Flowering plants and ferns

The greater butterfly-orchid is widely scattered across Devon. However, it’s absent or very rare in large parts of the county, such as the wet, acid culm of north Devon.

Dartmoor’s meadows and pastures are now a stronghold, particularly the enclosed lowlands between the rivers Teign and Dart.

The frog orchid is a threatened species. Although never common, it was once widely scattered in short acid pasture across Devon. It is now only known from one Dartmoor haymeadow (designated a SSSI). 

Wood bitter-vetch grows on field boundaries and among boulders in grazed fields. It’s very rare in south-west England and Devon supports roughly 33% of the region’s population. It’s currently only found at two sites in Devon. 

Green-winged orchid is characteristic of old, unimproved meadows and pastures. It’s largely found in south Devon, from the Dart to the Otter (including good numbers on the coastal National Trust sites outside Exmouth). The Teign Valley and the Blackdown Hills are also strongholds.

Green-winged orchids seem resistant to colonising new ground and continue to decline in old sites, especially when these are grazed in later winter and spring.  

Chamomile is a mat-forming species which grows in seasonally wet, acid grassland that is generally heavily grazed. It‘s often associated with village greens, road verges, seasonally-flooded trackways and the margins of seasonal pools.

Chamomile is declining quickly in the UK. Its distribution is now largely confined to lowland areas of southern England, Ireland and Wales. SW Dartmoor Downs is a stronghold but a few outliers are found on the south Devon coast and dunes at Northam Burrows.

Cornish eyebright is an endangered annual species that is only known (globally) in Devon and Cornwall. It grows in well-grazed heathlands and mires on the edge of Dartmoor including Roborough Down, Lydford High Down and at Shapley Common. within East Dartmoor SSSI. It is more common in Cornwall.

Numbers can fluctuate wildly depending on site conditions. Lydford High Down supported 21,000 plants in 2002 but only between 250 and 350 plants annually in the decades since. This decline is thought to reflect less grazing and taller grassland and heathland vegetation.

Marsh clubmoss is not a moss but a type of fern. It was once widespread across wet heaths and mires but is now only found in very low numbers at around 100 heathland sites across England and Wales with a stronghold in the New Forest. It’s one of 13 plant species that the Species Recovery Trust is trying to save by 2050.

In Devon it’s only found on old china clay pits in this area –  Cadover, Headon Down CWS and Smallhanger Waste CWS. The Smallhanger Waste site is within the Lee Moor china clay quarry and at threat from extraction. The Cadover site may be at threat from fishing lake developments. 

Irish lady’s-tresses has only ever been recorded from one site in England, at Whitchurch Down near Tavistock in west Devon, where it grew in wet acid valley mire. Six plants were discovered here (and new to England) in July 1957, reaching a maximum population of 22 flowering plants in 1986. It hasn’t been seen since four plants flowered in August 1993 and may have disappeared from this site. It’s relatively widely scattered in western Scotland, and discovered new to Wales from a single site in Ceredigion in July 2019.

In Devon, field gentian was probably confined to bristle bent and western gorse heathland. It’s been recorded at a scattering of sites from Meldon to Ivybridge but the last records were from Roborough Down in 1994-96. Nationally it’s mainly found in the uplands of Scotland and the north of England. It’s now very rare in southern England, and outside the New Forest has only been seen in seven sites since 2000.

Heath lobelia is generally found in open wet acid grasslands and heathlands in the south of England. Heavy winter grazing by cattle or ponies prevent shading and creates bare soil where the seeds can germinate. Seeds can persist for long period in the soil and so it is possible to restore old sites.

It’s only found in seven sites in the UK as a native species, two of which are in Devon.  In the 19^th century health lobelia extended over a large area of heathland on Shute Common in east Devon. Most of this habitat has been lost to conifers and dairy farming. It’s now only found in a small area of species-rich wet grassland in a garden and has been successfully re-introduced at nearby Kilmington Common.

Heath lobelia occurred at Yarner Wood until 1969 and the Species Recovery Trust is considering a re-introduction project.

In south Devon it is restricted to Andrews Wood SSSI.

Forked spleenwort is only known from the Canonteign Forest near Hennock (now managed by the Forestry Commission).  Only a few plants survive making this species arguably the rarest plant species in Devon. 

Forked spleenwort is nationally scarce with fewer than ten colonies in England, although it’s more widespread in central and north Wales and Scotland. 

