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
Native; Mediterranean-montane species. In the British Isles this sub-species only occurs in Cornwall. It was thought to occur in Pembrokeshire but recent research using Molecular Markers has disproved this (Squirrell & Hollingsworth, 2008).
Regional Distribution
Restricted to a small area on the The Lizard (SW61) where, at most, a dozen plants
survive: all bar one are female.
Habitat & Ecology
A dwarf prostrate shrub growing in coastal maritime heath on serpentine.
Threats
The tiny population size means this species could easily be wiped out by fire. Recently threatened by the introduction of Highland cattle to graze The Lizard heaths.
Conservation
It is easily propogated and specimens are maintained at several locations. Re-introduction attempts have been made in the past, but have failed.
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.