Dianthus armeria L.

Deptford Pink, Ffllwyblod y Deptfordd CARYOPHYLLACEAE SYN: none

Status: Nationally Scarce UK BAP Priority Species since 1998 Schedule 8 Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) Lead partner: Plantlife International Status in Europe - Not threatened 34 10-km squares post 1987

UK Biodiversity Action Plan: The following are the current targets following the 2001 Targets Review: T1 - Maintain the geographical range of Deptford Pink in the UK. T2 - Maintain viable populations at all extant native sites. T3 - Achieve natural colonisation of new sites. T4 - Increase population size at three existing native sites by 2003. T5 - Establish populations at three sites within the historic range by 2008. T6 - Establish an ex situ programme to protect genetic diversity, create a reserve population and provide experimental material. Progress on targets as reported in the UKBAP 2002 reporting round can be viewed by selecting this species and logging in as a guest on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/2002OnlineReport/mainframe.htm. The full Action Plan for Dianthus armeria can be viewed on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=261.

Contents 1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics.................................................... 2

1.1 Morphology & Identification ............................................................................ 2 1.2 Taxonomic Considerations.............................................................................. 3 1.3 Genetic implications ...................................................................................... 3

2 Distribution & Current Status ............................................................................... 3 2.1 World .......................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Europe ........................................................................................................ 4 2.3 United Kingdom............................................................................................ 7

2.3.1 England ................................................................................................. 8 2.3.2 Northern Ireland.................................................................................... 10

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2.3.3 Scotland............................................................................................... 10 2.3.4 Wales .................................................................................................. 10 2.3.5 Ireland................................................................................................. 11 2.3.6 Channel Islands..................................................................................... 11

3 Ecology & Life Cycle.......................................................................................... 11 4 Habitat Requirements ....................................................................................... 12

4.1 The Landscape Perspective........................................................................... 12 4.2 Communities & Vegetation ........................................................................... 13 4.3 Summary of Habitat Requirements ................................................................ 14

5 Management Implications .................................................................................. 15 6 Threats / Factors leading to loss or decline or limiting recovery ............................... 16 7 Current Conservation Measures .......................................................................... 16

7.1 In Situ Measures........................................................................................ 16 7.2 Ex Situ Measures ....................................................................................... 17 7.3 Research Data ............................................................................................ 17 7.4 Monitoring Dianthus armeria and the Common Monitoring Standard ................... 18

8 References ...................................................................................................... 18 9 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................... 19 10 Contacts....................................................................................................... 20 11 Links............................................................................................................ 20

1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics

1.1 MORPHOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION A short-lived herb with a slender tap root and rigidly erect flowering stem 30-60cm, simple or branched above and sometimes also below, not glaucous, shortly hairy at least above. Basal leaves linear-oblanceolate in a rosette; stem leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, keeled, 3-5cm x 1-3mm, obliquely ascending, all with short hairs. Flowers 8-13mm diameter, ± sessile, in terminal and lateral two to ten flowered, short-stalked, cymose clusters (see Figures 1 & 2). Involucral bracts erect, leafy, hairy, equalling the flower-clusters. Epicalyx scales 2, lanceolate-subulate, hairy, ribbed, equalling the calyx-tube which is 13-20mm, cylindrical, narrowing upwards, woolly, strongly ribbed with 5 lanceolate-acute teeth. Petals bright rose-red with pale dots; limb 4-5mm, narrowly ovate, shallowly and irregularly toothed, not contiguous; claw white. Capsule ± cylindrical, equalling the calyx. Seeds 1.5mm across (Clapham et al, 1987).

Figures 1 – Dianthusarmeria flower close-up(Photograph by PhilWilson).

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Figure 2 –Dianthus armeria flowering stem(Photograph byBob Gibbons).

1.2 TAXONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS None.

1.3 GENETIC IMPLICATIONS No studies on genetic diversity within this species have been carried out. Such a study would be desirable to elucidate relationships between populations.

2 Distribution & Current Status

2.1 WORLD Dianthus armeria is native to Europe and introduced in North America (Clapham et al, 1987) (see Figure 3).

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Figure 3 - World distribution of Dianthus armeria (Hulten & Fries, 1986). (Reproduced with kind permission from the publishers Koeltz Scientific Books).

2.2 EUROPE Dianthus armeria is found in most of Europe northwards to c.60o in Sweden and Finland, Caucasia and Armenia (Clapham et al, 1987) (see Figure 4). Its status in Europe is ‘Not Threatened’.

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Figure 4 - European Distribution of Dianthus armeria (Jalas, J. & Suominen, J, 1972). (Reproduced with kind permission from the Committee for Mapping the Flora of Europe and Societas, Biologica Fennica Vanamo, Helsinki.)

Where known the status of Dianthus armeria in each country in Europe is given in Table 1. Table 1 - Country by country status of Dianthus armeria across Europe. (*Country codes are taken from Flora Europaea as of 1964 with red data book listings where available [Definitions of the red list categories]).

