Taraxacum akteum
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| Taraxacum akteum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Taraxacum |
| Species: | T. akteum |
| Binomial name | |
| Taraxacum akteum Hagend., Soest & Zevenb. | |
Taraxacum akteum, sometimes referred to as the Hampshire dandelion,[1] is a rare and geographically restricted species of dandelion in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to parts of Western Europe, occurring only in Great Britain and the coastal regions of the Netherlands. The species was first described in 1974 in Acta Botanica Neerlandica from specimens collected in slightly brackish meadows at Doornspijk and Rozenburg by Hagendijk, van Soest, and Zevenbergen. It belongs to the section Taraxacum section Celtica, a group of microspecies adapted to grassland habitats. T. akteum is most often found in temperate flood-meadow environments, where it grows in low-competition, seasonally moist soils. Its narrow ecological range and distinct morphology make it an uncommon and under-recorded member of Europe's dandelion flora.
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Taraxacum akteum is a small, rare species of dandelion distinguished by its compact habit and several unique morphological features. Plants typically range from 10 to 25 cm in height and often grow appressed to the ground. The foliage is greyish-green, often faintly rose-tinged at the petiole, and generally subglabrous. Leaves are typically lobed, with 2–3 (occasionally up to 5) lateral lobes on each side.[2] The lower lobes are dentiform, while the upper lobes are broadly triangular and slightly obtuse or acute, sometimes with a short, broad tooth on the back. The terminal lobe varies with leaf position, being short and deltoid in outer leaves and subhastate in inner leaves. Interlobes are short, occasionally dentate. A reddish tinge is often visible on the lower part of the midrib.[3]
The flowering scapes are generally shorter than the leaves, often sigmoid-curved, and may be glabrous or bear cobwebby (arachnoid) hairs just below the capitulum. The involucral bracts are glossy dark green, about 14–15 mm long and 15 mm wide, with the outer bracts ovate, slightly appressed, and narrowly bordered with green margins up to 4 mm wide. The flower head is about 25–30 mm in diameter and yellow, with the marginal ligules distinctly striped on the reverse with dark violet to purplish-black. Anthers are fertile and produce pollen. Styles and stigmas are blackish to brownish in color.[4]
Achenes are straw-colored, about 3.5 mm long including the pyramidal cone, which measures 0.3 mm. The body of the achene is slightly spinulose near the apex and otherwise smooth, gradually tapering into a short cone. The beak is slender, about 8 mm long, and terminates in a white pappus 4–4.5 mm in length.[3]