Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1996, Blaðsíða 83

THE RED-LEAVED FAROESE DANDELION, TARAXACUM RUBIFOLIUM RASMUSSEN
87
In Copenhagen (herb. C) T.rubifolium is
represented by the above mentioned T. vi-
nosum specimens, leg. M.P. Christiansen
4.6.1940. Besides, O. Hagerup collected
many specimens of it, mounted on several
sheets, labelled ‘Thorshavn, cult. in the
Bot. Garden of Copenhagen from seeds 1
July 1947’. This sample has been deter-
mined by G. Haglund as T.faeroense.
As already mentioned, T. rubifolium was
found in its type location in 1909 and has
been collected there sometimes since then.
In 1978, the last year it was seen in nature,
road- and building constructions were car-
ried out in that area, threatening a few spec-
imens of T. rubifolium. An amateur
botanist, Eyðun Winther, who knew of the
occurrence and rarity of T. rubifolium,
saved those specimens by digging them out
(before the bulldozer did) and transplanting
them to his private garden (in Skarvanes,
Sandoy). From there specimens have been
distributed to the botanical garden (Debe-
sartrøð) in Tórshavn and to some other pri-
vate gardens, eg. that of the keepers of
Debesartrøð, the late Mads and Kristianna
Jensen, Kvívík. The late Eyðun Winther
also transplanted (sowed ?) specimens of T.
rubifolium into a meadow near his home in
Skarvanes.
Consequently, it is a fact that, at present,
all known living specimens of T. rubifolium
in the Faroe Isles are offspring of the
growth from Rasmussen’s original locality.
A sample from Suðuroy, quoted by Kjeld
Hansen (1966), is, in fact, T.faeroense.
In spite of careful investigations of the
type locality area by the present author (in
1992, 1993, 1996) no specimens of T. rubi-
folium have been observed there since
1978. However, Faroese friends of plant
life are asked to look for (and protect) this
unique dandelion. Several meadows in
neighbouring regions, eg. Argir (1 km SE
of the type location), are potential localities
for T. rubifolium. In fact, nowadays noboby
knows about the ecological preferences of
T. rubifolium.
Present distribution of T. rubifolium
outside the Faroes
Since Rasmussen sent achenes of it to the
botanical garden in Copenhagen T. rubifoli-
um has been in cultivation there (however
with the name T. faeroense (Dahlst.)
Dahlst., determined by G. Haglund and K.
Wiinstedt), pressed specimens of T. rubi-
folium looking much like badly prepared T.
faeroense. Through seed exchange 1962
the botanical garden in Uppsala got fruits
of T. rubifolium from the Copenhagen cul-
tivation. In 1967 the Uppsala growth was
re-determined by C.-F. Fundevall as T.
rubrifolium Rasmussen (sic!). This cultiva-
tion is represented, at least, in the private
herbaria of C.-F. Lundevall and H. 011-
gaard.
Nurseries in many parts of the world
have shown interest for this remarkable
dandelion. In the Netherlands it has been
sold as T. faltonense’ (a misreading of
handwritten faeroense), otherwise as T.
faeroense, eg. from a nursery in Seattle,
Washington, USA, where it was said to hail
from China. I know of 2 Danish nurseries
which grow and sell T. rubifolium, now
with correct name.
It is a tempting thought to assume that all