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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I was in N. Norfolk on Friday & early autumn produced the most exquisite day. Light was soft & colours glowed. Here was just some ordinary Pelia endiviifolia growing in a pond. A pond sited within heath, bordered by Molinia & yet with a chalky base. Just look at the jade beauty of this liverwort!

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This made my heart skip a beat this week: Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) and Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa) growing in profusion side by side. They may have been planted in a garden pond, but nonetheless, what a triumph! Planted #WildflowerHour

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

My #favouriteplant of 2026 has to be Isoetes phrygia, seen submerged in a temporary pool on the Omalos Plateau, Crete. A rather wonderful example of cryptic diversity—and, as a spore-producing quillwort, perhaps cheekily stretching the definition of #wildflowerhour!

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Branched Bur-reed brainteaser in Shropshire The broad, rounded fruits identify Sparganium erectum subsp. oocarpum, now treated as S. × oocarpum, a hybrid between S. erectum and S. neglectum. Partly sterile fruit heads provide a useful clue.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

If you know, you know… Bend the inflorescence of Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) over and check that there really are no awns. A really nice thing to find in the drawdown zone of a pond.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Pleased to announce my new paper: Herbarium specimens spanning nearly two centuries revealed striking ecological & geographical differences between two ploidy-defined subspecies of Eleocharis palustris in Britain. Ploidy & genome size could help explain them. doi.org/10.33928/bib...

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

At Wimbledon Common today doing surveys. I remembered seeing a remarkable number of old Starfruit Damasonium alisma herbarium sheets from Wimbledon Common in the Natural History Museum collections. I loved how the plants that were virtually all seed and few leaves. Date was 17/8/1869.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I thought these ponds were meant to be boring today! A massive patch of enormous Glaucous Crystalwort Riccia glauca rosettes on the drawdown at Dagnam Park, NE London.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

After a succession of fairly uninspiring ponds, this was rather nice. Huge amounts of Blunt-leaved Pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius, co-dominant with Elodea nuttallii and carpeting the bottom of one of the large ponds at Swanholme Lakes.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Possibly new Iberian altitude record for Limosella aquatica. Today at Embalse de Casares de Arbás, León, I found Limosella aquatica at 1,288 m, slightly above the highest Iberian record I've so far been able to trace in the literature (1,278 m at Camporredondo). It was growing extraordinarily well!

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Up on the Picos de Europa and "wasting" the day at Lago de Isoba before the total eclipse this evening. Picnic packed, beer & wine chilling, & heading uphill for a good view. Shoreline of Carex rostrata, then Potamogeton, then Chara vulgaris. Galician Common Frog sheltering in the shade.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A huge submerged fringe of Juncus bulbosus in a quarry pond. Meter-long shoots formed a dense underwater canopy with no other submerged aquatics. We often think of it as a small rush of wet heaths & pond margins, but in soft, oligotrophic waters it can develop into extensive submerged stands.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Anyone out surveying today? Surrey. 35°C heat, a Sparrowhawk landed beside me at a pond, looking exhausted. It drank, stood in the water to recover, & then started watching newts in the shallows which were swimming through the Stoneworts (N. flexilis agg.). Phone gave up in the heat after that.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Algal succession in a New Forest stream. First came the Planktothrix isothrix bloom (not good). Then Cladophora glomerata. Now Characium sp. colonising the Cladophora. Even in drought, these streams remain remarkably dynamic, with one community paving the way for the next. #phycology

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

#StillFlowering Streams in the New Forest are drying down after a prolonged lack of rain. Unexpectedly, this Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) is still flowering in a dry stream bed. Some species may prove to be winners, but what will we lose if these droughts become the norm?

