The Natural History Museum is calling on the public to search for Britain's favourite wildflower, the bluebell.
Members of the public can record bluebell sightings from their local area into the Museum's web-based survey Exploring British Wildlife: Bluebells. Findings will be shown as a map giving a real-time picture of bluebell distribution across the UK.
Two bluebells and a hybrid
There are two bluebell species in the UK - the familiar native bluebell or wild hyacinth (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), and the cultivated Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica).
A recent survey by wild plant conservation charity Plantlife showed that our native species is cross-breeding with the cultivated bluebell producing a hybrid. Hybridisation alters a species genetic make up and may make it harder for them to survive.
Data from the Museum's survey will help us understand the evolution and relationship of the two species and the level of hybridisation between them.
Discussion
0 repliesWhilst you are out and about.......
***********************************************************
The Natural History Museum is calling on the public to search for Britain's favourite wildflower, the bluebell.
Members of the public can record bluebell sightings from their local area into the Museum's web-based survey Exploring British Wildlife: Bluebells. Findings will be shown as a map giving a real-time picture of bluebell distribution across the UK.
Two bluebells and a hybrid
There are two bluebell species in the UK - the familiar native bluebell or wild hyacinth (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), and the cultivated Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica).
A recent survey by wild plant conservation charity Plantlife showed that our native species is cross-breeding with the cultivated bluebell producing a hybrid. Hybridisation alters a species genetic make up and may make it harder for them to survive.
Data from the Museum's survey will help us understand the evolution and relationship of the two species and the level of hybridisation between them.
Take part at www.nhm.ac.uk/bluebells
********************************************************
All the best