The Botanics looks forward to hosting the next Botanical Society of Scotland's lecture on 19 March featuring Dr Simon Hiscock.
Natural hybridization is widespread in animals and plants and is now recognized as an important ‘creative’ force in evolution. In plants, hybridization is often associated with changes in chromosome number (allopolyploidy) which can lead to abrupt speciation. Hybrid speciation without a change in chromosome number (homoploid hybrid speciation) also occurs but appears to be less common.
Hybridization and polyploidy are also frequently associated with apomixis, leading to complex patterns of variation and associated taxonomic difficulty. Here, Dr Hiscock will describe examples of natural hybridization and hybrid speciation (both homoploid and allopolyploid) in the genus Senecio (Asteraceae), and also in the genus Sorbus (Rosaceae), where hybridization and polyploidy combine with apomixis to create complex patterns of variation and associated taxonomic difficulty.
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With thanks to the Botanical Society of Scotland for creating this lecture series and welcoming our members to it. You can find out more about BSS here
Venue note: To access the lecture please enter via the Science Buildings main reception, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR and follow the signs to the Lecture Theatre.
Note this is NOT the public entrance to the Gardens.