Hieracium_attenboroughianum
Hieracium attenboroughianum
Species of flowering plant
Hieracium attenboroughianum, or Attenborough's hawkweed, is a species of hawkweed in the genus Hieracium, found only in the Brecon Beacons in south Wales.
It was named after the naturalist Sir David Attenborough by taxonomist Tim Rich, who said:[1]
"I decided to name this special little plant after David Attenborough as he inspired me to study ecology when I was 17. This is a personal thank you for the years of fascination he has given me going to different places to search for new things."
Rich was one of the team that first discovered the species, in 2004.[1]
Attenborough was honored by the naming saying:[1]
"I am thrilled that my name has been given to the delightful new species of hawkweed [...] Bestowing a name on a new species is surely one of the greatest of biological compliments and I am truly grateful. It is an added joy that Hieracium attenboroughianum should be so beautiful and live in such a lovely part of the country"
The species is classified is a member of the H. britannicum group in Hieracium section Stelligera Zahn. It is related to H. britannicoides (P. D. Sell), but differs in having in cupped, dark green leaves and sparse, medium simple eglandular hairs and many glandular hairs on the involucral bracts.[2]
Only around 300 plants occur on Old Red Sandstone mountain ledges on Cribyn.[2]