COUNTRY* IUCN

LISTING STATUS NOTES SOURCE(S)

AL ALBANIA Au AUSTRIA

WITH LIECHTENSTEIN

Az AZORES Be BELGIUM

WITH LUXEMBOURG

Bl ISLAS BALEARES Br BRITAIN

Incl ORKNEY, ZETLAND & ISLE OF MAN

VU A marked decline was apparent before 1930 & this has continued. Has declined very rapidly in southern England, and populations tend to be small.

Wigginton (1999), Preston et al (2002).

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COUNTRY* IUCN

LISTING STATUS NOTES SOURCE(S)

Bu BULGARIA Co CORSE Cr KRITI

WITH GAVDHOS, KARPATHOS & KASOS

Cz CZECHOSLOVAKIA LR Bures et al (2001).

Da DENMARK Rare Ingelog et al (1993).

Fa FAEROER Fe FINLAND INCLUDING AHVENANMAA

Not listed Kotiranta et al (1998).

Ga FRANCE Not listed Olivier et al (1995).

Ge GERMANY EN

In states of Meckenburg-Vorpommern & Schleswig-Holstein

Ingelog et al (1993).

Gr GREECE EXCLUDING KRITI & ISLANDS OUTSIDE EUROPE

Not listed Phitos et al (1995).

Hb IRELAND BOTH NORTHERN IRELAND & THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

He SWITZERLAND Not listed Antonietti (1991). Ho NETHERLANDS Hs SPAIN

WITH GIBRALTAR & ANDORRA, EXCL BL

IS ICELAND IT ITALY Not listed Conti et al

(1997). Ju YUGOSLAVIA SERBIA

Not listed Stevanović (1999).

Lu PORTUGAL No NORWAY Po POLAND Not listed Kaźmierczakowa

& Zarzycki (2001).

Rm ROMANIA Rs(N) NORTHERN DIVISION

Not listed Kotiranta et al (1998).

RS(B) BALTIC DIVISION ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA

EN

Ingelög et al (1993); Environmental Protection Department of the Republic of Lithuania (1992).

RS(C) CENTRAL DIVISION

RS(W) SOUTH-WESTERN DIVISION

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COUNTRY* IUCN

LISTING STATUS NOTES SOURCE(S)

Rs(K) KRYM (CRIMEA) Rs(E) SOUTH-EASTERN DIVISION

SA SARDEGNA SB SVALBARD

(SPITSBERGEN, BYORNOYA, JAN MAYEN)

Si SICILIA Su SWEDEN VU Gärdenfors

(2000); Ingelög et al (1993).

Tu TURKEY VU Ekim et al (2000).

2.3 UNITED KINGDOM OVERVIEW Up to the beginning of the 20th century Dianthus armeria was widespread and locally frequent across southern England (Wilson, 1999). As Figure 4 illustrates, there were centres of distribution in the London Basin, around Southampton and Portsmouth, the Severn Valley and the South Hams of Devon, with scattered sites as far north as Central Scotland, although it is possible that these northern records were only casual. There were also several sites around the Welsh coasts. Before 1950, Dianthus armeria was recorded from a total of 273 10km squares in England, 10 in Wales and 10 in Scotland. Between 1950 and 1979, the corresponding figures were 62 10km squares in England, 2 in Wales and 3 in Scotland. This decline has continued, so that between 1980 and 1997, it had disappeared entirely from Scotland and was present in only 41 10km squares in England and 5 in Wales (Wilson, 1999). Surveys between 1998 and 2003 located populations in 23 10km squares in England and 4 in Wales (Wilson, 2002). The total national count of 10km squares up to 2003 is 324. The current area occupied by this species is only 7% of its total historic area, and many of the populations are very small. It is ranked as the species with the 73rd highest negative change index between 1930-1969 and 1987-1999 (I = -1.31) in the New Atlas of The British Flora (Preston et al, 2002). It is a Nationally Scarce species (Stewart et al, 1994), it

Figure 5 – British distribution of Dianthusarmeria.

is listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and is included on the priority list of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK Biodiversity Steering Group, 1995).

