Rumex rupestris Le Gall

Shore Dock, Oseille des Rochers, Patience des Rochers; Tafolen y Traeth. POLYGONACEAE SYN.: none

Status: Endangered UK BAP Priority Species Habitats Directive Annexes II(b), IV(b) Lead Partner: Plantlife Berne Convention Annex I World Status: Vulnerable Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)

Ten 10km2 squares

UK Biodiversity Action Plan: The following are the current targets following the 2001 Targets Review: T1 - Ensure the restoration of Favourable Conservation Status by 2004. T2 - If biologically feasible, restore the species to at least two former sites by 2004. 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 Rumex rupestris can be viewed on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=555.

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

1.1 Morphology & Identification ........................................................................2 1.2 Taxonomic Considerations..........................................................................4 1.3 Genetic Implications ..................................................................................4

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

2.3.1 England ...........................................................................................10 2.3.2 Wales ..............................................................................................11

3 Ecology and Life Cycle...................................................................................11 4 Habitat Requirements ...................................................................................14

4.1 The Landscape Perspective.......................................................................14 4.2 Communities & Vegetation .......................................................................14 4.3 Summary of Habitat Requirements ............................................................15

5 Management Implications ..............................................................................16 6 Threats / Factors Leading to Loss or Decline or Limiting Recovery........................17

Work on Rumex rupestris is supported by

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7 Current Conservation Measures ......................................................................19

7.1 In situ Measures .....................................................................................19 7.2 Ex situ Measures.....................................................................................20 7.3 Research Data ........................................................................................20 7.4 Monitoring Rumex rupestris and the Common Monitoring Standard ................21

8 References ..................................................................................................22 9 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................24 10 Contacts .....................................................................................................25 11 Links ..........................................................................................................25 12 Annex 1 - Draft Monitoring Form for Rumex rupestris. .......................................26

1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy and Genetics

1.1 MORPHOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION Rumex rupestris is a coarse, stout perennial, 30-50(-70) cm tall, with one or more woody shoots from the stock (see Figures 1 & 2). Basal leaves 10-30cm, thick dull-green, glaucous, oblong or broadly ovate-lanceolate, rather abruptly narrowed to a truncate or subcordate base, subobtuse, margin entire, undulate; petiole less than one third as long as lamina.

Figure 2 – Rumex rupestris. (With kind permission of Fred Rumsey).

Figure 1 – Rumex rupestris. (Photograph by Plantlife International).

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Stem leaves oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to the base, acute, with margin undulate often crenulate, subsessile. Panicle dense, with ascending branches at approximately 45 degrees to the main stem, branches with numerous short crowded branchlets and whorls of 5-20 flowers usually crowded, often almost confluent, some subtended by lanceolate bracts. Valves 3-4 x 2-2.5mm, elongate-oblong, not reticulate, entire, all bearing very large (ca. 2.5mm), very swollen, smooth elongate tubercles occupying over two thirds the length of the valve and almost their entire width (see Figure 3). Nut ca. 2mm x 1.5mm, reddish brown, trigonous, with acute angles, broadest near rounded base, abruptly acute (see Figure 4). Flowers 6-7. (Lousley and Kent, 1981).

Figure 4 – Rumex rupestris nut. (With kind permission of Fred Rumsey).

Figure 3 – Large swollen tubercles on valves of Rumex rupestris. (With kind permission of Fred Rumsey).

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES The critical distinguishing feature is the valve, with its swollen tubercles covering the entire width of the valve (see Figures 3 & 5). When in fruit, only Rumex conglomeratus is sufficiently similar for confusion to occur, but R. conglomeratus valves are considerably smaller, as are the tubercles. As a vegetative plant, Rumex rupestris is difficult to confirm with any degree of certainty. The leaves are glaucous and oblong, with a tough, leathery feel, but identifications of vegetative plants suspected of being Rumex rupestris need confirming in fruit.

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Figure 5 – Close-up of Rumex rupestris in fruit. (With kind permission of Fred Rumsey).

1.2 TAXONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS None.

1.3 GENETIC IMPLICATIONS Some genetic investigations of Rumex rupestris have taken place at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Dorset at the Winfrith Technology Centre, formerly ITE Furzebrook, by Daniels and Moy (Daniels et al, 1998). Difficulties with buffering the samples prevented successful detailed analysis of isozymes from Rumex rupestris leaves, but the results which were obtained suggested that gene flow was limited by distance between populations, and some populations such as those in the Isles of Scilly were more genetically isolated from other UK mainland populations.

2 Distribution and Current Status

2.1 WORLD Rumex rupestris is confined to the Atlantic seaboard of Western Europe. Its global status is vulnerable.

2.2 EUROPE The European distribution of Rumex rupestris is shown in Figure 6, and the status of Rumex rupestris in each country in Europe, where known, is given in Table 1. Rumex rupestris is now only found in Wales, southwest England, the Channel Isles, France and north west Spain. It is listed as extinct in Portugal. UNEP – WCMC regard its status as Vulnerable in France, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.

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Figure 6 - European distribution of Rumex rupestris (Jalas, J. & Suominen, J., 1972). (Reproduced with kind permission from the Committee for Mapping the Flora of Europe and Societas, Biologica Fennica Vanamo, Helsinki.)

Table 1 - Country by country status of Rumex rupestris 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

EN

Most populations number only a few individuals, with only three colonies outside the Isles of Scilly exceeding 20 mature plants in 1994. Threats include sea defence works, visitor pressure and winter storms.

Wigginton (1999); Stewart et al (1994); Preston et al (2002).

Bu BULGARIA Co CORSE Cr KRITI

WITH GAVDHOS, KARPATHOS & KASOS

Cz CZECHOSLOVAKIA Da DENMARK Not listed Ingelög et al

(1993). Fa FAEROER

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COUNTRY* IUCN

LISTING STATUS NOTES SOURCE(S)

Fe FINLAND INCLUDING AHVENANMAA

Not listed Kotiranta et al (1998); Ingelög et al (1993).

Ga FRANCE VU Olivier et al (1995).

Ge GERMANY Gr GREECE

EXCLUDING KRITI & ISLANDS OUTSIDE EUROPE

Not listed Phitos et al (1995).

Hb IRELAND BOTH NORTHERN IRELAND & THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

He SWITZERLAND 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); Ingelög et al (1993).

Rm ROMANIA Rs(N) NORTHERN

DIVISION

Rs(B) BALTIC DIVISION ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA

Not listed Not listed

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

Rs(C) CENTRAL DIVISION

Rs(W) SOUTH-WESTERN

DIVISION

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

DIVISION

Sa SARDEGNA Sb SVALBARD

(SPITSBERGEN, BYORNOYA, JAN MAYEN)

Si SICILIA Su SWEDEN Not listed Gärdenfors

(2000). Tu TURKEY Not listed Ekim et al

(2000).

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FRANCE Rumex rupestris is known from three sites in Basse Normandie, fifteen populations spread along the Bretagne coast and one dune site in the Pays de la Loire (natura2000.environnement). SPAIN Rumex rupestris is found only in a few places in Galicia, NW Spain. Some of these have been affected by oil spilled from the tanker Prestige in November 2002 and their current status is unknown. Rumex rupestris occurs on the Artabra coast of Galicia and at the Laguna Y Arenal de Valdovino.

