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WORLD CONSERVA

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EUROPEAN PLANTS IN PERIL

A Review of Threatened Plants in the
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Compiled by the
WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE

1989

Prepared with financial support from the
European Commission, Brussels
and the
Council of Europe, Strasbourg

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge

http://www.archive.org/details/europeanplantsin89wcmc

WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE

The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) was formerty the
Conservation Monitoring Centre of the International Union for Conser-
vation of Nature (IUCN ). Today, it is a joint venture between the three
partners in the World Conservation Strategy: IUCN —The World Con-
servation Union, WWF — the World Wide Fund for Nature, and UNEP
— the United Nations Environment Programme. Its mission is to sup-

~~ port conservation and sustainable development through the provision
fa 5 of information on the world’s biological diversity. Major IUCN publica-
bl tions prepared in close collaboration with WCMC include tne IUCN
Red Data Books and IUCN Protected Areas Directories.

For more information about WCMC please write to:

The Information Officer

World Conservation Monitoring Centre
219c Huntingdon Road

Cambridge CB3 ODL, UK

Text compiled by Sue Everett, Christine Leon and John Akeroyd

Camera-ready copy by Tne Nature Conservation Bureau,
122 Derwent Road
Thatcham RG13 4UP, UK

Cover illustration Primula allionii, a threatened plant found only in
ftaly and France

The views expressed in this document by the authors do not necessarily refiect tnose of IUCN, WWF, UNEP
or other participating organtsations. The designation of geographical entities in this document, and the
presentation of tne material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, WWF,
UNEP or other participating organisations concerning the legal status of any country, termory or area, or of
tts authorities, or conceming the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

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CONTENTS

Page
Acknowledgements iv
The Authors iv
Foreword Vv
Introduction vi
Key to Symbols xiii
Plant Species Conservation Summaries
Higher Plants 1
Lower Plants 49

Index 52

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The production of this report would not have been possible without the help
of many botanists and conservationists throughout Europe. To all those
who have contributed we extend our grateful thanks. In particular, we wish
to thank:
D and Z Bramwell, P Creed, T Curtis, P Devillers, L Farrell, M Fernandez
Molina, S Gardner, C Gomez-Campo, P Goriup, | Hepburn, V Heywood,
C Jermy, S Jury, M King, A Machado, J V Malato-Beliz, V Morgan, D Phitos,
S$ Pignatti, R Press, T Rich, R Schumacker, E Sérusiaux, W T Stearn, A Strid,
H Synge, J Willison.

We are equally indebted to the staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, particularly the library staff, and J Cowley, K Ferguson, M Fothergill,
B Mathew, E Nic Lughada and D Pegler.

Thanks also go to colleagues in the Threatened Plants Unit of WCMC,
particularly Judith Sheppard for her secretarial support, as well as Steve
@vis and Robert Madams.

The research done for this document has greatly benefitted from a
co ‘current project being undertaken for the Council of Europe to revise
Ai:..endix | of the Berne Convention.

THE AUTHORS

Sis Everett has been deeply involved in plant conservation projects for
m.ny years. She served as Chairperson o* the British Association of Nature
Curiservationists between 1985 and 1987 and most recently helped to
dev2lop and taunch Plantlife, a new voluntary body devoted to plant conser-
vation. She is currently a Director of the Nature Conservation Bureau.

Christine Leon has been managing the Threatened Plants Unit of WCMC
sinu2 January 1988 and has almost ten years experience with IUCN
pro:ioting plant conservation in Europe and developing a data base of
Eur. 9e’s threatened plants. She has prepared the Council of Europe's List
of R::re, Threatened and Endemic Plants in Europe published in 1983 and is
a joint author of a recent reference work entitled Plants in Danger: What Do
We !‘now? published by IUCN.

John Akeroyd is a freelance botanist who was formerly revising Volume | of
Flora Europaea. He has travelled widely in the Mediterranean region and
has published over fifty papers on its flora.

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FOREWORD
Professor Vernon H Heywood*

The European Community is rich in plant life. Within its frontiers it houses
some of the world's most spectacular habitats and rich assemblages of
plant species. Unfortunately many of these habitats have been encroached
upon by the unrelenting march of human activity over the centuries. Indeed,
many of the landscapes in the European Community are an artificial conse-
quence of deforestation, agriculture (both small and large scale) and other
changing kinds of land use. In recent years, reafforestation by exotic
species not only changes the traditional landscape but diminishes the plant
diversity.

This booklet draws attention to the problems of habitat loss or degradation
within the territory of the European Community and presents a selection of
those plant species which are, as a consequence, under threat. It explains
in uncomplicated language the nature of the different kinds of threat and
gives an outline of the measures that are needed to ensure the conservation
of the plant species that are at risk.

Although only a small sample of the European Community's approximately
2,000 threatened plants are covered by this bookiet, it will, | believe, serve
its purpose in focusing the attention of the responsible authorities and
decision-makers on the urgent need to conserve habitats and with them
plant species threatened throughout the Community. If we are not to suffer
further losses of our natural heritage, powerful instruments like the pro-
posed ‘Habitats Directive’ will be needed.

All those who have been involved in the compilation of this booklet are to be
congratulated on producing such an urgent and persuasive publication.

*Chief Scientist, Plant Conservation
IUCN — The Word Conservation Union
The IUCN Plants Office

Kew, England, UK

INTRODUCTION

This booklet covers a small, though representa-
tive, sample of the 343 plant species which have

cies are themselves only a fraction of the total of at
least 2,000 threatened higher plants found in the
European Community. Unfortunately, the informa-
tion available for the far more numerous lower
plants was not sufficient to prepare a similar range
of species accounts as has been done for 50 or so
higher plants included in this booklet. Neverthe-
less, a short section on lower plants has been in-
cluded to draw attention to their particular needs
which are no less urgent than those of higher
plants.

Each species account in the booklet aims to
provide the reader with a ‘flavour’ of the types of
species which are threatened, the range of threats

Plants of the European Community

Tne European Community is estimated to contain
between 9,000 and 10,000 species of ‘higher’ plants.
These are plants with vascular systems, and include
herbaceous plants, grasses, ferns, sedges, rushes
and trees. Today, in north-west Europe, It is an
unusual event for a new species to be discovered -
the floras of countries such as the Netherlands, Brit-
ain and Denmark are very well known and not par-
ticularly high in species (Figure 1). In contrast, the
fioras of the southern states, particularly Spain and
Greece, are less well known, are much richer in spe-
cies, and new species continue to be discovered.
The Community contains about 4% of the world’s
250,000 higher plants. Some of these species have
tiny populations, often confined to only one or two
Member States (Figure 2).

The conservation needs of lower plants are often
forgotten. The lower plants include algae, fungi,
lichens, mosses and liverworts. Relatively few scien-
tists are interested in them compared to the higher
plants, yet they play a very important role within

been proposed for listing on Annex 1b of the pro- measures which are needed to protect them.
posed ‘Habitats Directive’. Even these 343 spe- Maps showing the general distribution of each

posed by damage and destruction of their habi-

tats, and an indication of broad conservation

species are also shown. These, unless otherwise
stated, do not show individual localities or their
surface area, more the general location of one or
more sites.

Most of the plants described herein are glob-
ally Endangered or Vulnerable as well as being
threatened within the Community's own territory.
The Community therefore has as much a special
responsibility to ensure their conservation as have
the countries supporting tropical rain forests to
conserve their diminishing plant resources. As
threats mount from every quarter, as ranges de-
cline and numbers grow fewer, the future flora of
Europe looks increasingly forlorn.

natural and seminatural ecosystems and many are
important to humans. For example, seaweeds and
fungi are still eaten throughout the Community and
lichens are of increasing interest due to their relative
sensitivity to air pollution: some are important indi-
cators of atmospheric quality. There are far more
lower plants in Europe than higher plants - perhaps
as many as 50,000 species! Though Red Data Books
and Red Lists are being drafted for some groups of
lower plants, at present there is practically no infor-
mation for many groups and it is not yet possible to
assign conservation priorities or develop conserva-
tion strategies for them.

Threats to Plants of the European Community

The main threat to European plants is the loss or
degradation of their habitat. In northem Europe.
there has been a dramatic decline of most natural
and seminatural habitats over the past 40 years or
so. Much of this damage and destruction has oc-
curred in recent years as an indirect consequence
of Community policies, notably the financial encour-

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Figure 1: Numbers of native plant species in Member States and islands of the European Community.
Sources: Davis et a/. 1986 Plants in Danger: What do We Know? |UCN, Cambridge.

vii

species

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Figure 2: Numbers of endemic plants in Members States and islands of the European Community.

Source: WCMC, 1989.

viii

No. of
species

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Madeira

Figure 3: Numbers of Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V) and Rare (R) plants (on a European scale) in
Member States and islands of the European Community.

Note: Only plant species threatened throughout their entire European distribution are represented.
Source: WCMC, 1989.

agement provided to farmers for increasing the area
under crop production through the Common Agri-
cultural Policy. Community funding for commercial
forestry projects, such as the planting of conifers on
Irish peat bogs and the planting of Eucalyptus on a
massive scale in the Mediterranean region and Por-
tugal, are more recent problems which are causing
losses of important plant habitats in parts of Europe.

Many of the Community's threatened plant spe-
cies (Figure 3) are found in coastal areas in the
Mediterranean or in attractive mountain regions.
Such areas are under immense pressure from tour-
ist developments. The construction of holiday flats,
hotels and chalets, sometimes supported with funds
from the Community's Integrated Mediterranean
Programme, destroys important plant habitats.
Piants and their habitats also suffer due to the in-
creased accessibility of formerly remote areas fol-
lowing tourism developments: fragile sand dune
areas are trampled and sensitive mountain slopes
are cleared of vegetation for ski-pistes. This booklet
gives several examples of plants which are threat-
ened by tourism including Curied Alkanet (Anchusa
crispa), Savona Harebell (Campanula sabatia) and
Sardinian Knapweed (Centaurea horrida).

The widespread problem of pollution has de-
graded many freshwaters in the Community with the
result that formerly common water plants have dis-
apoeared from many rivers and lakes. The Pillwort
Fern (Pilularia globulifera) and Floating Water-plan-
tain (Luronium nutans) have both significantly de-
clined owing to eutrophication (nutrient enrichment)
of pools and takes. The Pillwort, which has its most
important strongholds in Britain, is now considered
a VYuinerable plant in the European Community.

The European Community’s Threatened Plants

Over the last 10 years, the Threatened Plants Unit of
WCMC has developed a data base containing no
less than 2,000 plant species under threat through-
out the European Community. However, criteria for
Annex Ib of the ‘Habitats Directive’ specify that, for
higher plants, only those in the IUCN categories ‘En-
dangered’ or ‘Vulnerable’ (see below) at a European
lev:l may qualify for listing on it. With the help of
botanists and conservationists from Member States,

those of the 2,000 threatened species meet ~_
criteria have now been identified and proto, s
listing in Annex Ib of the ‘Habitats Directive 7

The definitions for all IUCN Red Data ca:=~ | =
are available from the Threatened Placcs
WCMC, 53 The Green, Kew, Middx, TW9 3A-~

Endangered species

According to IUCN, Endangered species @7= --
which are “in danger of extinction and wncs=
vival is unlikely if the causal factors continue =~. .,
ing. Included are taxa whose numbers h@-= =..,,,
reduced to a critical level or whose habre= ~.,,,
been so drastically reduced that they are GO&¢S—~=-> ,,,
be in immediate danger of extinction.”
Many Endangered plants have probabr:.

been very common and they tend to be resi™§ ===
tiny areas of land. Many rare endemic specics = v1
Mediterranean countries like Greece and Itai
into this category, including the Mount Killin. =~=2,

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ant's-eye (Adonis cyllenea) and the Sé=—.an
Gooseberry (Ribes sardoum). Because © 2re
geographically restricted, the pressures CT <= elr
habitat mean that there is a very real possi=~- of

their becoming Extinct in the near future. O<">2"-

ing their habitat, therefore, is essential Th —n-
agement of these tiny sites through Specie! ears
tion Areas is very likely to be quite straight t<"+="0
Thus many Endangered plants could be p°=-==-2d
fairly simply and for relatively small cost

A number of Endangered plants were 0N7= ~ >'
numerous, but never widespread. These h@-= Sut.
fered declines almost to the point of extinct.o7 Dw-
ing to the deterioration and destruction © -~®!"
habitats. The Brittany Eryngo (Eryngium vivic2-7),
for instance, has declined because of drairzz= Of

damp pastures and, in some localities, co2sé> =~ i
grazing. The Brittany Eryngo is a good exumy2 > 4
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species which requires active management - a
sure its survival, as it has become assoclat== nae
traditional grazing and stock-keeping practice: zn

cannot survive under modem land use syste™=

Vulnerable species

IUCN has defined Vulnerable species as thosé vmich
are “believed likely to move into the ‘Endangered

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category in the near future if the causal factors
continue operating. Included are taxa of which most
or all of the populations are decreasing because of
over-exploitation, extensive destruction of habitat
or other environmental disturbance, taxa with popu-
lations that have been seriously depleted and whose
ultimate security is not yet assured, and taxa with
populations that are still abundamt but under threat
from serious adverse factors throughout their
range.”