2.3.1 ENGLAND (based on English Nature’s Natural Areas) Dianthus armeria appears to have declined considerably in England during the 20th century (see Table 2). There is however some potential for recovery from the seed-bank which is thought to be very long-lived (D Watson, pers comm.), and this has been demonstrated at one site in Plymouth where large numbers of plants appeared when 40-year old scrub was cleared to make way for housing development (Wilson, 2002). It is always difficult to interpret past distributions from herbarium and published records. Common plants will be relatively under-collected, while rare species will be over-collected. The frequency of multiple collections from the same sites suggests that it may have been less abundant in the past than the distribution maps indicate. The great majority of losses from vice-counties occurred in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (Wilson, 1999), but losses from within its UK range have continued to the present day. Dianthus armeria has a very non-nucleated distribution pattern in Britain now. This is probably a result of its rapid loss from areas where the habitat has undergone catastrophic change, leaving only scattered fragments that are still suitable. Many of the remaining sites are on road verges, beside tracks or associated with the relics of the railway network. Many of the latter have gone in recent years as former British Rail property has been sold off for development. The former dense cluster of sites around London has now all but disappeared as commons have been built over, abandoned to scrub or converted to municipal parkland. The only site within the M25 in recent years has been Ham Lands near Richmond where the population has been small and sporadic in appearance. The largest population in Britain however is in the North Kent Plain at Farningham Woods in northwest Kent. There are also five sites with small populations on the low clay escarpment overlooking the Thames Estuary in South Essex (Greater Thames Estuary), an area that must have had a remarkable flora in the early 20th century. The cluster of sites around Southampton and Portsmouth (South Coast Plain and Hampshire Lowlands) disappeared in the early 20th century, and there is only a single road verge site remaining in the Severn and Avon Vales. It has fared a little better in South Devon where development pressures have been less intense, and there is still an extensive population at Buckfastleigh, with several other sites in the area. The remaining sites are scattered throughout Southern England northwards to Nottinghamshire. Table 2 - Present & former distribution of Dianthus armeria in England by vice-county (Wilson, 2002).

V-C NO.

VICE-COUNTY

TOTAL NUMBER OF

EXTANT SITES

(POST 1990) / EXTINCT SITES

%

DECLINE

DATE & PLACE(S) OF LAST

RECORD

1 West Cornwall 1/10 91 2001 Portreath 2 East Cornwall 3/13 81 2002 Wiveliscombe 3 South Devon 6/38 86 2003 Buckfastleigh Rock

Farm 4 North Devon 0/10 100 1950 Lundy 5 South Somerset 1/5 83 1999 Bruton 6 North Somerset 1/16 94 1999 Axbridge

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V-C NO.

VICE-COUNTY

TOTAL NUMBER OF

EXTANT SITES

(POST 1990) / EXTINCT SITES

%

DECLINE

DATE & PLACE(S) OF LAST

RECORD

7 South Wiltshire 1/10 91 2000 SPTA Blackheath 8 North Wiltshire 0/2 100 9 Dorset 1/1 0 2001 Hethfelton 10 Isle of Wight 0/5 100 1892 Ventnor Downs 11 South Hampshire 1/27 96 2001 Avon Heath 12 North Hampshire 0/7 100 1966 Over Wallop 13 West Sussex 0/16 100 1937 Several sites in

Flora 14 East Sussex 0/21 100 1985 Near Eastbourne 15 East Kent 1/33 97 1999 Sandwich Bay 16 West Kent 1/38 97 2002 Farningham Wood 17 Surrey 4/47 92 2002 Chobham Common 18 South Essex 5/23 82 2002 One Tree Hill 19 North Essex 1/17 94 2001 Sudbury 20 Hertfordshire 0/45 100 1988 Harpenden 21 Middlesex 0/11 100 1913 Chorleywood 22 Berkshire 0/25 100 1953 Tilehurst 23 Oxfordshire 0/6 100 1975 N of Balscote 24 Buckinghamshire 0/9 100 1926 Hedgerley

25/26 Suffolk 0/13 100 1950 Coddenham 27 East Norfolk 0/12 100 1911 Loddon 28 West Norfolk 0/2 100 ? Fincham or Northwold 30 Bedfordshire 0/3 100 1971 Luton 31 Huntingdonshire 0/1 100 1980 Woodwalton Fen 33 East Gloucestershire 0/6 100 1948 Several sites in

Flora 34 West Gloucestershire 0/1 100 1948 (Flora) Tutshill 36 Herefordshire 0/13 100 1896 Bank nr Ledbury

Road 37 Worcestershire 1/27 96 2002 Hawford 38 Warwickshire 0/6 100 1992 Water Orton Sidings 39 Staffordshire 0/2 100 1901 (Flora) Lichfield,

Mony Hills 40 Shropshire 0/6 100 1953 Mordiford 53 South Lincolnshire 0/1 100 1894 Coningsby 54 North Lincolnshire 0/1 100 1977 Woodhall Spa 56 Nottinghamshire 1/1 0 2002 Widmerpool 57 Derbyshire 0/3 100 1903 Renishaw 58 Cheshire 0/2 100 1899 Chester, Moston 61 SE Yorkshire 0/1 100 1972 Catton Hall 62 NE Yorkshire 0/1 100 1877 Skelton 63 SW Yorkshire 0/1 100 1883 Strenshall Common 64 Mid-W Yorkshire 0/2 100 1881 Near York 66 Durham 0/1 100 1867 Nr Wolsingham 69 Westmorland 0/3 100 1885 Orton 70 Cumberland 0/3 100 1898 Three flora records

[NOTE: Dianthus armeria is still extant in vice-counties highlighted in bold.]

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2.3.2 NORTHERN IRELAND Dianthus armeria has never been recorded from Northern Ireland.

