The Flora of Derbyshire - Checklist, Maps and Sample Accounts

THIS IS A DRAFT

The species account below is an early version, drafted around 2003. It has been provided here to aid understanding, but please be aware it may not fully tally with the up-to-date map and statistics shown below.

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Dates
First year: 1789
Latest year: 2007

County Status
Native

Family
Poaceae

Total records held
1383

Grid Square Count

1987-2007	Ever
Monads: 552	594
Tetrads: 220	249
Hectads: 26	32

Conservation Status

Account last edited
Jun 14 2004

Explanation of terms

Species Details

Mat-grass is a tufted native perennial of moors heaths and grasslands on acid soils. It is common and locally abundant over large areas of the South West and Dark Peak, for example at Axe Edge (SK0270), Crowden (SK0699 v.c.58) and Priddock Wood (SK2086). It is particularly abundant in areas of heavy sheep grazing. It is rare in the White Peak, as at Bigginmoor (SK1758) and Carsington Pasture (SK2454), where it grows in patches of acid soil over the limestone. Elsewhere in our area it is very rare, for example at Willington Junction (SK3029), Wessington Green (SK3757) and Hardwick Hall (SK4563). Previously it was more widespread having been lost from many sites in the lowlands of our area. This local loss is part of a more widespread decline in lowland England due to habitat destruction (Preston XXet al. 2002).