Vulnerable plants are chiefly found in threatened
semi-natural and natural habitats like sand dunes,
wetlands and ancient forests. Examples include the
Bristle Ferm (Trichomanes speciosum) and Bog
Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa). In general, Vulner-
able plants would enjoy the greatest benefits from
measures to protect, restore and enhance habitats.

Endemic Plants in the European Community

A significant feature of the European flora is the
large number of endemic species which have al-
ways been recognised as a prionty for conservation
action. In particular, so-called ‘point endemics’
(species confined to a single locality or several adja-
cent sites), are characteristic of the mountain ranges
of central and southern Europe (e.g. the Sierra
Nevada of Spain), stretches of the Mediterranean
coast (e.g. Greece) and some islands (e.g. Crete).
Where many endemic plants grow together, for
example in north-west Sardinia and in the Gen-
Nargentu mountains of east-central Sardinia, they
form a ‘centre of endemism’. These centres are ob-
vious first targets for designation as Special Protec-
tion Areas under the proposed ‘Habitats Directive’.

The Atlantic Islands

Due to their remote situation and ancient volcanic
origin, the Atlantic islands (Canary Isles, Azores and
Madeira) support a flora so distinct from that of con-
tinental Europe that they comprise their own botani-
cal region. Indeed, there are so many endemic spe-
cies in the islands that they provide one of the
world’s best demonstrations of evolutionary proc-
esses. Of special importance are the remaining up-
land laurel ‘cloud’ forests (‘laurisilva’) that harbour
many threatened endemic plants.

Measures Needed to Protect Threatened Plants

Conserving the Habitats of Threatened Species

There are a number of relatively simple measures
that individual Member States can take in order to
secure the future of threatened plants.

For species restricted to a few smail localities, it
should be possible to establish suitable protected
areas with full protection against any potentially
damaging impacts. In coastal areas, for instance,
public access may have to be restricted or carefully
guided to reduce the effects of trampling. Else-
where, the continuation of traditional land use prac-
tices such as grazing, buming and low-yield rota-
tional crop production may be necessary. Enforce-
ment of special protection and management meas-
ures like these demands trained staff who will be
responsible for organising effective site manage-
ment, liaising with local people, monitoring the
threatened plants and carrying out other essential
conservation work.

In some areas, habitat restoration could be
undertaken. For exampie, some former French lo-
calities for Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris) have
become invaded by the alien Hottentot Fig (Car-
pobrotus edulis) whose clearance from coastal
areas could result in the restoration of suitable habi-
tat for the dock - a plant that has declined over much
of its European range.

Of course, for those species that may still be
relatively widespread even if in continuous decline,
it will not be feasible for Member States to designate
all localities for such species as protected areas.
Nevertheless, complementary measures relating to
operation of general land use policy and practices in
selected areas (perhaps designated as Environmen-
tally Sensitive Areas under the Agricultural Struc-
tures Directive) can be instituted. Thus, potentially
damaging projects proposed in or near localities for
a listed species, including agricultural intensifica-
tion, tourist development or commercial forestry
would be diverted.

Proposal for an EC Council ‘Habitats Directive’

It is the loss of plant habitats rather than picking or
uprooting that poses the major threat to most plant

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species. Sadly, few Member States have laws to
conserve the habitats or sites of threatened species,
although most have passed unenforceable laws or
decrees listing them as ‘protected’ from collection,
picking or uprooting. Measures to protect habitats
and sites for threatened species would be far more
effective, and the existence of a European Council
Directive on habitat protection would serve to en-
courage the development of and bolster national
legislation in this regard.

This is where the “Proposal for a Council Direc-
tive on the protection of natural and semi-natural
habitats of wild flora and fauna” of 21 September
1988 breaks new ground: Annex 1b of this proposed
Directive would oblige Member States of the Com-
munity to protect the habitats of listed plants by
designating appropriate Special Protection Areas
SO as “to ensure the maintenance of the species

xii

specified ... at a satisfactory level in all regions
where they occur’.

The protection afforded to threatened plants
through the implementation of Annex 1b of the pro-
posed Directive would provide a much-needed
boost and encouragement to Member States to
pursue the protection of threatened plant habitats. It
is also hoped that practical help in the form of funds
to help protect specific threatened plant localities
will be made available, thus making resources pos-
sible to those Member States which have particular
responsibilities for plant conservation according to
Annex 1b. The implications of this Directive for pro-
moting rural employment, whether directly for site
management, or indirectly from low intensity coun-
tryside recreation, and maintaining rural cultures
should not be underestimated.

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Quick reference key

1: Habitats of Threatened European Plants

MOUNTAINS
Vy

\ WETLAND: Bogs, marshes,
GRASSLAND and PASTURE floodiands, saltmarshes.,
\F

=~
—=

hc | COASTLAND: Sand dunes, shorelines
& and intertidal areas, other habitats
as |

near the sea.

CLIFFS, ROCKY AREAS, SCREES RIVER BANKS, RIVERS, STREAMS.

SCRUB, including MAQUIS and
GARRIQUE (spiny shrubland
characteristic to the Mediterranean WM SIC IstSSIL ane wile tel)

Region)

2: Threat status of plants in the European Community

Threatened at World level (and
consequently also threatened in
the European Community)

Threatened in the European
Community (not threatened at
World Level)

E IUCN Category: ENDANGERED V IUCN Category: VULNERABLE
Endangered species are those Vulnerable species are those
in danger of extinction i.e. believed likely to move into the
whose survival is unlikely if the ‘Endangered’ category in the
causal threat factors continue near future if the causal factors

operating. continue operating.

xiii

N
7

AX
AY

3: Threats to plants of the European Community

TOURISM: Development of tourist
complexes, trampling of vegetation
by tourists and other tourist-related
disturbances

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:
Associated with urban, industrial and
tourism development

FIRE: Usually associated with tourist
pressures or ‘management’ of
vegetation for grazing purposes.

OVERGRAZING: High stocking levels,
causing destruction of vegetation,
and in extreme cases, erosion

LAND DRAINAGE: Usually associated
with reclamation of land for intensive
agriculture

INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE:

Including cultivation, land recdamation,
and use of fertilisers

USE OF HERBICIDES (weedkillers)

INTENSIVE FORESTRY, including
AFFORESTATION, the planting of
non-native trees and various methods
of intensive forest management

PICKING, collecting, cutting or
uprooting of plants .

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Lag

SKIING and disturbances associated
with skiing, including bulldozing of
vegetation for piste construction and
erection of ski-lifts

RECREATION, TRAMPLING and
similar human disturbance

QUARRYING, MINING

DEFORESTATION

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

REGULATION OF RIVERS: including
straightening banks, clearance of
bank-side vegetation and dredging

AIR POLLUTION. including ACID
RAIN

WATER POLLUTION: from sewage,
agricultural fertilisers, industry

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CONSERVATION SUMMARIES

I; HIGHER PLANTS

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A selection of threatened species from Annex I(b) of the
"Proposal for a Council Directive on the protection
of natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora"

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® Mount Oligartos: Extant

Mount Killini
Pheasant’s-eye

Adonis cyllenea
[Ranunculaceae: Buttercup family]

Mount Killini Pheasant’s-eye is a perennial plant with
handsome bright yellow flowers 2-3 cm across.

Discovered in 1948 on Mount Killini in the north-east
Peloponnese, Greece, it was feared extinct for most
of this century but in 1977 a small colony was found
on Mount Pamias in the Oligartos massif south of
Killini. Another botanist found a few plants in the same
area in 1984, growing ina damp meadow surrounded
by forest of Greek Fir at 1,340 metres.

Today the Mount Killini Pheasant's-eye is known from
four small sites on Mount Oligartos, each consisting
Of less than 25 plants. Here it grows in damp pasture
between 1,200 and 1,800 metres altitude. Its preferred
habitat is thought to be in semi-shade at the base of
limestone rocks which remain moist throughout the
summer. The species appears always to have been
rare and its future survival is threatened by the over-
grazing of its habitat by sheep and goats. Killiniis also
subject to growing pressure from tourists who visit
the mountain in increasing numbers for skiing, walk-
ing and mountaineering.

Conservation measures needed for the Pheasant'’s-
eye will require at least partial exclusion of grazing
animals from its fragile habitat. Such an attractive spe-
cies also needs protection from pliant collectors.

Fortunately the survival of the species in cultivation is
secure because plants have been successtuly grown
and propagated in botanic gardens. The priority is
therefore to protect the natural habitat of the species
and the surrounding area with a view to conserving
the remaining wild plants, encouraging their increase
and possibly introducing some artificially propagated
plants in order to augment the tiny wild populations.

Apennine Adonis

Adonis distorta
[Ranunculaceae: Buttercup family]

This small plant with white, occasionally yellow, flow-
ers, grows in high mountain areas of the Apennine
Mountains in central Italy, where it is endemic. It is a
‘pioneer of lime-rich soils, being able to colonise
coarse gravel and other unstable rock even when
there is almost no soil, providing there is a constant
source of moisture. Its habitat is therefore mostly
breccias and coarse gravels on northern mountain
slopes near snowfields.

The Apennine Adonis is a very useful plant, being of
medicinal value. The whole plant is poisonous and is
used as a substitute for foxglove (Digitalis) as a heart-
regulator, and also as a diuretic and for inducing
hypertension. The flowers are also much sought after
by casual visitors. For these reasons, its harvest and
trade are regulated by a Royal Decree of 1932 and
subsequent Regional Laws.

However, the main threat to the species is loss of its
habitat. In recent times, it has declined because of
road construction, the use of four-wheel drive vehicles
and the development of ski resorts. The creation of ski
slopes has senously altered its habitat , due to clearance
of the natural vegetation and levelling of screes and
mountain slopes.

Some populations of this species are included in the
Mount Sirente protected area but no protection has
been specifically granted to the flora within this re-
serve.

So far, insufficient action has been taken to protect
this threatened plant. Priorities for its conservation
must include a full assessment of remaining popula-
tions with prompt action taken to protect and manage
key areas of habitat where the Apennine Adonis grows.

Part of the Apennine Mountain range where Apennine
Adonis occurs

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Sardinia

restrictions Pié==c 9n public access

Curled Alkanet

Anchusa cCrispa
[Bcresmaceae: Borage family]

This very rare 2="~ grows in sand dunes near tne seq

and occasionai-. miand at altitudes between Se€2+eve '
and 700 metres f usually grows amongst Maram 3

Grass (Ammop/i2 arenaria) and Cotton-weed (Ozan-
thus maritimus, . = ts endemic to Corsica and Sarcinia
The few remairs-<3 iocalities in Corsica number ten at
the most and ar¢ restricted to the southern enc o¢ tne
island at Favoné. Sonifacio, Porto Vecchio anc a: tne
mouth of the Frver Rizzanese. It is now extinc: at
Santa Severa. 22D Corseand the beach at Portiglioic
The only known: ses in Sardinia are onthe north-west
coast at Golfo =aima, Capo Argentiera on La Nurra
and Capo de! Fa:cone, and on the north coast near
Porto Torrés, St2gno di Pilo and La Pelosa.

