Dawlish Warren Flora

The Warren has long been recognised as an important botanical site, although the assessment of older records is complicated by the variation of site names used in the past. The spit has been variously known as Exmouth Sands, Exmouth Warren, Dawlish; and The Warren over the years, the familiar name not coming into regular usage until Great Western Railway renamed their station from Warren Platform to Dawlish Warren in 1912.

These older records include the first record of Purple Spurge for the UK in the late 18th century and Red Star-thistle in the early 19th century. Sand Crocus was first noted here as long ago as 1834, until a recent rediscovery in southern Cornwall, this was the only known UK site for this species.

Several other nationally rare species have also been recorded here along with 21 species which are classed as Nationally Scarce. Despite this extensive recording new species are still being discovered, some are garden exotics persisting for only a short time but others are local or even national rarities.

This page covers the 729 higher plant species & 22 hybrids recorded on Dawlish Warren and builds on the previous work of many botanists and the 1992 published flora produced by Mary De Lemos. The following list is intended as a supplement to the 1992 Flora, species not in bold have not been recorded since publication.

This list follows the order of A New Flora of Devon (2016), R.Smith, B.Hodgson & J. Ison; which includes an excellent section on the Warren.

Please pass on any records you may have to the Recording Group, they will be forwarded to the BSBI Vice county Recorder and Devon Biodiversity Records Centre.

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.

Related links:  BSBI    Plantlife

Devon (1850 2km squares) status	Recording area totals
Very rare - occurs in <10 2km squares	82
Rare – occurs in 10 – 30 2km squares	85
Occasional – occurs in 31 to 100 2km squares	154
Frequent – occurs in 101 – 500 2km squares	190
Common - occurs in 501 - 1400 2km squares	178
Very Common - occurs in over 1400 2km squares	61
	751

