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Botanical University Challenge

@bucbotany.bsky.social

2.1K followers 890 following 680 posts

Annual plant knowledge quiz among UK and Irish Universities. For more information https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/

botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · Aug 24

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 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.

Final outcome of Botanical University Challenge 2025. Logos of the 31 universities & institutions that entered teams. Background picture of part of Cambridge University Botanic Garden where the semifinals and final were held. Four semifinalists were Universities of Aberdeen, Reading, Plymouth and Eden Project University Centre. Overall winner was team from University of Aberdeen with team from University of Plymouth close runner up. Also logos of our Gold-level sponsor, Gatsby Foundation and Silver-level sponsors New Phytologist Foundation, The Company of Biologists, University of Cambridge & Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Also grateful to our many Bronze-level sponsors and many others who supported the competition and 3rd Student Botany Festival that followed with their help-in-kind, knowledge and assistance.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 12h

Yes! Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is in the Fabaceae family
Just look at the leaves as well as the fruit. Leaves of so many pairs of leaflets

Tamarindus indica picture donated to Wikimedia Commons by Tauʻolunga • CC BY-SA 3.0. Blue sky, brown fruit pod and leaves of many pairs of leaflets

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 16h

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌳🌿🌲🥕🥦 Here's a past Botanical University Challenge question: The distinctive flavour of brown sauce is from tamarind. Which plant family is tamarind from? Five choices: Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae. #BUC2025

Picture of bacon sandwich with HP Brown Sauce. The distinctive flavour of brown sauce is from tamarind. Which plant family is tamarind from? Five choices: Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae. A question from a past Botanical University Challenge competition.

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Reposted by Botanical University Challenge

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 2d

The #Botany360 Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Panel recording is now available! Hear faculty & grad students share insider tips on writing strong applications.

Watch: youtu.be/11L4M8AJ4YY?...

Guide: botany.org/file.php?fil...

⚠️Remember: Always check the NSF GRFP site for the latest updates.

Flyer with a background of green ferns. Title at the top reads: “Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Panel.” Below, on a yellow banner: “Recording Now Available!” Five circular headshots of panelists are arranged across the center: Dr. Sally Chambers, Assistant Professor, Eastern Kentucky University; Dr. T. Michael Anderson, Professor, Wake Forest University; Julianna Harden, PhD Student, Cornell University; Cynthia Webster, PhD Student, University of Connecticut; and Savanna Brown, PhD Student, University of Connecticut. Text below invites viewers to watch a one-hour panel on writing strong research and personal statements for fellowships like the NSF GRFP, featuring reviewer and graduate student perspectives. A large QR code is on the right side. Logos of the NSF, GRFP, and Botanical Society of America are along the bottom, with a note that the event is organized by the BSA’s Early Career Professional Development Committee.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 2d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌿🌲🌴Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 Who was the first woman botanist elected #FRS to Royal Society? Agnes Arber - in 1946! Royal Society started 1663. Botany was major area of science. How many other women should have been elected over the centuries. Much wasted talent!

Thanks to all who donated generously pictures to Wikimedia Commons

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 4d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🥜 Plant and fungi have so many close relationships: fungi making soil; mycorrhiza fungi feeding and being fed by plants; fungi recycling dead plants; fungi causing disease on plants. #BUC2025

Picture waxcap, inkcap, Boletus, ergot, smut, fly agaric. UK Fungus Day 2025

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 5d

🌱🌾🌺🌷🌿🌍🪳 How do students get into Botany. Santiago Castano Sirosi, University of Aberdeen team, winners of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 was inspired by plants around him as he grew up in Columbia. Need more lovely city plants in UK! We have some urban orchids!!

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 8d

🌱🌾🌺🌷🌿🌍🪳 Result of team name competition announced at Botanical University Challenge 2025. Winner was Team 'Plantastic Five', University College Dublin. Runner-up Team 'Pain in the Grass', University of Portsmouth. All teams think of such great names! @drmgoeswild.bsky.social

Two young women from Team Plantastic Five, University College Dublin, and Team Pain in the Grass, University of Portsmouth. Team slides, QR code for video of event on YouTube.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 10d

🌱🌾🌺🌷🌿🌍🪳 Student Amy Beach, studying Plant and Soil Science at University of Aberdeen - and in team winning Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 - on what got her into Botany. Influence of father, gardening and being around nature. @drmgoeswild.bsky.social

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 12d

🌾🌿🌴🌳🌲🪻🌷🪾🍄🌍🧪Wonderful to have a street tree as UK Tree of the Year. The Argyle Street Ash. Looks in good health. We need many more street trees. #BUC2025

This Is My Glasgow @thisismyglasgow.bsky.social · 13d

So, with a massive 27% of the over 30,000 votes cast, this is officially the Woodland Trust Tree of the Year for 2025. Thanks to the thousands of you who voted for it.

