History Senecio squalidus

senecio squalidus growing on walls in liverpool.

this senecio introduced britain via francisco cupani , william sherard in years of visit 1700, 1701 , 1702 sicily lives native on volcanic ash duchess of beaufort s garden @ badminton. later transfer of genetic material oxford botanic garden horti praefectus (the title still given head gardener @ oxford botanic garden) jacob bobart younger before death in 1719 (which same year bobart retired horti praefectus , perhaps indication of when species of ragwort , other invasive species might have escaped , started make home in greater british isles). sicilian ragwort escaped wild , grew in stonework of oxford colleges (with specific mention of bodleian library) , many of stone walls around city of oxford. gave plant common name, oxford ragwort .

carl linnaeus first described senecio squalidus in 1753, although there dispute whether material came botanic garden or walls in city; taxonomy species further complicated existence of species similar morphology in continental europe.

james edward smith officially identified escaped oxford ragwort formal name senecio squalidus in 1800.

george druce, 1927

during industrial revolution, oxford became connected railway system , plant gained new habitat in railway lines clinker beds, gradually spreading via railway other parts of country. process accelerated movement of trains , limestone ballast provides well-drained medium adequate replica of lava-soils of native home in sicily.

during 20th century continued spread along railway lines , found liking waste places , bombed sites after world war ii have lot in common volcanic regions of home.

recently, , other senecio , differing tastes self-incompatibility , self-compatibility have been subject of study purposes of understanding evolution of plant species genus finds new homes , pollen partners throughout world:

the origin of senecio vulgaris var. hibernicus syme determined introgression of senecio squalidus senecio vulgaris subsp vulgaris
the dual origin of s. cambrensis rosser both wales , scotland explained being product parenting diploid s. squalidus , tetraploid s. vulgaris in both locations
the willingness of s. squalidus hybridize senecio viscosus crisp & jones , forms sterile hybrid s. subnebrodensis simk.
the suggestion s. squalidus hybrid of 2 other sicilian senecio: s. aethnensis jan ex dc , s. chrysanthemifolius poir.




^ university of catania. monti rossi (in italian). retrieved 2008-02-15. 
^ cite error: named reference nhm invoked never defined (see page).
^ university of oxford botanic garden. history of gardens . retrieved 2008-02-14. 
^ harris, s.a. (2002). introduction of oxford ragwort, senecio squalidus l. (asteraceae), united kingdom (pdf). watsonia. botanical society of british isles. 24: 31–43. retrieved 2008-02-14. 
^ cite error: named reference ukwild invoked never defined (see page).
^ plant reproduction , speciation group, university of bristol. oxford ragwort story . university of bristol, school of biological sciences. retrieved 2008-02-13. 
^ swedish museum of natural history (2003-08-20). senecio squalidus l . linnean herbarium (s-linn). retrieved 2008-02-14. 
^ chris gliddon (1998-02-12). plant invasion , inter-specific hybridization . impact of hybrids between genetically modified crop plants , related species: biological models , theoretical perspectives. guide risk assessment , biosafety in biotechnology, grabb, united nations environment programme. retrieved 2008-02-14.