On both islands. Surled Alkanet is greatly threatened
by trampling of fs vulnerable sand dune habitat and
by other activities associated with tourism, including
seasonal beacn cieaning. Sand-quarrying also threat-
ens the piant at one Sardinian locality. The growtn of
coastal towns (iargely associated with tourism) is
posing an increasing threat to this plant throughout rs
range.

Urgent consideration must be given to designating
the remaining localities as nature reserves, with some
restrictions placed on public access.

Approximate area of distribution on Corsica

Atlantic Angelica

Angelica heterocarpa
[Umbelliferae:Carrot family]

This plant is endemic to France, where it is restricted
to scattered localities in the regions Loire-Atlantique,
Charente-Maritime and Gironde-Dordogne. It grows
in muddy areas along the banks of three tidal rivers
and estuares on the Atlantic coast, often in beds of
reea (Phragmites).

Its habitats are particularly under threat in the estuary
of the river Loire and in the Gironde-Dordogne region
as a result of watercourse management and regula-
tion. Such activities are reducing the amount of suit-
able habitat for the Angelica through the destruction
cf reedbeds and other areas of marginal vegetation.

Cne locality for the Angelica is located in a nature re-
serve which was established in 1983 over the Bruges
Marshes near Bordeaux. This is one of the region’s
last remaining wetlands, and was originally protected
for its migratory birds.

=rench botanists have recommended that all areas
wwnere this rare and endangered plant grow should be
Srctected, and that conservation of the plants and
wiic!ife which inhabit these wetlands must take prior-
ty cver development projects, financial and sporting
nterests.

2? Current distribution in this estuary uncertain. In 1961
known from the banks of the rivers Gironde, Garonne
and Dordogne and along banks of the canal in the
region of Hure, Fontet, Castets, Barie.

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® Astragalus aquilanus
‘0 Astragalus maritimus
S Astragalus verrucosus

Endemic Italian

milk-vetches
Astragalus spp.

[Leguminosae: Pea family]

Three milk-vetches which are endemic to Italy are
Endangered both at European and world level. As yet,
no localities for these species are subject to habitat
protection measures.

Astragalus aquilanus: This milk-vetch grows in grassy
glades and in the edges of upland pine forest (altitude
800-1,000 metres) at four localities within 2-3 square
kilometres of each other at Pineta di Roio near the
town of L’Aquila (Abruzzo, central Italy). The area
where the milk-vetch grows is easily accessible due to
the proximity of a good road and it is also close to the
town. Consequently, the pine forest habitat of the
Pineta di Roio suffers from heavy recreational use.
Many sections of the forest undergrowth have disap-
peared asa resultt, and the area is subject to dumping
of rubbish.

Although the Pineta di Roio is municipal land, it is
insufficiently protected. Action is particularly required
to control visitor access.

Astragalus maritimus: Known from only one locality
on the Isola di San Pietro, an islet off southwest
Sardinia, A. maritimus grows on maritime sands and
in coastal vegetation over an area of only 200 x 60
metres. Building construction for the tourist industry
is considered a threat.

Astragalus verrucosus: Found only at one locality in
southwest Sardinia in the coastal area of Arbus and
south of Capo Frasca. It, grows in dry scrubby
calcareous grassland near to the coast where it may
be threatened by cultivation and other agricultural
operations.

Chouard’s
Flowering Yam

Borderea chouardii
[Dioscoreaceae: Yam family]

This is a plant which is on the way to extinction, with
a total population of between 300 and 500 individuals.
The sole population consists of three tiny colonies, in
a tongue of land surrounded by a dam and road. In
recent years, one of the colonies was almost totally
obliterated due to widening of the road. Stones and
other debris still threaten those that remain. Plant
collectors pose an additional threat.

The Borderea is endemic to a small area in the north
of the Province of Huesca, north-east Spain, where it
grows between 800 and 840 metres. It is dependent
on shade and cool summer temperatures and is
therefore found growing in rock fissues with a north or
north-easterly aspect.

Apart from the ever-present threat of collection, the
construction of a dam in recent years has adversely
affected the microclimate of its fragile habitat and it is
believed that this has directly caused the local extiric-
tion of several colonies.

No conservation measures have been instigated to
safeguard the remaining colonies of this species.
Attempts have been made to propagate it in cultiva-
tion, but these have not been very successful. There
is a need, therefore, to continue attempts at artificial
propagation. More important is the pressing need to
protect the habitat of the species, by declaring the
remaining colonies and their surrounding environ-
ment as small nature reserves and ensuring that any
future developments do not cause further damage to
the plant’s habitat. Collection and picking should be
prohibited, with the exception of properly regulated
taking of bulbils and seed for an approved conserva-
tion programme involving artificial propagation.

Iberian Peninsula

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@ _ Distribution of Fuerteventura Cabbage

Fuerteventura Cabbage

Some threatened
wild cabbages

[Crucite-== Cabbage family]

The wild relative: 2-C ancestors of our domestic
cabbages (including ==Sbages, broccoli, kale, kohi-
rabiand cauliflower, == centred inthe Mediterranean
region. An imponart 2 up of these plants occurs on
coastal cliffs and rocx=_ =specially inthe islands of the
western Mediterrane= “egion and on Crete. Coastal
plant communities: 1 == European Community are
increasingly threater &— Dy development of even quite
remote areas for tourss—.. Asa resultt, several wild cab-
bages are threatoneé= rcluding the following species:

Egadi Cabbage: 2=ssica macrocarpa

This rather shrubby 22rT has leafy stems upto 60 cm,
yellow flowers and T13C+.. woody boat-shaped seed
pods. It occurs only or <2 Egadilslands of Favianana
and Marettimo off tné =3ast of western Sicily. These
islands are rapidly "73 developed for tourism, re-
sulting in the destruc on of coastal rocks and low
cliffs where the Eg2ci ~abbage and other endemic
plants grow. Areas & <iiit should be protected from
building and satequa-=23 from the effects of adjacent

tourist developmunts.

Sardinian Cabbage: 3rassica insularis

This is another rather STubby plant, with lobed basal
leaves and stems 30 =m tall, fragrant white or pale
yellow flowers, and Sender seed-pods up to 8 cm
long. It is found at Ca=="ed localities on the coasts of
Sardinia and Corsica arc on the small island of Fan-
telleria off Sicily. I! a@S<c occurs in Tunisia, although
Europe is its main cen==. and the Corsican plants are
regarded asa distinct. Unique variety. The plant is not
inimmediate danger. CLI is very vulnerable to coastal

development.

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Hairless Cabbage: Brassica glabrescens

This cabbage has a somewhat different habitat to
those described opposite, being found along gravelly
and stony banks of the rivers Meduna and Cellina,
north of Pordenone in north-east Italy. It is a small
plant up to 25 cm tall, woody at the base, with rather
Narrow leaves and a few yellow flowers. Hairless
Cabbage is related to a group of dwarf cabbages of
mountains and open ground in the lowlands from
south Spain to the western Alps and was first de-
scribed in 1973. Its restricted habitat is unusual for a
cabbage, and the plant is vulnerable to gravel extrac-
tionand other humaninterference with the river banks.

Fuerteventura Cabbage: Crambe sventenii

This wild cabbage is a peculiar white-lowered endemic
plant confined to the island of Fuerteventura (Canary
Isles) where it grows in mountain peaks and ridges of
the south-central region at an altitude of between 200
and 400 metres.

Five colonies are known, each withno more than 5-20
individuals. The plant is confined to cliff crevices and
fissures away from the reach of predatory goats.
Originally the plant formed part of an olive woodland
community which has virtually disappeared on
Fuerteventura and which has been replaced by semi-
desert scrubland leaving many of the islands rare
endemic plants in a very precarious state.

Two of the five populations are included in protected
areas according to the “Ley de Espacios Naturales”
approved by the Canarian Parliament, Parques natu-
rales de Pozo Negro and Montana Cardones.

Egadi Cabbage
Trapani Cabbage
Sardinian Cabbage
Hairless Cabbage

ga@0o008e

Legal protection should be given to the sites outside
the natural parks. Additionally, seeds should be propa-
gated and a programme of reintroducing plants to the
wild should be funded. Because of the potential eco-
nomic value of the species, seed needs to be bulked
up for conserving in a local gene bank. More gener-
ally, the problem of goat-grazing on Fuerteventura
needs to be seriously tackled. Should goats be ex-
cluded from sensitive zones it is possible that some
degraded natural areas may recover and some of the
rare endemic species could naturally extend their
range and so reduce their current vuinerability.

These cabbages represent an important genetic resource as relatives of cultivated:crops; For example, another species: Cretan
Cabbage (Brassica cretica) is thought to have given rise to the cauliflower of commerce: The Cretan Cabbage is. a plant of coastal
cliffs and gorges by the-sea in Crete and southern Greece. The Domestic Cabbage also grows onciliffs inthe western Mediterranean,
from where it was taken centuries:ago to many countries around the world. The rare-wild cabbages:of the westem: Mediterranean
have characters such as tongevity and perhaps resistance to diseases that may beof valuein any future plant breeding programmes.
The:seeds of the genus Crambe yield a commercially important vegetable-oi! and Crambe sventenii may be of value as it has the:
largest seeds of any species in the genus, but its:cil content and other potentially:usefu! properties have not yet been studied:

Protecting the habitats of the Endangered and potentially. useful species: should be:a priority. with restrictions placed on activities:
such as building development and tourism at sensitive localities. In the case of Brassica giabrescens controls over gravel extraction
are necessary so as to ensure future protection ofits habitat. Itis also important that seeds are heidin gene banks with a view to future:
phytochemicai studies and artificiat pro iON. ore pee

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Savona Harebell
Campanula sabatia

[Campanulaceae: Bellflower family]

Savona Harebell is an attractive small blue-flowered
plant which grows in bare places. Its usual habitats
are limestone rock crevices and coarse gravels asso-
Ciated with maquis vegetation. This habitat is often
shared with other endemic Italian plant species.

This plant is unique to north-west Italy and is known
only from a few coastal localities south-west of Savona.
This includes the islets of Gallinara and Bereggi. the
headland of Capo Noli and some additional localities
up to 12 kilometres inland. The species may also
occur in northem Bordighera.

Savona Harebell is threatened due to fire, building
construction, road building and collecting. Increasing
pressure from tourism is of concer at Capo Noli.

There have been long standing proposals to establish
anumber of regional parks and reserves on the island
of Gallinara and at Capo Noli but so far no sites have
been adequately protected.

The localities at Capo Noli, Rocca di Perti and on
Gallinara island are considered top priority for habitat
protection and would benefit from Special Protection
Area (SPA) status.

Dia Carline Thistle

Carlina diae
[Compositae: Daisy family]

This hairy, spineless, dwarf shrub grows up to 60 cm
high and has flat-topped clusters of yellow flower-
heads, each 1.5-3.5 cmacross. It is found only ina few
coastal localities in northern Crete. It was first discov-
ered on the island of Dia off the northern coast near
lraklion, and later at two coastal localities on the
Sidheros peninsula and on two islets, Dragonada and
Yionisadhos, on the coast of Sitia province in north-
eastern Crete. The Sitia populations are not immedi-
. ately endangered, but are vulnerable due to the small
numbers of plants present. Goats that have been in-
troduced to the islands threaten the piant’s survival.

The situation with the plants on Dia is more serious.
Since 1958 this island has beena refuge for the Cretan
Ibex or Cri-Cri, the famous wild goat of the White
Mountains. These were threatened in their native
habitat and were introduced to Dia to protect them.
However, they have caused considerable damage by
grazing the island’s plants and only three plants of the
Dia Carline Thistle could be found in 1973, although
others may have survived on inaccessible ledges and
cliffs. Since the goats are now surviving well in the
White Mountains, it should be possible to move at
least some of them back to their native range.

