Alex Prendergast
@bramblebotanist.bsky.social
Botany Senior Specialist at Natural England, BSBI Limonium/Rubus/Galium/Hypericum referee. Elm/stonewort/dandelion enthusiast, Plant & butterfly reintros, botany tours, FISC 6, Punk, Norfolk #Iamabotanist Views own 🇪🇺
The second Rubus hybrid seen with #NorfolkFloraGroup today was Rubus ulmifolius x vestitus, a common hybrid worth knowing. Intermediate with parents: hairy purple primocanes, rounded terminal lobes with white undersides. Inflorescences typically not developing fruit.
November 22, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The second Rubus hybrid seen with #NorfolkFloraGroup today was Rubus ulmifolius x vestitus, a common hybrid worth knowing. Intermediate with parents: hairy purple primocanes, rounded terminal lobes with white undersides. Inflorescences typically not developing fruit.
Despite the season it was a good day for brambles with #NorfolkFloraGroup This is one of the Rubus x loganobaccus group hybrids which include Loganberry - raspberry x one of the fruticosus agg, in this case the second parent is probably Rubus hindii. They have raspberry-like leaves & bramble stems
November 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Despite the season it was a good day for brambles with #NorfolkFloraGroup This is one of the Rubus x loganobaccus group hybrids which include Loganberry - raspberry x one of the fruticosus agg, in this case the second parent is probably Rubus hindii. They have raspberry-like leaves & bramble stems
The autumnal colours of Rubus vestitus..
November 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The autumnal colours of Rubus vestitus..
Another obscure road verge, another Mediterranean fruit tree..
Hot on the heels of last week’s self-set Olive Olea europea today’s #NorfolkFloraGroup star find was a self-set Peach Prunus persica!
Hot on the heels of last week’s self-set Olive Olea europea today’s #NorfolkFloraGroup star find was a self-set Peach Prunus persica!
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Another obscure road verge, another Mediterranean fruit tree..
Hot on the heels of last week’s self-set Olive Olea europea today’s #NorfolkFloraGroup star find was a self-set Peach Prunus persica!
Hot on the heels of last week’s self-set Olive Olea europea today’s #NorfolkFloraGroup star find was a self-set Peach Prunus persica!
I wasn’t keeping a list.. also had H. aurantiosplendens, laeta, miniata all good records for the county.. and this weird Geoglossum (?)
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I wasn’t keeping a list.. also had H. aurantiosplendens, laeta, miniata all good records for the county.. and this weird Geoglossum (?)
A fantastic haul of beautiful Waxcaps and associated grassland fungi at Felbrigg Hall in north #Norfolk with @waxcapscooch.bsky.social today. One of the top sites in the county.
November 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A fantastic haul of beautiful Waxcaps and associated grassland fungi at Felbrigg Hall in north #Norfolk with @waxcapscooch.bsky.social today. One of the top sites in the county.
An attractively ruffled semi-double Feverfew Tanacetum pathenium on the allotment #Wildflowerhour
November 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
An attractively ruffled semi-double Feverfew Tanacetum pathenium on the allotment #Wildflowerhour
Columns clearer on this pic..
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Columns clearer on this pic..
Pepperpot Earthstar Myriostoma coliforme at one of its very few GB locations. Pleasingly the scientific name means ‘like a colander with many holes’. Note also the columns that hold the sac aloft.
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Pepperpot Earthstar Myriostoma coliforme at one of its very few GB locations. Pleasingly the scientific name means ‘like a colander with many holes’. Note also the columns that hold the sac aloft.
