Love, sex and plants: botanists' biggest ever quiz

Leading botanists will put plant lovers to the test in the biggest ever Botanical University Challenge, which starts on Wednesday (16 February).

The free-to-watch live online quiz, organised by the University of Reading, will pit 18 teams from across Britain and Ireland in a battle of the botanists.

Dr Jonathan Mitchley, [joint] organiser of the event, said: “Plants are the most fascinating and diverse part of the natural world and play a part in every aspect of our own lives.

“On Valentine’s Day, a bunch of red roses may be pretty and act as a token of human romance but their exquisite colours and scents actually represent the beautifully complex sex life of plants.

“Interest in plants is as high as ever, with Sir David Attenborough’s magnificent BBC series Green Planet inspiring millions of people to think more deeply about plants, in the same way they have previously appreciated animals. Plants are the heroes of our past and future – feeding us, protecting against climate change, and inspiring art and culture.

“I am thrilled that Reading is once again hosting Botanical University Challenge 2022, and welcome anyone to tune in online to test their own knowledge and see which UK or Irish team will be crowned champions.”

The quiz will run online across two evenings, on 16 and 23 February.  BUC 2022 is a fun and educational quiz where all the questions are on plants in their diverse and fascinating forms, functions and uses. The aim is to encourage the next generation of botanists and plant-aware students.

Eighteen teams from across the UK and Ireland will face questions from five internationally renowned botanists from UK, Sweden and the USA, including Dr Sandra [Sandy] Knapp, the President of the Linnean Society, London. Get your free tickets from Eventbrite here

Hear Dr Mitchley explain more on BBC Radio Berkshire at 3pm on Monday. Find out more info from www.botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk and via twitter @BUC_2022.