Botanical University Challenge
@bucbotany.bsky.social
Annual plant knowledge quiz among UK and Irish Universities. For more information https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/
Pinned
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 What was the result of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025? 31 teams from UK and Ireland entered. Final overall winner was amazing team from University of Aberdeen who led in almost all the rounds. Runner-up was University of Plymouth team, so close behind.
🌱🌾🌍🌺🌿🍁🌏🌎 Coriander, cilantro, used around world in cookery. Leaves & seeds with rather citrus-like flavour & fragrance to many people. Olefactory receptor protein allows us to perceive coriander flavour. Some variations in gene (OR6A2) mean coriander tastes unpleasant, soap & vomit. #BUC2026
November 24, 2025 at 10:52 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🌿🍁🌏🌎 Coriander, cilantro, used around world in cookery. Leaves & seeds with rather citrus-like flavour & fragrance to many people. Olefactory receptor protein allows us to perceive coriander flavour. Some variations in gene (OR6A2) mean coriander tastes unpleasant, soap & vomit. #BUC2026
🌏🌱🌴🌿🌾🌺🍄🌲🌳 Sago palm or cycad, Cycas revoluta. looks like a palm tree but is a gymnosperm. From Japan originally, now the most widely cultivated cycad. One of several plants used to produce sago. Also grown for its attractive ornamental character. Needs warm or subtropical climate. #BUC2026
November 23, 2025 at 11:52 AM
🌏🌱🌴🌿🌾🌺🍄🌲🌳 Sago palm or cycad, Cycas revoluta. looks like a palm tree but is a gymnosperm. From Japan originally, now the most widely cultivated cycad. One of several plants used to produce sago. Also grown for its attractive ornamental character. Needs warm or subtropical climate. #BUC2026
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
A beautiful ginkgo in my park last week
November 22, 2025 at 8:06 PM
A beautiful ginkgo in my park last week
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🐝 Ginkgo (maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba) from East Asia. Last living member of a plant order that evolved over 290 million years ago. Humans have cultivated it for centuries. Attractive fan-shaped leaves, bright yellow in autumn before fall off. ##BUC2026
November 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌲🐝 Ginkgo (maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba) from East Asia. Last living member of a plant order that evolved over 290 million years ago. Humans have cultivated it for centuries. Attractive fan-shaped leaves, bright yellow in autumn before fall off. ##BUC2026
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Someone needs to clean their space station
🌾🌱⚘️🌿🌼🦠🚀 #BUC2026 Impressive survival of moss spores, Physcomitrella patens (spreading earthmoss) on outside of International Space Station for 9 months! Vacuum, radiation, dry, too much light, cold. Over 80% germinated when back on Earth. www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
November 22, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Someone needs to clean their space station
🌍🌸🌻🌱🌾🌳🍁🥀 New today! Plant of the week from Jess, Izzy & Niamh, all students who have competed in Botanical University Challenge.
They have chosen a very seasonal plant for today, the rowan, also called mountain ash. Now often grown in gardens or street tree in UK and Ireland. #BUC2026
They have chosen a very seasonal plant for today, the rowan, also called mountain ash. Now often grown in gardens or street tree in UK and Ireland. #BUC2026
November 21, 2025 at 10:52 AM
🌍🌸🌻🌱🌾🌳🍁🥀 New today! Plant of the week from Jess, Izzy & Niamh, all students who have competed in Botanical University Challenge.
They have chosen a very seasonal plant for today, the rowan, also called mountain ash. Now often grown in gardens or street tree in UK and Ireland. #BUC2026
They have chosen a very seasonal plant for today, the rowan, also called mountain ash. Now often grown in gardens or street tree in UK and Ireland. #BUC2026
🌾🌱⚘️🌿🌼🦠🚀 #BUC2026 Impressive survival of moss spores, Physcomitrella patens (spreading earthmoss) on outside of International Space Station for 9 months! Vacuum, radiation, dry, too much light, cold. Over 80% germinated when back on Earth. www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
November 20, 2025 at 9:01 PM
🌾🌱⚘️🌿🌼🦠🚀 #BUC2026 Impressive survival of moss spores, Physcomitrella patens (spreading earthmoss) on outside of International Space Station for 9 months! Vacuum, radiation, dry, too much light, cold. Over 80% germinated when back on Earth. www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
🌸🌱🌾🌳🍂🐛🐝 Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, family Sapindaceae. Elegant palmate leaves, tall spikes of large pink-white flowers. In autumn the spiky green fruits with shiny brown seeds, conkers. Used in UK & Ireland for a children's game. Also in early biotechnology to produce acetone. #BUC2026
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
🌸🌱🌾🌳🍂🐛🐝 Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, family Sapindaceae. Elegant palmate leaves, tall spikes of large pink-white flowers. In autumn the spiky green fruits with shiny brown seeds, conkers. Used in UK & Ireland for a children's game. Also in early biotechnology to produce acetone. #BUC2026
When and where for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Online 11, 18 & 25 February to select semifinalists from all the teams. Then finals 19 August live at University of Reading. Also 4th Student Botany Festival to 21 August, open to all members of #BUC2026 teams. @drmgoeswild.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 9:42 AM
When and where for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Online 11, 18 & 25 February to select semifinalists from all the teams. Then finals 19 August live at University of Reading. Also 4th Student Botany Festival to 21 August, open to all members of #BUC2026 teams. @drmgoeswild.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝🪳 The core of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 is the plant knowledge quiz. See multiple-choice tie-breaker in this year's semifinal. Galls likely for larvae wasp Diplolepis spinosissimae. www.britishplantgallsociety.org Example questions every copy BUC newsletter. Follow QR code.