Domestic goats should also be removed from the
islands off Sitia to preserve those populations of the
thistle. The Dian and Sitian plants are genetically
different, and it is therefore important to protect plants
in both areas in order to conserve the genetic diversity
of this species, which is handsome enough to have a
future as an omamental plant.

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Sardinia

@ = Centaurea horrida

Centaurea horrida

Endemic
Mediterranean
knapweeds

Centaurea spp.
[Compositae: Daisy family]

Knapweeds have flowers that are similar in appear-
ance to thistles, but their foliage is less spiny. The
flowers are attractive - usually purple, pink, yellow or
white. They are an important element of the flora and
vegetation in the Mediterranean region, where some
180 species, and many subspecies, occur in the
European part alone. Knapweeds are a significant
component of dry grasslands and are a characteristic
feature of old meadows. Some species are plants of
rocks, cliffs, stony ground and other disturbed or
open habitats.

At present we know rather little about many of the rare
knapweeds of the Mediterranean. They are of great
scientific interest for understanding evolution and
plant geography, and their distribution is often
associated with that of other endemic species. The
knapweeds are genetically interesting and appear to
have undergone considerable evolutionary radiation
in the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece and the
Balkans. Many of them are widespread and common
in the region but nine of those endemic to single
Member States are Endangered at country, European
and World level.

The populations of these Endangered species are
small, confined to a few localities and mostly occupy
only tiny areas (in some cases a few square metres).
Despite this, no habitat protection measures have
been comprehensively undertaken at any of their
sites, although a number are severely threatened and
some may have already been lost.

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The nine Endangered endemic species are:

Centaurea balearica: Endemic to the north coast of
Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) where it grows in
sandy areas near the sea. Only five populations are
known and all contain a small number of individuals.
One of the populations has been reduced (cut in half)
by the construction of a road to the beach. Uprooting
of mature plants has occurred in at least one other
population.

This knapweed grows up to 1.5 m tall and up to2m
in diameter. The survival rate of young piants is poor,
so the presence of mature piants is very important to
maintain a source of seed for future regeneration.

The remaining sites for this rare species need official
protection by designating their habitats and surround-
ings as small nature reserves. In these localities,
competition from other species needs to be reduced.
Where appropriate, the remaining wild populations
could also be reinforced by introducing plants propa-
gated in cultivation.

Centaurea heldreichii: Known only from one coastal
locality on calcareous rocks in western Greece, east
of Mesolongion, between the mountains Varrasova
and Klokova. The population is small: part of it is
threatened by quarrying and urgently requires pro-
tection.

Centaurea horrida: This species is endemic to rocky
coastal areas in northern Sardinia where it occurs in
two sites on the mainland and on three islets off the
north-west coast. The maquis and garrigue habitats in
which C. horrida grows are of great biological impor-
tance - they also hold populations of other plants
unique to the region and therefore merit special pro-
tection for the purposes of both habitat and species
conservation.

Tourist developments are a major threat. For ex-
ample, at Capo del Falcone tourism complexes and

Iberian Peninsula

@ Centaurea baleanca

new roads were being built in the 1970s, which re-
sulted in the dissection of one C. horrida locality.

Onthe islet of Tavolara, tourism and military construc-
tions threaten another site. Tourist developments also
threaten the localities at Capo Caccia and Punta del
Giglio. On one occasion, vegetation was irreparably
damaged when the area was used to make a film —
part of the requirements of the script involved de-
stroying a good deal of the vegetation. In addition,
after the film was shot, the area was set on fire to
destroy remnants of the scenery.

The designation of key C. horrida localities has been
called for by the Inchiesta del Gruppo Conservazione
Natura della Societa Italica, who have recommended
that nature reserves be established on Isola Asinara,
Isola di Tavolara, Capo del Falcone, Capo Caccia and
Punta del Giglio.

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Centaurea heldreichii
Centaurea kalambakensis
Centaurea lactifiora
Centaurea megarensis
Centaurea niederi
Centaurea peucidanifolia
Centaurea princeps

Centaurea kalambakensis: Endemic to two localities
in Greece, on the rocks of the Meteora near Kalam-
baka in central Greece (near the famous monaster-
ies), and at onelocality in Pella province (Macedonia)
where only 30-40 plants have been found. The
Macedonian population is apparently under threat
from the use of herbicides and requires urgent protec-
tion.

Centaurea lactifiora: Endemic to a small area near
the village of Koniskos, 15 kilometres east of Kalabaka
in central Greece. Its habitat is dry roadsides and field
margins. Some time ago it was considered to be
under threat from a road-widening scheme and may,
in fact, already be Extinct.

Centaurea megarensis: Endemic to the summit of
Mount Gerania in western Attica, to the east of the
isthmus of Corinth where it grows in small and scat-
tered populations and is under considerable pressure
from overgrazing by sheep and goats.

Centaurea niederi: Endemic to western Greece this
plant is known from calcareous rocks and cliffs on
roadsides near Mount Arakinthos above Mesolongion
and in the north-west Peloponnese (Achaia prov-
ince). in total, less than 80 plants are known from
these two localities.

Centaurea peucedanifolia: Endemic to Mount Athos
in northem Greece where it is restricted to two sites,
one anarea of 200 metres of roadside near the port of
Daphni, the other in the vicinity of the monastery of
Agios Pavios, where it grows on rocks and walls. The
roadside locality is vulnerable to road improvements.

Centaurea princeps: Endemic to Mount Timfristos
above Karpenision in central Greece where only a few
plants are known, growing close to a quarry.

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Cretan Helleborine

Cephalanthera cucullata
{Orchidaceae: Orchid family]

This small orchid with slender stems 15-30 cm tall
bearing a loose cluster of up to 20 creamy-white to
pink flowers is restricted to about six localities on
Crete. The localities are situated in the south-west
(Samaria Gorge National Park and White Mountains),
central Crete (Psiloritis forest) and eastern Crete (Mount
Dhikti range). The orchid grows at altitudes of be-
tween 700 and 1,500 metres in montane forest and
scrub of native cypress, Calabrian Pine and Kermes
Oak.

Detailed studies of three localities during the 1970s
showed a decline from about 150 plants to perhaps
less than 30 over seven years. Recently, three addi-
tional localities for this rare species were discovered,
in 1985 and 1986, one with a population of about 150
plants. In total there are probably less than 250 plants
of this Endangered species.

Like several Greek and Cretan endemic plants, the
Cretan Helleborine has probably always been rare
and could easily become Extinct. Overgrazing by
sheep and goats is the principal threat, and urgent
action is required to fence off plots to protect the
surviving plants. This would allow the vegetation to
recover and give the orchids a chance to flower and
set seed.

Although many of Crete’s endemic plants are wide-
spread and under no threat, those that have only
small populations, such as Cretan Helleborine and
Cretan Catmint (Nepeta sphaciotica) are particularly
susceptible to the heavy grazing pressure in the
island’s mountains. Small nature reserves to protect
the habitats of such species should be established,
with partial or total exclusion of grazing animals.

ica

1 Samaria Gorge and White Mountains
2 Psilontis Forest
3 Mount Dhikti Range

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Iberian Peninsula

Coincy’s
Rock Cabbage

Coincya rupestris

[Cruciferae: Cabbage family]

This biennial herb with yellow, violet-veined flowers,
lives in north-facing crevices of vertical karstic lime-
stone rocks in the Sierra de Alcaraz in the province of
Albacete, Spain. It is restricted to an area of about 0.4
square kilometres at an altitude of 1,100 metres.

A site survey in 1979 estimated there to be as few as
500-1,000 flowering plants plus perhaps twice as
many non-flowering individuals.

Present threats are from building construction coupled
with collecting. There is also a possible threat from
another plant species (Sisymbrium arundonum) which
occupies the same ecological niche and may com-
pete for space with the Endangered Coincya. Careful
monitoring is therefore essential to ensure that the
Coincya does not become displaced by the Sisymbnum.

The seeds of Coincy's Rock Cabbage were once
used locally as a kind of mustard but this use has now
ceased. It is of considerable scientific interest and
belongs to a small group of related endemic Spanish
species.

No conservation measures have yet been taken for
this plant but the creation of a small reserve has been
recommended. Strict vigiance wil be needed to ensure
that building does not encroach on the area. Its
habitat and setting are attractive and very vulnerable
to development.

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Brittany Eryngo

Eryngium viviparum
[Umbelliferae: Carrot family]

The eryngos are a group of distinctive plants with
sharply spined leaves. The Brittany Eryngo is known
from Brittany (France), around Porto (northern Portu-
gal) and Spain (north-west, Galicia and Léon). In both
Portugal and Spain the plant is severely Endangered
and is threatened with extinction. In France, the plant
probably survives at few more than ten localities
distributed over a smail part of Brittany. The plant is
confined to these three Member States of the Euro-
pean Community.

The Brittany Eryngo grows in damp pastures, in de-
pressions which are subject to winter flooding. Many
populations have disappeared due to the abandon-
ment of pastures and the removal of grazing stock. As
a consequence. such areas have become invaded by
tall vegetation in which the eryngo has been unable to
survive.

Other localities where the eryngo used to grow have
disappeared due to urban and industrial development,
afforestation by pines and land drainage. Trampling is
an additional problem to populations around the French
town of Carnac.

The creation of nature reserves for the protection of
this species and its habitat is urgent. In such reserves
control over the water regime will be necessary to
ensure the maintenance of winter flooding. In addi-
tion, the grassland must be grazed to prevent inva-
sion by tall vegetation.

France and the Ibenan Peninsuia

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Gomeran Spurge
Euphorbia lambii

[Euphorbiaceae: Spurge family]

Only three small populations of this local endemic of
the Canary Isles are known. As its name suggests, the
Gomeran Spurge is confined to the island of La
Gomera, where it lives in damp crevices or at the foot
of cliffs at the lower edges of the laurel forest zone
between 600 and 1,000 metres. It grows in damp
shallow soils, usually in small groups of three or four
plants.

Over-grazing is one of its main threats throughout
most of its small area of distribution, and in some
places its habitat has been reduced due to the clear-
ance of native laurel forest and its replacement with
inappropriate forestry species. Furthermore, the
immature fruits tend to suffer insect damage and
many capsules develop without seeds.

Populations on the north-west side of La Gomera are
protected in the Lomo de Carreton park but an impor-
tant population at Benchijugua is without formal pro-
tection. This situation could be rectified by extending
the boundaries of the Los Roques park down to 700
metres. In addition, to prevent genetic erosion, it may
be appropriate to bulk up the wild population using
material of wild origin that has been propagated
locally.

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Sicilian Bedstraw

Galium litorale
[Rubiaceae: Madder family]

Endemic to westem Sicily, this plant is restricted to
coastal sands. Its habitat is much threatened by
agricultural developments and by building construc-
tion for the tourist industry.

Sicilian Bedstraw is known from near Marsala, Mazara,
Selinunte and Campobello at a total of four localities
within about 30 km of one another. Protection of a
large area of coastal sand is essential to arrest the
continuing decline of this species.

Downy Gypsophila
Gypsophila papillosa
[Caryophyilaceae: Carnation family]

This species is only known from one locality in north-
em Italy, above the eastern shore of Lake Garda,
where it grows on dry stony soils in hills between 50
and 200 metres above sea level.

Field observations in 1970 indicated that the entire
population of the plant was confined to an area less
than 0.25 hectares but since then it has apparently
declined even further. The species is considered to be
in great danger of extinction due to building develop-
ments as well as from collection (mostly by foreign
botanists).

The whole belt of hills around Lake Garda are being
ireparably damaged by building construction
associated with the tourist industry. Despite this, the
critical habitat where Downy Gypsophila continues to
survive so precariously remains unprotected.

@ Downy Gypsophila
© Sicilian Bedstraw

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Iberian Peninsula

Spanish Gaudinia
Gaudinia hispanica

[Gramineae: Grass family]

This grass species occupies a very limited and dis-
junct area; the two known localities on the Huelva
Coast in south-west Spain are 70 kilometres apart.

The natural habitat of the Gaudinia is sandy acid soils
with a low water table, where it forms part of the
ground vegetation normally found under stands of
Stone Pine (Pinus pinea).