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Coral-necklace (Illecebrum verticillatum). Not #StillFlowering. These are seeds, not flowers. This lovely little annual seems to be increasing in the New Forest, perhaps benefiting from the bare ground created by recent drought years. #WildflowerHour

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

One of my fave finds: Water net (Hydrodictyon reticulatum). A freshwater green alga that grows remarkable net-like colonies that are visible to the naked eye. Each delicate mesh is made up of hundreds of interconnected cells. It's an uncommon species in Britain, but it can be locally abundant.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Bright yellow Marsh Ragwort (Jacobaea aquatica) flowering among Branched Bur-reed (Sparganium erectum) in a New Forest pond. Winter flooding would kill many plants, but not Marsh Ragwort. It has evolved a way of storing energy in its roots, allowing it to cope with long periods of waterlogging.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

For #InvasiveSpeciesWeek & #WildflowerHour, a more familiar invader: American Skunk-cabbage (Lysichiton americanus). New Forest. The story: fallen spadix is still packed with seeds, & nearby, a dense patch of seedlings from last year's. Once established, this striking ornamental can spread rapidly.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

For #InvasiveSpeciesWeek and #WildflowerHour, here's an emerging threat rather than one of the familiar invaders. Red-stemmed Parrot's-feather (Myriophyllum rubricaule), not better-known Parrot's-feather. Introduced through the aquatic plant trade, it has already established in a New Forest bog.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

A nice surprise in the New Forest yesterday: Brown Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora fusca). It was growing in a pond where the reed had been cut the previous autumn, and the cut stems had drowned over winter. Among the old reed stubble, this uncommon species was emerging into the newly opened conditions.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

On a muddy stream margin today: Hampshire-purslane (Ludwigia palustris). Fruits float when mature, allowing them to disperse locally along streams & flooded ground. Light needed for germination, so freshly exposed mud ideal, but unlike some wetland species, drying does seem to stimulate germination.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

36°C in the New Forest today. Callitriche brutia ssp. hamulata from a river. The "spanner" leaf tips broad and distinctive. I usually find ssp. hamulata in rivers, while ssp. brutia more in ponds that dry back during summer. I wish I were an aquatic plant today. 🌿

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

A hot day for wearing waders today, but pleased to find a member of the Ranunculus penicillatus complex in a river. An intriguing New Forest record. The taxonomy is complex, but it is certainly not R. penicillatus subsp. pseudofluitans. 🌿 Heat rash on my ankles, and a long drink afterwards.🧉

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

For #WildflowerHour: Waders on and out into the water. Spiked Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a submerged aquatic plant sending its flowering spikes above the surface like the Lady of the Lake raising a sword from the water. #AquaticPlants #Ponds #Botany 🌿💧

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Spearwort, Coral-necklace, Pennyroyal, Hampshire-purslane & other New Forest pond/wet species. But the pony is the real story. Without grazing, trampling & poaching by commoners' stock, much of this remarkable diversity would be lost. I'm grateful to everyone who helps keep those traditions alive.♥️🐎

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Branched Bur-reed (Sparganium erectum) in full flower today in the New Forest. It was striking that the early-season flowers had failed to set in the cool spell we had, but the current ones are producing fruit.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Very pleased to bump into Narrow-leaved Lungwort (Pulmonaria longifolia) while surveying a stream today in the New Forest. It doesn't seem to spread from seed, so the clump will likely be there when I comeback to resurvey that section. A good marker.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Attractive sedges in the New Forest yesterday. Waders on and out in the water. Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus) Bladder-sedge (Carex vesicaria)

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Beautiful, serene Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) in the New Forest. Moments after taking this photo, I looked down and realised my movements had attracted Medicinal Leeches. At least three were climbing over each boot.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

An early morning taxonomy black hole. After discussing Valeriana officinalis agg, I tried to trace how the traditional British taxa fits current POWO treatment. V. officinalis ssp. sambucifolia is now placed within V. excelsa, apparently reflecting the relationship with the higher-ploidy aggregate.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Reconnaissance visit to Old River Lea, Hackney Marshes in search of Water-crowfoots -not found- but revealed Nitella mucronata! I checked it repeatedly over lunch, partly because finding a stonewort in an urban London river seemed sufficiently improbable that I suspected wishful thinking on my part.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Three years to the day after my first visit to Braughing Meads, I revisited the Scarce Tufted-sedge (Carex cespitosa) population. The plants were very much affected by the dry spring.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