November 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝🪳 The core of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 is the plant knowledge quiz. See multiple-choice tie-breaker in this year's semifinal. Galls likely for larvae wasp Diplolepis spinosissimae. www.britishplantgallsociety.org Example questions every copy BUC newsletter. Follow QR code.
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝🍂 Team from University of Sheffield in Botanical University Challenge first time 2025. Read 'The Sheffield Sporangia' experience in the competition's newsletter, The Thymes. Read more at the QR code or: botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More new teams #BUC2026?
More new teams #BUC2026?
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝🍂 Team from University of Sheffield in Botanical University Challenge first time 2025. Read 'The Sheffield Sporangia' experience in the competition's newsletter, The Thymes. Read more at the QR code or: botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More new teams #BUC2026?
More new teams #BUC2026?
🌱🌾🌍🌺🌳🐝 Students write about their planty enthusiasms in newsletter of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Latest issue has lichens, plant-fungal-bacterial symbiosis. Get introduced to them!
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More on lichens: britishlichensociety.org.uk
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More on lichens: britishlichensociety.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 1:05 PM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🌳🐝 Students write about their planty enthusiasms in newsletter of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Latest issue has lichens, plant-fungal-bacterial symbiosis. Get introduced to them!
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More on lichens: britishlichensociety.org.uk
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
More on lichens: britishlichensociety.org.uk
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Funnily enough, Birmingham has strengthened its plant sciences group in the School of Biosciences.
November 11, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Funnily enough, Birmingham has strengthened its plant sciences group in the School of Biosciences.
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
I know. Over here everyone wants to do sports science. Fine, but you only need so many people doing that. And yes, if you take plant science and are halfway decent you will get a good job. Only up side is ancient people like me are still needed!?!
November 10, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I know. Over here everyone wants to do sports science. Fine, but you only need so many people doing that. And yes, if you take plant science and are halfway decent you will get a good job. Only up side is ancient people like me are still needed!?!
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Like Australia. It's all about bums on seats. There's already a short fall of graduates - plant science majors walk straight into jobs
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Like Australia. It's all about bums on seats. There's already a short fall of graduates - plant science majors walk straight into jobs
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
Sign the Petition
Reconsider the potential suspension of Plant Biology Courses at UoN
c.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Agreed! There are hardly any places left doing Plant Biology now in the UK. We kind of need it for the future.....
November 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Agreed! There are hardly any places left doing Plant Biology now in the UK. We kind of need it for the future.....
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Really stupid decision.
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝🌿🌳🍅🍞🥦Botanical University Challenge to inspire the next generation of botanists.
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Really stupid decision.
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
This is exactly what the country needs in the upcoming decades as climate change really starts to decimate agriculture worldwide, fewer experts on plants. We are in the age of stupidity.
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝🌿🌳🍅🍞🥦Botanical University Challenge to inspire the next generation of botanists.
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This is exactly what the country needs in the upcoming decades as climate change really starts to decimate agriculture worldwide, fewer experts on plants. We are in the age of stupidity.
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Appalling
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝🌿🌳🍅🍞🥦Botanical University Challenge to inspire the next generation of botanists.
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Appalling
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝🌿🌳🍅🍞🥦Botanical University Challenge to inspire the next generation of botanists.
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝🌿🌳🍅🍞🥦Botanical University Challenge to inspire the next generation of botanists.
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
University of Nottingham, UK, plans to close Plant Biology for new students from autumn 2026. Current students want to know more. Read more here:
www.change.org/p/reconsider...
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝What was the Third Student Botany Festival like? See the highlights video on our YouTube channel!
Lively, informative, scientific, FUN!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmfO...
#BUC2025 #plants #loveplants
Lively, informative, scientific, FUN!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmfO...
#BUC2025 #plants #loveplants
November 8, 2025 at 9:07 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝What was the Third Student Botany Festival like? See the highlights video on our YouTube channel!
Lively, informative, scientific, FUN!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmfO...
#BUC2025 #plants #loveplants
Lively, informative, scientific, FUN!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmfO...
#BUC2025 #plants #loveplants
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝What do students who participated in Botanical University Challenge think of it? And, if you are a university student in the UK or Ireland keen on plants, why should you participate in BUC2026?
Listen to their own words on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8vX...
Listen to their own words on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8vX...
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🌿🐝What do students who participated in Botanical University Challenge think of it? And, if you are a university student in the UK or Ireland keen on plants, why should you participate in BUC2026?
Listen to their own words on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8vX...
Listen to their own words on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8vX...
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 Botanical jokes; love them or sigh over them! Always have one in The Thymes. AI tried to interpret the currant one. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/ #BUC2026
November 6, 2025 at 10:13 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 Botanical jokes; love them or sigh over them! Always have one in The Thymes. AI tried to interpret the currant one. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/ #BUC2026