In the past two decades one of its localities was
subject to disturbance and afforestation with Euca-
lyptus, an activity which has affected wild species and
habitats throughout the region in recent years. Fortu-
nately, the Gaudinia has so far survived below the
planted Eucalyptus. However, it is feared that in future
years accumulating litter from the planted trees will
alter nutrient levels in the soil and prevent the plant's
survival at this locality.

The second locality is situated inside the Dohana
National Park and therefore there is some regulation
over development of its habitat.

It is possible that further populations occur between
the two existing disjunct ones so the surrounding
area ought to be explored. In any case, the most
westerly locality which has been subject to Eucalyp-
tus afforestation, should be given some protection
and the population monitored regularly. If the species
begins to decline as a result of the effects of litter
accumulation from the Eucalyptus, then measures
will need to be taken to restore the original habitat.
This will involve clearance of the Eucalyptus and
restoration of the semi-natural Stone Pine woodland.

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Styx Globularia

Globularia stygia
[Selaginaceae: Globularia family]

The Styx Globularia is a prostrate, woody, perennial
with slender branches, small almost circular leaves,
and compact heads of tiny violet to bluish flowers. It
grows in small numbers on rocks and screes above
2000 metres on a few mountains in the northern
Peloponnese in Greece, principally Mounts Chelmos
and Killini. The summit areas and higher ground of
these two mountains are excessively grazed by sheep
and goats and despite their rich fioras there is no
protection for rare species such as this Globularia.

The area in which the plant grows on Chelmos is the
steep northern slopes of the mountain in the Styx
valley, a region which together with the adjacent
Zarouchlia forest to the east is rich in narrowly en-
demic plants and other rare plants that are otherwise
found only in northern Greece or Anatolia. The steep
cliffs of the Styx valley provide some protection against
grazing, but increasing tourism threatens the Styx
Globularia and other rarities through collecting.

The Styx valley requires national park status, as itisan
area of outstanding botanical importance. It also has
considerable cultural interest, as the cave from which
the waters of the river Styx emerge was to the ancient
Greeks the entrance to Hades, the river being the
River of the Underwonrd.

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Indicates present in these States (scale too smail
to map accurate distribution)

Bog Orchid

Hammarbya paludosa
[Orchidaceae: Orchid family]

This small and inconspicuous green-flowered orchid
grows in acid bogs in north-west Europe, witha range
extending circumpolar to temperate north-east Asia
and North America. In Europe it extends from Ireland
eastwards to European Russia.

Bog Orchid grows in one of Europe’s most threat-
ened habitats: peatland, where it is usually found
growing with Sphagnum moss and other typical
peatland plants.

Everywhere in Europe this wetland habitat is greatly
threatened by land drainage, peat-digging, reclama-
tion for agriculture or other developments, and by af-
forestation. As a result, this orchid is threatened over
three-quarters of its European range, including Bel-
gium (declined by 80%), Czechozlovakia, Denmark
(declined by 90%), the Faeroe Isles, Finland, France,
the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland (declined
by 90%), the Netherlands (declined by 75%), Roma-
nia, Switzerland and Russia. In some of the other Eu-
ropean countries in which it occurs it is experiencing
serious decline as a result of habitat destruction. For
example, although the Bog Orchid is not officially
considered as threatened in Britain, it has been lost
from at least 50% of its former localities since 1930. In
particular, many of its Scottish strongholds are inade-
quately protected and have been lost or are threat-
ened by afforestation.

Conservation priorities for this species must include
the special protection of all major localities of Euro-
pean importance, and the prevention of further de-
clines by ensuring that damaging activities such as
forestry and peat-digging are directed away from
places where the Bog Orchid grows. In those Member
States where the Bog Orchid has declined by 90%, all
remaining localities ought to be protected.

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en Y

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Kedbuleg Hic aTirish
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Detailed distributional information

The following information has been obtained from
various plant atlases which have mapped the distribu-
tion of rare and threatened plants in certain Member
States. However, figures on very recent declines are
difficult to compile. Many of the plant atlases use 1950
or earlier as a base-line for recording the presence of
absence of a species. For example, data from the
Federal Republic of Germany records that Bog Or-
chid has been recorded from 53 ‘hour-squares’ since
1945. Itis likely that significant land use changes since
then have led to the disappearance of Bog Orchid at
many localities within these squares. The scale of
decline is therefore considerably greater than might
therefore be assumed from the data provided below.

Belgium

Formerly known from 25 localities but since 1940 it
has only been seen in four of these.

Denmark

Before 1950, there were 112 areas of suitable habitat
for Bog Orchid in Denmark. Since 1950, 93 of these
areas have been destroyed, usually as a result of land
drainage for agriculture. Of the 19 localities (probably
less now) that were thought to remain, most were
situated in lowland mires along the west coast, with a
few very scattered and ecologically separated locali-
ties on islands to the east.

Federal Republic of Germany

Before 1945, Bog Orchid had been recorded from
more than 190 ‘hour-squares’, with many localities in
the extreme north: Schleswig-Holstein, Liineberg,
Hanover and Weser-Ems districts, and in the south
along the Austrian border. Since 1945, it has only
been recorded from 17 ‘hour-squares’ in Ihe north of
the country and 37 inthe south. Bog Orchid is consid-
ered as Endangered in the Federal Republic of Ger-
many.

France

A rapid decline in the species has been recorded
throughout France to the extent that it is now Extinct
in a number of regions such as the Paris Basin and
Lévezon. Bog Orchid is considered as Vulnerable in
France.

Ireland

Formerly known from more than 50 sites but has only
recently been seen at six sites, although it is possible

- that it has been overlooked in others. However, many

peatland sites in Ireland have been destroyed or
damaged over the past 30 years as a result of peat-
digging, drainage and afforestation.

Netherlands

Before 1950, the Bog Orchid was known from 122
hour-squares scattered throughout the Netherlands.
Since 1950, it has been observed in only 33 of these.
This decline has been caused by land reclamation
and particularly by drainage and the use of agricul-
tural chemicals, especially fertilisers.

United Kingdom

Bog Orchid still occurs in over 150 localities in Eng-
land, Scotland and Wales but nevertheless, this figure
masks a serious decline experienced over the past 50
years. Britain is considered to hold more than half of
the total population of Bog Orchid in north-west Eu-
rope, with the main stronghold in western Scotland,
where there are over 100 localities. Elsewhere in
Britain, the species is confined to a few scattered
localities with a notable population in the New Forest
(a large area of lowland heath in southern England
with associated lowland mires, maintained by tradi-
tional grazing and commoning practices).

Asin many other countries of north-west Europe, Bog
Orchid has declined in recent times as a result of land
drainage and other land improvements for agricul-
tural purposes and due to commercial afforestation of
peatlands by conifer trees.

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Canary Isies

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Cockscomb Foxglove

lsoplexis chalcantha
[Scrophulariaceae: Foxglove family]

Endemic to the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Isles,
where only four populations with a small number of
individuals (5-20) are known from the north slopes of
the island between 600 and 800 metres above sea
level. This foxglove is always associated with the
scarce remains of laurel forest (‘laurisilva’) on Gran
Canaria, particularly in ravines of the humid, shady
mountainous part of the island, specifically Los Tiles
de Moya and Barranco de la Virgen.

Of the Canary Isles archipelago, Gran Canaria is the
island most affected by forest clearance, with only
about one percent of its original laurisilva surviving.

lsoplexis species are used in local popular medicine
as anaesthetics in the treatment of toothache, for
treatment of diabetes and as a cardiotonic. In addi-
tion, chemical studies have revealed that this genus
contains glucosides which are important as heart
stimulants.

Populations ofthe Cockscomb Foxgloveare included
within the limits of the Monte Doramas Natural Park,
recently established by the Canarian Parliament.
Additional specific measures which need to be taken
to ensure the future survival of this species inciude the
development and implementation of a conservation
management plan specific to the plant and its natural
habitat. Studies of the species’ reproductive biclogy
and a programme of artificial propagation should also
be adequately funded.

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Watson’s Lettuce

Lactuca watsoniana
[Compositae: Daisy family]

This large white-flowered perennial grows up to 2
metres tall. It is one of Europe's rarest plants, found
only ina few small sites in the Azores Archipelago, on
the islands of Sao Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico at
500-900 metres above sea level, in sheltered places
on wet ground, in ravines and old volcanic craters. In
these locations Watson's Lettuce is often found grow-
ing with other plant species which are endemic to the
Atlantic |slands or are otherwise threatened in the Eu-
ropean Community, including the ferns Woodwardia
radicans and Trichomanes speciosum.

Watson's Lettuce prefers locations with a permanent
water supply or permanently moist ground in combi-
nation with high relative humidity and is restricted to
the native laurel cloud forests (‘laurisilva’) for which
the Atlantic Islands are so famous. The laurisilva con-
tains some of the rarest plants of the Azores as well as
some endemic birds such as the Pridlo or Azores
Bullfinch. In the Azores this habitat is severely threat-
ened and very little now remains due to clearance of
the forest for agriculture and for plantations of Japa-
nese Larch (Cryptomeria japonica). For example, the
forest of Caldeira da Santa Barbara on Terceira re-
quires urgent protection - as recently as 1986, Cryp-
tomeria was being planted at this important site,
although this activity may now have stopped.

Even those areas of unexplored and relatively inac-
cessible laurisilva may hold populations of rare en-
demic plants, and it is therefore important that the
remaining laurel cloud forests are given full protec-
tion. Two of the sites for Watson's Lettuce in the
Caldeira da Santa Barbara (Terceira) and on north-
east O’Pico (Pico) are very small. The population on
O’Pico is in a small wooded gully only about 15
metres square and is completely surrounded by pasture.
Urgent measures are therefore required to protect
these fragile and vulnerable areas.

@ Known extant localities for Lactuca watsoniana:
Caideira da Santa Barbara (Terceira)
North-east O'Pico (Pico)

Lagoa do Canario (Sao Miguel)

A tew other localities, not recently confirmed (not mapped) have
been recorded for Pico, Terceira and Faial.

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Sardinia

Sardinian Thistle

Lamyropsis microcephala
[Compositae: Daisy family]

The Sardinian Thistle is a very thorny thistle with
whitish-pink flowers. It occurs over a small area on the
western and southem slopes of Mt. Bruncu Spina in
the Monte del Gennargentu. The thistle is a montane
species and grows at altitudes of between 1,500 to
1,700 metres on rocky slopes vegetated with scat-
tered shrubs (such as juniper), herbs and grasses.

Its habitat is badly degraded by intense grazing and
grubbing by semi-feral pigs and is additionally threat-
ened by the construction of winter ski facilities. These
pressures together contribute to soil erosion, a gen-
eral threat to the area. The thistle occurs over a
restricted area totalling no more than one hectare, so
far unprotected, and it is considered one of Sardinia’s
most threatened endemic plants.

The Monte del Gennargentu supports an extremely
rich and diverse flora with many endemic Sardinian
plants in addition to the Sardinian Thistle, some of
which are found nowhere eise on the island. Locally
important medicinal plants such as the Great Yellow
Gentian (Gentiana /utea), Purple Foxglove (Digitalis
purpurea), together with a variety of mints, thymes
and junipers also grow in profusion.

However, the threats to the Sardinian Thistle are also
responsible for the general degradation of the area as
a whole. It is essential that the region is declared a
protected area and that appropriate management is
introduced to redress problems of erosion and
vegetation destruction. Priority measures are the
regulation of grazing and tourism to levels compatible
with the conservation of the region's plant life.

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Long-rayed Las er Iberian Peninsula

Laserpitium longiradium
[Umbelliferae: Carrot family]

This species used to be abundant along the banks of
the River Monachil in the Sierra Nevada mountain
range of southern Spain. However, only one small
population numbering a dozen individuals is currently
known, growing at an altitude of between 1,200 and
1,500 metres. At the only known locality, the plant
grows on very wet ground in almost total shade. It is
thought that the former localities have become un-
suitable for this wetland plant owing to pollution of the
River Monachil and other damaging activities which
have affected its headwaters. For example, for some
years the river has been receiving all the effluent from
aski resort. The species’ survival is further threatened
due to overgrazing of its habitat by local goat herds.