Last updated 12/07/22

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			1992 - 2010	2011- 2019
				SX9778	SX9878	SX9880
Lycopodiaceae
	Marsh Clubmoss	Lycopodiella inundata
	Very rare in Devon. Native. Last recorded on site in 1936.
Ophioglossaceae
	Adder’s-tongue	Ophioglossum vulgatum	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Native. Found in the damper areas of Greenland Lake and the VC dune slack.
	(c) Darren Maynard
	Small Adder’s-tongue	Ophioglossum azoricum	b		b
	Very rare in Devon. Native. First discovered in Greenland Lake in 2003, was re-found and its identity confirmed in 2005. There are only two other sites in Devon.
	(c) Alan Keatley
Equisetaceae
	Field Horsetail	Equisetum arvense	b	b	b
	Rediscovered on the Golf Course in 1995. Also occurs around the car park.
	Giant Horsetail	Equisetum telmateia
	Discovered by the Entrance Bushes in Nov 2021.
	(c) Phil Pullen
Osmundaceae
	Royal Fern	Osmunda regalis	b
	Previously occurred in the copse by the 2nd Tee but was lost during scrub clearance c2005. Rediscovered by the 12th fairway in 2020.
Dennstaedtiaceae
	Bracken	Pteridium aquilinum	b	b
	Discovered on the wall above the 18th green on the Golf Course in 1995. Also present along the Railway Embankment.
Aspleniaceae
	Hart’s-tongue Fern	Phyllitis scolopendrium	b	b	b
	Previously under a shop in the amusements area, was lost when this area was redeveloped. In 2005 was rediscovered in a number of areas where bramble had been cleared the previous year. Also recorded in the Entrance Bushes, along the railway embankment and amongst boulders on the old seawall.
	Black Spleenwort	Asplenium adiantum-nigrum	b	b	b
	Found on Langstone Rock with records around the old shops until lost to development and single plants found in 2004 along the Dune Ridge and 2021 on Warren Point after bramble clearance.
	Maidenhair Spleenwort	Asplenium trichomanes	b	b	b
	A single plant was found in 2005 growing by a light in the Railway Tunnel under the Recording Area boundary. It survived until 2017, two years longer than the light. Also was by the Boathouse in 2018 only.
Dryopteridaceae
	Male Fern	Dryopteris filix-mas	b		b
	Broad Buckler-fern	Dryopteris dilatata	b		b
Polypodiaceae
	Intermediate Polypody	Polypodium interjectum	b		b	b
	Found in areas of fixed dune and bramble scrub.
Pinaceae
	Scots Pine	Pinus sylvestrus	b		b
	A single mature tree and occasional saplings in the Entrance Bushes, previously also in Dead Dolphin Wood.
	(c) Alan Keatley
Taxaceae
	Yew	Taxus baccata	b		b	b
	A few scattered plants, no doubt from bird droppings. Largest trees around the 2nd Tee.
Nymphaeaceae
	White Water-lily	Nymphaea alba	b		b
	Discovered in the Main Pond in 1996, still present.
Lauraceae
	Bay	Laurus nobilis	b	b	b	b
	Several plants around the Main Pond, Cuckoo's Nest, Golf Course and on Warren Point.
Ceratophyllaceae
	Rigid Hornwort	Ceratophyllum demersum	b		b
	Discovered in the Main Pond in 1995, still present.
Papaveraceae
	Oriental Poppy	Papaver pseudorientale
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered by Langstone Rock in June 2022.
	Atlas Poppy	Papaver atlanticum	b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered in the late 1990s, didn't persist.
	Opium Poppy	Papaver somniferum	b	b
	Increasing at the landward end.
	Common Poppy	Papaver rhoeas	b	b	b
	Makes occasional appearances.
	Long-headed Poppy	Papaver dubium	b
	Rediscovered around the car park in 1995, persisted for several years. Refound on the golf course in 2021.
	Prickly Poppy	Papaver argemone
	Very rare in Devon. Native. Last recorded at the Warren in 1860.
	Yellow Horned-poppy	Glaucium flavum	b
	Rare in Devon. Native. Rediscovered growing in Soft Sand Bay in 1996, however only occasional in its appearances and was last recorded in 2005.
	White Ramping-fumitory	Fumaria capreolata	b	b
	Discovered on the Golf Course in 2009, still present.
	Common Ramping-fumitory	Fumaria muralis ssp. boraei	b	b	b
	(c) Alan Keatley
	Common Fumitory	Fumaria officinalis	b
	Discovered near the Boathouse in 2009.
Berberidaceae
	Darwin's Barberry	Berberis darwinii			b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. One bush near the Dune Pond discovered c 2014, still present, with a second in the Buffer Zone discovered in May 2021.
Ranunculaceae
	Stinking Hellebore	Helleborous foetidus
	One record on the Dune Ridge in 1991.
	Love-in-a-Mist	Nigella damascena
	Introduced. First recorded on the Golf Course in May 2022.
	Traveller’s-joy	Clematis vitalba	b		b	b
	Often found growing amongst Marram along the Dune Ridge.
	Orange Peel Clematis	Clematis tangutica	b			b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered growing on Warren Point in Sep 2010, still present.
	Meadow Buttercup	Ranunculus acris	b		b
	Creeping Buttercup	Ranunculus repens	b	b	b