Cont./

#glasgow #treeoftheyear #woodlandtrust #tree #argylestreetashtree

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 14d

Discovered 2024, variety of dogbane plant from Japan, Vincetoxicum nakaianum, exudes scent of alarmed ants. This attracts flies to pollinate plant's flowers.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Plant that mimics odour of half-eaten ants to attract pollinators discovered

Botanist says new Japanese species of dogbane is first evidence of plants copying ants

www.theguardian.com

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 15d

🌱🌾🌺🌷🌿🌍🪳 Third Student Botany Festival August 2025. After a workshop about orchids, say 'hullo' to one in a glasshouse at Cambridge University Botanic Garden @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social #BUC2025

Picture of young woman smiling at orchid flowers from a plant growing in a pot hanging from a branch against a wall in a glasshouse. Photo by Laura Bennetto/BUC

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 16d

🌱🌾🌺🏵️🌳🌿🌏 Third student botany festival had undergrad & postgrad students from over 25 institutions, and botanical scientists. Gave students opportunity to talk with botanists they would not otherwise meet. Great for inspiration, contacts and realising there are #careerswithplants! #BUC2025

Background of wood texture. Picture young botanical student from the Eden Project University Centre talking with botanist at Third Student Botany Festival, August 2025. QR code for recording of competition.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 17d

🌱🌾🌍🌏🌎🌳🌿🌲 What better way to explore a glasshouse full of exotic plants than with one of its curators? Part of workshop at Third Student Botany Festival 2025 in Cambridge University Botanic Garden @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social @drmgoeswild.bsky.social #BUC2025

Glass house full of plants and people looking at them. Photo by Laura Bennetto/BUC.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 18d

Nurturing botany - what Botanical University Challenge is all about. Look for information in October about entering your team of degree-level students for #BUC2026. Institutions in UK or Ireland that havn't entered a team before, contact us for more information! botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk

pale cream cotton shoulder bag with writing Botanical University Challenge. Nurturing the best in Botany (University of Reading) Photo by Laura Bennetto/BUC

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 19d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌿🌳🐝🌷3rd Student Botany Festival #BUC2025 was next to Cambridge Botanic Garden @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social. Excellent to make use of plants in it during workshops and just to admire!

People in Cambridge Botanic Garden looking at plants. Photo by Laura Bennetto for BUC.

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 19d

Great suggestion for @inaturalist.bsky.social l (& other on-line systems). Add ID to others records! You do not have to be the national expert. Good advice on how to make use of your plant ID skill, however limited. Includes: can you distinguish a plant from an animal? Even that is useful!! #BUC2025

Dr. Hilary Rose Dawson @hilaryrosed.bsky.social · 20d

I just passed my 50,000th identification on @inaturalist.bsky.social! Identifying is a huge but often ignored part of the #iNaturalist community and dataset so I wanted to share why and how I identify. 1/14

🧪 #ecology #taxonomy #botany #CommunityScience

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 21d

🌱🌾🌺🏵️🌳🌿🌏 Amazing number of enthusiastic students keen on #botany at Third Student Botany Festival; 94 from UK and Ireland. Thinking about #careerswithplants & here listening to @cieem.bsky.social @bsbicountries.bsky.social @spun.earth @drmgoeswild.bsky.social #BUC2025

Lecture theatre with audience. Photo Laura Bennetto.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 22d

🌱🌾🌺🏵️🌳🌿🌏Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025. After, 3rd Student Botany Festival. Included workshop on orchids. About 10% of the seed plant species, monocots, but so much diversity: colours, scents, sizes, habitats, lifestyles, fungal partners. Exciting to hear from an expert!

Picture of man with photos of orchid flowers behind him, and plants around him. People sitting at desks listening.

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 23d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌳🌲🌴🧪Why do people get into plants at university? Listen to James Ashford in his second year of B. Sc. Biology at University of Aberystwyth. Short answer: Fun and employment prospects. #BUC2025

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 24d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌏🌳🌎🐝Other ways people get into #botany are through family influence. Here Ellie Defty, now studying at University of Leeds explains how her mother's art led her to plants. One of the first team from Leeds to enter Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 talking at 3rd Student Botany Festival.

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 25d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🌏🌳🌎🐝How do people get into botany? Here's Sophie Ball, now studying Global Health at Royal Holloway University of London. She explains at 3rd Student Botany Festival what started her journey into plants. #BUC2025

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 27d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌿🌳🌲Botanical University Challenge 2025 winners are team Taxon Taxoff from University of Aberdeen. Their name has been inscribed on the trophy & is now on its way to them to treasure for a year. @newphyt.bsky.social @gpsep.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social #BUC2025

John Warren @botanyjohninaber.bsky.social · 27d

@uniofaberdeen.bsky.social @bucbotany.bsky.social The Sid Thomas BUC trophy 🏆 on its way to Aberdeen

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 29d

🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌿🧪🐝🪳🌷 Name 2025 winning team of Botanical University Challenge has now been inscribed on the Sid Thomas Trophy. Team Taxon, Taxoff from University of Aberdeen, Scotland. For information about this trophy, see Issue 3, The Thymes, newsletter BUC. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/

Base of wooden trophy inscribed with winners names.

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · Sep 6

🪷🌹🌻🌱🪴🌾🌳🌿🌍 Plants growing for natural dyes on roof National Theatre in centre London, UK. To be used in costumes and staging for plays. www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...

‘It’s a secret garden’: National Theatre turns roof into a riot of colour with dye plants

Textile artists are reshaping how the theatre makes its costumes with the aim of replacing harsh synthetic dyes

www.theguardian.com

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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · Sep 1

🌱🌍🌎🌳🎼🎶Making a whistle from sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) twig. Botanical knowledge helps with successful design and construction! Maybe will feature in October issue The Thymes, newsletter of Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 !

John Warren @botanyjohninaber.bsky.social · Aug 31

Nice video. I don't want to boast, but my design is both simpler and superior. Perhaps we should put details in the Thymes. The most important aspect is time of year and twig selection.

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