2.3.3 SCOTLAND Dianthus armeria is extinct in Scotland (see Table 3). It is thought to have become extinct in Scotland by the end of the 19th century. All occurrences may have been casual only. Table 3 – Former distribution of Dianthus armeria in Scotland by vice-county (Wilson, 2002).

V-C NO.

VICE-COUNTY

TOTAL NUMBER

OF EXTANT

SITES (POST

1987) / EXTINCT SITES

%

DECLINE

DATE & PLACE(S) OF LAST

RECORD

72 Dumfriesshire 0/1 100 1887 Auldgirth 80 Roxburghshire 0/1 100 1886 Kelso 83 Midlothian 0/3 100 1871 Three sites from

Flora 86 Stirlingshire 0/1 100 1871 Stirling Castle 88 Perthshire 0/2 100 1851 Leetown, Carse of

Gowrie

2.3.4 WALES Dianthus armeria has never been a frequent species in Wales, and most records are from the lowlands and coast of south Wales particularly Glamorganshire (see Table 4). There are now three sites in the south of the country: one from the edge of a reservoir in the midst of the former Port Talbot oil refinery, one from an old quarry in the valleys and one in a typical trackside site near Llanelli. There is also a site in North Wales on very old limestone quarry spoil (Wilson, 1999 & 2002). Table 4 - Present & former distribution of Dianthus armeria in Wales by county.

V-C NO.

VICE-COUNTY

TOTAL NUMBER

OF EXTANT

SITES (POST

1987) / EXTINCT SITES

%

DECLINE

DATE & PLACE(S) OF LAST

RECORD

35 Monmouthshire 0/2 100 1970 Wye Valley nr Monmouth

41 Glamorgan 2/5 71 2003 Baglan, Clydach Vale

44 Carmarthenshire 1/3 75 2001 Bryndias Farm 46 Cardiganshire 0/4 100 1954 Penparcau 51 Flintshire 1/2 67 2003 Coed y Felin 52 Anglesey 0/2 100 1821 Fryers Bach

[NOTE: Dianthus armeria is still extant in vice-counties highlighted in bold.]

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2.3.5 IRELAND Dianthus armeria is extremely rare in Ireland. A herbarium specimen at Kew Gardens from Horse Island, West Cork in 1950 is the first record. It was recorded there again in 1992, and it is believed to be present still (Wilson, 1999).

2.3.6 CHANNEL ISLANDS There are records from the 19th until the mid-20th century from Alderney, Sark, Guernsey and Jersey, although these may only relate to five separate sites. Recent records are from two places in the north of Guernsey in 1991 and 1992 (Wilson, 1999).

3 Ecology & Life Cycle The ecology and population dynamics of Dianthus armeria are the subject of a PhD research project being carried out by Jo Nightingale at the University of Sussex (Nightingale, 2002), which also includes Arabis glabra, a species believed to have a similar ecology. This should answer many questions of immediate relevance to the conservation management of both species. Additional research into seed biology and germination ecology is being carried out by Dave Watson at Bath Spa University College, and the behaviour of a population of Dianthus armeria is being monitored in permanent quadrats at Rock Farm, Buckfastleigh. This dossier will be updated with the results of these as they become available. This information will also be synthesised to form a Biological Flora account for publication in the Journal of Ecology. There is little existing information on the ecology of Dianthus armeria, but there is some anecdotal information upon which some working hypotheses can be based to enable some educated guesses to be made about methods for conservation management. Dianthus armeria appears to be largely a species with a biennial lifecycle. Seedlings generally germinate during the early spring although some germination occurs throughout the summer and early autumn, developing into rosettes during the first summer that then over-winter. These rosettes can be easy to find at sites with large populations. The flowering stem begins to elongate in the following late spring and early summer, with flowers appearing from the beginning of July onwards. Most flowering is over by the beginning of September, although some flowering can continue into November, especially in the South-West of England. Seedpods begin to ripen from early August onwards, but seeds are retained in the pods, being released gradually, and some can still be found in pods in the following February. A lifecycle of this sort is not unusual in biennial species. The seeds of D. armeria being dormant when shed from the parent plant can account for the pattern of germination observed. Dormancy is then broken by cold over winter, with seeds germinating as temperatures increase in the spring (Baskin & Baskin, 1988 & 2001). Germination can continue during the summer depending on the availability of moisture that is often a limiting factor in D. armeria sites (D. Watson, pers comm.). Dormancy may be re-imposed by cold in the autumn. Other biennials show similar behaviour (Baskin & Baskin, 1988). Seeds appear to require light for germination, and it is likely that seeds buried in the soil can remain dormant and germinate in response to soil disturbance. Plants can be induced into prolonging their lives by damage, for instance by rabbit grazing or cutting. Dianthus armeria appears to be very palatable to most grazing animals. Secondary flowering stems can be produced after cutting until the plants are killed by frosts in the late autumn. However, the reproductive success of these secondary flowers is

