iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by James Common

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Congrats to @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Presidents' Award for his book 'Urban Plants'. The Award is made annually by the BSBI & @wildflowersociety.bsky.social Presidents for the most useful contribution (book, paper, discovery etc.) to our flora bsbi.org/about/news/l...

Trevor Dines and fellow BSBI trustee Nicola Tainton, with copies of Trevor's book 'Urban Plants', at the 2025 British & Irish Botanical Conference.

36311

Reposted by James Common

Lizzie Harper Illustrator @lizzie-harper.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

New blog out on how much I love botanising with my local #botany group in #Brecknockshire: lizzieharper.co.uk/2026/09/brec... Every trip I learn loads and meet wonderful botanically-minded people. Look up your local group, and give it a go! @bsbibotany.bsky.social #botanicalillustration #botany

Early Dog #Violet #Viola reichenbachiana #sciart #botanicalillustration by Lizzie Harper of the #wildflower showing roots, #flower and #seeds. Completed in watercolour, cut to white.

There are three flowers in bloom, and the tripartite seed capsule has split and is on the far right. Leaves are glossy green and heart shaped.

#Lousewort #Pedicularis sylvatica #sciart #botanicalillustration by Lizzie Harper of the #wildflower showing #flower and inflated calyx. Completed in watercolour, cut to white.

The flowers are pink and look like dead nettle flowers. leaves are much lobed, and grow low in a loose basal rosette. The plant grows low to the ground in wet habitats

Germander #speedwell #Veronica chamaedrys

Cut to white botanical #illustration showing a close up of a single bright blue, four petalled flower (with 4 stamens) and the square stem in cross section

Lesser Water Parsnip Berula erecta #sciart #botanicalillustration by Lizzie Harper of the #wildflower showing #flowers and #seedhead. Completed in watercolour, cut to white.

On the right are close ups of single seedpod and of one flower. Members of the #Apiaceae or #umbellifer family, they share pinnate leaves and umbrella-like white flowering heads composed of lots of tiny white flowers

1518

Reposted by James Common

wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Hips, haws, nuts and berries! It’s starting to look a bit autumnal out there! So this week’s challenge is #fruits! Share your finds of wild & naturalised fruits for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm. Happy fruit hunting! ☺️🍒

212040

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Well, I said 2026 would be the year I learned ferns, and I must say, it’s going rather well. I’ve had so much fun delving into the pteridological rabbit hole, which has given me a rather good excuse to stray beyond Northumberland... 😂🌿

2442

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Forked Spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale) from today's wander in the hills. This was just about the only plant still looking green and healthy, the rest were a tad crispy... 😬 #ferns

0303

Reposted by James Common

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

We just published a new issue of #BritishandIrishBotany, our Open Access online scientific journal. Find out about the 10 papers from authors inc @astridbiddle.bsky.social, Jo Jones from @plantlifeuk.bsky.social, Tim Rich, John Richards, Andy Amphlett, Chris Preston & more: bsbi.org/about/news/l...

The purple flowers of Limonium britannicum subsp. celticum, one of the Sea-lavenders, in their typical coastal habitats. Images: Jennifer Wilkinson

The bright blue flowers of the tiny Spring Speedwell (Veronica verna) which grows only in the Brecks. Image: Jo Jones

The bright yellow flowerhead of the Vatersay Dandelion, photographed by Paul Smith on the Hebridean island of Vatersay

15817

Reposted by James Common

Alex Prendergast @bramblebotanist.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Killarney Ferns in Cornwall. I can’t get enough of these dripping diaphanous beauties 😍

1716

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

An entire crevice stuffed to the brim with Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). Certainly not a rare plant up here but still one of my favourites.

0180

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Speaking of willows, one of the absolute pleasures of our little Scottish adventure has been the chance to nerd out over all manner of species I don't see very often. The last one has me a little unsure but it's giving me Salix lanata vibes... #botany

291

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

As someone with a newfound penchant for willows, I was very pleased to finally track this one down today on our last full day in Scotland - Net-leaved Willow (Salix reticulata). A little beauty!

