Awoke today to the sound of heavy rain beating upon the caravan roof and the forecast being for more of the same we took a walk near the camp site and collected material and brought back to base camp for Dr M’s ID workshop, and numerous photo opportunities to catch students using their hand lenses!
For the ID Workshop Dr M collected several species from near the camp site and laid these out on tables, rather like a bring-and-buy sale – or rather a botanical bring and ID sale! This was the “shop” element.
And “work” part involved students ID’ing one of the specimens using various keys with the emphasis on the veg key and the Book of Stace (although Dorothy – a vociferous Stace-denier – was seen disappearing into her caravan clutching a copy of The Wild Flower Key).
After a half hour or so, and at least one cup of tea, students reconvened to share their experiences and solutions and lesson learned with the class.
In a few cases, the group went through the key together to consolidate learning and to double-check the ID.
These were the species, more ID details to follow, so check back soon!
Ranunculus parviflorus (Small-flowered Buttercup)
Vicia sativa (Common Vetch)
Galium mollugo (syn: Galium album – Hedge Bedstraw)
Veronica arvensis (Wall Speedwell)
Lotus pedunculatus (Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil)
Schedonorus arundinaceus (Tall Fescue)
-
- Ovaries: Schedonorus (left) Bromus (right)
-
- Edwina Higginbotham all ID’d out!
May 20, 2014