2.3 UNITED KINGDOM OVERVIEW Rumex rupestris is now found at only 38 sites in Cornwall, south Devon and Wales (see Table 2 & Figure 7). There is strong evidence to suggest that Rumex rupestris has undergone a significant decline in the number of sites occupied at any one time over the past 100 years (see Table 3, Figure 7 and Section 3). Many of its former sites are no longer suitable for re-colonization, its range appears to have contracted and the historic decline continues.

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Table 2 - Details of extant Rumex rupestris sites. VC. NO.

SITE NAME GRID REF ABUNDANCE DATE

England 1 Constantine Bay - 2V 2000 1 Penhale Sands SW7656, 7657, 7756 172 2002 1 Gear Sands 1+2 SW7656, 7655 22 2001 1 Lamorna Cove SW4524, 4524 5F 2000 1 Tregiffian Cottages SW4323 1C 28F 63V 2001 1 Trebarvah-

Stackhouse Cove SW 5428 -5528

13C 8F 6V 2001

2 Great Molunan SW8431 – 8431 5C 1F 2002 2 Peter's Splash SW 8734 1C 2001 2 Raven's Hole SW8734 1C 6F 2V 1998 2 Porthbean Beach SW8836 1C 2001 2 Pendower SW9038 2C 2002 2 Pencarrow SX1550 3C 8V 2001 2 Watchhouse Cove SX1550 1V 2001 2 Conical hill SX1551- 1551 6C 2001 2 Parson's Cove SX1651 11 2001 2 Lansallos Cliff SX1750 1C 2001 Colours Cove SX1950 1? 2001 2 Talland Bay SX2351 1C 4F 2V 1999 2 Samphire Beach SX2451 1C 2002 2 Portwrinkle SX3553 9F 8V 1999 2 Rame SX4249 13C 7F 6V 2001 3 Wembury SX4851 1C 2002 3 Blackstone Point SX5346 6C 4F 10V 2002 3 Stoke Beach SX5646 1C 2001 3 Wadham Beach SX5746 0? 2002 3 Near Keaton Cove SX5947 1C 1F 2000 3 Westcombe Beach SX6345 1C 1V 1999 3 Soar Mill Cove SX6937 1C 4F 1V 2001 3 Venericks Cove SX7636 1C 14F 29V 1999 3 Elender Cove SX7635 1F 1999 S Annet 2001 S Samson 16F 9V 2001 S Tean 5C 11F 18V 2001 S Tresco 10F 2001 Wales

41 Dunraven SS8872 18 2003 45 Marloes- Watery

Bay SM7607

3C 26F 28V 2002

45 Marloes – Hoopers Point

SM7806 2F 10V 2002

52 Newborough Warren

SH3964 Present 2001

Key: For Abundance: C=clump; V=vegetative plant; F=flowering plant.

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Figure 7 – Map of the British distribution of Rumex rupestris.

Table 3 - Former Sites of Rumex rupestris in England and Wales. *Asterisked English sites are those for which there is only a single record.

SITE VICE COUNTY GRID SQUARE LAST RECORD Cornwall Harlyn Bay 1 SW/8.7 1900* (Trevose Head & 1 SW/8.7 1963) Constantine Bay) 1 1951) East Pentire 1 SW/7.6 Fistral 1 SW/7.6 1912 Newquay 1 SW/8.6 Gravel Hill mine, Cubert 1 SW/7.5 1903* Godrevy Point 1 SW/5.4 1951* Lelant 1 SW/5.3 1909* Sennen Green 1 SW/3.2 1870s* Boscawen Cliff 1 SW/4.2 1900* Poltesco 1 SW/7.1 1870s Gunwalloe Fishing Cove 1 SW/6.2 1994 Hemmick Beach 2 SW/9.4 1905* Vault Beach 2 SY/O.4 1900* Looe 2 SX/2.5 1917* Downderry 2 SX/3.5 1875* Portwrinkle 2 SY/3.5 1875* Tregantle 2 SX/3.5 1875* Devon Wadham 3 SX/5.4 1875* Pamflete 3 SY/4.5 1876* Little Seacombe 3 SX/7.3 1989

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SITE VICE COUNTY GRID SQUARE LAST RECORD Gammon Head

3 SY/7.3 Before 1939

Slapton Ley 3 SX/8.4 1977* Rickham Sands 3 SX/7.3 1990 Great Mattiscombe Sands 3 SX/8.3 1999 Braunton Burrows 4 SS/4.3 1955 Dorset Lyme Regis 9 SY/3.9 1923* West Bay 9 SY/4.9 1949* Ringstead Bay 9 SY/7.8 1985 Durdle Door 9 SY/8.8 1985 Poole 9 SZ/0.9 1900* Glamorgan Three Cliffs Bay 41 SS/5.8 1985 Kenfig Burrows 41 SS/7.8 1948 Merthyr Mawr 41 SS/8.7 1954 Pembrokeshire Lydstep Haven 45 SS/0.9 1970

(Daniels et al, 1998)

2.3.1 ENGLAND Rumex rupestris is found only in Cornwall and south Devon. There are almost as many extinct sites (18) in Cornwall as there are extant ones (19). The situation in Devon is similar with only nine extant sites and seven extinct. Rumex rupestris has become extinct at its former Dorset and north Devon sites within the last 30 years and no new sites have been found within these vice counties. There are currently 30 known populations on mainland England and four populations in the Isles of Scilly (see Table 2). The following details are based on English Nature’s Natural Areas. Isles of Scilly (NA 113). The Isles of Scilly comprise around 200 small granite islands and rocks situated about 28 miles from Land’s End. Rumex rupestris was known from a number of the islands for many years. It appears to have been in decline for over a century and is extinct on most of the islands. It is extant on Tresco, Samson, Annet and Tean and some of these populations are still significant (Parslow in Neil et al, 2001). Land’s End to Minehead (NA 114) The coastal fringe from Land’s End to Minehead now supports only one native metapopulation at Penhale and Gear Sands. This is the largest UK population of Rumex rupestris and occurs in inland dune slacks, some of them several kilometres from the sea. A re-introduction took place in 1996 at Constantine Bay, but this is now thought to be extinct. There are a number of historic sites along this coast and in 2000 searches revealed suitable habitat in a number of places (Neil et al, 2001). It is possible that as populations on sites along the north coast became extinct there were simply too few sources of seed available to enable re-colonization to occur. It is still possible that seed could travel from the Isles of Scilly to re-colonize the north coast, but with these populations also in decline the chances of this happening are small. Start Point to Land’s End (NA 112) This natural area supports populations of Rumex rupestris from Tregiffian Cottages in the west to Start Point in the east. The sites are scattered along the coastline, with many miles between some of them. This is partly because subtle geological changes affect the availability of suitable habitat, but also because man’s activities, in turn affected by local geology and landform, have changed the coast to such an extent that Rumex rupestris habitat has been removed. Coastal defence works (such as sea walls and harbours) and

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stream culverts are the principal causes of the loss of suitable habitat. Significant populations in Cornwall occur at: Penhale Sands; Tregiffian Cottages, near Lamorna; south-east of Marazion; on the east coast of the Roseland Peninsula; between Polruan and Polperro, and at Rame Head. The two significant Devon populations occur at Blackstone Point and at Venericks Cove.