This week’s botany surprise was a self set Olive Olea europaea on a Norfolk verge. Presumably from seed of a cultivated tree from a nearby garden, lodged in a stump by a small mammal. C. 10 years old. Seems to be the first wild record @bsbibotany.bsky.social ? #wildflowerhour #NorfolkFloraGroup
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This week’s botany surprise was a self set Olive Olea europaea on a Norfolk verge. Presumably from seed of a cultivated tree from a nearby garden, lodged in a stump by a small mammal. C. 10 years old. Seems to be the first wild record @bsbibotany.bsky.social ? #wildflowerhour #NorfolkFloraGroup
My pumpkins bring all the childs to the yard.. 🎶🎶🎃🎃
October 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
My pumpkins bring all the childs to the yard.. 🎶🎶🎃🎃
As it’s the season for ghostly apparitions here’s a few Epipogium spotted in France earlier this year.. oooooo 👻
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
As it’s the season for ghostly apparitions here’s a few Epipogium spotted in France earlier this year.. oooooo 👻
Digging in the last flowers on the allotment arable plant plot today. Necessary for autumn germination of winter annuals. A few new species join the party this year: Red Hemp-nettle, Field Gromwell, Violet Horned Poppy, Annual Knawel & Narrow-leaved Cudweed
October 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Digging in the last flowers on the allotment arable plant plot today. Necessary for autumn germination of winter annuals. A few new species join the party this year: Red Hemp-nettle, Field Gromwell, Violet Horned Poppy, Annual Knawel & Narrow-leaved Cudweed
More gorgeous late summer colour from the Isles of Scilly. An Aizoaceae (anyone have a good resource for ID’ing them?) in walls, Tibouchina & butterflies, feral Osteospermum ‘Tresco Purple’ and Aeoniums everywhere.. I’ll be back as soon as possible #wildflowerhour
October 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
More gorgeous late summer colour from the Isles of Scilly. An Aizoaceae (anyone have a good resource for ID’ing them?) in walls, Tibouchina & butterflies, feral Osteospermum ‘Tresco Purple’ and Aeoniums everywhere.. I’ll be back as soon as possible #wildflowerhour
Fascicularia bicolor Rhodostachys (surely we can come up with a better common name - suggestions below pls) on the Isles of Scilly, planted on walls, dunes, roadsides.. and escaping as fragments on the tide too. Spectacular but pretty useless for wildlife? #wildflowerhour
October 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Fascicularia bicolor Rhodostachys (surely we can come up with a better common name - suggestions below pls) on the Isles of Scilly, planted on walls, dunes, roadsides.. and escaping as fragments on the tide too. Spectacular but pretty useless for wildlife? #wildflowerhour
Geastrum britannicum British Earthstar at its type location under pines in west Norfolk today
October 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Geastrum britannicum British Earthstar at its type location under pines in west Norfolk today
Grass Carp for sale at a local pond supplier. Doesn’t seem the best idea and I was surprised to learn it’s not illegal if GB bred. Just hugely irresponsible, especially down the road from important wetlands. Interesting to see them forming dense masses as they do in infested European waterbodies
October 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Grass Carp for sale at a local pond supplier. Doesn’t seem the best idea and I was surprised to learn it’s not illegal if GB bred. Just hugely irresponsible, especially down the road from important wetlands. Interesting to see them forming dense masses as they do in infested European waterbodies
Belladonna Lily Amaryllis belladonna surviving in former bulb fields on the Isles of Scilly this week.. and some that came home with me from a roadside stall:) #wildflowerhour
October 19, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Belladonna Lily Amaryllis belladonna surviving in former bulb fields on the Isles of Scilly this week.. and some that came home with me from a roadside stall:) #wildflowerhour
A few of the stranger established alien plants seen on the Isles of Scilly this week: the delicious Chilean Guava Myrtus ugni, German Ivy Delairea odorata, Toothed Fireweed Senecio minimus & Shrub Goldilocks Chrysocoma coma-aurea #wildflowerhour
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A few of the stranger established alien plants seen on the Isles of Scilly this week: the delicious Chilean Guava Myrtus ugni, German Ivy Delairea odorata, Toothed Fireweed Senecio minimus & Shrub Goldilocks Chrysocoma coma-aurea #wildflowerhour
@ghostofdatura.bsky.social and I found a new location for the wonderful Polygonum maritimum Sea Knotgrass on the Isles of Scilly this week:) #wildflowerhour
October 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
@ghostofdatura.bsky.social and I found a new location for the wonderful Polygonum maritimum Sea Knotgrass on the Isles of Scilly this week:) #wildflowerhour
Some gorgeous mature Brugmansia sanguinea on the Isles of Scilly this week, the latter recordable on a dump. Thanks @pilning.bsky.social for the tip-off! #wildflowerhour
October 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Some gorgeous mature Brugmansia sanguinea on the Isles of Scilly this week, the latter recordable on a dump. Thanks @pilning.bsky.social for the tip-off! #wildflowerhour
Ophioglossum lusitanicum Least Adderstongue on St Agnes this week. It really is pretty tiny.. at least it was a dry day for crawling about a moor #wildflowerhour
October 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Ophioglossum lusitanicum Least Adderstongue on St Agnes this week. It really is pretty tiny.. at least it was a dry day for crawling about a moor #wildflowerhour
The tiniest of the ferns today - Least Adderstongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum in St Agnes with @ghostofdatura.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The tiniest of the ferns today - Least Adderstongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum in St Agnes with @ghostofdatura.bsky.social
Chrysocoma coma-aurea Shrub Goldilocks in the dunes on Tresco. A South African species well at home on the Isles of Scilly
October 15, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Chrysocoma coma-aurea Shrub Goldilocks in the dunes on Tresco. A South African species well at home on the Isles of Scilly
Tresco Abbey Gardens. I’ve been wanting to visit for 30 years and it didn’t disappoint. A riot of exotica and interesting plants. Loved the South African collection and the mature palms
October 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Tresco Abbey Gardens. I’ve been wanting to visit for 30 years and it didn’t disappoint. A riot of exotica and interesting plants. Loved the South African collection and the mature palms