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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 9h

6🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Where do perfumes, fragrances, aftershave come from? Some components are from wild plants. Chemical synthesis can replace some, getting better. Also the understanding of how humans perceive scents. Can AI take this further? #BUC2026 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

theguardian.com

Making scents: could AI help perfumers take pressure off endangered plants?

Firms working on reproducing compounds without need for repeated harvesting but conservationists are sceptical

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

🌿🌾🌳🌍🍞🎼Jonathan Mitchley's family have told us they would like to share information about his funeral & donations in his memory. The botanical community has lost a champion. He touched so many lives for the better. www.abwalker.co.uk/funeral/jona... #BUC2016 - #BUC2026 #plants #music

abwalker.co.uk

Jonathan Mitchley Funeral Details | AB Walker

Dr Mitchley's family would like to thank you for your kind donations to Botanical University Challenge, in his memory.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 So what is this mysterious plant from the Saxifragaceae, that favours growing in the west of Britain and especially Ireland? St Patrick's Cabbage, Cabáiste an mhadra rua, Saxifrage spathularis. #BUC2026

Map outline of Britain and Ireland. Photo of plant.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Useful video about monkey puzzle trees and useful to add more into a survey project on iRecord.

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wild-life-ranger @wild-life-ranger.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

All you Need to know about the Monkey Puzzle !! and How you can add one to the UK National Survey see youtu.be/1CeNJEAsl5Y

Please help and support the Channel on YouTube to bring more Natural History by Subscibing <<< >>>>> https://www.youtube.com/@wildliferanger7830/videos <<<<< Thank You

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Finally here's a picture of a flowering plant species in the Saxifragaceae with a very limited distribution across Britain and Ireland (mostly in Ireland). What is its name? #BUC2026

outline map of British Isles with plant distribution data overlaid

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Adding information to yesterday's distribution map of the plant across the UK and Ireland, the plant is a member of the Saxifraginaceae. What is its name? (More information tomorrow)

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yes, Beltian is correct. Named after Thomas Belt (1832 – 1878), geologist & naturalist from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who first described a relationship between Acacias and ants, seen as he worked as a mining geologist in Nicaragua. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...

en.wikipedia.org

Thomas Belt - Wikipedia

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Some questions in Botanical University Challenge give increasing amounts of information about a UK/Irish plant species, but fewer points to score. See the starting information for one species. Any guesses? More information later! #BUC2026 Map thanks to @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Outline map of Britain and Ireland with coloured dots showing where a particular plant species has been recorded. Most dots in west and south-west Ireland. A few scattered across Wales, Scotland, England.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Some African species of Acacia have lipid-rich detachable tips on the pinnules (leaflets) of leaves. They are believed to have evolved in a symbiotic relationship with ants. What is the name of these tips? #BUC2026

Leaves which have small pale yellow detachable tips to each leaflet.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A domatium is a small chamber on a plant occupied by arthropods, usually ants or mites. The plural is domatia. They are considered produced by the plant as part of a beneficial mutualism, not induced by the inhabitants (as for galls). However, some thrips take a parasitic advantage of domatia.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Wildlife now on tunnelling spoil from HS2, become scarce nutrient-poor chalk grassland not previous high quality agricultural land. Includes knapweed, wild carrot, lady's bedstraw, pyramidal orchid - and insects & birds that need these plants. #BUC2026 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Screenshot chalk grassland illustrating using tunnelling spoil for HS2 to make scarce nutrient-poor chalk grassland rather than restoring previous high quality agricultural land.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Lots of relationships between insects & plants. Some beneficial to both. Plant structures in picture are to house insects like ants that predate on other insects. Plant gets some predators removed; insects get shelter & food. But what name is given to these structures? #BUC2026

Group of thorns from a plant, 2 of which are swollen at base.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Genus Coffea, family Rubiaceae. C. arabica (Arabica coffee) and C. canephora (Robusta coffee) are major world crops. Originates highlands now Ethiopia and Sudan. C. arabica is a natural hybrid between C. canephora & C. eugenioides. #BUC2026 #NationalCoffeeDay

Picture coffee beans ripening on branch, coffee bushes covered with white flowers. Map of world coffee bean production, darker colours is more production.Most is Brazil

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Another distinguished botanist at University of Reading. Vernon Heywood, plant taxonomist & conservationist. Iberian flora specialist. Associated with Flora Europea (documented 11,000 vascular plant species 1964 - 2001), founded Botanic Gardens Conservation International www.bgci.org