The Sierra Nevada is recognised as one of the most ‘i

important areas of plant diversity and endemism in RG x

the whole of Europe. More than 60 plant species are SLID AID

endemic to this mountain range and in 1988 the rai Zz
highest part of the mountain range was declared asa SREY

Natural Park. Despite this, the region continues to be , .
subject to increasing tourism development and damage WY; , ;
from mining. As a result, the specialised ecological tk a
requirements of rare plants such as Laserpitium are Ss CG \} ij
becoming increasingly scarce. ~ Bea
Measures are urgently needed to improve protection B/ N\SS - gy
of the Sierra Nevada as a whole. These include ex- PR hao
tending the limits of the Natural Park and effective SX

implementation of a conservation management plan.
Such a plan will need to consider the placing of
restrictions on future tourism and mining develop-
ments, control over grazing pressures and the instal-
lation of effluent treatment plants in existing tourist
developments so as to reduce water pollution.

Aprogramme of artificial propagation should also be
undertaken for the Laserpitium, together with regular
monitoring of the wild population and its habitat.

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Maléa Toadflax

Linaria hellenica
[Scrophulariaceae: Foxglove family]

The Maléa Toadflax is an annual plant with branched
stems up to half a metre tall, narrow fleshy leaves and
showy yellow flowers about 1.5 cm long.

This rare and Endangered species is confined to a few
coastal sites in the south-eastern extremity of the
Peloponnese (Greece), within an area of about 20
square kilometres on the Maléa Peninsula around the
town of Neapolis and on the nearby island of Elafonisos.
Only discovered and described in 1955, the toadflax
has probably always been rare due to the restricted
area of its habitat of sandy beaches and other level
sandy areas (both cultivated and uncultivated) near
the sea. More recently, it has become critically
threatened by the loss of this habitat through modern
agricultural methods, especially the use of herbicides.
The open, coastal habitat is naturally unstable, and is
under threat from both tourism and _ industrial
development.

By the late 1970s Maléa Toadflax was present in only
four of its seven known stations. The remaining popu-
lation are tiny, with the largest containing some 100
individuals, while three others support only a handful
of plants each.

Suitable sandy areas in and around the localities of
this Endangered plant require urgent protection. In
particular, damaging activities such as herbicidal weed
control and building construction for tourism and
industry must be prohibited in these areas.

Aspecis of Linaria

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Succulent
Birdsfoot-trefoil

Lotus kunkelii
[Leguminosae: Pea family]

Endemic to Gran Canaria, the Succulent Birdsfoot-
trefoil is Known only from a single very threatened
locality at the mouth of the Barranco de Jinamar. It is
a prostrate, woody-based plant with succulent leaves
bearing long silky hairs. It grows in the littoral sands
on the coast between 15 and 20 metres above sea
level.

Until the early 1960s several populations of this spe-
cies occurred along the sandy areas of the coast of
Gran Canaria but extraction of sand for construction,
and disturbance from roadbuilding, urban develop-
ment and other activities have had an enormous
impact on the habitat of the plant, reducing its distri-
bution spectaculany.

The only surviving locality is extremely small (approxi-
mately two hectares) and is situated between the
coast and the main Las Palmas Airport road and
alongside industrial sites containing seawater distilla-
tion and electricity generating stations.

Although the site where the trefoil grows has been
declared a protected area by the Canarian Parliament
no specific or effective habitat conservation meas-
ures have yet been taken and protection against all
negative activities, particularly mineral extraction, is
required. Artificial propagation of the species in a
botanic garden is likely to be successful if funding can
be secured and this could, in turn, lead to a pro-
gramme of reintroducing the species to suitably pro-
tected habitats in the wild.

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Iberian Peninsula

Wavy Loosestrife

Lythrum flexuosum
[Lythraceae: Loosestrife family]

Wavy Loosestrife is a small annual plant, 3-10 cm tall,
with pinkish-purple flowers. It is a wetland species,
preferring seasonally inundated depressions, and is
found in sites scattered throughout central Spain in
the provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real and Cuenca y
Guadalajara. It may also occur in the provinces of
Albacete and Teruel.

This loosestrife grows on the edges of brackish pools
and depressions on subsaline and mineral-rich soils
which are flooded in the winter and which usually dry
Out at the beginning of the spring. Like so many other
wetland habitats, this habitat has been severely re-
duced throughout Spain due to widespread land
drainage and pollution. As a result the scattered
populations of Wavy Loosestrife have declined dra-
matically.

To protect this threatened plant, it is necessary to
establish small reserves to ensure the protection of
the main populations. These reserves should be
protected from further drainage operations.
Consideration should also be given to controlling the
use of agricultural fertilisers and other sources of
pollution in the vicinity of sites where the Wavy
Loosestrife grows.

Hairy Clover Fern

Marsilea strigosa
[Marsileaceae: Clover Fern family]

The Hairy Clover Fern, as its name suggests, has
long-stalked leaves of four wedge-shaped hairy leaf-
lets arising from a short creeping stem. Also on the
stem are lentil-sized pods containing reproductive
bodies (spores).

This highly Endangered plant is found in seasonally
wet hollows in maquis and in similar rock depressions
on basalt and other metamorphic rocks such as
schistose gneiss. It withstands the long dry summers
of the Mediterranean climate, by losing its leaves, and
protecting its vulnerable spores in a thick homy pod.
This splits open during winter rains and the sticky
spore mass is believed to be dispersed on birds’ feet.

In total, it is estimated that less than 50 plants of the
Hairy Clover Fern survive today. Its few localities are
situated in south-east Italy and Sardinia, Menorca
(Balearic Isles) with another possible site in south
France (Herault). In Menorca, the locality is under
threat from tourism development. At the French site,
although the fern is protected in a nature reserve, it is
in danger of becoming overgrown by encroaching
vegetation due to lack of suitable management.

Outside the European Community, the fern is found
only at two coastal localities in Algeria and Morocco,
where it is also rare and threatened.

A closely related species Marsilea batardae is also
Endangered, and its total world population is con-
fined to Portugal and western Spain.

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Federal Republic of Germany

The Lake Constance
Forget-me-not

Myosotis rehsteineri
[Boraginaceae: Borage family]

In the European Community, this species occurs in
restricted areas in the Federal Republic of Germany
and Italy where it grows along the shores of Lake Con-
stance near Langenargen, Kressbronn, Constance
and Bodman, and on the banks of the river Rhine
down to Basle. It is also known from the shores of
Lake Starnberg and from along the banks of the river
Ticino. This species is endemic to the Alps. Outside
EC states, it occurs in Austria, Liechtenstein and Swit-
zerland where it is considered Endangered.

Along the shores of Lake Constance, the Forget-me-
not grows on sand and shingle associated with other
wetland plants characteristic of shallow water and
periodic submergence.

The species has experienced a rapid decline due to
tourist pressure (especially camping and boating),
pollution and consequent eutrophication. Water pol-
lution is thought to have caused the extinction of the
Lake Constance Forget-me-not in the Lake Lugano
area.

Some of the localities around Lake Constance are
protected, but eutrophication remains a problem. A
combination of habitat protection, improved pollution
control, habitat management and restocking measures
is required if the continuing decline of this species is
to be prevented.

Cretan Mint

Nepeta sphaciotica
[Labiatae: Mint family]

The Cretan Mint is a perennial herb with white flowers,
which grows to a height of about 10-20 cm.

This Endangered plant is one of many species which
are endemic to the island of Crete, where it grows on
the northern side of Mount Svourichti in the Lévka Ori
(White Mountains) at an altitude of about 2,300 metres.
The piant is confined to calcareous rocks and screes
on a north-facing slope. Like many of the rare en-
demic plants of Crete, this species has always had a
restricted distribution and inhabits a relatively inac-
cessible location.

However, there is concern that overgrazing in the
Cretan mountains may be threatening the survival of
the Cretan Mint because sheep eat the flowers and
prevent the production of seed. In the late 1960s less
than 50 plants were found to be surviving and the
species is now considered to be in great danger of ex-
tinction unless a combination of habitat protection
and other conservation measures can be immedi-
ately taken.

The main priorities are to protect the habitat from
overgrazing, with parallel measures to take the spe-
cies into cultivation with the aim of reintroducing
nursery-grown plants back into the wild. Without these
measures, the Cretan Mint may well become extinct in
the near future.

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Federal Republic of Germany

Distribution of Elb Water Oropwort in the Federal Republic
of Germany. Belgian localities not shown (data not
available).

Elb
Water Dropwort

Oenanthe conioides
[Umbelliferae: Carrot family]

This plant is known only from the valley of the Lower
Elbe and tributaries between Zollenspieker/Howe
near Hamburg and Gluckstaat in Schleswig-Holstein,
Federal Republic of Germany, and two localities in
Belgium. It grows with other tall wetland plants in riv-
erside wetlands depenaent upon a special flooding
regime.

The Elb Water Dropwort has declined in all its loca-
tions. In the FRG it is primarily threatened by dyking
and deepening of the River Elbe. This activity has
eliminated the seasonal flooding necessary for the
survival of this Endangered plant. Embankment of
many tidal rivers with resulting disturbance and frag-
mentation of remaining populations has caused fur-
ther declines.

Four nature reserves have been established but the
largest remaining population of 200 plants at Moor-
burg is threatened by works to extend the harbour.

Rhodes Peony

Paeonia rhodia
[Paeoniaceae: Peony family]

The Rhodes Peony grows up to 40 cm tall and has
large dark green leaves cut into oval segments and
white flowers 7-10 cm across with orange-yellow sta-
mens and a strong and fragrant smell of cloves. This
most handsome plant, related to the Cretan peony
(Paeonia clusii) of Crete and Karpathos, is Virtually
restricted to the island of Rhodes, although scat-
teered populations are found on the islands of Kos,
Lesbos and Samos in the eastern Aegean.

Itis known from nine localities in total, five of which are
on the slopes of Mount Profitas Elias in the centre of
Rhodes, where the peony is still locally frequent. How-
ever, the habitat is not extensive and has suffered
from severe forest fires, especially during the summer
of 1987 when huge areas of the island's woodland
and scrub were devastated.

On Profitas Elias, the Rhodes Peony grows between
400-800 metres in small stands of a few square
metres within open woodland dominated by Calabrian
Pine and cypress. It provides a magnificent spectacle
in April, flowering alongside several species of wild
orchid including the spectacular Komper's Orchid
(Comperia comperiana) at one of its few European
Stations. These woods are of considerable importance,
not only for their rich flora but also because they
contain stands of native cypress on the steep and
rocky ground.

The Rhodes Peony is threatened by the destruction.
of its habitat, notably through fire, the risk of which
grows with the increasing numbers of tourists. The
summit ridge of Profitas Elias is easily accessible by
road, and the plants are therefore vulnerable to pick-
ing and trampling by both tourists and villagers, espe-
Cially at Easter when peonies and other striking flow-
ers are used to decorate churches. Profitas Elias
should be established as a nature reserve, and full
protection given to its forests and diverse fiora.

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Cretan Date Palm

Phoenix theophrasti

[Palmae: Palm family]

> Main area af distribution (Crete)

e Outlying locality on Nisiros

The Cretan Date Palm is one of only two species of
palm native to Europe. This, together with its classical
appearance and its tendency to form palm groves at
isolated localities behind sandy bays along stretches
of Cretan coastline, have attracted increasing interest
from tourists and film-makers alike.

Within the European Community, the palm is con-
fined to Crete, although one outlying locality is be-
lieved to occur on the Aegean Island of Nisiros. Until
about two years ago, the Cretan Date Palm was

believed to be endemic to Greece, but new palm-
groves have now been located on the Datca Penin-
sula of south-west Turkey.

A slender tree, up to 12 metres high, the Cretan Date
Palm often has several trunks and acrown of leaves 2-
5 metres long. Its typical habitat consists of damp
gullies and valleys leading down to the sea which
have high water tables and are subject to seasonal
flooding.