2.3.2 WALES In Wales there are four extinct sites and four extant (see Table 2). From 1985 until 1996 only one population in Wales was known to exist, on Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve, Anglesey. Then, in 1996, a population at Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan, was re-discovered by Dr Quentin Kay of the University of Swansea. In 2000, a comprehensive search of suitable habitat led to the discovery of two new sites at Marloes in Pembrokeshire by Mr. Stephen Evans, Vice County Recorder for Pembrokeshire.

3 Ecology and Life Cycle Rumex rupestris has an extreme Atlantic distribution and has only ever been known from the coasts of southwest England and Wales in the UK. Its distribution may be limited by climatic factors such as annual rainfall or number of frost days. It is also possible that a key factor limiting its distribution is the direction of ocean and coastal currents (R. Daniels, pers. comm.) - Rumex rupestris fruit floats in and is dispersed by seawater and this enables it to recolonize new locations. Rumex rupestris is a long-lived woody perennial. Specific individuals have been recorded at certain sites for over ten years. It is thought that individuals can expand vegetatively to cover an area of several square metres, although given the habitat in which this occurs, i.e. boulder-strewn beaches, rock cliffs etc. it is often impossible to say with certainty that what appear to be large spreading plants are not in fact separate individuals growing close together. Rumex rupestris occurs in a number of coastal habitats. It is often associated with head deposits over bedrock, particularly at the junction of these two substrates, where springs, flushes or oozes often occur. It also occurs on raised beaches, wave-cut platforms, boulder-strewn beaches and hard cliffs, always associated with a constant supply of fresh water. It is found occasionally in wet sand and fine shingle, again associated with freshwater, but rarely beside streams. It is now a very rare member of dune slack communities, found in only two dune systems in the UK, although one of these populations is the largest in the UK. Rumex rupestris is a poor competitor (Daniels & Moy, 1998) and often behaves as a pioneer species. It often grows just behind the strandline, or indeed sometimes in strandline vegetation, though these individuals tend to be very short-lived. It can occur many metres back from high water mark, though in these cases it is dependent on other factors preventing it from being out-competed by other vegetation, such as exposure, a very rocky substrate, constant flushing by fresh water, or regular erosion, perhaps even grazing. Competition between Rumex rupestris and other docks may determine whether it can establish at a given site. In particular, Rumex rupestris only occasionally co-exists with Rumex conglomeratus, with which it shares many similar habitat requirements. R. conglomeratus occurs within a few metres of Rumex rupestris plants at Great Molunan, but R. conglomeratus plants occupy a streamside while Rumex rupestris is found on a cliff seepage. Rumex rupestris and Rumex conglomeratus do co-exist at Conical Hill near Pencarrow Head, south east Cornwall, while on the Lleyn Peninsula in north Wales, apparently suitable habitat was fully occupied by Rumex conglomeratus, giving the impression that there was no room for Rumex rupestris to become established even if

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seed had arrived on coastal currents. At Newborough Warren NNR Rumex rupestris and Rumex conglomeratus do occur together and there may even be hybrids between the two (A Jones, pers. comm.). Whether competition occurs with Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus is less clear, given that this subspecies of R. crispus occupies a wider range of features, from the very dry sandy strandline into damper features where Rumex rupestris can occur. Indeed at Rame and Pendower, among other sites, Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus occurs alongside Rumex rupestris plants. However, some evidence suggests that Rumex rupestris seedlings do not compete well with Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus seedlings, because of their relatively slow rate of germination and growth (Daniels & Moy, 1998). Rumex rupestris does not seem to have any particular soil requirements and can occur in soil-free fissures in sedimentary or metamorphic rocks, fine blown sand, fine shingle or soil that has accumulated in rock crevices. In dune systems it can grow in floating rafts in permanent pools or in peat that has accumulated in and around the edges of dune slacks. The woody rootstocks, which can be exposed or submerged beneath sand, soil or hidden under rocks, produce flowering spikes annually or sometimes biennially. It is not known why plants should flower annually or biennially, though it may be related to seasonal climatic factors. Leaves appear in March and flower spikes follow in June. Flowering occurs in June and July, and fruits reach maturity in July through to September, or even later given the right climatic conditions. Individual plants do seem to be able to self-pollinate, although there is some evidence to suggest that repeated self-pollination produces seed of low viability, presumably through inbreeding depression (R. Daniels, pers. comm.). A large multi-stemmed plant can produce 20 flowering spikes in a year. Each spike can produce over 500 fruit, so up to 10,000 fruit can be produced annually by one plant. Conversely a small single-spike plant will produce 50-100 fruit. The fruits are initially creamy-white, sometimes with a pink tinge; as they ripen they become a dark, purplish brown. Fruits are shed from the plant in late summer and autumn, although fruit has been seen to remain on flower spikes until the following spring. The relatively large fruits can fall off, depositing seeds around the base of the adult plant (up to 2m distant) and germinate freely in bare damp conditions in the autumn. Other fruits are carried by freshwater or wave action into the sea and borne away by currents. It is thought that marine dispersal is the principal mechanism by which Rumex rupestris recolonizes new sites - J. E. Lousley showed that Rumex rupestris seeds remain viable after floating in seawater for 181 days. On this basis it appears possible that seeds might be transported many miles to new locations where they germinate the following spring. There have been observations of complete flower spikes being separated from the adult plants by winter storms and carried out to sea. It is possible that seed could be carried great distances attached to these “rafts”. There is no firm evidence that Rumex rupestris seeds are viable for a long time, although the plant has appeared in re-excavated ditches at Newborough Warren (A. Jones, pers. comm.), so in rare cases, such as dune systems, a seed bank may occur. Seedling mortality is high, not surprisingly, given the dynamic nature of the habitat in which Rumex rupestris occurs. No detailed investigations into the causes of mortality have been undertaken, but disturbance by heavy spring rains, drought and winter storms are all likely candidates. It is likely that recruitment into a population from seedlings happens only occasionally in most populations. However, at Watery Bay in Pembrokeshire, local conditions may allow regular seedling recruitment, which could explain the site’s relatively high population density (S. Evans, pers. comm.); the same may also apply at the Tregiffian Cottages site in west Cornwall. Given the nature of the terrain and the difficulty in achieving positive identification of vegetative plants, it is extremely difficult to tell whether a vegetative plant is a seedling, a ramet or an adult

