Cover stories (111:03): The mysterious process of Mistletoe germination

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…

Cover stories (110:12): European Hazel, Corylus avellana

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…

A milestone for the Biological Flora: 300 accounts and counting

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…

Biological Flora goes global!

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…

Ecological Inspirations: Anthony Davy

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…

International Flora

The editors are delighted to announce that we are now considering International Biological Flora submissions. Building on the successful and popular Biological Flora of the British Isles series of papers, which has been published in Journal of Ecology since 1941, the journal Editors are pleased to announce the launch of a new associated paper type, the International Biological Flora species accounts.…

All about the EcoFlora database

In the new Biological Flora database, the species account listings also include links to other useful resources, one of which is the EcoFlora database. Dr Henry Ford manages the EcoFlora database, and tells us more about it below.  The Ecological Flora of the British Isles is a database constructed from a wide variety of sources initially…

BFBI: Ulmus glabra

The latest Biological Flora of the British Isles account is Ulmus glabra, written by Peter Thomas, Duncan Stone, and Nicole La Porta. Peter Thomas tells us more about Ulmus glabra in the blog post below. Find this account, and the rest of the series, online in the new BFBI database.  A recent visit to Aberdeen was…