The diagram above is a typical seed cross-section. You may need to either draw this, or put the labels on a diagram. You may also be asked to define the parts. Testa = the seed coatCotyledon = the seed leaves and food store (remember, monocots only have one of these, whilst dicots have two)Endosperm is… Continue reading R2101 – seed structure
Author: esthersym
Welcome to my blog! I decided to do what I interests me and that is plants, so I started home-studying the RHS level 2 theory exams but found very limited free resources online. This blog is going to record the things I have learnt to hopefully help other people trying to study on a budget. These are my notes. I am not a teacher, and there may be mistakes here for which I apologise, but - well, knowledge must be shared to be worth anything.
R2101 – Flowers, fruits and seeds
Flowers exist to - aid pollination and give rise to seeds and fruits. A few definitions: Monoecious plants = male and female organs on separate flowers on the same plant eg: Quercus robur (oak) Dioecious plants = male and female organs on different plants eg: Ginkgo biloba Hermaphrodite plants = male and female organs on… Continue reading R2101 – Flowers, fruits and seeds
Chelsea Physic Garden
Ricinus communis I visited Chelsea Physic Garden yesterday with a friend. I've been meaning to go for years, but because they don't open on a Saturday, I've not been able till now. I've always been interested in the medicinal/health giving properties of plants - I just find the history and the breadth of cures amazing.… Continue reading Chelsea Physic Garden
Leonardslee gardens
Visited Leonardslee Gardens today - it was pretty steep! The lakes are at the bottom of a valley with lots of rhodedendrons and camellias growing up the hillsides. Lots of hydrangeas too - odd how they're making a come-back because they used to be something elderly folk had in their gardens. I'm thinking about getting… Continue reading Leonardslee gardens
I’m kind of in shock…
I had no idea that wasps ate cabbage white caterpillars. I thought nothing ate them because of the hi-vis poison outfit they have on, but I was wrong. I saw a few wasps buzzing around the garden yesterday morning but didn't think much of it. I haven't seen many this year, but then I noticed… Continue reading I’m kind of in shock…
R2101 – leaves
I know that's a really bad drawing - I hope you get the idea anyway. Labelling the parts of the leaf blade has come up before. Leaf adaptations Storage/perennation - bulbs are a lot of leaves containing food eg: Narcissus.Water storage - succulent plants store water in the leaves eg: Sedum.Protection - spines on the… Continue reading R2101 – leaves
R2101 – stems
Ok, so apparently you will need to be able to draw/label a diagram like the one above. I don't think this question has come up in the last couple of years but you never know. You will also need to know the cross section of a dicotyledon stem drawn previously which seems much more likely… Continue reading R2101 – stems
R2101 – Plant name
Plants have botanical names which are in two parts: a Genus (where the word begins with a capital letter) and a species (where the word begins with a lower case letter). A Genus of plants is a group with similar characteristics and which all have the same ancestor. A species is a sub-group within a… Continue reading R2101 – Plant name
…caterpillars hatching
You can actually see the caterpillars emerging Safety in numbers!
Look who came to visit!
I don't think I've ever seen one of these in my garden before - cricket? Or grasshopper? It was really relaxed though, not bothered by me being near or taking photos. It was a lovely bright green and was standing on a sweetcorn leaf, just basking in the sun.
Gardening studies 