Wiltshire Botanical Society
Welcome
Welcome to the Wiltshire Botanical Society. Our roots began in the 1980's when volunteers made a thorough and detailed survey of Wiltshire's flora, culminating in the publication of the Flora of Wiltshire in 1993. Instead of disbanding, the members joined together to form the Wiltshire Botanical Society. The society's aims are to:
- Foster botanical knowledge and to encourage interest in our local flora
- Increase members' knowledge and skills
- Publicise threats to habitats and populations of wild plants
- Undertake field meetings
- Contribute botanical records to local and national recording schemes
Plant of the Month
July
Knotted Hedge-parsley Torilis nodosa
This is not your typical umbellifer, creeping around inconspicuously in turf. Without its striking clusters of flowers and prickly fruits, it looks more like Wild Carrot Daucus carota. As its specific epithet suggests, it bears its flowers and fruits at each node, so they lack obvious stalks and this sets it apart from related species.
For reasons unknown, it is increasing in Wiltshire, especially in amenity grassland (such as around buildings and on road verges on trading estates) where its growth form means it can evade the mower blades.
Join Us!
We pride ourselves on being are a very friendly society and we welcome new members, whatever their age, background or level of botanical knowledge. Annual membership costs £15 (single) and £20 for couples. To join, please email Martin Buckland.
Not sure if it's for you? Potential new members are very welcome to join us free of charge for a few field meetings before committing to membership.
Website Contributions
We always welcome news and contributions for our website. Please send them to the Webmaster, Sharon Pilkington.