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unknown. There appears to be a certain amount of flexibility in the lifecycle. Up to 5% of plants in large populations have an annual life cycle, and a few plants are able to flower in more than one year (Wilson, 2001). The results from observations of marked plants are awaited for a full elucidation of the life cycle of this species (Nightingale, 2002). It appears likely that Dianthus armeria has a persistent seed-bank. This is a very important adaptation for a short-lived plant that relies on unpredictable site conditions, enabling it to survive the periods during which conditions are unsuitable. The length of time for which the seed can persist is unknown, but such information is very important when considering the suitability of sites for restoration management. Preliminary results suggest that seed can be dispersed by wind, but the distances are not known (J Nightingale, pers comm.). In terms of established C-S-R strategy (Grime et al, 1988), Dianthus armeria is probably best classified as a stress-tolerant ruderal. Nothing is known about mycorrhizal associates.

4 Habitat Requirements

4.1 THE LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE Dianthus armeria was probably once a species of open grassland that experienced occasional disturbance from erosion or the actions of herbivorous animals. It is however a highly palatable species and it is likely that regular, heavy grazing can cause the extinction of populations. It is most likely that it was once a species of extensively and haphazardly grazed mosaics of open habitats and scrub that would have been characteristic of common grazings, a formerly widespread habitat type around human settlements. There are a large number of records from tracks and roadsides. These were once a part of the system of interlinked commons typical of much of lowland Britain, and would have been used for the movement of stock. These tracks were not surfaced, and would have consisted of a mosaic of poached, exposed soil; vegetation recovering from disturbance; and perennial vegetation that would have been occasionally grazed. Such habitats would have provided an ideal situation for short-lived, opportunist species such as Dianthus armeria, but only fragments of these systems survive. An analysis of the habitat types in which Dianthus armeria has been recorded shows that as many as 69% of all sites are from track-sides, hedges, semi-natural grasslands and scrub and woodland edges (see Table 5). Much of the decline of this species has probably been due to the loss of such habitats through the enclosure of commons, agricultural improvement of pastures, urban development and forestry. The former concentration of sites in the London Basin was largely associated with the commons and related tracks belonging to what were once villages. These villages are now absorbed into the London conurbation. A 19th century development that was exploited by Dianthus armeria was the construction of the national railway system. This created a network of strips and patches of exposed, drought-prone, stony soil with little competing vegetation, ideal for annuals, biennials and short-lived perennials. A total of 11% of all records come from railway habitats including embankments, track-beds and sidings. It is still to be found in four sites associated with the railway system despite the dismantling of much of this during the 1960s, and the large-scale disposal of Railtrack property for development in the 1980s and 1990s. Two of these extant railway sites have now been re-absorbed into the surrounding countryside.

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The establishment of Dianthus armeria on the railway network may have been facilitated by the transport of seed in the materials used for the construction of track beds. The site at Buckfastleigh, for instance, has been partly quarried. Dianthus armeria still grows there in extensively grazed grassland and scrub, but also grows in the bottom of a quarry of Devonian Limestone. It is not known to what use this stone was put, but material from this and other similar quarries may have been used as railway ballast. It is thought that a similar mechanism has been responsible for the movement of another biennial, Verbascum pulverentulum, around East Anglia in gravel used in road construction (Beckett & Bull, 1994). Table 5 - Percentage of all historic and current sites for Dianthus armeria recorded in different habitats.

HABITAT TYPE PERCENTAGE OF SITES Trackside and associated hedges 34 Semi-natural scrub and grassland 22 Woodland and scrub edge 13 Railway habitats 11 Gravel pit/quarry 5 Walls 2 Ruderal 2 Cliff 2 Canal and river bank 2 Dunes <1 Arable 1 Sea wall 1 Upland moorland <1

A superficial examination of the habitat types in which Dianthus armeria is now to be found shows no clear pattern. Classification into broad habitat types however reveals that of the 33 extant sites, seven are track sides and roadsides, three are woodland edge and ten are from extensively managed grassland and scrub. Of the remainder, four are on remnants of the railway system, and three others are part of the large Buckfastleigh site that may function as a metapopulation. What all sites have in common are soils that are free draining and drought-prone, with open, non-vigorous vegetation. The vegetation is frequently maintained at such sites by periodic, irregular disturbance. Such disturbance can occur naturally by rabbit excavation, hedge maintenance and cattle trampling or be deliberately done by conservationists. There is no obvious soil preference, although there has been no analysis of soil chemistry at any sites. Populations are present on such widely varying substrata as chalk, Tertiary sands, calcareous boulder clay, Devonian limestones and shales. Sites are invariably well illuminated (Wilson, 1999). Where populations are situated on slopes, they are always south or southwest facing. This suggests either that the plants themselves are light demanding or that relatively high temperatures are required for ripening seed. Exposure to sun may also be a factor in increasing the susceptibility of the site to drought and reducing the competitive pressure from other plants.