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plant that happens not to be flowering at the time of observation. Given these difficulties it is highly likely that the question of recruitment rates from seedlings, and the relative importance of sexual versus vegetative reproduction, will remain a mystery of Rumex rupestris ecology. Adult plants can survive extreme environmental pressures, including winter storms, periodic inundation in dune slacks and salt spray. They can also survive a certain amount of herbivory, whether by invertebrates or vertebrates. A few sites are subject to sheep grazing, notably Venericks Cove and Great Mattiscombe Sands, but most sites now have no formal grazing. Stock-grazed plants tend to have their flower spikes removed, whereas the leathery leaves are generally untouched. Invertebrate herbivory by the caterpillar of Acronicta rumicis has been observed as well as by weevils of the genus Apion. Neither appears to inflict significant damage on the plants, though the leaves can be thoroughly eaten, leaving just a lace of leaf-veins. Stock grazing may also have the desired effect of creating bare ground where seedling establishment can occur, as well as suppressing competitive vegetation. Erosion by sheep-walks has been observed at Venericks Cove, although in this case eroded sand was deposited onto existing adult plants, but with no noted detrimental effects. It is an irony of Rumex rupestris ecology that a long-lived woody perennial that is a poor competitor can only occur in a relatively dynamic environment because of its dispersal strategy, and yet such an environment prevents significant recruitment from seedlings, and can often wipe out adult plants, or even whole populations. This goes some way to explaining its rarity. Because of this it is becoming increasingly useful to consider Rumex rupestris in terms of metapopulations (McDonnell & King, 2000); it is plausible, though as yet unproven, that populations that become naturally extinct, as a result of coastal erosion events and winter storms, can be rerecolonized from other nearby populations when conditions become suitable again. During the last 14 years one or possibly two populations have become extinct through natural events. These sites are being monitored for re-colonization. The Devon and Cornwall populations could be considered as two metapopulations, one at Penhale Sands and Gear Sands, and the other occupying the coastal locations from Lands End to Start Point. However, the limited genetic investigations that have taken place suggest that gene flow between western and eastern populations is limited. At the moment, and bearing in mind that this view may change if detailed genetic studies are successfully carried out, metapopulations have been suggested for the following:

Tregiffian and Lamorna.

Trebarvah to Stackhouse Cove.

Roseland Peninsula.

Polruan to Looe.

Whitsand Bay.

Wembury to Bigbury.

Bolt Tail to Start Point. Further work on the extent and importance of local currents within larger coastal structures eg St Michaels Bay, the Fal, St Austell Bay, Whitsand Bay and Bigbury Bay, may shed further light on the likelihood of gene flow within and between separate metapopulations (R. Daniels, pers. comm.).

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4 Habitat Requirements

4.1 THE LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE Rumex rupestris occurs in a small number of closely related coastal habitats, and only rarely now in dune slacks. Fundamentally, Rumex rupestris occurs within a relatively narrow zone above High Water Mark, in the presence of fresh-water, often where dynamic processes of coastal erosion constantly create new bare ground. It is able to withstand considerable salt deposition from sea spray and may be able to survive short periods of inundation during winter storms. Principal habitats are:

The junction between head deposits (or more rarely raised beaches) and underlying bedrock (usually slates) where spring-lines form.

On damp cliff ledges, in seepage zones at or near the base of cliffs, or in small

pools on wave cut platforms (Daniels et al, 1998).

In rock crevices, or between beach boulders, but only where there is a submerged supply of fresh-water. Occasional.

The strandline of fine shingle or sandy beaches; plants survive only a short time.

Rare.

Beside streams, usually where these enter beaches. Rare.

In dune slacks on or their edges. Rare. In a sense Rumex rupestris is quite catholic in its habitat requirements, in that it can occur wherever three critical features are present, namely within a few metres of high water, with fresh-water available all year round, and a lack of competition from other perennial species, notably Phragmites australis in damp areas and Rubus fruticosus in drier places.

4.2 COMMUNITIES & VEGETATION TYPICAL ASSOCIATES Typical associates of Rumex rupestris include Agrostis stolonifera, Atriplex spp., Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima, Carex otrubae, Festuca rubra, Phragmites australis, Potentilla anserina, Pulicaria dysenterica, Raphanus maritimus, Samolus valerandii, Sonchus arvensis and Tripleurospermum maritimum (King, 1989). NATIONAL VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION (NVC) All community names refer to the National Vegetation Classification, (Rodwell, 1992). Shore dock does not fit easily into the NVC as the maritime communities defined within it do not pick out maritime flush communities especially well; this is possibly because these specialised habitats were inadequately sampled during the development of the NVC. Small-scale differences that could differentiate between habitat suitable for Rumex rupestris and quite unsuitable areas nearby, fall within the same NVC communities or sub-communities. Analysis of relevées collected during survey work in Devon and Cornwall between 1994 and 1996 suggested that Rumex rupestris occurred in MC8 Festuca rubra – Armeria maritima grassland, and also in MG12b Festuca arundinacea grassland, Oenanthe lachenalii sub-community (Daniels et al, 1996). The latter sub-community

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occurs rarely around tidal pools at the base of slumping cliffs in southwest England, with typical species including Juncus gerardii, Carex otrubae, Atriplex prostrata, Potentilla anserina among others (Rodwell et al, 2000). This classification is plausible, apart from the absence of the defining species Oenanthe lachenalii from Rumex rupestris sites. Another possibility is MG11 Festuca rubra – Agrostis stolonifera - Potentilla anserina grassland, particularly MG11b Atriplex prostrata sub-community, which is typical of disturbed and saline environments (Rodwell, 1992). The common coastal grassland community MC8 Festuca rubra – Armeria maritima grassland is not an obvious one for Rumex rupestris. It is typically quite a dry grassland type in terms of fresh-water - MC8a and MC8b, both of which are nearer in composition to MC1 pioneer communities on maritime rocks, only rarely include freshwater seepages. On rocky shores, it is possible to see Rumex rupestris near to MC1a Crithmum maritimum - Spergularia rupicola maritime rock-crevice community. The dependence on freshwater, either flushing across bare rock surfaces, trickling through rock fissures, or between boulders, does not fit well with typical MC1. It is likely that this particular habitat has not been characterized within the NVC. It is common to see Rumex rupestris occurring with Rumex crispus ssp littoreus on or near the strandline of sand or shingle shores, and it is conceivable that some strandline Rumex rupestris plants occur in SD2 Honkenya peploides – Cakile maritima strandline community. These singletons are generally short-lived, being removed by the next large winter storm. Many Rumex rupestris plants tend to occur just behind these SD communities in a narrow transitional zone with more typically terrestrial plants, particularly those with a requirement or a preference for fresh-water. It is this community, where Samolus valerandii is almost constant, which is probably the most typical community for Rumex rupestris; this particular habitat is not easily assignable to any NVC community. Rumex rupestris also occurs where Phragmites australis dominates the vegetation at the base of slumping, oozing soft cliffs (usually of head). This community is probably best assigned to S25 Phragmites australis – Eupatorium cannibinum fen, although in some cases where salinity is more marked the community is closer to S4diii Phragmites australis reedbed, Atriplex prostrata sub-community, Agrostis stolonifera variant. In either case the fit is not particularly good, indicating the transitional nature of Rumex rupestris habitat both in spatial and temporal terms and in terms of its associates. Penhale Sands, which supports a large Rumex rupestris population in dune slacks, has been assigned to SD14 Salix repens - Campylium stellatum dune slack community. It is not known whether the populations at Newborough Warren NNR also fall within this community. Further sampling of Rumex rupestris communities would help to ascertain which NVC communities it does occur in. Such sampling would also help to define any new communities not already described in the NVC.

4.3 SUMMARY OF HABITAT REQUIREMENTS The habitat requirements of Rumex rupestris in Britain are described below in Table 4.

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Table 4 - Habitat features important to Rumex rupestris in Britain.

TYPE DESCRIPTION Low altitude, maximum 60m at Penhale Sands, possibly higher at Newborough Warren, Anglesey. Flat to steeply sloping sites. Often occupying sites with a south or southwesterly aspect. At or near Mean High Water Mark. Often along seepage and spring lines. Always in the presence of fresh-water. Able to withstand effects of salt from sea spray.

