More news from the SLBI. Four talks on favorite fruit and veg; botany, history, medicine, folklore, ethnobotany, as well as their plant family connections and a myriad mix of fascination and information. You can book for each one on separate tickets or all four on a multi ticket.

Talk 1 – 14 October 2020 at 10 am

‘Gourd Almighty! – Cucumber Cousins’This is a truly versatile plant family. It’s members are exfoliating, water-carrying, sound-enhancing, worm-expelling, breath-freshening, ink-erasing, soothing, cooling and nourishing. This illustrated talk will explore aspects of botany, geography, ethnobotany, innovative horticulture and more. What is it with cats and cucumbers?

Talk 2 – 21 October 2020 at 10 am

Core! & more: Apples, Pears and the Rose Family’ After defining what a fruit actually is, this illustrated talk will delve into a variety of subjects from forbidden fruits and corporate logos to divination and natural medicine. The evolutionary, ecological and environmental implications of industrial orchards will be featured and you might even find out wherebaby apes sleep.

Talk 3 – 4 November 2020 at 10 am 

Saucy and spicy:Chillies, Tomatoes and the fruits of the nightshade family. This illustrated talk will cover Scoville Units, goji berries, witches on broomsticks, pharmaceutical breakthroughs and ‘Wolf Peaches’ slithering at 0.028 mph! We’ll get under the skin of seed dispersal, visit the sewage plants and hopefully gain some Heinzsight.

Talk 4 – 11 November 2020 at 10 am

Taking the pith/Zest and the rest: Oranges, Lemons and the citrus family’ Members of this fruity family have worldwide appeal. The segments of this illustrated talk will touch upon world-changing medicinal and technological breakthroughs, tangy tastes, perfumery, electricity, etymology, religious symbolism and much more. What exactly is a tangelo? How ugly is the Ugli fruit? And when is grapefruit bad for you?

Please note: This event also contains a limited number of free tickets thanks to funding from City Bridge Trust for our Botany on Your Plate project and it would be appreciated if these are taken by those who really need to, please buy a ticket if you can – thank you.

Ticket prices: £5 for one event, £16 for all four events. How to book and further info here on the SLBI website/events page. The SLBI will email link and password on the morning of the talk(s) that you have booked.