While producing the recent Biological Flora account for Meadow Crane’s-bill, Geranium pratense L., its authors stumbled on an extraordinary error that had been perpetuated and elaborated in the literature for 140 years. It is a cautionary tale that should be of interest to prospective Biological Flora authors, or indeed for anyone engaged in reviewing the…
September 2023 marked the release of the thematic assessment of invasive alien species by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This landmark assessment, conducted by over 80 experts representing more than 40 countries, comprehensively and critically evaluates evidence for biological invasions and impacts of invasive alien species. Biological invasions refer to species…
Richard Jefferson and colleagues highlight some fascinating aspects of the ecology and conservation of meadow crane’s-bill in their recently published Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Geranium pratense: Introduction The striking blue-violet flowers of meadow crane’s-bill decorate road verges, hedge borders, woodland rides and riverbanks in Britain & Ireland during June, July and August. As can…
The cover image for our March issue shows twin seedlings of mistletoe (Viscum album) established on a branch of apple (Malus domestica), the parasite’s most frequent British host. This image relates to the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Viscum album, by Peter Thomas et al. Here, co-author Jonathan Briggs tells us the story behind the image: The germination…
The cover image for our December issue shows germination day one of European Hazel, Corylus avellana. The yellow radicle breaks through the nut wall and elongates into the substrate over the following fortnight. This image relates to the article, Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Corylus avellana, by Damien Hicks. Here, Damien tells us the story behind the image: The…
It’s part of Christmas – hanging up the mistletoe and stealing kisses beneath it. But as we think more about green issues, can we still justify this? Mistletoe is not a common plant in most parts of Britain, so is the annual custom of picking it to kiss under sustainable? Is it threatening this unique…
To mark the publication of our 300th Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland, the Editor, Tony Davy, reflects on the project’s progress and achievements over the past 81 years: Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) is one of our most attractive and widespread European grassland flowers. Its floral biology and importance for our beleaguered pollinators, among many…
Journal of Ecology has been publishing in-depth Biological Flora accounts since 1941. However, these have previously focused on plant species native to the British Isles. This month we publish our first ever International Biological Flora account, for Nervilia nipponica! Our Biological Flora Editor, Anthony Davy, shares more about this momentous international account and shares his…
The latest Biological Flora of the British Isles account is Tilia platyphyllos written by Donald Pigott. Find this account, and the rest of the series, online in the BFBI database. At the age of 92, Professor C.D. (Donald) Pigott must be by far the most senior contributor to the Biological Flora of the British Isles…
Anthony Davy is Emeritus Professor of Ecology at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He has worked on varied aspects of physiological, population, community and conservation ecology but has taken a special interest in coastal systems and ecological restoration. Tony has published more than 100 scientific papers, including 26 in Journal of Ecology. He…
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