The valient efforts to rescue one of Ireland's rarest plants, hampered by the fact that no one is sure why it is being pushed out of it's traditional habitat www.independent.ie/regionals/we...

1/4 Photos from El Pijeral - 'The Enchanted Forest', Tenerife. Laurisilva forests in Canary Islands are ancient subtropical cloud forests formed in the Tertiary period. Sustained by trade-wind moisture they host many endemic species and relic biodiversity lost elsewhere in Europe

What an exciting find! Great for botanists that many #ferns can still be seen through the winter months 😄 ❄️🧤🌿 #uplandplants @donncha-oc.bsky.social @ollysflora123.bsky.social @phoebeobrien.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @cedar-ni.bsky.social @irishwoodlandtrust.bsky.social

Reflection of pines on a small upland lough. Maghera, Co. Clare.

Some more nice records from the day's botanising in Slieve Aughty uplands. Brittle bladder fern (Cystoperis fragilis), Killarney fern gametophyte (Trichomanes specisosum), Hard shield fern (Polystichum aculeatum), and For clubmoss (Huperzia selago).

Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) in Slieve Aughty, Co. Clare. New hectad record for this species which is greatly quite rare in the county.

Great to find a new site for Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis) in Co. Clare. The species is known to be extant at only two other places in Clare @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiireland.bsky.social

Nice afternoon of botanising in Sliabh Aughty, Co. Clare. Highlights - a new site for gametophyte of Killarney fern and 2nd county record for Polystichum x bicknellii (hybrid between P. aculeatum and P. setiferum) Need to confirm ID of latter but it seem to fit the description 🤞

Wood-name townlands of Clonderlaw barony Co. Clare Trees in the placenames are Oak (Doire/Derry); Alder (Fearnán/Fearnóg) & Holly (Cuileann) In 1655 there were 1670 acres of wooded lands recorded consisting of -Timber trees 701 a -Young Wood 304 a -Old Wood 361 a -Shrubs 324 a

Sedges from a base-rich mire in Co. Clare yesterday. (Carex panicea, C. viridula subsp oedocarpa, C. dioecia & C. diandra) #wildflowerhour

Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) putting on a great display #wildflowerhour

Early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp pulchella) in Co. Clare #wildflowerhour

Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) #wildflowerhour

Some interesting #lichens & #liverworts seen today in old woodland.

The fresh leaves of the Fraochán (bilberry) brighten up the woods on a rainy evening. Co. Clare.

A freshwater macroalga - Delicate Stonewort (Chara virgata) - from a mire habitat. Co. Clare.

Glistening in the evening sun: two mosses, Bryum pseudotriquetrun & Campylium stellatum

Marsh Violet (Viola palustris) #wildflowerhour

Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) #wildflowerhour

Sphagnum in the limelight

Nice to find the scarce Sphagnum teres in the base rich mire in east Co. Clare. It is classified as having 'Near Threatened' status in Ireland

Lakes in Ireland - Mirrors of Change. Available to download here: oar.marine.ie/handle/10793... Edited by @cathdalt.bsky.social @ejen.bsky.social and @edeeyto.bsky.social with chapter contributions from 52 authors and sponsorship from state agencies & HEIs Limited print copies available - DM me

Are you interested in the history, geography, biology and sociology of lakes in Ireland? Take a look at our new book, with contributions from 52 people working in the area, and edited by @cathdalt.bsky.social and @ejen.bsky.social #OpenAccess link below ⬇️⬇️⬇️💦🌊🐟🦆🦟🪲

Derrygarve Lake near Connolly, Co. Clare today.

Argyll's atlantic woodlands were bursting with life last week including the wonderfully named: Hazel Gloves (Hypocreopsis rhododendri) Frilly-fruited Jelly Lichen (Leptogium burgessii) Yellow Specklebelly (Pseudocyphellaria citrina) Deceptive Featherwort (Pseudomarsupidium decipiens)

So sad that Roy Maycock is no longer with us but great that people are celebrating his long & full life, and all his contributions to nature conservation. BSBI County Recorders eg @sarahlambert7.bsky.social @astridbiddle.bsky.social @donncha-oc.bsky.social & @trisnorton.bsky.social do amazing work!

Hello BlueSkiers! I’ve made a starter back of people working on rewilding and similar things in UK and Ireland. Many more to add but it’s a start. go.bsky.app/A7v5ZUQ

Nice oak woodland fragment near Ennistimon, Co. Clare.

Chevy Chase Wood, Co. Galway.