	Bulbous Buttercup	Ranunculus bulbosus	b		b
	Small-flowered Buttercup	Ranunculus parviflorus	b	b	b
	Found in areas of short grassland, especially around the seawall.
	Celery-leaved Buttercup	Ranunculus sceleratus	b		b
	Found in ditches on the Golf Course.
	Lesser Spearwort	Ranunculus flammula	b		b
	Brackish Water-crowfoot	Ranunculus baudotii
	Rare in Devon. No recent sign.
	Lesser Celandine	Ranunculus ficaria	b	b	b
	Columbine	Aquilegia vulgaris
Grossulariaceae
	Redcurrant	Ribes rubum	b
	Discovered on the Golf Course in 1995. Still present, also by the Main Pond.
	Blackcurrant	Ribes nigrum	b
	Discovered in 1998 on an island in the Main Pond. Perhaps via the Starling roost.
	Flowering Currant	Ribes sanguineum	b
	Discovered in the Entrance Bushes in 1995.
	Gooseberry	Ribes uva-crispa	b
Saxifragaceae
	Elephant's-ears	Bergenia crassifolia		b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Spreading from plantings at Langstone Rock.
	Rue-leaved Saxifrage	Saxifraga tridactylites	b	b
	Discovered in 1995 on the railway platform. Still present, also on ledge above the 18th Green.
Crassulaceae
	Mossy Stonecrop	Crassula tillaea			b
	Nationally Scarce. Very rare in Devon. Native. Discovered in the Buffer Zone in 2017, with a second population near the seawall in 2018 and a third on the Golf Course in 2021. Only one other Devon site.
	Navelwort	Umbilicus rupestris	b	b	b	b
	Caucasian Stonecrop	Sedum spurium
	Previously occurred in Greenland Lake. Last recorded in 1990.
	Biting Stonecrop	Sedum acre	b		b	b
	White Stonecrop	Sedum album	b		b	b
	English Stonecrop	Sedum anglicum	b		b	b
Haloragaceae
	Spiked Water-milfoil	Myriophyllum spicatum	b		b
	Present in the Main Pond.
Fabaceae
	Kidney Vetch	Anthyllis vulneraria	b	b
	Population on the Back Path seems to have been lost to mowing but still present on Langstone Rock.
	Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil	Lotus glaber	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Native. Discovered in 2006 in front of the Entrance Bushes.
	Bird’s–foot Trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	b	b	b	b
	Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil	Lotus pedunculatus	b		b
	Hairy Bird’s-foot Trefoil	Lotus subbiflorus	b	b
	Nationally Scarce. Rediscovered on Langstone Rock c2002.
	Slender Bird’s-foot Trefoil	Lotus angustissimus
	Rare in Devon. Native. Last recorded in late 19th century.
	Bird’s-foot	Ornithopus perpusillus	b		b	b
	(c) Matt Knott
	Tufted Vetch	Vicia cracca	b	b	b
	Hairy Tare	Vicia hirsuta	b		b
	Smooth Tare	Vicia tetrasperma
	Rediscovered on the golf course in June 2021.
	Bush Vetch	Vicia sepium	b		b
	Common Vetch	Vicia sativa nigra	b		b
	-	Vicia sativa segetalis	b
	Broad Bean	Vicia faba	b
	Several plants discovered in a cleared area of Dead Dolphin Wood in 2005.
	Meadow Vetchling	Lathyrus pratensis
	Rediscovered near the Cuckoo's Nest in July 2021.
	Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea	Lathyrus sylvestris	b		b
	Rediscovered on the Golf Course in 1995, still present.
	Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea	Lathyrus latifolius	b	b
	First recorded in the 1840s. Rediscovered growing on the railway embankment in 1995, still present.
	Hairy Vetchling	Lathyrus hirstus
	Extinct in Devon. Last recorded in c1895.
	Grass Vetchling	Lathyrus nissolia	b
	Discovered on the Golf Course in 1995. Not seen recently. Refound in June 2021.
	Rest-harrow	Ononis repens	b		b
	(c) Steve Cox
	Tall Melilot	Melilotus altissima
	Ribbed Melilot	Melilotus officinalis			b
	Reappeared by the Tractor Compound in 2019 only.
	Black Medick	Medicago lupulina
	Lucerne, Alfalfa	Medicago sativa	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. Rediscovered in the Buffer Zone in 2009-2019.
	Toothed Medick	Medicago polymorpha	b		b
	Nationally Scarce. Rare in Devon. Native.
	Spotted Medick	Medicago arabica	b		b
	Bird's-foot Clover (Fenugreek)	Trifolium ornithopodioides	b		b
	White/Dutch Clover	Trifolium repens	b	b	b
	Alsike Clover	Trifolium hybridum
	Clustered Clover	Trifolium glomeratum	b		b
	Nationally Scarce. Rare in Devon. Native. First recorded in 1880.
	Suffocated Clover	Trifolium suffocatum	b		b
	Nationally Scarce. Rare in Devon. Native.
	Strawberry Clover	Trifolium fragiferum	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	Hop Trefoil	Trifolium campestre	b		b
	Lesser Trefoil	Trifolium dubium	b	b	b	b
	(c) Matt Knott
	Slender Trefoil	Trifolium micranthum	b		b
	Red Clover	Trifolium pratense	b	b	b
	Zigzag Clover	Trifolium medium	b		b
	Crimson Clover	Trifolium incarnatum
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Knotted Clover	Trifolium striatum	b		b	b
	Rough Clover	Trifolium scabrum	b		b	b
	Hare’s-foot Clover	Trifolium arvense	b		b	b
	(c) Andrew Cunningham
	Subterranean Clover	Trifolium subterraneum	b		b
	(c) Matt Knott