Physical & Topographical

No particular soil requirements. Poor competitor: dependent on regular erosion events for recruitment from seedlings. Able to withstand moderate grazing.

Vegetation/Structural

A component of several different NVC communities, including maritime cliffs, swamp, mire, salt marsh, strandline, dune slack.

Chemical No known requirements.

5 Management Implications As a plant of perhaps the most natural of semi-natural habitats left in the UK, there are few implications for positive management of Rumex rupestris habitat in the vast majority of its sites. Most of the management implications relate to the avoidance of damaging impacts on these sites. Natural coastal erosion processes may cause local extinctions, such as has happened at Rickham Sands (also known as Little Seacombe Sands), south Devon, and probably occurred at Great Mattiscombe Sands, south Devon, and Ringstead Bay and Durdle Door, Dorset. FRESHWATER SUPPLY Maintenance of fresh-water supplies to sites is not generally within the control of site owners or managers, but it is certainly desirable to implement policies that help to maintain freshwater supplies, through catchment strategies for example. This is especially true for sites where freshwater catchments are small, as is the case with most Rumex rupestris sites. On occasion, it appears that Rumex rupestris has taken advantage of artificial changes in water management near to existing sites. At Gunwalloe Fishing Cove, a relatively large population appeared to be thriving in what may have been leakage of water from a nearby septic tank, before this site was destroyed by cliff stabilization. At Porthbean Beach, the original single plant may also have been dependent on the supply of freshwater leaking from a septic tank, as it disappeared after building work directly above the site. At Newborough Warren NNR, Rumex rupestris has appeared to re-colonize a pond originally dug to provide water for fighting forest fires within the neighbouring forestry plantation. At Tregiffian Cottages, the largest coastal Rumex rupestris population in the UK, it also appears to inhabit the edges of a stream that at some point in the past had been managed within a landscape of very small cliff-side

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fields. It is impossible to tell whether the location was occupied at the time the fields were being cultivated but, either way, it does point to the ability of Rumex rupestris to take advantage of human water management in coastal locations. GRAZING Historically cattle, sheep and ponies grazed the coastal grassland above shore dock sites and in some cases this grazing may well have occurred right down to beach level. This grazing could have helped maintain shore dock habitat by creating suitable bare ground or seedling establishment (through erosion). Grazing may also have helped shore dock by preventing succession from open to closed vegetation, dominated by bramble, bracken or dense stands of reed. In the past hundred years grazing of coastal slopes and beaches has declined dramatically, to the point where only one extant shore dock site currently has grazing on the coastal slope immediately above it. Another site (a single plant) may have been lost as a result of intense grazing on the beach by sheep during the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic of 2001. CONSERVATION OF SUITABLE THOUGH TEMPORARILY UNOCCUPIED HABITAT The combination of a requirement for freshwater close to mean High Water Mark, and the presence of suitable substrates with sufficient erosion, may point to only a small number of potential sites for Rumex rupestris to occur. But this is not the case. During the comprehensive survey work of 1999 and 2000, many miles of coastline in south Devon and Cornwall and, to a lesser extent, in west and north Wales were identified as suitable for Rumex rupestris colonization (McDonnell & King, 2000; Neil et al, 2001). This low ratio of occupied to unoccupied habitat needs to be seen in the context of metapopulation dynamics as discussed in Section 3. Although sites may currently be unoccupied, they may have been occupied in the past, undergone natural extinction events, and become suitable again in the future. It may be as important for the future of the species to ensure that this currently unoccupied habitat remains potentially suitable as it is to protect the currently occupied habitats from damage.

6 Threats / Factors Leading to Loss or Decline or Limiting Recovery EROSION, SEA DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE Coastal defence works have had a damaging impact on Rumex rupestris sites. One historic site is known to have been lost through this type of development and it is likely to have been the cause of several other extinctions (King, 1989; McDonnell, 1995). The Gunwalloe Fishing Cove site in Cornwall was destroyed in 1994 by the construction of a wall to prevent erosion. Coastal defence works threatened the colony on Pendower Beach, Cornwall but the proposed works were scaled down following pressure from Plantlife and others. Populations of shore dock have also been lost due to erosion at a number of sites - the population of Rumex rupestris at Rickham Sands in south Devon was lost to winter storms in 1990; it is possible that it is now extinct at what was its most easterly location in England, at Great Mattiscombe Sands, south Devon, where it was found in 1999, due to winter storms and/or grazing, as no plants were found in 2001; and there is evidence that increased storm surges during winter storms may have led to local extinctions in the Isles of Scilly (Parslow in Neil et al, 2001). This may be a normal part of the species' cycle of extinction and re-colonization along the coastline, but it also likely that climate change, which has resulted in increased storminess, combined with attempts to control natural erosion processes in areas adjacent to shore dock sites, has intensified local erosion pressures making it less easy for the species to recover from 'natural' extinctions. In addition to the immediate impact of sea defence development on shore dock populations, the construction of anti-erosion defences has an acknowledged detrimental effect on the erosion cycle of the whole coast (Davis, 1999).

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Although shore dock has always been found in habitats that are subject to rapid natural change through erosion, it is of concern that the threatened loss of sites through increased erosion and development may not, at present, be being offset by recruitment into new areas. Current surveys are, however, finding populations of shore dock in areas where the plant was previously thought to be absent. Increased knowledge of the species' distribution should lead to a reassessment of erosion management practices in those areas where it is discovered (Davis, 1999). CHANGES TO DUNE SYSTEMS Two extant British populations are located on dune slack systems. There are several records of populations in this habitat which are now presumed extinct, possibly as a results of changes which have taken place recently in large dune systems, for instance at Braunton Burrows SAC and Kenfig Burrows. Grazing has largely ceased on dune systems where commoners' rights are no longer exercised, thus allowing scrub encroachment. Coupled with the effects of water extraction from surrounding areas (known to have affected Braunton Burrows) this has resulted in the dunes drying out. In the past, disturbance from military use, grazing and sand extraction may have been important in preventing the development of scrub communities but these activities are now greatly reduced. Afforestation is also a threat to sand-dune systems: the shore dock site at Newborough Warren in Anglesey was planted with conifers about 50 years ago, since when the diversity of the flora and fauna of this area has gradually declined (Davis, 1999). POLLUTION Habitats on the upper tide limit of south-facing beaches are vulnerable to the effects of marine pollution, especially oil spillage. A single major pollution incident could threaten several of the existing populations in southwest England. Only the dune slack site at Penhale Sands may be regarded as free from such a threat. Pollution of fresh water supply by sewage or fertilizer run-off may increase competition from vigorous species with possibly damaging consequences (Davis, 1999). POSSIBLE SMALL POPULATION EFFECTS Surviving populations are small and isolated. Small populations have an increased risk of elimination by stochastic events, but they may also be susceptible to inbreeding depression, genetic erosion and less able to maintain distinctiveness if hybridization with related species occurs. Both herbivores and infestations of dock pathogens are more likely to have a catastrophic impact on small populations (Davis, 1999). TOURISM, LEISURE AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES Some sites are on beaches with ready public access and may be under threat from accidental trampling, uprooting or other disturbance. In early 2002, the bulk carrier Kodima foundered in Whitsand Bay depositing approximately 5000 tonnes of rough-hewn pine timber onto the shore, much of it at the Rame site. Although there were initial fears that attempts to salvage the timber would cause considerable damage to the site, there was in reality little danger of this, given the precipitous cliffs at Rame. However, an unexpected consequence of this huge amount of seasoned timber sitting unused on a beach through the summer was that large numbers of people used the beach for barbeques, burning the easily available timber. This unexpected increase in visitor pressure on a normally seldom-used beach had a damaging impact on the Rumex rupestris population. One long-lived individual plant had disappeared by the end of the summer, presumably due to trampling; fire sites near to other plants may have long-term consequences and a significant increase in litter from visitors was noted. HOTTENTOT FIG ENCROACHMENT The Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis), an invasive succulent plant introduced from South Africa, has been identified as a potential threat at two extant sites where it grows close to colonies of shore dock. Hottentot fig is blamed for the extinction of the plant at

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several locations in France (Lesouef, 1986; Le Seuer, 1984). Mild winters allow this species to grow almost unchecked.

