Attenborough's hawkweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Attenborough's hawkweed |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hieracium
|
| Species: |
attenboroughianum
|
Hieracium attenboroughianum, also known as Attenborough's hawkweed, is a special type of hawkweed plant. It belongs to the Hieracium group and is found only in the beautiful Brecon Beacons area of south Wales. This plant was given its name to honor the famous naturalist, Sir David Attenborough.
Contents
Why is it Called Attenborough's Hawkweed?
The plant was named by a scientist called Tim Rich. He chose the name to thank Sir David Attenborough. Tim Rich said that David Attenborough inspired him to study nature when he was 17 years old. Naming the plant after him was a way to say thank you for all the amazing things David Attenborough has shown the world.
Discovery of the Plant
Attenborough's hawkweed was first discovered in 2004. Tim Rich was part of the team that found this new plant. It was an exciting moment for them to find a species that no one had officially described before!
What Makes This Hawkweed Special?
Attenborough's hawkweed is part of a group called H. britannicum. It is similar to another plant, H. britannicoides. However, Attenborough's hawkweed has some unique features:
- Its leaves are dark green and slightly cupped.
- It has thin, simple hairs on its leaves.
- It also has many tiny, sticky hairs on the green parts that surround its flower buds.
Where Does it Grow?
This rare plant grows only on mountain ledges made of Old Red Sandstone. You can find it on a mountain called Cribyn in Wales. There are only about 300 of these plants known to exist, making it very special and important to protect.
