Plants
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Dorset's Plants
Erica ciliaris
Dorset Heath
Photo: Bryan Edwards
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Dorset is a small lowland county but supports one of the richest floras’ in
Britain; in fact the 10 km square around Wareham, SY98, supports more native
plant species than any other in the UK. The richness of the flora is due to
a number of factors including climate, geology, land-use and the network of
protected sites such as Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The flora is made up of 942 species (excluding hybrids) that are thought to be
native plus a further 142 species that are classed as archaeophytes.
These are species that are believed to have been fully naturalised before AD 1500,
and include many species associated with early agriculture and are collectively
known as ‘arable weeds’. Around 870 species recorded in the county are regarded as
aliens (neophytes) that have been introduced since AD 1500 and have become
naturalised outside of gardens.
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Rare Plants
Limonium recurvum subsp. recurvum
Portland Sea-lavender
A Red Data Book species endemic to the
Isle of Portland.
Photo: Bryan Edwards
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In conjunction with the Botanical Society of the British Isles, DERC have published a
Rare Plant Register for the county.
This brings together all recent records for species are rare nationally, or that are
rare or declining within Dorset, and covers 263 species.
The Dorset Rare Plant Register can be purchased from DERC
Price £8.00 + £2.00 p & p.
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Who To Contact
If you would like to send in your plant records, particularly those included in
the Rare Plant Register, or for further
information on how you can become involved, please contact:
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Dorset Environmental Records Centre