Current status of the rare British endemic Gentianella amarella subsp. occidentalis, Dune Gentian (Gentianaceae)

Lyn Evans,Tim Rich

doi:10.33928/bib.2021.03.136

Abstract

Gentianella amarella subsp. occidentalis, Dune Gentian, is a rare annual of dune slacks endemic to Western Britain. Its current status was compared to historic records. A maximum of 2250 plants were found in ten subpopulations in four sites in 2019-2020. It was not refound in three sites and 15 subpopulations. It is assessed as IUCN threat category ‘Endangered’. Its primary vegetation type is SD14d Salix repens - Campylium stellatum dune slack Festuca rubra subcommunity, within which it favours short, open structure on dry, low nutrient soils. Conservation requires managing and creating its niche in the dune slacks.

Highlights

Whilst declines are difficult to quantify due to varied historical recording, the data suggests that it has declined in both populations and sites since the 1970s and it was not refound in three sites and 15 subpopulations
The decline noted by Jones (1994) has continued with the loss of the Penally and Pembrey sites, and it must be regarded as IUCN (2001) threat category ‘Endangered’
The decline has occurred despite it having had statutory protection for years. It is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended, is a Section 41 Species of Principal Importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 in England, a Section 7 Species of Principal Importance in Wales under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 in Wales and a Red Data Book species (Wigginton, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Referred to as Gentianella uliginosa (Willd.) Börner in Britain, it was recently recognised as a morphologically distinct taxon related to the biennial G. amarella subsp. Rich & McVeigh (2019) noted Dune Gentian had been recorded from seven sites in four vice-counties (North Devon, Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire) and gave its IUCN threat category as ‘Vulnerable’. Following concern that it was declining, a comprehensive survey of all its sites in 2019-2020 was undertaken, its IUCN threat category re-assessed, the habitat described and recommendations made for its conservation. The results are summarised here; fuller details are given in Evans (2020)

Methods

Results

Conclusion