7 Current Conservation Measures

7.1 N SITU MEASURES IRumex rupestris is included on the Red List and listed as endangered in the British Red Data Book (Wigginton, 1999). As such it is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended). It is also listed in Annexes 11 (b) and IV (b) of European Community Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora 1992, known as the Habitats Directive, (Council of European Communities, 1992). It is one of fourteen British species listed in Annex I of the Bern Convention 1982. Approximately 85% of known Rumex rupestris plants occur in ten Special Areas of Conservation proposed by the government to the European Commission, (see Table 5). Table 5 – List of Special Areas of Conservation in the U.K. with Rumex rupestris.

NAME COUNTRY LOCAL AUTHORITY GRID REF AREA

(HA) Blackstone Point E Devon SX535462 7.38 Fal and Helford E Cornwall SW747261 6387.8 Isles of Scilly Complex

E Cornwall; Isles of Scilly

SV883111 26850.95

Penhale Dunes E Cornwall SW769572 621.34 Plymouth Sound and Estuaries

E Cornwall; Devon; Plymouth

SX472506 6402.03

Polruan to Polperro E Cornwall SX161512 213.39 South Devon Shore Dock

E Devon SX787362 341.01

Dunraven Bay W Bro Morgannwg/ Vale of Glamorgan

SS886727 6.47

Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw/ Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes

W Gwynedd; Ynys Môn/ Isle of Anglesey

SH413642 1871.03

Most Rumex rupestris sites outside the SAC network are protected as SSSIs, with the exception of the sites listed in Table 6 below. Table 6 – Rumex rupestris sites unprotected by SSSI status.

SITE NUMBER OF PLANTS Great Mattiscombe Sands now possibly extinct Elender Cove 1 plant Westcombe Beach 2 plants Nr Keaton Cove 1 plant Stoke Beach 1 plant Samphire Beach 5 plants Talland Bay 5 plants Trebarvah to Stackhouse 21 plants Lamorna Cove 2 plants Tregiffian Cottages 29 plants, possibly many

more

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The Tregiffian Cottages site lies near to an existing geological SSSI and English Nature intends to revise and expand this SSSI to include the Rumex rupestris population. The recently discovered populations south of Marazion, between Trebarvah and Stackhouse Cove, also lie adjacent to a geological SSSI that could be revised and extended to cover the Rumex rupestris population. BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS Rumex rupestris is listed as a priority species within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and action has been taken as part of the implementation of this plan from 1996 onwards. A full species action plan was prepared (Davis, 1999) and the bulk of this has now been implemented, by Plantlife, English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and other partner organizations, particularly the National Trust, which owns and manages many of the extant sites. Mr. Stephen Evans has prepared a draft Species Action Plan for the Pembrokeshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan and Rumex rupestris is also listed as a priority species within the Cornwall Local Biodiversity Plan. Ongoing work by Plantlife includes searching for new localities in Cornwall and Devon, monitoring existing locations and ensuring that the plant and its requirements are taken into account during land management, development control and coastal defence works. RE-INTRODUCTIONS As part of the Biodiversity Action Plan, plants grown in cultivation were re-introduced in 1996 by CEH to three historic sites: Constantine Bay, Portwrinkle and Wadham Rocks (Daniels & Moy, 1996). By 2002, the populations at Wadham Rocks and Constantine Bay could not be re-found and are assumed extinct. Five of the eight original plants at Portwrinkle had survived by 1999, but these have not been checked since then. FLORA GUARDIANS Plantlife International has established a network of Flora Guardians, volunteers who monitor their local rare plant populations. Flora Guardians have been recruited for a number of Rumex rupestris sites and information is regularly collected on the status of these populations and their sites. The Botanical Cornwall Group, Devonshire Association and BSBI recorders in Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire all regularly survey potential new sites and monitor existing or recently extinct sites for Rumex rupestris.

7.2 EX SITU MEASURES SEED BANKS Seed has been collected from a number of English and Welsh Rumex rupestris populations and is being stored at the Millennium Seedbank, Royal Botanic Garden Wakehurst Place, Sussex. MATERIAL HELD IN CULTIVATION Although some plants of Rumex rupestris have been grown in botanists’ gardens (Rosemary Parslow & Quentin Kay) and at Treborth Botanic Garden, Bangor, Wales, no plants are currently known in cultivation.

7.3 RESEARCH DATA Potential habitat is still being searched in south west Cornwall and east Devon. Genetic studies which had started at the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology, Furzebrook, now CEH Dorset, have not yet been completed, and it is possible that these may become the subject of a PhD.

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7.4 MONITORING RUMEX RUPESTRIS AND THE COMMON MONITORING STANDARD Monitoring and surveillance of extant populations continues, through Plantlife’s Flora Guardian network and Project Officers. The JNCC Common Monitoring Standard suggests some attributes that could be monitored to assess whether a SSSI is in favorable condition for shore dock. Annex 1 is a draft form with suggested attributes of habitat condition and population measures for monitoring Rumex rupestris according to the JNCC common standards monitoring approach. This approach combines the Plantlife approach of population counts with the EN methodology that focuses on habitat, management and site attributes. This work is in progress and the form is likely to be revised further following field trials in the summer of 2003. USE OF FLORA GUARDIANS Most Rumex rupestris sites that are safe enough for volunteers to visit now have a Flora Guardian. Flora Guardians currently fill in a Plantlife monitoring form. This form is designed to allow collection of basic data on a site, population data and some habitat/management attribute data. If the above habitat condition / population count approach is adopted, this form will not be suitable for collecting data specific to Rumex rupestris. All data gathered by Flora Guardians will be channeled through to English Nature / JNCC for the purposes of assessing whether the overall UK population of Rumex rupestris is at Favourable Conservation Status. Flora Guardians are already collecting valuable data on the population size and structure of Rumex rupestris at most of its sites. They will play a key role in this monitoring strategy. ROLE OF CONTRACTORS, EN/COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES, CONSERVATION OFFICERS, COUNTY RARE PLANT GROUPS AND BSBI VICE COUNTY RECORDERS. Contractors will be needed to carry out monitoring at sites that either have no Flora Guardian, or where Health and Safety Issues militate against the use of volunteers. This is particularly true of the Polruan to Lansallos metapopulation, Talland Bay, Keaton Cove and Elender Cove. Some of the plants at the newly discovered Trebarvah to Stackhouse Cove population are also quite inaccessible. Contractors will also be needed to undertake vegetation monitoring on a 5 yearly cycle. Although English Nature and Countryside Council for Wales staff may only visit SSSIs supporting Rumex rupestris populations occasionally, it would still be advantageous if these visits were used to monitor the population and habitat condition attributes for the species, in addition to the other interest features requiring monitoring on the site. Where Rumex rupestris occurs on National Nature Reserves, as is the case at Newborough Warren NNR, it is assumed that NNR wardens will carry out the necessary monitoring at a regular frequency. There is also an important role for County Rare Plant Groups, and BSBI Vice County Recorders. These groups and individuals could also carry out monitoring at Rumex rupestris sites, either on a regular or occasional basis. Rare Plant Groups and County Recorders may well visit Rumex rupestris sites looking for other plant species, and could record species and habitat attributes on such visits. MONITORING THE CONDITION OF SUITABLE, UNOCCUPIED HABITAT Given the dynamic nature of the habitat for Rumex rupestris and the population dynamics of the species, it is vitally important to maintain suitable unoccupied habitat within the current distribution of the species. During the 1999 and 2000 surveys, suitable unoccupied habitat was mapped along the South Devon and Cornwall coasts. The suitability of this habitat needs to be monitored, both within and outside SSSIs, over the medium term. Monitoring of this habitat will be important for two reasons. Firstly, such monitoring will enable recording of new Rumex rupestris populations as they re-colonize formerly unoccupied sites. Secondly, any changes in the suitability of these sites

