Cornish Biodiversity Network - Supporting Wildlife Recording
The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Endemic. ( Gentianella anglica subsp. cornubiensis Pritchard). An annual, mostly on chalk areas of southern Britain, but also on a few dune systems elsewhere.
Regional Distribution
It grows at Penhale Sands (SW75), near Porthtowan (SW64), and Black Cliff in the Hayle Towans (SW53).
Habitat & Ecology
Early Gentian grows in very short, fixed dune-grassland, often along tracks, and coastal maritime grassland. Populations fluctuate markedly year by year.
Threats
Lack of grazing, whether by rabbits or farm animals.
Conservation
Part of the Cornish population is protected by the MOD at Penhale Sands, which is a SAC. Early Gentian also carries the following statuses: WCA: Sch8, Berne: A1, HabDir: Annex 2/4/5.
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.