Photo of elderly white-haired European man in formal suit.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 This northern Scottish grassland is covered in buds for flowers that are a late summer treat in UK & Ireland chalk/limestone/alkaline grassland. But what genus do they belong to? (Seed-heads of a different genus & species near front of photo - bonus points for its name!) #BUC2026

Brilliant blue sky, some fluffy white clouds across top of photo. Lower 2/3 photo is grassland with masses of upwards-pointing pointy flower buds. Fence along junction meadow and sky, with some distant hills. Stone wall at right.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Yes, correct! Physalis philadelphica and P. ixocarpa, family Solonaceae. Small green fruits, called tomatillo in UK & Ireland, rarely sold in shops. Does not like temp below 15C/60F. This year, hottest ever recorded in southern England, it has done well for anyone trying to grow it at home!

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Some fruits & vegetables are now eaten all over the world, like onions, while other are little-known outside their home region. This green fruit is still mainly grown in their central American home, but is part of a more widely appreciated cuisine. What is it? #BUC2026

Round green fruit inside papery cases on a wooden board.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bog asphodel and Calluna vulgaris, definitely in the photo. The third one is cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix; one-sided cluster of very pink flowers at stem tip, leaves in whorls of 4 on stem (not too easy to see in the photo, though).

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Beautiful autumnal flowers and fruits in grassland in northern Scotland. But what are the names of the flowering and fruiting plants? #BUC2026

Green strap-shaped grass leaves with two sorts of small pink-purple flowers among them on shortish stems with dull green leaves. Also taller stems with brilliant orange fruits.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Absolutely correct! The myrosinase family of enzymes, part of the larger glycoside hydrolase enzyme family, and the only one to cleave a thio-linked glucose. Hydrolyses glucosinolates, releasing isothiocyanates to deter herbivores, especially insects.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Plant flavours often originally evolved to protect plants from predators - animals and insects that liked to eat them! The strong flavour of cabbages, now reduced by plant breeders, so more palatable to humans, is an example. But what enzyme is a key part of the flavour system? #BUC2026

Images of cabbage, cauliflower and fruits of shepherd's purse.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Insects can rely on specific plant species. Ivy flowers September - November. The solitary ivy bees emerge at same time to use this pollen & nectar. Arrived from Europe in UK 2001, moving N and W, now just reaching Ireland. #BUC2026

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Flavonol chemicals in petals, often as glycoside conjugates. Examples are quercetin or kaempferol glycosides. The multiple double bonds and cyclic structures absorb light and can allow fluorescence of UV light. This colourfulness is why these chemicals may have a role as nectar guides.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Colours & patterns on petals can look different to pollinating insects from the way humans see them. Patterns are visible in UV light but not seen by humans. Possible role as nectar guides. But what chemicals have plants evolved to make their UV visible appearance? #BUC2026

Picture of a flower, cut in half to see inside of petals easily. One picture in normal white light - a nice yellow flower; another picture of the same flower but taken in UV light shows pale blue petals with a massive black stripe highlighting the pollen and nectar.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Not actually white bryony, Bryonia dioica, but another member of the Cucurbitaceae family. The presence of both a leaf and a tendril at the same node is typical of this family (although not found in all members).

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Of course, a lot of different species of insects eat plants, which interests some botanists. That combined knowledge has an application in plant protection for agriculture and horticulture. #BUC2026

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The plant in the first picture belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The red alga in the picture is a member of the Corallinales. These Coralline algae deposit calcium carbonate with magnesium as calcite crystals within their cells. Form a rock-like structure covering rocks, and can grow out into the water. Important part of coral reefs. Form good fossils.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 In the live semifinal and final of Botanical University Challenge 2026, the teams had real live plants to identify and explain. See the teams doing this. Can you identify the family of the first plant? #BUC2026

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Algae appear in several colours. One order of red algae (Rhodophyta) grows over surfaces. It is part of some coral reefs. What is the name of this order? #BUC2026

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 New knowledge in plant taxonomy changes ideas on which ones are most closely related. How about this long-known seaweed that turns out to be in the sea lettuce genus. What was its previous, or common, name? #BUC2026

seaweed, fine wavy thin strands of green.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Called chanterelle in UK and Ireland. Genus Cantharellus, but also species within Craterellus, Gomphus and Polyozellus.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Another question from this year's Botanical University Challenge semifinals. What is the name of this genus of edible fungus found in the UK, Ireland, in fact across forested parts of Eurasia, Africa and North America? #BUC2026

Orange fungal fruit bodies with coarse ribs underneath the cap running down into the stem.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

🌱🌾🌺🌿🍫🌎🖌#InternationChocolateDay One of at least 4 international celebrations of chocolate. Essential ingredient is roasted, ground beans (seeds) from cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Originates from tropical regions of South America, now also grown elsewhere like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia. #BUC2026

Pictures cacao pods developeing on tree trunk, beans inside pod, beans after roasting and milling to nibs, and man from Mesoamerica holding a cacao pod.

