plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings
@plantcuttings.bsky.social
470 followers 450 following 130 posts
A Botanist who blogs at https://plantcuttings.uk/ about plants (and people) aiming to increase the public's botanical literacy, and reduce plant blindness.
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 5d
Wow!
rgleadow.bsky.social
Prof Ros Gleadow FAA @rgleadow.bsky.social · 5d
Wordle 1,568 2/6

⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 5d
A botanical term to get your teeth into in this week’s post: Ergastic substances.
Intrigued?
Read more at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/10/03/w...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
When is a tree not a tree? When it’s a rock(!)
By way of an introduction to “ergastic substances” in plants, Mr P Cuttings considers calcium oxalate and carbonate. And relates this to a report that certain fig trees can sequester su…
plantcuttings.uk
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geminiteamlab.bsky.social
GeminiTeamLab @geminiteamlab.bsky.social · Sep 9
📢 A Junior Professorship (W1, tenure track) is open at the Center for Plant Molecular Biology at Uni Tübingen (@zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social) — to work on plant protein biochemistry (composition, structure, dynamics, or regulation of protein complexes). 🌱 Great opportunity — Apply by Oct 17th!
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markuseichhorn.bsky.social
Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 11d
Tree inside tree.
I don't know the origin of this photo, I saw it via Forest Machine Magazine. It shows a cut log with internal scarring and heartwood discolouration creating the shape of a tree within the trunk.
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 12d
Primary Teachers! In case you missed these, there are some lovely FREE resources for teaching how to tell the time here. If you’re in London, I’m available for an interactive, demo-based presentation about the history and science of timekeeping.
“About Time” Teaching Resources
The lovely people at DK have made some teaching resources to accompany “About Time” which include activities to help children think about the importance of time, practise telling the ti…
alomshaha.com
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piotraz.bsky.social
Piotr Ziolkowski @piotraz.bsky.social · 12d
🚀 We’re hiring a Postdoc!

Join our group in Poznan, Poland to study meiotic crossover recombination in plants 🌱 Highly motivated & enthusiastic candidates are welcome!
📅 Deadline: Nov 1, 2025

🔗 ibmib.web.amu.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Postdoc_position-2025-Ziolkowskis-Lab.pdf
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 12d
Another book review for you this week, but about proper plants (well, and a giant seaweed…) this time.
Intrigued?
Read more at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/09/26/p...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Pulling the stuffing out of plants…
Jonathan Drori’s book, the stuff that stuff is made of, explores the crucial role of plants in human life. Featuring 30 plants, it blendis factual information with engaging illustrations, ane…
plantcuttings.uk
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isog.bsky.social
Gene Doctor Gene @isog.bsky.social · 20d
🧪📚
dunemythang.bsky.social
Kristina🦋 @dunemythang.bsky.social · 21d
Carl Sagan.
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 19d
A review of another book about fungi from the extraordinary talent that is Dr Alison Pouliot.
Intrigued?
Read more at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/09/19/o...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Obscure fungal photofest
Funga obscura by Alison Pouliot is a beautifully written exploration of fungi, combining evocative text with stunning photography from various global locations. The book offers insights into the ec…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 19d
A review of another book about fungi from the extraordinary talent that is Dr Alison Pouliot.
Intrigued?
Read more at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/09/19/o...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Obscure fungal photofest
Funga obscura by Alison Pouliot is a beautifully written exploration of fungi, combining evocative text with stunning photography from various global locations. The book offers insights into the ec…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · 26d
A book review – about fungi – for you this week.
Read more at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/09/12/d...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Delivering your daily dose of fungi
“Mushroom Day” by Alison Pouliot is a delightful book featuring 24 essays on distinct fungi, each enriched with illustrations by Stuart Patience. Exploring various aspects of fungi folk…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Sep 8
The tale of the tomato and the potato for you this week.
More at plantcuttings.uk/2025/09/05/t...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Tomato or potato, which came first?
This post explores the evolutionary and historical relationship between potatoes and tomatoes, both members of the nightshade family. It briefly discusses their introduction to Europe via the Colum…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 30
Mr P Cuttings casts a sceptical eye over a botanist’s book about plants this week…
More at plantcuttings.uk/2025/08/29/a...
[Free subscription to the blog still available – would make a great Hallowe’en present..?]
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
A sceptical look at plants
Tim Entwisle’s “The sceptical botanist” is a highly readable collection of essays that address plant-related questions. While the book provides engaging insights, it sometimes lac…
plantcuttings.uk
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botsocamerica.bsky.social
Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · Aug 27
Today is #ADayforBSA!

🌿 Support the future of botany by donating to the BSA Endowment. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference and allows us to support students, our publications, and community-building conferences now and for years to come.

