Dawlish Warren: Plants

Dawlish Warren Flora

Dawlish Warren has long been recognised as an important botanical site. Sand Crocus was noted here as long ago as 1834 and until a recent discovery in southern Cornwall, the Warren was the only known UK site for this species. Several other nationally rare species also occur here along with another 30+ species which are nationally scarce.

This page covers all higher plants recorded on the Dawlish Warren and builds on the previous work of many botanists and follows the order of the published reserve flora produced by Mary De Lemos. This flora is available from Teignbridge District Council or direct from the Visitor Centre on the Reserve.

The following list is intended as a supplement to the original Flora, so only information on the recent presence or absence of each species is given, unless a new species has been found or rediscovered since the 1992 publication. Despite the reserve being in its 25^th year, new species are being discovered all the time, some are garden exotics persisting for only a short time but others are local or even national rarities.

Please pass on any records you may have to the website, they will of course be passed on directly to the reserve wardens.

It is our intention to try to use Dawlish Warren photographs of many species on this website, both common and rare. If you can help, please get in touch.

1993 - 2004

Lycopodiellaceae

Marsh Clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata N

Equisetaceae

Common Horsetail Equisetum arvense Y

Rediscovered on the Golf Course in 1995.

Ophioglossaceae

Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum Y

Small Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum azoricum Y

First discovered in Greenland Lake in 2003, was refound and its identity confirmed

in 2005. The only other site in Devon is on Lundy Island.

Osmundaceae

Royal Fern Osmunda regalis Y

Aspleniaceae

Hart’s-tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium Y

Previously only recorded under a shop in the amusements area, was lost when this area

was cleared. In 2005 was found growing in a number of areas were bramble had been

cleared the previous year. Also recorded growing amongst boulders on the old seawall.

Aspidiaceae

Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas Y

Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata Y

Polypodiaceae

Intermediate Polypody Polypodium interjectum Y

Aspleniaceae

Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Y

Found growing around the old shops in 1995, presumably removed along with the shops!

A single plant was found in 2004 growing along the Dune Ridge.

Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes N

A single plant was found in 2005 growing under the Railway Tunnel, actually under the

recording area boundary.

Aspidiaceae

Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Y

Discovered on the wall above the 18^th green on the Golf Course in 1995.

Pinaceae

Scots Pine Pinus sylvestrus Y

Taxaceae

Yew Taxus baccata Y

Salicaceae

Crack Willow Salix fragilis Y

Common Sallow Salix cinerea Y

Eared Sallow Salix aurita Y

Rediscovered near the Main Pond in 1995.

Goat Sallow Salix caprea Y

Creeping Willow Salix repens Y

Common Osier Salix viminalis Y

White Poplar Populus alba Y

Lombardy Poplar Populus nigra 'italica' N
Discovered growing in the ditches in the car park in 2006.

Betulaceae

Silver Birch Betula pendula Y

Downy Birch Betula pubescens Y

Rediscovered around Greenland Lake in the mid 1990s.

Alder Alnus glutinosa Y

Rowan Sorbus acuparia Y

A small seedling was discovered by the Main Pond in 1996.

Several others have also since been found.

Whitebeam Sorbus intermedia N
A sapling discovered growing in Greenland Lake in 2007

Corylaceae

Hazel Corylus avellana N

Fagaceae

Holm Oak Quercus ilex Y

Turkey Oak Quercus cerris Y

Pendunculate Oak Quercus robur Y

Beech Fagus sylvatica Y

A seedling emerged from mast washed onto the strandline in 2002. Two saplings were found
behind the Main Pond in 2005.

Cannabaceae

Hop Humulus lupulus Y

Urticaceae

Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Y

Small Nettle Urtica urens Y

Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica Y

Polygonaceae

Ray’s Knotgrass Polygonum oxyspermum N

Rediscovered on the Golf Course in 2007.

Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare Y

Small-leaved Knotgrass Polygonum arenastrum N

Water-pepper Polygonum hydropiper N

Redshank Polygonum persicaria Y

Sea Knotgrass Polygonum maritimum N?

Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Y

Has been removed from the reserve, but is increasing along the railway line

near the amusements.

Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex acetosella Y

Sorrel Rumex acetosa Y

Curled Dock Rumex crispus Y

Sharp Dock Rumex conglomerates N

Red-veined Dock Rumex sanguineus N

Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius Y

Chenopodiceae

Sea Beet Beta vulgaris maritma Y

Red Goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum N

Fat Hen Chenopodium album Y

Good King Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus Y

Discovered growing on the Golf Course in 1995 & 2007, probably on imported soil.