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can be recorded, whether from natural or human impacts. Clearly it would be very time consuming to monitor every site, so a random sample of sites monitored on a 5-year cycle would be appropriate. The habitat attributes proposed in the condition assessment table (Annex 1) are the most appropriate features to be monitored.

8 References Akeroyd, J.R. (1993). Rumex L. in Tutin, T.G. et al (ed.s), Flora Europaea (2nd edn.) 1:

99-107. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Briggs, T.R. Archer (1875). Rumex rupestris, Le Gall, a British species. Journal of

Botany, 13: 294-295. Briggs, T.R. Archer (1880). Flora of Plymouth. (Rumex rupestris, pp. 293-294). Van

Voorst, London. xxv + 432 pp. Byfield, A.J. (1985 & 1988). Notes on Rumex rupestris in Devon and Cornwall.

Unpublished. 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.

Council of Europe. (1991). Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (The Bern Convention). CEC Brussels.

Council Of European Communities. (1992). Council Directive 921431EEC of 2l May 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora. (The Habitats Directive) CEC, Brussels.

Daniels, R.E. (1995). Species Recovery Programme - Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris Le Gall) First Report. Unpublished report to English Nature. 10 pp.

Daniels, R.E. & Bioret, F. (2000). Alliance Programme. A conservation strategy for threatened botanical resources of the English Channel - Atlantic coastal environment. Unpublished report to British Council / APAPE.61pp.

Daniels, R.E. & Moy, I.L. (1998). Species Recovery Programme - Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris Le Gall) 1998 Report. Unpublished report to English Nature. 20 pp.

Daniels, R.E., McDonnell, E.J. & Moy, I.L. (1996). Species Recovery Programme - Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris Le Gall) Second Report. Unpublished report to English Nature. 41 pp. + appendix.

Daniels, R.E., McDonnell, E.J., Moy, I.L., Raybould, A.F. & Davis, R. (1997). Species Recovery Programme - Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris Le Gall) Final Report. Unpublished report to English Nature. 38 pp. + appendix.

Daniels, R.E., McDonnell, E.J. & Raybould, A.F. (1998). The current status of Rumex rupestris Le Gall (Polygonaceae) in England and Wales, and threats to its survival and genetic diversity. Watsonia, 22: 33-39.

Davis, R. (1999). Species action plans for plants: Shore Dock. English Nature, Peterborough. 18 pp.

Degraeve, N. (1975). Contribution l’étude cytotaxonomique des Rumex. 1. Le genre Rumex L. sensu stricto. Caryologia (Firenze), 28: 187-201.

Davey, F. Hamilton. (1909). Flora of Cornwall. Penryn. Reprinted with supplement, 1978, Wakefield.

Ekim, T. et al (2000). Red Data Book of Turkish Plants. Ankara, Turkish Association for the Conservation of Plants.

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.

Gibbons, Bob (1994). Reserve focus: Newborough Warren NNR, Anglesey. British Wildlife, 6:2.

Gledhill, D. (1985). The names of plants. Cambridge University Press. Gilmour, J.S.L. (1933). Notes from Glamorgan. Rumex rupestris Le Gall. Journal of

Botany, 71: 16.

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Gilmour, J.S.L., Thomas, E.M. & Vachell, E.V. (1936). Short Notes: Rumex cuneifolius Campd. Journal of Botany, 74: 56.

Holyoak, D.T. (1996). Hybridization in docks (Rumex subgenus Rumex) in Cornwall. Botanical Cornwall, 7: 8-26.

Holyoak, D.T. (1997). Data on hybrid indexes of Rumex rupestris and R. conglomeratus at Penhale Camp. Privately circulated, November 1997. 1p.

Holyoak, D.T. (2000). Hybridization between Rumex rupestris Le Gall (Polygonaceae) and other docks. Watsonia, 23: 83-92.

Hughes, H. (1997). Survey of Rumex rupestris (Shore Dock) habitat in Northwest Wales 1996. Report to Countryside Council For Wales, January 1997.

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.

Jones, A. (1992). Rumex rupestris. Unpublished report to Countryside Council for Wales, 9pp.

Jones, A. (1993). Rumex rupestris. Unpublished reports to Countryside Council for Wales.

Kay, Q.O.N. (1972). Variation in sea mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum (L.) Koch) in the British Isles. Watsonia 9: 81-107.

Kay. Q.O.N. (1996). The conservation of Rumex rupestris (Shore Dock) in Wales. Past, present and possible future sites and habitats of Rumex rupestris in South and West Wales. Unpublished report to Countryside Council for Wales. 24pp.

Kay. Q.O.N. (1998). The conservation of Rumex rupestris (Shore Dock) in Wales. 2. Coastal surveys during 1997, and conservation strategies for Rumex rupestris in relation to its distribution, ecology and biology. Unpublished report to Countryside Council for Wales.

Kay, Q.O.N. & John, R.F. (1995). The conservation of scarce and declining plants in lowland Wales. Population genetics, demographic ecology and recommendations for future conservation in 32 species of lowland grassland and related habitats. Countryside Council for Wales, Science Report No. 110. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. (Rumex rupestris, pp. 223-228).

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

King, M.P. (1989). An investigation into the status and ecology of the Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris) in Devon and Cornwall. M.Sc. dissertation, University College, London. 65pp. + appendices.

King, M.P. (2002). Shore dock Rumex rupestris in 2001. Plantlife Report no. 196. 30 pp. Plantlife, London.

Kotiranta, H., Uotila, P., Sulkava, S. & Peltonen, S.L. (ed.s). (1998). Red data book of East Fennoscandia. Ministry of the Environment, Finnish Environment

Lesoeuf, J.Y. (1986). Les plantes endémiques et subendémiques les plus menacees de France. Conservatoire Botanique de Brest.