	Tree Lupin	Lupinus arboreus	b		b	b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. Invasive Californian alien that has been much removed, partially kept in check by aphid damage and occasional frosts.
	Laburnum	Laburnum anagyroides
	Rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Broom	Cytisus scoparius	b
	No recent sign.
	Montpelier Broom	Cytisus monspessulanus
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Dyer’s Greenweed	Genista tinctoria
	Rare in Devon. Native. Last recorded in 1983.
	Common Gorse	Ulex europaeus	b		b	b
Polygalaceae
	Common Milkwort	Polygala vulgaris
	Heath Milkwort	Polygala serpyllifolia
Rosaceae
	Meadow-sweet	Filipendula ulmaria	b		b
	Abundant in Greenland Lake.
	Chinese Bramble	Rubus tricolor
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered in the Car Park in 2022.
	Raspberry	Rubus idaeus	b		b
	Discovered in 1995. Became widespread behind the Main Pond, now scarce.
	Bramble	Rubus fruticosus agg.
	The majority of species were recorded by Ray Gould in 1995. No work has been done since so it is unclear if any species have been lost to scrub removal.
	Elm-leaved Bramble	Rubus ulmifolius	b	b	b	b
	Frequent in Devon. Native, the commonest and most widespread bramble.
	-	Rubus leightonii	b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	-	Rubus longithyrsiger
	Occasional in Devon. Native, a predominately western species.
	-	Rubus tuberculatus	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	-	Rubus sempernitens	b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	-	Rubus imbricatus	b
	Occasional in Devon. Native.
	-	Rubus albionis	b
	Occasional in Devon. Native, a predominately western species.
	-	Rubus conjunigens	b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	-	Rubus rubritinctus	b
	Frequent in Devon. A predominately western species.
	-	Rubus lamburnensis	b
	Rare in Devon. Native, a predominately western species.
	Himalayan Giant	Rubus armeniacus	b		b
	Occasional in Devon. Introduced.
	-	Rubus dentatifolius	b
	Occasional in Devon. Native, a predominately western species.
	-	Rubus adscitus	b
	Occasional in Devon. Native, a predominately western species.
	Silverweed	Potentilla anserina	b		b	b
	Tormentil	Potentilla erecta
	Creeping Cinquefoil	Potentilla reptans	b		b
	Garden Strawberry	Fragaria ananassa	b
	Rediscovered near the promenade in 1998.
	Wood Avens	Geum urbanum	b		b
	Agrimony	Agrimonia eupatoria	b		b
	Salad Burnet	Sanguisorba minor
	Parsley-piert	Aphanes arvensis	b		b
	Slender Parsley-piert	Aphanes microcarpa	b	b	b	b
	Rediscovered in 1994. Previously overlooked as often the commonest of the species pair present.
	Field-rose	Rosa arvense	b
	Discovered in 1995.
	Japanese Rose	Rosa rugosa	b		b
	Largely eradicated from the Wryneck Plain, still present by the hide and a small area of Golf Course.
	Short-styled Field Rose	Rosa stylosa	b
	Recorded in 1997.
	Dog Rose	Rosa canina	b		b
	Sweet Briar	Rosa rubiginosa	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Native.
	Small-flowered Sweet-Briar	Rosa micrantha	b
	Recorded in 1997.
	Cherry Plum	Prunus cerasifera	b		b
	Largest bush is along the Back Path.
	Blackthorn	Prunus spinosa	b	b	b
	Plum	Prunus domestica
	Rediscovered growing by the Railway Station in July 2021.
	Cherry	Prunus avium	b		b
	A sapling discovered growing in the Buffer Zone in 2009. Others found near the station in 2020.
	Dwarf Cherry	Prunus cerasus	b		b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Back Path Prunus.
	Portuguese Laurel	Prunus lusitanica
	Peach	Prunus persica
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Pear	Pyrus communis
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Apple	Malus domestica	b		b
	At least five trees and several saplings on site, including large specimens along the Back Path and by the Cuckoo's Nest.
	Rowan	Sorbus acuparia	b		b
	A small seedling was discovered by the Main Pond in 1996. Several others have also since been found, a couple now mature trees.
	Swedish Whitebeam	Sorbus intermedia	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. A sapling discovered growing in Greenland Lake in 2007. Several others have been discovered but the only remaining one is in Dead Dolphin Wood.
	Bearberry Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster dammeri	b	b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Planted around the tourist attractions this species was spreading into the dune grassland. Lost to salt damage after the 2015 storms.
	Himalayan Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster simonsii	b		b
	Wall Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster horizontalis	b		b
	Discovered on Warren Point around 2003. One plant also on the Golf Course.
	Franchet's Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster franchetti	b		b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced.