Oak-leaved Goosefoot Chenopodium glaucum N

Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata Y

Common Orache Atriplex patula N

Halbard-leaved Orache Atriplex hastata (A. prostrata) Y

Babington’s Orache Atriplex glabriuscula Y

Tree Purslane Atriplex halimus Y

Shore Orache Atriplex littoralis N

Sea Purslane Halimone portulacoides Y

Sea Samphire, Glasswort Salicornia europaea Y

Purple Glasswort Salicornia ramosissima Y
Recorded in 1998.

Long-spiked Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya Y
Recorded in 1998.

- Salicornia gracillima N

Perennial Glasswort Salicornia perrenis Y

One-flowered Glasswort Salicornia pusilla Y
Recorded in 1997.

Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima Y

Saltwort Salsola kali Y

Aizocaceae

Hottentot Fig Carpobrotus edulis N

Potulacaceae

Water Blinks Montia fontana Y

Caryopyllaceae

Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllofolia Y

Sandwort Arenaria leptoclados N

Sea Sandwort Honkenya peploides Y

Chickweed Stellaria media Y

Lesser Chickweed Stellaria pallida Y

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea N

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea N

Dusty Miller Cerastium tomentosum N

Common Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium fontanum Y

Sticky Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium glomeratum Y

Little Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium semidecandrum Y

Sea Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium diffusum Y

Upright Chickweed Moenchia erecta Y

Awl-leaved Pearlwort Sagina subulata N

Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens Y

Annual Pearlwort Sagina apetala Y

Sea Pearlwort Sagina maritima Y

Rediscovered in Greenland Lake in 1995.

Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus N

Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis N

Greater Sea Spurrey Spergula media Y

Lesser Sea Spurrey Spergula marina Y

Sand Spurrey Spergula rubra Y

Ragged Robin Lynchnis flos-cuculi Y

Bladder Campion Sliene vulgaris vulgaris Y

Sea Campion Sliene vulgaris maritima Y

Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria N
Discovered near the Cuckoo's Nest in 2004.

White Campion Silene alba Y

Red Campion Silene dioica Y

Pink Campion Silene x intermedia Y

Small-flowered Catchfly Silene gallica N

Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoids N

Sweet William Dianthus barbatus N
Discovered growing along the Back path above Greenland Lake in 2006.

Lauraceae

Bay Laurus nobilis Y

Ranunculaceae

Stinking Hellebore Helleborous foetidus N

Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba Y

Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens Y

Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris Y

Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus Y

Small-flowered Buttercup Ranunculus parviflorus Y

Celery-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Y

Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria Y

Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula Y

Brackish Water-crowfoot Ranunculus baudotii N

Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris N

Nymphaeaceae

White Water-lily Nymphaea alba Y

Discovered in the Main Pond in 1996.

Ceratophyllaceae

Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum Y

Discovered in the Main Pond in 1995.

Papaveraceae

Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum Y

Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas Y

Long-headed Poppy Papaver dubium Y

Rediscovered in 1995.

Prickly Poppy Papaver argemone N

Atlas Poppy Papaver atlanticum Y

Discovered in the late 1990s.

Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum Y

Rediscovered growing in Soft Sand Bay in 1996, however still only occasional

in its appearances.

Fumariaceae

Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis ssp. boraei Y

Cruciferae

Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale Y

Eastern Rocket Sisymbrium orientale N

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Y

Thale Cress Arabidopis thaliana Y

Rediscovered in the Car Park in 1997.

Wallflower Cheiranthus cheiri N

Wintercress sp. Barbarea sp. ?

American Wintercress Barbarea verna Y

Discovered in the mid 1990s.

Cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis Y

Wood Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa Y

Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta Y

Hairy Rockcress Arabis hirsuta Y

Discovered growing along the Back Path in 1995, has not been recorded since.

Honesty Lunaria annua Y

Sweet Alison Lobularia maritima N

Whitlowgrass Erophila verna praecox Species still present on site but no attempt has been

Erophila verna verna made to check subspecific status.

Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana Y

Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica Y

English Scurvy-grass Cochlearia anglica Y

Shepherd’s Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Y

Shepherd’s Cress Teesdalia nudicaulis Y

Field Penny-cress Thlaspi arvense Y

Smith’s Pepperwort Lepidium heterophyllum Y

Lesser Swinecress Coronopus didymus Y

Rape Brassica napus N

Black Mustard Brassica nigra Y

- Brassica cheiranthos N

Wild Mustard, Charlock Sinapis arvensis Y

Sea Rocket Cakile maritima Y

Seakale Crambe maritima Y