4.2 COMMUNITIES & VEGETATION Within the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), the community in which Dianthus armeria is most frequently found is MG5b Centaurea nigra-Cynosurus cristatus grassland, Galium verum sub-community (Rodwell, 1991). This is a vegetation type

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typical of rough pastures over base-rich but not highly calcareous substrata. Other populations are within MG1e Arrhenatherum elatius grassland, Centaurea nigra sub-community, and scrub edge communities (“saum” vegetation) related to W22 Prunus spinosa scrub, W21a Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub, Hedera helix-Urtica dioica sub-community or W23 Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub (Rodwell, 1990). Some populations are in unidentified OV (“open vegetation”) communities in recently disturbed sites, and single sites are in CG3d Bromus erectus grassland, Festuca rubra sub-community and U1f Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Rumex acetosella grassland, Hypochoeris radicata sub-community (Rodwell, 1991). No detailed phytosociological analysis of vegetation containing Dianthus armeria has yet been carried out.

4.3 SUMMARY OF HABITAT REQUIREMENTS A wide range of habitat features is important to Dianthus armeria across Britain, and these have been summarised in Table 6. Table 6 - Habitat features important to Dianthus armeria in Britain. TYPE Physical & topographical A lowland species, but there is a single upland site in South

Wales at Clydach Vale at c450m. Soils are free draining, derived from a range of substrata including artificial ones, from hard and soft limestones to acidic sands and gravels. Sites are generally flat or gently sloping to the south and west. Sites are unshaded.

Vegetation/structural Dianthus armeria occurs in open vegetation with exposed soil particularly during the germination and seedling establishment period. It can occur on nearly vegetation-free substrata such as rock chippings and cracked tarmac. The main original semi-natural vegetation type was probably a moderately species-rich pasture type such as MG5b and the vegetation characteristic of the interface between this and scrub. The main vegetation types in which it can now be found include MG5b, MG1e, the vegetation of scrub margins and unidentified OV types.

Processes

Dianthus armeria needs exposed soil for germination. This is created either by erosion, rabbit digging, cattle trampling or by human activity. Dianthus armeria appears to be palatable to herbivores including rabbits, and is frequently grazed off.

Chemical Soil chemistry is unknown but in general soils appear to be near neutral pH and deficient in macronutrients.

A preliminary assessment of the habitat requirements of Dianthus armeria can be made, although these will change when the results of the ongoing experimental work at Bath Spa University College and Sussex University are known. It appears to have many features in common with another short-lived species Arabis glabra, which is also included in Plantlife

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International’s Back from the Brink Programme (Wheeler, 1999) and a full profile of which can be viewed or downloaded from our Species Dossier web page. Dianthus armeria is a short-lived species that has relatively simple requirements. It needs to produce seed regularly and requires gaps in the vegetation for seedling establishment. The seeds germinate readily not only in the spring but also, given sufficient water, throughout the summer, and need no special treatment other than perhaps low temperatures over winter. It appears to have a long-lived seed-bank that enables it to survive periods of adverse conditions. In essence, Dianthus armeria needs a nutrient-poor, drought-prone soil on which vegetation cover develops slowly. This should be subject to occasional disturbance to expose soil and buried seed, although disturbance should not be so frequent as to destroy germinated seedlings or flowering plants. Flower and seed production can continue into the autumn, particularly if plants have been damaged, but the majority of seeds are produced by mid-September. This has implications for the times at which vegetation should be cut. Management varies between sites. At most sites there has been a lapse of traditional management in recent years leading to development of closed grassland swards and scrub. At some sites there have been major changes in land use, and due to the marginal nature of many sites, they are particularly vulnerable to chance events. Conservation management at many sites has started only recently, largely in response to priority listing in the UKBAP and Plantlife International’s Back from the Brink project. Factors that have maintained sites in suitable condition in the absence of specific conservation management include soil erosion, rabbit digging and grazing, stock grazing and chance disturbance by vehicles. Where conservation management has been undertaken, successful measures have included scrub clearance and intensive vegetation control. Stock graze several sites, cattle being most commonly used (eg Kingsteignton, Buckfastleigh Churchill Farm). Some of the sites that have had most plants in recent years have received radical chance management as part of building operations, which have resulted in massive soil disturbance and exposure of buried seed (Plymouth Radford, Bryndias Farm).

5 Management Implications Some preliminary suggestions for the management of Dianthus armeria can be made, but may be modified in the light of results of current research.

Annual cutting of vegetation between mid-September and mid-April.

Soil disturbance. Open soil conditions should be maintained, either as part of a programme of radical vegetation clearance or by surface rotovation. This should be carried out before the end of March when germination normally begins. The site should be checked for seedlings before disturbance. No more than a third of the site should be cultivated each year.

Shading. Overhanging vegetation and vegetation that shades the site to the south

should be removed.

Grazing. Any grazing should be very extensive. Sheep should not be used.

