has a soft spot for Poaceae and is currently busy practicing for a new improved version of the infamous Poaceae song! But here, Dr M turns his attention to having look at some common grasses. Spring is here, and although all that is green is not grass, a lot of it is! On the Whiteknights campus at
Learn more »
Difficult to believe maybe, but a few weeks ago we were still in the midst of the chilly late winter. Dr M was blogging flowering Blackthorn because it’s beautiful and he loves it, but also because there was little else to see then! How different now! The sun has come out, the temperatures warmed, the scent of long unused barbecues fills the air and there are
Learn more »
Dr M’s favourite and highly recommended books for plant identification include: The veg key – otherwise known as “The Vegetative Key to the British Flora”. An amazing and botanically life-changing volume by John Poland and Eric Clement and published in 2009. This is a new approach to identifying plants in the vegetative state i.e. without flowers,
Dr M’s favourite and highly recommended books for plant identification include: “The book of Stace” – This is the affectionate nickname given by Dr M when introducing students to Clive Stace’s “New Flora of Britain” 3rd edition (2010). Advanced and indispensable treatment of the British flora with keys to identify families, genera and species of all native and naturalised species (including hybrids) in the UK. A
Learn more »
One of the first botanical signs of Spring is the aptly named Spring Whitlow Grass (Erophila verna) (except it is NOT a grass, not even remotely!). It’s a very common plant in urban habitats such as pavements, the base of walls and bare disturbed ground but it can be so tiny you might miss it! Get up close and you meet a very pretty
Learn more »
Dr M Goes Wild about video for plant identification and just for fun! Upcoming videos include “the hand lens”, “marvellous mosses”, “liking lichens” and “the top 10 plant families”. Check the course page for information about Dr Ms course “Making plant ID videos”.