Donate now: crm.botany.org/civicrm/cont...
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jfcudennec.bsky.social
Jean-François Cudennec @jfcudennec.bsky.social · Aug 27
Plants phylogeny is a mess anyway

Credit : @xkcd.com
"Did you know the mighty redwood is actually the same species as brocoli and kale ? it's just a different cultivar" "Every year or two, botanists add another plant to Brassica oleracea and see if anyone calls them on it"
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stepheniwright.bsky.social
Stephen I Wright @stepheniwright.bsky.social · Aug 27
Please share broadly: I am looking for a postdoctoral fellow to work on a collaborative project on the temporal population genomics of invasive Capeweed (using contemporary and herbarium genomics), with ‪‪@shaky-dingo.bsky.social‬ and colleagues
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 23
A deep dive into the concept of model plant for you this week – and a big mention of the ‘A’ word…
Intrigued?
More at plantcuttings.uk/2025/08/22/w...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
What plant(s) should we study?
This post discusses Arabidopsis thaliana as a prominent model plant, highlighting its many advantages. However, although research on Arabidopsis has advanced understanding of plant biology, researc…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 16
Ever wondered what role alcohol may have had in helping humans become ‘civilised’?
No?
Well, this week’s plant cutting does.
Intrigued?
More at plantcuttings.uk/2025/08/15/h...
#Botany
#PlantScience
Humanity and fungi, a civilising combination?*
Frans Hals’ painting “The Merry Drinker” leads to a consideration of how settled agriculture and alcohol may have influenced the rise of civilizations. Whilst research by Václav H…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 9
Hiya,
Agreed, the world of symbioses is never dull!
Stay safe,
Nigel
nafnlaus.bsky.social
Nafnlaus 🇮🇸 🇺🇦 🇬🇪 @nafnlaus.bsky.social · Aug 9
To me, the craziest symbiosis is between parasitic wasps and DNA viruses, which have become a permanent part of their genome and which they produce to suppress the immune systems of the hosts for their eggs.

Producing attack-viruses is certainly an interesting superpower!
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 9
Colourful insights into the inner life of the lac insect for your plant cutting this week.
Intrigued [yes, there is a botanical connection]?
More at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/08/08/w...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
What insects lack, fungi provide…
The relationship between the lac insect (Kerria lacca) and its symbiotic yeast-like organism (YLS) is crucial for laccaic acid production, a valuable red pigment. Research reveals YLS provides nece…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Aug 2
Acronyms, harmful algal blooms and dust?
That can only mean another plant cutting(!).
Intrigued [you should be]?
More at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/08/01/d...
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Detecting cyanobacterial blooms with NASA’s EMIT
NASA’s EMIT technology utilizes spectroscopy to analyze minerals in Earth’s deserts and has expanded its utility by detecting phycocyanin in wastewater from the Tijuana River. This insi…
plantcuttings.uk
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plantcuttings.bsky.social
Plant Cuttings @plantcuttings.bsky.social · Jul 26
An intriguing look at an embalming practice in 18th century Austrian today – with a botanical dimension.
Intrigued?
More at
plantcuttings.uk/2025/07/25/g...
More subscribers (it’s free) urgently required to the blog – do consider signing-up.
Cheers!
#Botany
#PlantScience
Getting to the bottom of 18th century embalming practice
This post explores the intriguing use of wood in an 18th-century Austrian corpse preservation method. The mummified remains of priest Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg were notably preserved using wo…
plantcuttings.uk
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hilaryrosed.bsky.social
Dr. Hilary Rose Dawson @hilaryrosed.bsky.social · Jul 20
One week until #Botany2025! Check out the (unofficial) starter pack below to follow along. Let me know in the replies if you're attending and would like to be added.

go.bsky.app/Gu9T4st
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likeyoda1.bsky.social
Margot Smit @likeyoda1.bsky.social · Jul 17
Less than a week left to apply! 🌱💚
likeyoda1.bsky.social
Margot Smit @likeyoda1.bsky.social · Jun 5
We're looking for a new PhD candidate to join the lab. Please share 🌱😄
A PhD position (initially 3 years) is available in our laboratory in the Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), at the University of Tübingen (Germany). The position is available with an intended start date starting January 2026. Interested applicants should submit a single PDF comprising a motivation letter describing your research interests, an up-to-date CV, and the names and contact information for 2 references to timing.lab@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de ideally before July 21st.
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johninnescentre.bsky.social
John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · Jul 17
We’re pleased to announce two new vacancies for senior roles at our institute:

Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...

🗓️ Closes 25 August

Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in...

🗓️ Closes 5 September
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