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6 Threats / Factors leading to loss or decline or limiting recovery Massive changes in the British countryside have combined to cause the large declines in the range of Dianthus armeria over the past hundred years. These have included the loss of common land to urbanisation, forestry and agricultural improvement, and the abandonment of traditional management over the areas that are left. These processes, particularly the latter, continue and threaten the few remaining sites (see Table 7). Table 7 - Threats to the survival of Dianthus armeria in the UK.

TYPE THREAT Habitat destruction Agricultural improvement.

Afforestation. Industrial/urban development. Mineral extraction. Adverse road-verge management.

Successional Abandonment of traditional extensive grazing and the development of coarse grassland and scrub. Neglect of road-verge cutting.

Grazing

Rabbit grazing can be detrimental to some populations. Overgrazing, particularly by sheep may be detrimental.

7 Current Conservation Measures

7.1 N SITU MEASURES IOVERVIEW Table 8 gives an indication of the number of extant sites for Dianthus armeria receiving protection as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Many sites are now being favourably managed, either under informal or statutory agreements (see Table 9). Table 8 - Number of extant Dianthus armeria populations included within SSSIs.

COUNTRY TOTAL NUMBER OF

SITES NUMBER PROTECTED % PROTECTION

ENGLAND 29 11 38 WALES 4 1 25

Table 9 - Management at Dianthus armeria sites.

MANAGEMENT STATUS NUMBER OF SITES Favourable management 16 Management unsuitable but under negotiation 16 Unknown 2

CURRENT CONSERVATION SCHEMES A number of countryside conservation schemes provide assistance to land managers conserving sites currently or formerly supporting populations of Dianthus armeria. Amongst the most appropriate are:

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Environmentally Sensitive Areas The ESAs scheme aims to maintain and often to enhance the scientific, landscape, historical and cultural values of key environmental areas across England. To date 22 areas have been identified as ESAs, and 10,915 agreements signed, encouraging the sympathetic management of 532,000 hectares of land. Agreements typically last for a ten year period. The Buckfastleigh sites fall within the Dartmoor (Devon) ESA. The scheme is administered by DEFRA.

Countryside Stewardship The Countryside Stewardship scheme is the Government’s

principal scheme for the sustainable management of valued areas in the wider countryside, through the payment of grants to enhance, restore and recreate targeted landscapes and sites. It operates outside Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Through the scheme, farmers and land managers enter 10-year agreements to manage land in an environmentally sensitive manner in return for annual payments. Like the ESA programme, this scheme is administered by DEFRA.

Protected Road Verges Many district councils run protected road verge schemes.

In many cases, these schemes offer little more than freedom from the normal cutting regime, but they can give the opportunity to carry out more constructive management programmes. One site for Dianthus armeria is on a verge managed by Devon County Council, but it is not scheduled as a protected verge. The Highways Agency manages the verges of trunk roads and motorways. One site on the verge of the A449 in Worcestershire has a Highways Agency management plan.

7.2 EX SITU MEASURES Collections of seed of Dianthus armeria from four sites are held in the Millennium Seed Bank at The Royal Botanical Gardens at Wakehurst Place (see Table 10). Dianthus armeria is available commercially as a garden plant. It is also grown from wild-collected seed by a number of botanists, and naturalises well in gardens. It is currently being grown as part of research projects at Sussex University and Bath Spa University College. Dianthus armeria has been introduced to a road verge adjacent to the native Buckfastleigh sites. Table 10 - Accessions of Dianthus armeria held in the Millennium Seed Bank. ENGLAND:Nottinghamshire 5km from Stanton-on-the-Wolds, near Widmerpool Station

(disused). ENGLAND:Devon Nearest settlement - Buckfastleigh. SX743662. ENGLAND:Surrey E. edge of Chobham Common NNR. SU977655. ENGLAND:Essex Hadleigh Castle Country Park. TQ793862.

7.3 RESEARCH DATA A study of the effects of grazing on vegetation at Woodwalton Fen NNR included observations on Dianthus armeria (Wells, 1967; Williams et al, 1974). The results suggested that there were positive requirements for cattle grazing and open vegetation. Work in America has shown that seeds require light for germination, that seeds will not germinate

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until dormancy is broken by winter cold treatment, and that seeds germinate as temperatures rise in the spring (Baskin & Baskin, 1988 & 2001).

7.4 MONITORING DIANTHUS ARMERIA AND THE COMMON MONITORING STANDARD Individual flowering plants of Dianthus armeria are relatively easy to distinguish and count. An effort should be made to assess the numbers of non-flowering rosettes as these indicate the condition of the site for regeneration and the future health of the population. Non-flowering rosettes can be difficult to find, particularly in denser stands of vegetation. Most populations are small, so complete counts should be made. The population at Rock Farm, Buckfastleigh has been monitored since 1999.

Figure 6 – Monitoring Dianthus armeria in S.Wales, 2003 (Photograph by Bob Gibbons).