@ilichenmoss2.bsky.social George Greiff in the BBC News headlines on Sunday morning. A fantastic discovery, and hopefully a way to moderate invasive (INNS) Campylopus introflexus (Heath Star Moss). Well deserved recognition for some very interesting bryological work. 🎉🙌 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Killer fungus discovered that destroys UK invasive plant

A newly discovered species raises hope that some native British habitats could be restored.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

A great day to stay inside, away from the heat, and do some writing. Finished work on a paper on Mediterranean temporary ponds & a charophyte. Musing on how best to promote unattractive aquatic plants & persuade people to care about our less-charismatic taxa. Fascinating Plants! #NotJustaMuddyPuddle

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Collecting crowfoot -Herts river today. Fast flow, clean gravel, carp, damselflies. Beautiful at first glance. Look closer & plants festooned with Cladophora glomerata & Ulva intestinalis, while the air carries the lingering scent of laundry fragrance. A chemically altered river still looks idyllic.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

This week a #WildFlowerShow for #WildflowerHour Sampling a unique non-(poorly-) flowering Crowfoot in a river, and was suddenly besieged by carp. They carve channels through the Crowfoot and thump into my waders. So far, the only UK river with this Crowfoot- doesn't look exciting without flowers.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Just over one year on from planting, the Carex cespitosa reintroduction at Fir and Pond Wood is looking extraordinary. Huge tussocks, abundant fruiting, and plants that already look completely at home in the site.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

I’m beginning to suspect Nitella opaca may be the dominant Nitella of the N. flexilis/ opaca agg. in southern England. The interesting bit is why this may have been overlooked. After May, N. opaca and N. flexilis become much harder to separate reliably as the antheridia decay, detach or are lost.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Walking from one survey to another this week in the New Forest, and very pleased to see winter inundations with these lovely little plants. ♥️🌿 Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora) Small Cudweed (Logfia minima) Heath Pearlwort (Sagina subulata) Blinks (Montia fontana subsp. chondrosperma)

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

I love the different flavours of the Menorcan temporary ponds I visited recently. So ephemeral. These shallow peats in sandstone depressions near Ferreries were especially striking, a classic Mediterranean ephemeral wetland system, winter-wet and quietly structured by seasonal saturation.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A glorious dawn and Happy May Day all! Madrigals from the church tower and a very different setting from the beginning of the week, surveying ponds! Lots of sample sorting today, and plant vouchers cleaned and pressed. I will start after my second cup of coffee.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Really pleased to find in Menorca this week: Chara galioides in a small coastal pool. Under the lens: bright orange antheridia standing out against a relatively delicate thallus. Garish against the brilliant blue sky. Shallow, slightly brackish systems are very specialist habitats.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Creeping Willow (Salix repens) is super-miniaturised on the New Forest lawns. This is so beautiful at this time of year ♥️🌿 @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Small Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum azoricum) today in the New Forest. About 1 cm tall! Growing in a winter-wet track depression with Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula). It has a remarkable 480 chromosomes. So cool 😎 @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

#CowslipChallenge #WildflowerHour Ivinghoe Beacon We tend to think of grassland as “open”, but it has a canopy which is also seasonal. Cowslip (Primula veris) peaks before the sward closes, much as Primrose (Primula vulgaris) does before woodland leaf-out. The strategy is to beat the canopy.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Some very lovely plants I found last week in Crete. What an amazing place to botanise! Tulipa saxatilis, Muscari spreitzenhoferi, Anacamptis papilionacea, Silene colorata

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I looked at an Isoetes while I was in Crete on holiday & under full inundation it forms a near-continuous marginal band. Mapping suggests ~2,500 plants rather than ~30 previous, so detectability/hydrology story. A geophyte persisting as a corm- a neat drawdown strategy. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Glorious flower-filled meadow edges in Crete, despite the strong winds, hail, and a cold snap. Bent against the wind Anemone coronaria.

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Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Wimpole Hall on Saturday with the Cambs Bryologists. Pulvigera lyellii on Ash with two small capsule-like structures present, possibly insect egg cases. I don’t think a lichenicolous basidiomycete. A second sample with similarly positioned "pearls." Anyone have any ideas? Lacewing?

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