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Compound Interest | Chemistry infographics @compoundchem.com · 13/09/2024

It's #InternationalChocolateDay! Did you know that chocolate is toxic to dogs? 🐶 Or that some chocolate contains butyric acid, also found in vomit? 🤮 More chocolate chemistry in this updated edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social 👇 #ChemSky 🧪

Infographic on the chemistry of chocolate. There are three columns, one on dark chocolate, one on milk chocolate, and one on white chocolate. Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of cocoa solids, which contain theobromine, toxic to dogs. Milk chocolate commonly has compounds including vanillin and butyric acid added, which influences its taste. White chocolate doesn't contain any cocoa solids, only cocoa butter (comprised of a number of fats), sugar and milk.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Botanical University Challenge - some of the questions. What is the name of this species of seaweed? #BUC2026

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Experts at the Table: idea from a BUC student. Want to spend time talking, rather than listening, to experts from RHS, university academics, professional ecologists, artists, PhD students and postdocs? We did this at 4th Student Botany Festival 2026. #BUC2026

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Nichola Hawkins @nicholahawkins.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Very sad news. As a Wye graduate I have many happy memories of ecology field trips. In the years since, our paths often crossed within the botanical community due to Dr M's tireless efforts to spread the love of plants: long may that legacy continue. 🌱

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Joanna Bagniewska @joannabagniewska.com · 07/09/2026

A huge loss to the botanical community. @drmgoeswild.bsky.social was an incredibly talented science communicator and a wonderful colleague. My 3yo corresponded with him, and said that "her friend Finn wants to be a BOTTOMIST, like Dr M". 🧪🥬

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Happy memories of Botanical University Challenge this August 2026. Winning team from Cambridge now have their name inscribed on the trophy - along with runner-up Aberdeen 2025 winners! Other semifinalists came so close - Edinburgh and Anglia Ruskin. #BUC2026 #BUC2027

Wooden trophy with names of teams on it. 4 pictures of young people who were the 4 semifinalist teams.

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Fay Newbery @fayrnhawk.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A huge loss. DrM fought so hard to help people to overcome plant blindness. So many botany students learnt from him. Few tutors teach by song but DrM certainly did!

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Botany was Jonathan's greatest passion but he also had a great interest in ecological restoration and amongst others did serve as a board member of the European chapter of @serestoration.bsky.social and if I remember correctly he was also running SER Europe's Twitter account.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

🌿🌾🌳🌍🍞🎼We are sad that Jonathan Mitchley ('DrM') passed away this week. BUC and especially the Student Botany Festival, would not exist without him. He made a big impact on the UK & Irish student botany community. Competition & festival will continue in 2027. www.reading.ac.uk/news/2026/Un...

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Careers showcase at 4th Student Botany Festival. UK plant societies represented included the Wild Flower Society - for wild flower lovers & amateur botanists in UK & Ireland. Field meetings, online lectures, wild flower diaries. #BUC2026 thewildflowersociety.org.uk

Woman at stall with banner behind her talking with 2 other women.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡Herbarium workshop at 4th Student Botany Festival this August. Not just dried plants, but carefully recorded specimens that can remain for centuries and be used for more than plant ID - past environments, ecologies, extinct plants, element distributions, more. #BUC2026

Group of young people in laboratory holding up pressed plant specimens

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🌿🍃🖌🐡 Best memories of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Happy people sharing their plant knowledge and enthusiasm. Students, industry professionals, academics from around the UK and Ireland - all with botany an important part of their lives. Looking forward to #BUC2027!!

Lecture theatre, seats filled with smiling, waving people. Red/grey/black upholstery in the lecture theatre.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

#BUC2026 Answer to yesterday's question is the Austrobaileyales lineage. Name, and use of star anise in the UK, suggests alcoholic drinks. How appropriate for a bank holiday, and celebration of rain & cooler temperatures returning. What is a bank holiday? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_ho...

Background of Christmas cocktail with spices on table with frosted cones, red glass balls. Question from Botanical University Challenge 2026 against it.

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