Rare wildflower on brink of extinction
12 January 2011
A fight is under way to save one of Britain's rarest flowers after a survey revealed it to be even more scarce than previously thought.
Spiked rampion (Phyteuma spicatum) is related to bellflowers, with a creamy flower spike up to 45cm (18in) tall and heart-shaped basal leaves. Its roots are edible, and has entered folklore as the flower stolen by Rapunzel in the fairytale.
It was already known to be rare, with populations down to about 300 individuals spread between 10 and 13 sites in woodland and on road verges in East Sussex. However a survey carried out by the charity Plantlife, funded by SITA Trust, has found just eight sites remain, with fewer than 10 plants at five of them.
It's believed housing and road development and the decline in traditional woodland management have fragmented the plant's remaining habitats, making it almost impossible for it to survive.
'We still have a chance of improving the fortunes of the spiked rampion if we act now,' said Plantlife's species recovery officer Dominic Price. 'If we had left it any later, it may have been too late, but we are optimistic that we can help boost its chances.'
Plantlife is now planning to work with landowners to create areas of woodland with small glades which let light reach the woodland floor, creating ideal conditions for spiked rampion to thrive. Management programmes are also being drawn up for road verges, in turn benefitting other species such as wood anemone and common spotted orchids.
- The charity is calling for volunteers to become 'Flora Guardians', monitoring sites where this and other rare plants grow and helping to conserve them. For more details see www.plantlife.org.uk