1192

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Okay, so this one made me VERY happy! Alpine Saxifrage (Micranthes nivalis) nicely rounded out our saxifrage set, having already seen Yellow, Starry, Mossy and Purple 🌿

0251

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One of the highlights of our yomp up Ben Lawers today had to be Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia). I wasn't really expecting to see this one in flower, so a nice surprise and a new species for me. #botany

1311

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One of the commoner but still quite special plants seen on today's walk up Ben Lawers - Alpine Mouse-ear (Cerastium alpinum) #botany

0201

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A few other lovelies from our pootle about this afternoon - Yellow Saxifrage, Mountain Sorrel, Wood Vetch, Mountain Everlasting, Dwarf Birch & Roseroot. #botany

1242

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Another highlight from an all too short walk in the hills this afternoon. Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) quite literally everywhere! A good start...

0464

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A quick walk after a rather lengthy drive to Scotland came up trumps, with some of the best populations of Holly Fern (Polystichum lonchitis) I’ve ever seen 🤩🌿 #ferns

0160

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

The highlight of today’s jaunt into the Cheviots, for me at least, had to be an encounter with Dwarf Birch (Betula nana). What a lovely little tree! Presumably a historic introduction at this particular site but it looked to be doing well...

0221

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A long-overdue encounter with Hay-scented Buckler-fern (Dryopteris aemula) topped off today’s trip westward. The crisped leaf edges made it much more distinctive than I’d imagined... #ferns

3161

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

After today’s trip across to Cumbria, I confess I’m a little smitten with Water Lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna). A real beauty, and a new one for me! 🤩 #wildflowerhour

2754

Reposted by James Common

Rebecca Wheeler @botanybeck.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A new challenge this week for #WildflowerHour, hope you enjoy it! Any wild or naturalised bloom that you find, squirrel out those evocative common names, the quirkier the better!

26217

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Seem to have unnecessarily acquired a few willows of late! Salix arbuscula, lapponum, daphnoides and one that was meant to be lanata but may be x boydii. Oh, herbacea too but that's on route. Must stop now 😂

0130

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

A fantastic display of Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella) up on Hadrian's Wall today. Apparently not too phased by the ongoing drought... #wildflowerhour

1313

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) from yesterday's hike. Part of the only native population in Northumberland, no less! #botany

0214

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Sometimes it's the simple things... One from the weekend with a nice duo of Common Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens) and Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) on a limestone cliff 🌿

0170

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Another day, another outing, this time to the Cheviots. Surpringly, it was the clubmosses that stole the show... Here's both Alpine Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum alpinum) and Fir Clubmoss (Huperzia selago) looking especially nice 🛘 #botany

1313

Reposted by James Common

Moira O'Donnell @naturelark.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I spotted this on a pavement near my house and initially thought it was Spotted Spurge, Euphorbia maculata, a plant which I have been keeping my eye out for. However, I now think it might be E. serpens. If so, that's interesting, as there are only a handful of UK records. bsbi.org/maps/?taxoni...

58311

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Stumbled across an apparently well-known population of Hieracium villosum today - a new one for me, and quite the eye-catching little thing. It was definitely shaggy... #botany

0110

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

A new plant for me on today's @nenature.bsky.social field trip with Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys). Presumably introduced here but quite at home in its limestone quarry. #wildflowers

0110

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Some highlights from today's fern fest: Parsley Fern, Beech Fern, Mountain Male-fern, Green Spleenwort, Brittle Bladder-fern, Maidenhair Spleenwort and Northern Buckler-fern (if I am not horribly mistaken) #ferns

0121

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

One of several potential #Salix hybrids from Teesdale today. Leaning towards Salix x laurina for this one: glaucous undersides and shininess of S. phylicifolia but hairy underneath and with faint raised lines under the bark pointing to S. cinerea. May have bitten off more than I can chew... 😂

070

Reposted by James Common

Henk-Jan van der Veen @henk-janvdveen.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Sharing this one for this week’s #WildflowerHour — a spectacular abundance of bog asphodel in a raised bog within my working area #WetlandPlants #InternationalBogDay2026

310916

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

The undisputed star of the show today: Great Sundew (Drosera anglica). A new one for me, and more than worthy of a quick prod 😂

090

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

It was also a pleasure to see White-beak Sedge (Rhynchospora alba) for the first time at Butterburn Flow. A pretty little thing!