On Crete, five main populations are known, the larg-
est being at Vai in the north-east extremity of the
island, where it extends over an area of around one
square kilometre and supports some 700 trees. Due
to tourist and other human pressures in the past, this
site has now been declared a nature reserve and
access to the grove is by permit only. Elsewhere on
the island, however, the remaining populations are
small, scattered and receive no protection. At Preveli,
on the south coast, the palm grove is located in a
small riverine valley and is threatened by campers
who cause major damage by cutting the basal fronds
for use as shelters. As the palm regenerates from the
base of the main trunk, this activity is very harmful and
unless itis prohibited, the palm grove will become ma-
ture and eventually die out from the lack of young
trees. The site at Preveli has also suffered from fires
started by campers and because protective Pistacia
scrub has been cleared to make access easier.

Even though the palm grove at Vai is protected, it is

still the target of thousands of tourists who visit each
year to see the palms and picnic. Potential danger

from fire is therefore high.

mied sie neisiD
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Fylrru! relat geri)

rpm tartcomepey o fe
neg teteno! wor mwmD
wari mene aut

The place name ‘Finiki’, meaning palm, is not uncom-
mon in the Aegean region and this suggests that the
palms remaining today may represent the fragments
of a formerly much larger and more widespread
population. This beautiful tree has a strong place in
local culture and has now become a tourist attraction
on Crete, featuring on postcards throughout the is-
land and as a theme for café names. This suggests
widespread support for the palm’s protection. Any
conservation measures taken must therefore take
into account, not only the paim’s special ecological
requirements, but the needs and demands of the local
community and the tourists that flock to see it each
year.

Of the Cretan localities, only the one at Vai is ade-
quately protected. Additional conservation measures
are needed atits other localities, particularly at Preveli,
the second largest population on Crete.

The Cretan Date Palm is related to the Cultivated Date
Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and could prove important
in the future for breeding new hybrid cultivars, possi-
bly with improved disease resistance, which may
prove to be economically valuable.

@ Distribution of the main localities of Cretan Date-palm on Crete
(other localities consisting of scattered trees are not mapped)

Sardinian
Gooseberry

Ribes sardoum
[Grossulariaceae: Gooseberry family]

The Sardinian Gooseberry is known from only one
locality on Sardinia, where it grows at Monte di Oliena
in Su Prada. It is a small spineless shrub, reaching a
height of 1.5 metres, which grows on calcareous
rocks at an altitude of 1,200 metres in a small damp
valley. There are only 30 or so gooseberry shrubs in
the sole population which extends over approximately
200 square metres in a habitat of scrub and upland
garrigue. Many other of Sardinia’s rare or endemic
plants also grow in this area.

Monte di Oliena is included in the area of the pro-
posed National Park of Gennargentu but is not yet
protected. The main threat to the Sardinian Goose-
berry is fire and its poor regenerative capacity. Italian
botanists consider that this species may be heading
for extinction in the wild.

Full protection of its habitat is required, together with
suitable management in situ to produce better condi-
tions for its survival. Such management should in-
clude reducing grazing pressure, creating fire breaks
and consideration to a programme of artificial propa-
gation with subsequent reintroduction of plants to the
wild. A study of its population biology may also shed
light on why it does not reproduce well in the wild.

aniseed

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sivas ©

Shore Dock

Rumex rupestris
[Polygonaceae: Dock and knotweed family]

The Shore Dock is undistinguished in appearance
and might be thought to be just another wayside
dock. However, it is one of the world's rarest docks,
restricted to the Atlantic coasts of Europe from north
Spain to Wales. It has erect, branched stems 30-100
cm tall, oblong to narrowly oval, rather bluish-green
leaves, and clusters of small flowers - the fruits of
which bear 3 corky floats by which they are dispersed
in sea-water.

This dock is known from Galicia in north-west Spain,
Britanny and Normandy in north-west France, the
Channel Isles, south-west England and from Angle-
sey inWales. The localities are scattered and the plant
is nowhere common. For example, although wide-
spread in Britain at the beginning ofthis century, 1989
figures indicated that only about 13 sites remain, eight
of which contain a total of less than 250 plants.

The habitat of the Shore Dock is the upper part of
seashores, especially where a stony beach lies adja-
cent to a Cliff that is damp with fresh water seepage,
but sometimes in damp places in sand dunes. The
plant is Vulnerable and has declined dramatically due
to pressures of tourism, including both seaside build-
ing development and trampling of its unstable habitat
by large numbers of visitors. Afforestation of sand
dunes has also destroyed suitable habitat for it at one
Welsh locality. In Finistere (France) the Shore Dock
has become Extinct at many former localities due to
the invasion of its habitat by Hottentot Fig (Carpobro-
tus edulis), an introduced daisy-like plant originally
from South Africa.

It is very important that the remaining localities be
protected from unrestricted public access and other
pressures. Consideration should also be given to the
restoration of former habitats that have become
degraded by, for instance, invasion of Carpobrotus.

ity

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——_—-

Venetian Glasswort

Salicornia veneta
[Chenopodiaceae: Goosefoot family]

The Venetian Glasswort, like all members of the genus
Salicornia, is confined to shallow saline waters and
has fleshy, cylindrical stems that ‘crackle underfoot’.
Many species of Sa/icornia are considered a delicacy
and are popular in local cuisine. The Venetian Glasswort
is confined to the tidal shores of the Venice Lagoon,
which is a fragile coastal environment, threatened by
infilling for the construction of industry and other
developments. Pollution has also altered the water
quality and plant life of the lagoon. In particular,
pollution from sewage and agricultural fertilisers has
caused a plague of seaweed, large quantities of which
have to be dredged from the lagoon each day. The
ecology of the shoreline and intertidal areas is
particularly threatened by accumulating piles of rotting
seaweed which are stranded at high tides and by
mechanical beach-cleaning operations which become
necessary to clear them.

The Venetian Glasswort is an example of a species
where a combination of measures are required to
ensure its protection. As a priority, the fragile shore-
line habitat must be safeguarded, by prohibiting land
reclamation and other damaging developments. In
addition, there is an urgent need to curb the use of
agricultural fertilisers, so that pollution of rivers enter-
ing the lagoon and the consequent effects of the
seaweed plague are reduced.

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gjerey Birnoots2

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dparetiennn mero vie eo ease vr"

sanat wer io oll intact POS YBa

Holzmann’s Catchfly

Silene holzmannii
[Caryophyllaceae: Carnation family]

This small catchfly is an erect, unbranched annual
plant upto 20 cmtall, with paired lance-shaped leaves
and small pinkish flowers. It is a rare plant of scattered
distribution through the European part of the south-
ern Aegean Sea, where it is mostly restricted to very
small islands. Some of these islands are remote, but
many are adjacent to larger islands or mainland coasts
which are becoming increasingly susceptible eitherto
severe disturbance from repeated visits by tourists or,
more seriously, by the use of these islands for short
term grazing by goats.

Holzmann’s Catchfly is thought to occur at 13 locali-
ties but further investigation is needed to establish
whether the plant still survives at all these sites. It is
part of a unique community of small plants that has
evolved on islands; its fine adaptation to this habitat is
shown by its fruits which are able to float and survive
in sea water and this is its major method of dispersal
from one island coast to another.

The often tiny islands where the catchfly grows could
be granted strong protection if grazing were prohib-
ited. (Apparently, even a few goats left on these
islands can cause total destruction to the vegetation
in a very short time.)

Furthermore, careful diversion of tourists away from
sensitive zones on some of the more accessible
islands, especially in Attica and eastern Crete, would
benefit greatly the chances of this species’ survival.

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Bristle Fern

Trichomanes speciosum
[Hymenophyllaceae: Filmy Fern family]

A fern with thin, membranous and highly dissected
leaves some 10-40 cm long which arise froma creep-
ing stem usually embedded in fissures of sandstone
or similar porous rock close to streams and waterfalls.

The Bristle Fern grows in situations with constant
flowing water, and because of its very thin texture, is
confined to highly moist, often dark, crevices and
gullies in deep narrow wooded valleys in areas of high
rainfall. Throughout its range it is threatened by defor-
estation and the drying out of small watercourses. It

: has also become established in isolated man-made
Note: Bristle Fern is also scattered throughout the Atlantic : :

Islands (distribution not mapped here) wells or mine-shafts in France and Ireland.

This Vulnerable fernis a representative of a fast dimin-
ishing ancient subtropical flora and is of high scientific
interest.

The Bristle Fern is scattered throughout the Atlantic
Islands where it is often associated with the native
laurel cloud forest, a habitat which is critically threat-
ened. In northern Spain it is present in a number of
localities where it is particularly threatened by
encroaching Eucalyptus plantations. The few popula-
tions inthe French Pyrenees are Endangered and the
single Portuguese population may be Extinct. In both
Britain and Ireland it islegally protected and one of the
British sites is located within a National Nature Re-
serve. One population is known inthe Apuane Alps of
northern Italy where it requires protection.

In the past this attractive fern was highly sought after
for decorating the sitting rooms of Victorian England
and elsewhere in Europe, and many wild populations
a were completely removed as a result.

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Threatened tulips

of Greece
Tulipa spp.

[Liliaceae: Lily family]

Goulimy’s Tulip (Tulipa goulimyi) is a beautiful tulip
which grows to about 10-25 cm tall and has brilliant
orange-red flowers 4-5 cm across. It occurs only in
the most south-eastern part of the Peloponnese, the
adjacent islands of Elafonisos and Kithira, and at one
station on the most westerly extremity of Crete. Alto-
gether this tulip is known from 18 localities, but at
almost all of them only a few individuals are present.
Of these, even fewer actually flower each year and
these are frequently picked by villagers. Reproduc-
tion is principally by offsets from the bulbs, but this is
threatened by the gathering of the sweet-tasting bulbs
for food. Furthermore, the plant's habitat of sandy
fields and stony or gravelly places amongst low scrub,
often near the sea, is being eroded by ine expansion
of arable cultivation and glasshouse construction and
by the development of the coast for tourism. Bulbous
plants, suchas the Goulimy’s Tulip, are vulnerable not
only to the use of herbicides for weed control, but also
to modern deep ploughing which precludes their sur-
vival even on the margins of arable fields.

In order to conserve this threatened plant, areas of
suitable habitat should be protected against agricul-
tural and building development, especially on Kithira
where Goulimy’s Tulip is still locally frequent. Digging
up the bulbs, mostly done by children, should be
strongly discouraged, perhaps as part of a general
educational campaign about the value of wild flowers.

Another species, Wavy4eaved Tulip, (Tulipa undulati-
folia), which grows in cultivated fields, may be even
more critically threatened as a result of deep plough-
ing. 50 years ago it was sold by the bucket in the
Athens flower market but the main reason for its
decline is changing agricultural methods rather than
picking.

Total known distribution of Goulimy’s Tulip

Wavy-leaved Tulip

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A species cf Veronica

Mount Iti Speedwell

Veronica oetaea
[Scrophulariaceae: Foxglove family]

Mount Iti speedwell is a rather hairy annual plant not
more than 5 cm tall, with tiny, narrow leaves and
inconspicuous flowers. Despite its diminutive stature,
it is one of the most interesting plants of the Greek
mountains, being restricted to the upper slopes of
Mount Iti, south-west of Lamia in central Greece,
where it occurs in just two temporary pools formed
from snow melt in the spring. Its nearest relatives
occur in western Asia.

The habitat of Mount Iti Speedwell is a very special-
ised one which is vulnerable and very localised through-
out Europe. Not long after the discovery of the spe-
cies in 1976, its only known site became threatened
due to bauxite mining nearby. This brought consider-
able disturbance to the general area. Ancilliary devel-
opments such as the construction of mine and for-
estry roads placed further pressures on the area.

A site survey is now needed to determine whether the
species has survived this interference as the pools
themselves are very fragile, being shallow and only a
few metres in diameter — they are therefore very
sensitive to even quite small changes in the local
environment.

It is imperative that any further mining of bauxite or
construction of roads be directed away from these
pools and their catchment area. Indeed, the whole
area of Mount Itiis of major scientific interest and has
a rich flora that includes a number of species rare or
endemic to Europe. It is therefore clear that Mount Iti
merits special protection, and any activity likely to
damage the flora (and fauna) should be prohibited.

