Photos / Sounds

What

Firmicutes (Phylum Firmicutes)

Observer

m_whitson

Date

November 7, 2022 04:32 PM EST

Description

Colonies of Gram-positive skin bacteria growing on a Mannitol Salts Agar (MSA) plate. These photos demonstrate the power of selective media. I swabbed the skin on my forearm and then inoculated a pair of plates with that same swab. The first (red and yellow) plate was MSA, which selects for Gram-positive bacteria. The second (burgundy) plate was Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) which selects for Gram-negative bacteria.
The skin of your arms is dry and a bit salty -- a tough environment. The membrane that makes up the outer layer of the Gram-negative cell wall is sensitive to desiccation, so many Gram-negatives can't grow in dry environments. Gram-positives have a thicker cell wall with no outer membrane, and tend to be desiccation tolerant.
The majority of human skin flora is Gram-positive, as these plates show. The MSA plate, which encourages salt-tolerant, Gram-positive bacteria, grew many colonies. The EMB plate, which encourages only Gram-negatives, grew few.
Microbiologists use selective media to grow those species they want to study and discourage the others.

Photos / Sounds

What

White Oaks (Section Quercus)

Observer

m_whitson

Date

October 5, 2022 04:59 PM EDT

Description

The NKU campus is actually designated as an arboretum (Tree Campus USA via arborday.org) and lots of interesting oaks have been planted, particularly around Loch Norse. 2022 is proving to be a great mast year for many of the northern Kentucky trees, so shown here is a selection of white oak acorns (Quercus subgenus Leucobalanus) from around campus. Starting at the top and moving clockwise: Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), English oak (Q. robur), Overcup oak (Q. lyrata), Swamp white oak (Q. bicolor), and White oak (Q. alba).

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes ovalis var. erostellata)

Observer

jhnienaber

Date

October 4, 2022 11:57 AM EDT

Description

Found single plant in woods on Northern Kentucky University’s campus (behind Honor’s house). Basal leaf present, flowers mostly finished.

Photos / Sounds

What

Devil's Dipstick (Mutinus elegans)

Observer

aleesuh98

Date

May 7, 2021 03:15 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austriaca)

Observer

human_landfill

Date

April 3, 2022 10:06 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bristly Beard Lichen (Usnea hirta)

Date

April 5, 2022 10:52 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Dust Lichens (Genus Lepraria)

Observer

alexorlandini

Date

April 5, 2022 04:08 PM CEST

Photos / Sounds

What

Speckled Shield Lichens (Genus Punctelia)

Observer

ethanzoz

Date

April 5, 2022 12:06 PM EDT

Description

Large foliose patches on some deadwood! Lots of fresh moss as well.

Photos / Sounds

What

Elf Cups (Genus Sarcoscypha)

Observer

holy_baynana

Date

March 12, 2022

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ana87

Date

August 21, 2021 01:17 PM ADT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Observer

m_whitson

Date

February 6, 2021 10:46 AM EST

Description

Male cones on an eastern redcedar growing along the (frozen, February) pond at the Alexandria Community Park. When these release their pollen, many folks will sneeze.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

m_whitson

Date

March 30, 2022 10:30 AM EDT

Description

Collected from Loch Norse, the NKU campus "lake", by General Botany students using a diatom net. First photo at 400x magnification, others at 100x. Pond is normally treated with aquashade to reduce algae growth, but hadn't been done recently. Water level was very low.
Note heterocysts (round, clear cells) for nitrogen fixation and aerotopes (dark circles in the cells) for buoyancy. Last photo includes a couple of grains of pine pollen, I think. (Looks like Mickey Mouse heads).

Photos / Sounds

What

Floating Crystalwort (Riccia fluitans)

Observer

m_whitson

Date

October 5, 2014 11:53 AM EDT

Description

When the seasonal ponds dry down in late summer and early fall, what was once a floating liverwort switches over to looking more like a moss. This one is growing on mud at NKU's Research & Education Field Station (REFS).

Photos / Sounds

What

Flappert (Calvatia gigantea)

Observer

kybriar

Date

October 31, 2021 06:32 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Puffballs (Family Lycoperdaceae)

Observer

ufokingdom

Date

December 21, 2021 01:42 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Observer

stonec12

Date

July 3, 2020

Place

Covington (Google, OSM)

Description

I think this might be common milkweed with open seed pods.