8 References Baskin, C.C. & Baskin, J.M. (1988). Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography and Evolution of

Dormancy and Germination. Academic Press. Baskin, C.C. & Baskin, J.M. (2001). Germination ecophysiology of herbaceous plant species

in a temperate region. American Journal of Botany, 75: 286-305. Beckett, G. & Bull, A. (1994). A Flora of Norfolk. G. Beckett. Biodiversity Steering Group (1995). Biodiversity: the U.K. Steering Group report. H.M.S.O.,

London. Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. (1987). Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge

University Press, Cambridge. Conti, F., Manzi, A. & Pedrotti, F. (1997). Liste Rosse Regionali delle Piante d’Italia.

Associazione Italiana per il World Wildlife Fund & Società Botanica Italiana, Camerino, Italy.

Čeřovský, J., Feráková, V., Holub, J., Maglocký, Š. & Procházka, F. (1999). Červená kniha ohrožených a vzácných druhů rostlin a živočichů ČR a SR. Vol. 5. Vyšší rostliny. Príroda a. s., Bratislava.

Environmental Protection Department of the Republic of Lithuania (1992). Red Data Book of Lithuania: Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi. Vilnius, Lithuania.

Gärdenfors, U. (2000). Rödlistade arter i Sverige 2000 – The 2000 Red List of Swedish Species. ArtDatabanken, SLU, Sweden.

Grime, J.P, Hodgson, J.G. & Hunt, R. (1988). Comparative Plant Ecology. Chapman & Hall, London.

Hulten, E. & Fries (1986). Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein.

Ingelög, T., Andersson, R. & Tjernberg, M. (1993). Red Data Book of the Baltic Region: Part 1 – Lists of threatened vascular plants and vertebrates. Swedish Threatened Plants Unit, Uppsala, Sweden.

Jalas, J. & Suominen, J. (eds) 1972, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996. Atlas Florae Europaeae. Vols. 1-11. The Committee for Mapping the Flora of Europe and Societas, Biologica Fennica Vanamo, Helsinki.

Kaźmierczakowa, R. & Zarzycki, K. (2001). Polish Red Data Book of Plants. Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland.

Kotiranta, H., Uotila, P., Sulkava, S. & Peltonen, S.-L. (eds). (1998). Red data book of East Fennoscandia. Ministry of the Environment, Finnish Environment Institute & Botanical Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History, Helsinki, Finland.

Nightingale, J. (2002). Analysis of population dynamics of Arabis glabra and Dianthus armeria in Great Britain. Interim report to University of Sussex and Plantlife.

Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. & Dines, T.D. (2002). New Atlas of the British & Irish Flora. Oxford Univeristy Press, Oxford.

Rodwell, J.S. (1991). British Plant Communities Volume 1. Woodlands and Scrub. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Rodwell, J.S. (1992). British Plant Communities Volume 2. Grasslands and Montane Communities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Stace, C.A. (1997). New Flora of the British Isles (2nd ed.). University Press, Cambridge. Stewart, A., Pearman, D.A. & Preston, C.D. (1994). Scarce Plants in Britain. JNCC,

Peterborough. Wheeler, B.R. (2000). Tower mustard (Arabis glabra). Report on work undertaken during

1999. Plantlife Report no. 145. Plantlife, London. Wiggington, M.J. (ed.), (1999). British Red Data Books 1 Vascular plants. 3rd edition.

Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservancy Committee. Wilson, P.J. (1999). The Status and Distribution of Dianthus armeria L. in Britain. Report for

1998. Plantlife Report no. 117. Plantlife, London. Wilson, P.J. (2002). Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) in 2001. Plantlife Report no. 210.

Plantlife, London.

9 Acknowledgements The authors of this dossier would like to thank Norman Baldock, Ian Baldwin, Steven Bould, Susan Bragg, Nick Butler, Richard Carter, Peter Chapman, Arthur Chater, Jeff Cherrington, Bob Corns, Rodney Cole, Ruth Davis, Trevor Dines, Mary de Lemos, Ian Evans, Simon Fall-Taylor, Harold Fowkes, Ray Froud, Roland Hughes, Nicola Hutchinson, Andy Jones, John Laws, Barbara Lewis, Isabel Macho, Jo Nightingale, Kevin Oates, Susanna Peckham, Marian Reed, Wesley Smyth, Nick Stanley, Andy Stevens, Paul Terry, Nick Tribe, Margaret Walker, David Watson, Vincent Weir, Richard Wistow, Andrew Woodhouse and Julian Woodman.

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10 Contacts

Plantlife International 14 Rollestone Street Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 1DX. Tel: 01722 342730

Andrew Byfield – Andy.Byfield@plantlife.org.ukOr Amanda Miller - Amanda.Miller@plantlife.org.uk

Philip Wilson PhilipJohnWilson@aol.com

11 Links ARKive species web page for Dianthus armeria http://www.arkive.org/.

Plantlife International’s Back from the Brink project is supported by English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage. Plantlife International wishes to acknowledge the financial support of English Nature. Work on Dianthus armeria is supported by:

Original draft by Phil Wilson Edited by Plantlife International

First draft dated April 2003 Last revised 29 April 2004

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