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: 1889
Latest year: 2007

County Status
Native

Family
Onagraceae

Total records held
5232

Grid Square Count

1987-2007	Ever
Monads: 2110	2171
Tetrads: 734	737
Hectads: 44	44

Conservation Status

Account last edited
Aug 4 2003

Explanation of terms

Species Details

Rosebay Willowherb is very common native perennial of rocky places, waste ground, waysides and woodland clearings often in disturbed or burnt areas. It occurs throughout our area except for the high moors. It is often locally abundant forming bold pink stands of flowers in summer which attract many insects. Nationally it was only a local species of rocky places and screes in the 1850s that then underwent a phenomenal spread through lowland Britain in the middle of the 20th century. This was probably due to an increase of cleared woodland and disturbed ground (Clapham XXet al. 1987). However it does not seem to have increased as much locally over this time since Linton (1903) records it as locally abundant throughout the county.