‘

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Viviparous
Chain Fern

Woodwardia radicans
[Blechnaceae: Chain fern family]

Arobust fern, with leaves up to 2.5 metres long arising
from a short thick stem that remains close to the
ground. The blade of the leaf comprises deeply toothed
leaflets and bears near the tip a young plantlet which
eventually establishes itself independently. The re-
productive bodies (clusters of spore-cases) are in
chain-like groups on the underside of the leaf.

Woodwardia radicans, like all chain ferns must have
its roots in water or moist soil and are found associ-
ated with rocky streams in steep-sided valleys or in
scrubby more open valley floors where natural under-
ground drainage channels provide the right environ-
ment. The species is therefore Vulnerable and threat-
ened by schemes to remodel watercourses and other
activities involving the management and canalisation
of drainage channels.

The main centre for the Viviparous Chain Fern is the
Atlantic !slands: the Canarylsies, Madeiraand Azores,
where the fern is characteristically found in gullies and
ravines associated with remnant laurel forest, a criti-
cally threatened habitat which has been subject to
much recent clearance and replacement with forestry
plantations of Japanese Larch (Cryptomeria japon-
ica). Remnant populations of the Viviparous Chain
Fern in north Portugal and northern Spain are threat-
ened by re-afforestation and the making of extraction
roads which is changing water-courses. There are
only three sites in Italy, where the species is protected
by provincial laws, and one in Sicily, but active man-
agement is needed if it is to survive. The sole French
site is in north Corsica and is unprotected. The single
population in western Crete is threatened by agricul-
tural development.

Note: Also present througnout the Atlantic Islands

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Bf Linana algarviana

Cabo St Vincente

@ Thymus camphoratus

Atlanac Ocean

Cabo St Vincente

Distribution of some rare and threatened endemic plants of the
Algarve, Southern Portugal

Some threatened
plants of Portugal

Wild plants
of the Algarve

Thymus camphoratus and Thymus cephalotos
[Labiatae: Mint family]

Linaria algarviana
[Scrophulariaceae: Foxglove family]

The Portuguese Algarve remains a wondertul place
for its wealth of wild flowers, although pressure for
tourism developments is constantly reducing the extent
and distribution of natural and semi-natural vegeta-
tion. One of the richest areas for plant life in Portugal
is the ‘Berrocal’ region of the Algarve - a zone of
limestone which begins at Cabo St Vincente (the
south-west corner of Portugal), extending to Tavira to
the east. Many interesting and colourful plants are
found in this area, including a number of species
which are endemic to Portugal, such as the Berrocal
Thyme “Tomilho Cabegudo” (Thymus cephalotos), a
distinctive aromatic dwarf shrub which grows in open
stony areas.

Two other plants endemic to the Algarve and of world
Endangered status also grow nearby, along a short
windswept stretch of coast to the east of Cabo St
Vincente, between Odeceixe and Sagres. This area of
spectacular limestone coast is known as the ‘Barlav-
ento’. Its grazed headlands support a rich flora of
herbs and aromatic dwarf shrubs including the Cam-
phor Thyme (Thymus camphoratus) and Algarvian
Toadflax (Linaria algarviana). The latter species has
attractive violet-coloured flowers measuring up to 2.5
cm iniength, which are spotted with white or yellow.

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:

- The south-west coast of the Algarve, and the ‘Berro-
H cal’ limestone zone are both very important floristi-
{ cally and many foreign ‘botanical tourists’ visit the
: area every year. It is to the credit of the Portuguese
* government that illegal building has recently been
stopped in some parts of the sensitive coastal zone
near Cabo St Vincente, but pressure for tourism de-
velopment everywhere in the Algarve remains signifi-
cant and there are further threats from quarrying.
Actionto protect remaining areas of natural and semi-
natural vegetation, including the zones where the two
endemic thymes grow, is urgently required. Such
areas are undoubtedly worthy of special designation,
such as a Special Protection Area.

Abrotea

Asphodelus bento-rainhae

@ Abrotea: area of distribution

[Liliaceae: Lily family)

This elegant white-flowered asphodel is a herbaceous
perennial which grows up to one metre tall. It is
endemic to Portugal and is known from east-central
Portugal where it grows in clearings and glades in
native forests of Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica)
and along the edges of roads. The Abrotea has a
restricted distribution, usually on slopes with a north-
easterly aspect and is confined to the mountain area
of Guardunha, around Fundao.

It is permanently threatened from fire, mostly started
deliberately and further threatened because of un-
regulated and increasing expansion of cherry or-
chards on the mountain slopes.

The exact population and distribution of this rare plant
is not precisely known. However, the creation of
nature reserves at Guardunha is urgently required in
order give protection to the Abrotea and the remain-
ing native oak forests in which it grows.

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CONSERVATION SUMMARIES

2: LOWER PRANES

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A selection of threatened species from Annex I(b) of the
"Proposal for a Council Directive on the
protection of natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora"

SaLAAMMU2 VOITAV Ssavi0? ae
2TMAIT ASWOE SS eo

Distribution: All Member States of the EC

Member States where Large Crimson Wax Cap is
threatened (declining in ali otners)

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Large Crimson
Wax Cap

Hygrocybe punicea
[Hygrophoraceae: Wax Cap Family]

Large Crimson Wax Cap is a large, bright red toad-
stool which is a species of old, agriculturally unim-
proved grassland. It prefers calcareous soils, usually
of clay or loam which are poor in humus.

This fungus has declined over its entire range, par-
ticularly in the north-west European lowlands.

Large Crimson Wax Cap is threatened for a variety of
reasons including abandonment of pastures and their
afforestation, the use of artificial fertilisers and liquid
manure, and the ploughing up of old grassland.

In view of the intensification of agricultural practices
throughout Europe, this species is regarded as ex-
tremely Vulnerable, even in areas where it is still
relatively frequent.

Many other species of fungi which are characteristic
of old pastures are similarly threatened, including
those belonging to the genera Hygrocybe, Camaro-
phyliopsis, Entoloma, Dermoloma, Clavaria, Clavul-
inopsis and Geopglossum.

The Large Crimson Wax Cap is listed as threatened in
the Netherlands, Federal Republic of Germany, Po-
land and Sweden. The most pressing conservation
requirement for this species is to ensure that tracts of
old grassland are maintained by traditional grazing
practices without the use of modern fertilisers and
liquid manures. In addition, abandoned ancient pas-
turelands need to be identified and appropriate graz-
ing management reinstated on them. This should also
benefit many other declining wild flowers and lower
plants characteristic to this threatened habitat type.

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Pendulous Lichen

Usnea longissima
[Usneaceae]

This is the longest pendulous lichen known in the
northern hemisphere. reaching a length of 1-2 metres
in favourable conditions. It can form impressive fes-
toons hanging from tree branches and swaying with
the wind.

The lichen grows on trees in virgin undisturbed for-
ests, mainly in primitive stands of spruce. Neither can
it survive any disturbance of its habitat and disap-
pears as soon as the air is contaminated by pollution,
even at extremely low and undetectable quantities. It
cannot colonise tree plantations, even in apparently
suitable conditions. Lichenologists regard this spe-
cies as the symbol of the vanishing lichens -- unable
to survive modern forest management (such as re-
moval of old and dead trees, drainage and clearance
of the understorey) and the formidable disaster of
acid rain.

Fifty years ago, Pendulous Lichen was quite common
in Scandinavia and the mountains of central Europe
including the Alps and the Carpathian Mountains. It
has already disappeared from all its localities in the
Federal Republic of Germany, the French Alps and
Italy. It is on the verge of extinction in Switzerland,
Austria and southern Scandinavia. The only healthy
populations now remaining are in north-west Spain
and in two sheltered valleys in the central Pyrenees in
France.

The future of the species can only be secured by
absolute protection to the undisturbed forests in which
it survives and by implementation of strict measures
to control all forms of air pollution throughout Europe.

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Abrotea

Adonis cyllenea

Adonis distorta

Adonis, Apennine
Alkanet, curled
Ammophila arenaria
Anchusa crispa
Angelica heterocarpa
Angelica, Atlantic
Asphodelus bento-rainhae
Astragalus aquilanus
Astragalus maritimus
Astragalus verrucosus
Bedstraw, Sicilian
Birdsfoot-trefoil, Succulent
Bog-moss

Borderea chouardii
Brassica cretica
Brassica glabrescens
Brassica insularis
Brassica macrocarpa
Cabbage, Coincy’s rock
Cabbage, Cretan
Cabbage, Egadi
Cabbage, Fuerteventura
Cabbage, hairless
Cabbage, Sardinian
Camarophyllopsis
Campanula _ sabatia
Carlina diae
Carpobrotus edulis
Catchfly, Holzmann’s
Centaurea heldreichii
Centaurea balearica
Centaurea horrida
Centaurea kalambakensis
Centaurea lactiflora
Centaurea megarensis
Centaurea niederi
Centaurea peucidanifolia
Centaurea princeps
Cephalanthera cucullata
Clavaria

INDEX OF PLANT NAMES

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Clavulinopsis
Coincya rupestris
Comperia comperiana
Cotton-weed

Crambe_ sventenii
Cryptomeria japonica
Dermoloma

Digitalis purpurea
Dock, shore
Dropwort, Elb water
Entoloma

Eryngium viviparum
Eryngo, Brittany
Eucalyptus
Euphorbia lambii
Fern, bristle

Fern, hairy clover
Fern, viviparous chain
Fig, hottentot
Forget-me-not, Lake Constance
Foxglove

Foxglove, cockscomb
Foxglove, purple
Galium littorale
Gaudinia hispanica
Gaudinia, Spanish
Gentian, great yellow
Gentiana lutea
Geopglossum
Glasswort, Venetian
Globularia stygia
Globularia, Styx
Gooseberry, Sardinian
Gypsophila papillosa
Gypsophila, downy
Hammarbya paludosa
Harebell, Savona
Helleborine, Cretan
Hygrocybe punicea
Isoplexis chalcantha
Juniper

Knapweed

Lactuca watsoniana

20,42

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Lamyropsis microcephala 26

Larch, Japanese 25
Laser, long-rayed 27
Laserpitium longiradium 27
Lettuce, Watson’s 25
Lichen, pendulous 51
Linaria algarviana 46
Linaria hellenica 28
Loosestrife, wavy 30
. Lotus kunkelii 29
Lythrum flexuosum 30
Marram 4
Marsilea batardae 31
Marsilea_ strigosa 31
Milk-vetch 6
Mint, Cretan 33
Myosotis_ rehsteineri 32
Nepeta sphaciotica 33
Oak, Pyrenean 47
Oenanthe conioides 34
Orchid, bog 22
Orchid, Komper’s 35
Otanthus maritimus 4
Paeonia clusii 35
Paeonia rhodia 35
Palm, Cretan Date 36-37
Palm, Date 37
Peony, Cretan 35
Peony, Rhodes 35
Pheasant’s-eye, Mount Killini 2
Phoenix dactylifera 37
Phoenix theophrasti 36,37
Phragmites 5
Pine, stone 20
Pinus pinea 20
Pistacia 36
Quercus pyrenaica 47
Reed 5
Ribes sardoum 38
Rumex rupestris 39
Salicomia veneta 40
Silene holzmannii 41
Sisymbrium arundonum 16
Speedwell, Mount Iti 44
Sphagnum 22

Spruce 51

Spurge, Gomeran
Thistle, Dia carline
Thistle, Sardinian
Thyme, Berrocal
Thyme, camphor
Thymus camphoratus
Thymus _ cephalotus
Toadflax, Algarvian
Toadfiax, Maléa
Trichomanes speciosum
Tulip, Goulimy’s

Tulip, wavy-leaved
Tulipa goulimyi

Tulipa undulatifolia
Usnea longissima
Veronica oetea
Wax-cap, large crimson
Woodwardia radicans
Yam, Chouard’s flowering

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Full text of "European plants in peril: a review of threatened plants in the European Community"

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