1100

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Genuinely a little bit in love with the delicate flowers of Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia). Seen for the first time today on a long-overdue visit to Butterburn Flow, and quite possibly my favourite plant of the day... #wildflowers

0392

Reposted by James Common

Tristan Norton @trisnorton.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

My favourite alien find today was this cracker: Hedgehog Clover Trifolium echinatum. New to me. Very few old Hampshire records, exclusively from sites where wool shoddy was used. Another interesting page in the book of Hampshire flora. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

0728

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

While we're on the subject of moths, I simply had to share this beauty of a Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) spotted yesterday along Hadrian's Wall. Once a familiar sight, they're not one I come across very often these days.

0423

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A very welcome visitor to the yarden today when this Hummingbird Hawk-moth dropped in to feed on Tuberous Thistle. It even stayed still long enough for a 📸! #moths

1341

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Right back at it with the rapid willow revision during a lovely trip to Hadrian's Wall today... 📸 Salix × multinervis (x2), S. aurita, S. × holosericea, S. cinerea subsp. oleifolia, S. repens and, best of all, S. phylicifolia (at last!). #botany

0131

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Orchid season may be drawing to a close, but there are still a few Broad-leaved Helleborines (Epipactis helleborine) to be found in scrubby corners locally. The variation in their flowers never ceases to surprise me! #wildflowers

0285

Reposted by James Common

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The eBook of our new #BSBIHandbook 'Whitebeams, Rowans and Service Trees of Britain and Ireland' is out now & it's only £10 (print book RRP = £35). 282 pages long & covers 68 taxa, all of which will be there on your phone/PC/laptop once you buy this eBook! Lead author is BSBI Sorbus expert Tim Rich.

The front cover of this BSBI Handbook shows a solitary whitebeam on a heather-covered hillside, with the sea behind

02714

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A slightly ragged but very welcome Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) today at @nenature.bsky.social Gosforth Nature Reserve. My first in yonks! 🦋 #butterflies

0181

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

A big old patch of Parsley Fern (Cryptogramma crispa) growing on a Cheviot hillside. Most of the plants we saw had be scorched but this one appeared quite happy! #ferns 🌿

1294

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

A busy pair of Small Copper and Bilberry Bumblebee from yesterday's Cheviot walk. The best of a momentary detour into inverts! 👀

0140

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Back at it with the #Salix this morning with lots of lovely Dark-leaved Willow (Salix myrsinifolia) spotted along the Tyne. Hairy undersides, hairy twigs, committed to memory... 😆

191

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A few goodies from a fab field trip exploring the 'North Tyne bank assemblage'. Clustered Bellflower, Dyer's Greenweed, Wild Basil & Northern Bedstraw were perhaps the highlights among a great cast of plants. #wildflowers

0213

Reposted by James Common

Dean Mac Cú Uladh @dmac00.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

How excited I was to find Oreopteris limbosperma/lemon-scented fern from a damp heathy grassland in Cor na Muclach, Co. Louth! This is the first record of this fern from this area since Praeger’s record in 1887! It really did smell like lemons… @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiireland.bsky.social

0469

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Fear I've gone down a bit of a Salix rabbit hole in the last few days! Practice makes perfect... 😬 📸 S. x calodendron, x holosericea, aurita, x reichardtii, cinerea subsp. oleifolia (x2), viminalis, alba and purpurea. A few others are still vexing me...

1252

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

A lovely double-act of Dune (Epipactis dunensis) and Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) from the edge of Newcastle today. The former isn't having an especially good year, but still a few to be found. #urbanflora

1256

Reposted by James Common

wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

With warmer temperatures forecast for the end of the week hopefully you’ll appreciate a watery theme for this week’s challenge! Find wild or naturalised aquatic plants in bloom and share for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm using the hashtag #AquaticPlants 💦🌱

26725

James Common @commonbynature.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

A few other nice ferns spotted on this afternoon's plod about: Oak Fern, Beech Fern, Lemon-scented Fern & Borrer's Male-fern. #ferns

0100