26th May 2024
Taraxacum duplidentifrons
HU 3349 5044
VC112 Semblister
Probably the most numerous and ubiquitous species on the islands. Pollen sparse/absent (probably due to weather). Dark styles, grey ligule stripes with dark blackish tips, hairy leaves with acute lobes, typical multi-directional bracts
Taraxacum palmeri
HU 3349 5044
VC112 Semblister
Grass road verge
No pollen, linear pale bordered ciliate bracts, discoloured stigmas, narrow bracts solid ligule stripes, few blotches, red tips to ligule teeth also inner florets
Taraxacum luteum
HU 2822 7711
VC112 Hillswick
Grassy verge next to hotel and rough grass down by beach
Went to visit the plants that Baz Scampion had re-located based on an old record. Pollen present. Some plants had subtle brown/silver ligule streaks at the base and some had discoloured teeth. All of the bracts are spreading sub-erect and recurved, heterophyllous leaves – inner leaves with long subdivided end lobe, petioles long unwinged and purple.
The younger plants had no large inner lobes and more purple midribs, the ligules were pure yellow with more reddish smudging to the inner floret ligule tips
10+ plants dotted around the area - spread onto (or from?) the beach area
Taraxacum duplidentifrons
HU 2822 7711
VC112 Hillswick
Grassy verge
A large mature plant
Taraxacum palmeri
HU 4372 5383
VC112 Catfirth
Grass on edge of burn
With broader ovate bracts and streaked ligule stripes this population - intermediate T faeroense? Pollen absent.
20+ plants
Taraxacum unguilobum
HU 3879 3591
VC112 Hamnavoe
Roadside verge
No pollen, yellow stigmas, bordered bracts, streaky brown ligule stripes
Leaves very crisped and curled - Summer (they resemble Taraxacum fulvicarpum)
Frequent on mainland
Taraxacum naevosum
HU 3879 3591
VC112 Hamnavoe
Roadside verge
Pollen present
Hairy, strongly spotted, acute triangular lobes, broad spreading bracts
Taraxacum naevosiforme
HU 3879 3591
VC112 Hamnavoe
Roadside verge
Pollen present, narrower leaves and paler green base colour
Taraxacum palmeri
HU 37647 35396
VC112 Meal Sands
Pasture grassland
Long linear bracts with pale ciliate edges, no pollen, ligules streaked, few blotches on the leaves
200+ plants
27th - 28th May 2024
Taraxacum palmeri and Taraxacum faeroense
HU 2661 5118
VC112 Bridge of Walls
Roadside grass
AJR 'Very convincing both growing together'
One with larger flower and streaked ligules oblong bracts, other with smaller heads and solid ligules more linear edged to bracts.
Population of around 100+ plants
Taraxacum hirsutissimum
HU2316 4962
VC112 Walls
Edge of road – moorland
There are T palmeri intertwined. Amazing hairs! Population of around 20+ plants
Taraxacum palmeri
HU2316 4962
VC112 Walls
Edge of road – moorland
These plants differ again with hairier leaves with larger lobes.
Around 20+ plants
Taraxacum chrysoglossum
HU3884 0959
VC112 Scatness
The 1st record for Shetland of this rare Scotland endemic. It has not been recorded North of VC105
Rough grass
These flowers and leaves growing through an old wooden door! Pale silver ligule stripes, some bracts erect. Stigmas dark, pollen present, lateral lobes with acute linear process patent, unwinged purple petioles (under the wood)
2 or 3 plantsÂ
30th May 2024
Taraxacum serpenticola
HU631 108
VC112 Unst - Muckle Heog
Round 'red onion' bracts and some arachnoid scape hairs on the scape below the involucre
Taraxacum calophyllum
HP 6249 0927
VC112 Unst - Halligarth
A little over but - probable per. Marion Barlow
31st May - 1st June 2024
Taraxacum palmeri
HU 37265733
VC112 Lunklet Burn
Edge of stream
Interesting type of 'palmeri' growing at the top of the Burn (with Hieracium zetlandicum)
Growing amongst ‘typical’ spotted, streaky ligule, 'faeroense' plants
Flat, thin fresh green, unspotted, leaves and narrow purple petioles (curled very quickly when picked)
Bracts lax and erect (not appressed!) and mid green, ligule stripes 3/4 pale silver then peach to dark purple tips, florets pinched / involute and red tipped
Scapes glabrous and washed out green / purple) no pollen, discoloured/dark styles
Taraxacum faeroense
HU 3733 5731
VC112 Lunklet Burn
Edge of stream
This is the contrasting plant growing with the above in Lunklet Burn with thicker spotted leaves and noticeably yellower styles. Ligule stripes peach purple is from the base. Ligules flat
Bracts mixed width - oblong and scape with hairs
Taraxacum naevosum
HU3347 8346
VC112 Ronas Hill
Rocky edge of car park
With pollen
Taraxacum palmeri
HU3182 8272
VC112 Ronas Hill
Edge of Grud Burn
Heath form - No pollen, discoloured styles
Ligules streaked and yellow tips/teeth
Bracts oval with +/- pale border. Similar to other 'heath' forms with more ovate bracts and streaked ligules. Leaves thin
Taraxacum faeroense
Here's a plant from Ben Lawers
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