	Stern's Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster sternianus	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. Recorded in 2002-03.
	Hawthorn	Crataegus monogyna	b		b
Eleagnaceae
	Sea Buckthorn	Hippophae rhamnoides	b			b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. A sapling on Warren Point was the first record since the 1950s but was removed after a couple of years.
	Oleaster	Elaeagnus x ebbingei			b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered by the old entrance. Self seeded from planted stock around the car park.
Rhamnaceae
	Alder Buckthorn	Frangula alnus			b
	A bush in the car park was overlooked until 2018!
Cannabaceae
	Hop	Humulus lupulus	b		b
	Regular along the fence by the Visitor Centre.
Urticaceae
	Stinging Nettle	Urtica dioica	b	b	b
	Small Nettle	Urtica urens	b	b	b
	Most often recorded around disturbed ground at the landward end of site.
	Pellitory-of-the-wall	Parietaria judaica	b	b	b	b
	Present in some areas along the Dune Ridge, but much was lost to the sea defence works.
Cucurbitaleae
	Wax Begonia	Begonia cucullata			b
	Very rare in Devon. Introduced. On the Golf Course on imported soil in 2011.
Fagaceae
	Beech	Fagus sylvatica	b
	Three records. A seedling emerged from mast washed onto the strandline in 2002. Two saplings were found behind the Main Pond in 2005 with another opposite the VC in 2008.
	Turkey Oak	Quercus cerris	b		b
	A couple of trees and occasional saplings presumably from the planted copse on the Golf Course.
	Holm Oak	Quercus ilex	b		b
	Several small trees on site with the largest in the Spinney on the Golf Course now removed.
	Pedunculate Oak	Quercus robur	b		b
	Mainly found around the Entrance Bushes and the Spinney.
	Hazel	Corylus avellana
Betulaceae
	Silver Birch	Betula pendula	b		b
	Downy Birch	Betula pubescens	b		b
	Rediscovered around Greenland Lake in the mid 1990s.
	Alder	Alnus glutinosa	b	b	b	b
	Italian Alder	Alnus cordata	b		b
	Rare in Devon. Introduced. Discovered in the car park in 2007, now well established there.
Oxalidaceae
	Procumbent Yellow Sorrel	Oxalis corniculata	b
	Discovered in 1995 growing on the estuary bank, also around golf course buildings, still present.
	Pink Sorrel	Oxalis articulata	b	b	b
	Rediscovered by the 6th Tee, still present, also in Buffer Zone, by 7th green and railway.
	[Sorrel sp.]	Oxalis sp.	b
	Discovered on the Golf Course, did not flower, but neither of the above species.
Euphorbiaceae
	Annual  Mercury	Mercuralis annua
	Purple Spurge	Euphorbia peplis
	Extinct in the UK. This species was recorded 'in abundance near Exmouth' before 1778, at the base of the Warren before 1794 and Exmouth Sands in 1829. The Warren was known as Exmouth Sands or Exmouth Warren at this time.
	Mediterranean Spurge	Euphorbia characias
	Widely planted, the first self seeded plant away from beds was noted in Apr 2021.
	Sun Spurge	Euphorbia helioscopia	b	b	b
	Caper Spurge	Euphorbia lathyrus	b	b
	A single seedling grew up above the tideline in Soft Sand Bay in 1997. A flowering plant and several seedlings were discovered by the amusement park in 2004 with occasional reappearances.
	Dwarf Spurge	Euphorbia exigua
	Petty Spurge	Euphorbia peplus	b	b	b
	Rediscovered in 1995 in dunes near the Bight. Now occurs around the Car Park and Amusements.
	Portland Spurge	Euphorbia portlandica	b		b	b
	(c) Andrew Cunningham
	Sea Spurge	Euphorbia paralias	b			b
	Rare in Devon. Native. Only found on Warren Point.
Salicaceae
	White Poplar	Populus alba	b	b	b
	Scattered in areas outside around the Car Park & seawall.
	Lombardy Poplar	Populus nigra 'italica'	b		b
	Discovered in the ditches in the car park in 2006, now well established there.
	Crack-willow	Salix fragilis	b		b
	Common Osier	Salix viminalis	b			b
	A single tree on Warren Point.
	Goat Willow	Salix caprea	b		b
	Grey Willow	Salix cinerea	b	b	b	b
	Eared Willow	Salix aurita	?
	Creeping Willow	Salix repens	b		b
	Single plants in Greenland Lake and VC slack.
Violaceae
	Sweet Violet	Viola odorata	b	b	b
	Discovered near the railway platform in 1995, but lost. Rediscovered near the Visitor Centre in 2011 and Amusements in 2016. Still present and spreading in both locations.
	Common Dog-violet	Viola riviniana	b		b
	Rediscovered at the eastern end of Greenland Lake around 2000.
	Early Dog-violet	Viola reichenbachiana	b
	Discovered in Greenland Lake in 2005.
	Heath Dog-violet	Viola canina	b		b
	Near Threatened. Very rare in Devon. Native.
	[Wild Pansy]	Viola tricolor
	Old records are now considered to be best assessed as V.arvensis.
	Field Pansy	Viola arvensis	b		b
	Garden Pansy	Viola × wittrockiana
	Discovered around The Boathouse in 2019.
Linaceae
	Pale Flax	Linum bienne
	Fairy Flax	Linum cartharticum	b		b
	Rediscovered growing in the drier areas of Greenland Lake.
	All-seed	R