Le Sueur, F. (1984). Flora of Jersey. Societe Jersiaise, C. 1. Lousley, J.E. (1939). Notes on British Rumices, I. Botanical Exchange Club Report 12:

118-157. Lousley, J.E. (1944). Notes on British Rumices, II. Botanical Exchange Club Report, 12:

547-585. Lousley, J.E. (1971). Flora of the Isles of Scilly. Newton Abbot. Lousley, J.E. & Kent, D.H. (1981). Docks and Knotweeds of the British Isles. Botanical

Society of the British Isles, London. 205 pp. Lousley, J.E. & Williams, J.T. (1975). Rumex L., pp. 278-292 in Stace, C.A. (ed.)

Hybridization and the Flora of the British Isles. Academic Press, London. Margetts, L.J. & David, R.W. (1981). A review of the Cornish flora 1980. Redruth,

Institute of Cornish Studies. McClintock, D. (1975). The wildflowers of Guernsey. Collins. McDonnell, E.J. (1995). The status of Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris Le Gall) in Britain in

1994. Unpublished report to English Nature and Plantlife. 22 pp.

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McDonnell, E.J. (1998). Rumex rupestris (shore dock). Report on fieldwork. Plantlife Report no. 101. 17 pp. Plantlife, London.

McDonnell, E.J. (1999). Rumex rupestris (shore dock). Report on 1998 fieldwork. Plantlife Report no. 128. 48 pp. Plantlife, London.

McDonnell, E.J. & King, M.P. (2000). Shore dock Rumex rupestris. Report on field work undertaken in 1999. Plantlife Report no. 140. 59 pp. Plantlife, London.

Moles, J. (1999). A study of Rumex rupestris – a rare species of European dock. Unpublished industrial placement report to University of York/ITE.

Neil, C.J., King, M.P., Evans, S.B., Parslow, R.E., Bennallick, I.B., & McDonnell, E.J. (2001). Shore Dock Rumex rupestris. Report on fieldwork undertaken in 2000. Plantlife Report no. 175. 78 pp. Plantlife, London.

Olivier, L., Galland, J-P. & Maurin, H. (1995). Livre Rouge de la Flore Menacée de France. Tome I: Espèces Prioritaires. Paris.

Parslow, R.E. (1985). A survey of the shore dock Rumex rupestris in the Isles of Scilly, 1984. British Ecological Society Bulletin, 16: 92-95.

Parslow, R.E. (1996). Shore Dock Rumex rupestris Le Gall in the Isles of Scilly. Report to English Nature's Species Recovery Programme.

Parslow, R. & Colston, A. (1994). The current status of Rumex rupestris in the Isles of Scilly. Unpublished report to English Nature. 10 pp. (Not seen).

Perring, F.H. & Farrell, L. (1983). British Red Data Books: 1. Vascular Plants. 2nd edn. Royal Society for Nature Conservation, Lincoln.

Phitos, D. et al (1995). The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece. WWF. Athens.

Poli, B. (2000). Rumex rupestris. Unpublished student dissertation to ENSHAP/CEH. 21pp + Appendices.

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

Roberts, R.H. (1981). Rumex rupestris in Anglesey. Botanical Society of the British Isles, Welsh Bulletin, 35: 17.

Rodwell, J.S. (1992). British plant communities Vols. 1-5. Cambridge University Press. Smith, V. (1988). The European status of rare British vascular plants. NCC Contract

Survey no.33. Stevanović, V. (ed.). (1999). Red Data Book of Flora of Serbia, 1: Extinct and critically

endangered taxa. Belgrade. Stewart, A., Pearman, D.A. & Preston, C.D. (ed.s). (1994). Scarce Plants in Britain.

Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Trimen, H. (1876). Rumex rupestris, Le Gall, as a British plant. Journal of Botany 14:1-4

+ figure. Wallace, E.C. (1956). Plant Records. Proceedings of the Botanical Society of the British

Isles, 2: 26-44. (Rumex rupestris found at Merthyr-mawr Warren in 1954 by B.A. Miles, p. 37.)

Wallace, E.C. (1959). Plant Records. Proceedings of the Botanical Society of the British Isles, 3:181-203. (Rumex rupestris found at Lydstep Haven in 1957 by E.K. Horwood, p. 190.)

Wigginton, M. (ed.). (1999). British Red Data Book 1: Vascular plants. 3rd Edition. JNCC, Peterborough.

9 Acknowledgements Thanks to Stephen Evans, Ian Bennallick, Andy Jones, Simon Leach and David Holyoak for their valuable comments on the draft of this dossier. Plantlife International’s Back from the Brink project is supported by: English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage & the Countryside Council for Wales.

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10 Contacts Plantlife International The Wild Plant Conservation Charity 14 Rollestone Street Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 1DX Tel: 01722 342730

or contact enquiries: enquiries@plantlife.org.uk

11 Links

ARKive species web page for Rumex rupestris http://www.arkive.org.

Original draft by Miles King Edited by Plantlife International

First draft dated March 2003 Last revised 20th March 2006

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12 Annex 1 - Draft Monitoring Form for Rumex rupestris. DRAFT FORM WITH SUGGESTED ATTRIBUTES FOR MONITORING AND ASSESSING THE

CONDITION OF Rumex rupestris SITES.

Site Date Baseline (date)

New Data

Colony Code

NGR V F C V F C % Change

TOTAL Attribute Broad

Target Acceptable Limits of Change

Monitoring protocol

Frequency Value Favourable Y/N

Population Size

Population stable over a 5 year period.

Population decreases by <25% over a 5 year period.

Detailed population census.

3 or 5 years *

Population structure

Seedlings/ small vegetative plants present.

No seedlings present, if population less than 5 adult plants.

Search for seedlings & small vegetative plants across site. Record, with likelihood of being R. rupestris.

On each visit

Flowering Performance

>20 flowering spikes of >10cm length present.

>10 flowering spikes of all lengths present.

Count flowering spikes in population.

On each visit.

Habitat Condition Assess-ment

Habitat dynamics

Maintain suitable niches within population boundaries.

<10% loss in 5 year period of suitable niches within population boundaries.

Search for suitable niches within population boundaries; record.

On each visit.

Presence of freshwater

Freshwater present throughout year.

N/A Record presence of freshwater in August/Sept.

On each visit.

Vegetation dynamics

Supralittoral vegetation suitable for shore dock.

No succession to under-scrub communities.

Visual assessment.

3 or 5 years*.

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Grazing pressure 1

Grazing at acceptable levels for shore dock to flower successfully.

>75% of flowering spikes are ungrazed.

Count number of flowering spikes grazed off. Record.

On each visit.

Grazing pressure 2

No loss of plants.

N/A Record losses. On each visit.

Trampling Trampling by livestock / people does not threaten shore dock plants.

No loss of plants.

Record impact of any trampling.

On each visit.

Competition with Invasive Exotics (e.g. Carpobrotus edulis)

Invasive exotics do not threaten shore dock populations.

N/A Record presence of invasive exotics and distance from shore dock populations.

On each visit

Pollution Oil and debris do not threaten shore dock populations or habitat.

N/A| Record presence of oil pollution, or debris in vicinity of shore dock populations.

On each visit.

* 3 for large or vulnerable populations; 5 years for others.

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