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort grows on metamorphic rocks. It’s a nationally threatened species and most of the British population is found in the Teign valley, largely within woodlands from Steps Bridge to Drewsteignton. In good seasons populations can be in the low thousands. A group of rare spiders is also found along this stretch of the Teign valley. 

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort is also found in Cannonteign Forest growing with the forked spleenwort. Other known sites are one in the Dart valley, two on Devon’s southern coast, two in Cornwall and two isolated populations in north Wales.

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort can reproduce freely from buried seed but will easily decline if sites become overgrown and shady.  

A striking arable wildflower recognisable by its vivid blue flowers. It grows in freely-draining and relatively acidic soils, usually occurring in autumn-sown crops.

Cornflower is very rare in Devon with a few records from south Devon (coastal fields near Dartmouth), arable land west of Crediton and a new record near the north coast. This species is often included in  ‘wildflower’ mixes including in the Ludwell Valley, Exeter.

Usually found on the compacted, disturbed and seasonally wet soils of field gateways. It gets its name from the appearance of its seed heads, which resemble the tail of a mouse. In Devon mousetail is largely found to the north-west of Colyton but also occurs east of Exmouth, in the Clyst Valley and near Musbury.

Generally found in autumn-sown arable crops on freely-draining sandy soils.  Since 2000, it has only been seen in a field between Credition and Tedburn St Mary and in three fields between Braunton and Braunton Burrows.

This flower gets its name from its sticky, glandular hairs, which can trap small insects. It grows in open spring-cultivated stony, free-draining, acidic arable fields and also on unstable soft-rock cliffs. Since 2000, it’s been recorded from several sites between Exeter and Plymouth, especially in the coastal arable between Dartmouth and Thurlestone. It’s also recently been found near Clovelly in North Devon.

Most often found on freely-draining calcareous soils, especially near the coast. It’s more common in spring-sown crops and is usually found in species-rich field margins with plants such as small-flowered catchfly, weasel’s snout and corn marigold. Since 2000, most records are from the Teign Valley between Chudleigh and Cheriton Bishop and from the south coast between Salcombe and Dartmouth. It is now largely absent from north Devon.

This plant may only occur in as few as 20 sites in Britain. It has similar habitat requirements to the narrow-fruited cornsalad but can also grow on heavier calcareous clays. It grows in species-rich field margins on a farm near Dartmouth, where it’s managed under an agri-environment agreement. Plantlife has also introduced it to a field near Salcombe.

Nottingham catchfly is a long-lived species found in freely-draining, stony habitats on chalk and limestone and on coastal shingle. In Devon, it’s been recorded from Salcombe Mouth to the Dorset border. This is a nationally important population. It’s the only plant white spot moth larvae eat so is vital for the moths’ survival.

The world distribution of early gentian is confined to Britain (it’s endemicDescribes a plant or animal that is native and restricted to a certain place. More) and its distribution is centered on the chalk and limestone of Dorset, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.

It thrives in lightly cattle grazed, species-rich calcareous grasslands.  It seems to prefer a mosaic of turf heights and bare soil, which allow germination. Seeds are likely to remain dormant in the soil for several years.

The only reliable records in Devon are from a clifftop plateau at Rousdon in the  Axmouth to Lyme Regis NNR.  It was last seen in 2016, but numbers fluctuate hugely from year to year. Early gentian has also been recorded at Braunton Burrows. Many of these plants show characteristics intermediate with autumn gentian (Gentianella amarella) which is also found here.

Occurs in calcareous grasslands and coastal sand dunes. It’s been recorded around Braunton and at Beer Head on the east Devon coast.

Field eryngo is a  perennial species, recognisable by its spiky, thistle-like appearance. It thrives in grazed, dry, open calcareous grasslands, especially near the coast. Most of the British population is found in four sites in south Devon. Three of these, Western King and Billacombe in Plymouth and Scabbacombe near Brixham, are designated as SSSIs due to the presence of field ernygo. However, it may have been lost from Scabbacombe SSSI but can be found in an adjacent field. Field eryngo is also found at a site on Haldon.

This threatened species is a long-lived herbaceous perennial. The Torbay population is considered the second largest in the British Isles, and is largely confined to the relatively narrow coastal strip between Berry Head and St Mary’s Bay. 

Small restharrow is a UK Priority Species that is legally protected. It’s an annual that thrives on coastal cliffs and slopes and shallow soil accumulations on cliff-slope limestone outcrops. It’s been found at several sites where it grows near the cliff edge where competition from other species is low. Numbers can fluctuate hugely from year to year.

