New species of dandelion (Taraxacum pankhurstianum) found on St Kilda

A new species of dandelion has been discovered on the island of Hirta in St Kilda archipelago. The plant was first collected by Jim McIntosh, BSBI Scottish Officer, on recording trip to St Kilda two years ago. It was then grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh from achenes and described by Prof John Richards. The plant has been named Taraxacum pankhurstianum in honour of Dr Richard Pankhurst, a member of the Botanical Society of Scotland and BSBI Recorder for VC 110. T. pankhurstianum is considered to be closely related to T. faeroense and may be recognised by the hairy exterior involucral bracts.

For further details see: Richards, A J; Ferguson-Smyth, C C (2012) Taraxacum pankhurstianum (Asteraceae), a new dandelion endemic to St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. New Journal of Botany 2, 16-19.