Honewort is very locally abundant on Berry Head Common, with very small populations at Durl Head and Sharkham Point. Old, unconfirmed records exist for the northern limestones of the bay. Otherwise it’s only known in Britain from the southern Mendips and Bristol limestones. It is very low growing and so easily outcompeted. Seeds have a very short viability, so once it dies out it can’t recolonise. 

This tiny annual is confined to two spots on Berry Head, which is one of only two sites in the UK. It’s otherwise only known from the coastal chalk of the South Downs near Beachy Head in Sussex. Given its rarity it’s endangered and legally protected.

White rock-rose is a threatened species. It’s locally abundant on Berry Head and is also found growing on the northern Torbay coastal limestones, where about 15 separate small populations are known. It’s otherwise only found in Britain in a handful of sites on the Mendip Hills. The species often germinates well from buried seed and so former sites can be restored through scrub and secondary woodland clearance. 

Shore dock is one of the most endangered plant species in the world. It’s a deep-rooted perennial found on the lower part of sea cliffs where there are freshwater seepages. The largest populations are found on the south Devon and Cornwall coasts. All populations are at risk due to the increasing frequency of severe winter storms. South Devon supports perhaps the greatest concentration of populations of this species in Britain.

There are six known sites between Wembury and Bigbury, most of which have small numbers of plants. However, the best monitored site is Soar Mill Cove where 400 plants were counted in 2009.

Slender birdsfoot trefoil is a classic species of the south Devon coastal grasslands where it’s often found around rock outcrops or on the edges of the coast path. It’s particularly associated with the stretch between the mouth of the Salcombe Estuary and Start Point. However, it’s also found on steep grassy slopes in the Teign Valley that are kept open by soil slippage and rabbit grazing. It is probably more common in Devon that anywhere else in Britain. Declines are due to lack of management of grasslands leading to scrub encroachment.

Bithynian vetch is a nationally scarce, annual plant found on grassland on south-facing slopes of soft eroding sea cliffs and other freely draining sites near the coast. It’s been recorded in a few sites in and near Exmouth, including Sandy Bay Caravan Park. It was formerly frequent along the non-calcareous cliffs from Torquay to Lyme Regis.

The only known site in the world for this annual plant is on bare areas of Lundy’s steep cliffs, where it’s widely scattered along the eastern sheltered side of the island. Populations can fluctuate significantly from year to year.   

The greatest threat is the spread of invasive common rhododendrons. In controlled numbers, rabbits can help maintain open areas. The Lundy cabbage weevil and flea beetle only live on the Lundy cabbage (see Beetles, bugs and crickets).  

Sea stock grows in open sand on foredunes. It is abundant at Braunton Burrows where 5,000 plants were recorded in 2005, making it possibly the largest population in the UK. It’s also found in smaller numbers on the foredunes at Northam Burrows. It’s otherwise only known in the UK from the dunes along the northern shores of the Bristol Channel and from a small population at the mouth of Poole Harbour in Dorset. 

Threats include rabbit grazing and being swamped by sea buckthorn.

Round-headed club-rush grows in seasonally-flooded dune slacks. It’s abundant at Braunton Burrows (thousands of plants), but is otherwise only known from Berrow Dunes in Somerset where there is one plant. Threats include cattle grazing (it is very palatable) and lack of regeneration from seed due to a lack of bare ground.

Water germander grows in seasonally-flooded dune slacks, particularly where grazing, vehicle activity and natural dune erosion reduce competition from other plants.  

In Britain it’s confined to a handful of sites in the East Anglian fens and Devon. It is well established at Braunton Burrows but is severely threatened at Northam Burrows.(check this with Mary Breeds)

Warren crocus grows on short turf on sandy grassland. It’s only known from two sites in Britain, one in Cornwall and the other at Dawlish Warren dunes.

Triangular club-rush has always been a rare and very localised species in the UK. It’s a tussock-forming perennial that has declined due to the growth of dense reeds and other vegetation.

In the UK it is now only found on the Tamar near Bere Alston. This population is very vulnerable and the last clump was recorded in 2010. Kew has re-introduced triangular club-rush at several sites between Morwhellham in Devon and Cotehele in Cornwall. It may still survive at some of these. The upper tidal reaches of estuaries may be threatened in the future by rising sea levels as a result of climate change. 

Dwarf spike-rush is a nationally threatened small perennial plant that grows on exposed mud in the upper tidal reaches of estuaries. It has recently been lost from sites in north Wales and the south coast of England and is now only found at three sites in England. In Devon it was on the Teign and Avon but was last recorded on the Avon near Aveton Gifford in 2010.