Purple moor-grass and rush pastures
Encyclopedia
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
habitat in the UK. It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe. It is found in the South West of England, especially in Devon.
The vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
consists of species-rich
Species richness
Species richness is the number of different species in a given area. It is represented in equation form as S.Species richness is the fundamental unit in which to assess the homogeneity of an environment. Typically, species richness is used in conservation studies to determine the sensitivity of...
, semi-natural grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
containing abundant purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) and one or more of several creeping rushes
Juncaceae
Juncaceae, the rush family, are a monocotyledonous family of flowering plants. There are eight genera and about 400 species. Members of the Juncaceae are slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous plants, and they may superficially resemble grasses. They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range...
: sharp-flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus
Juncus acutiflorus
Juncus acutiflorus, also called Sharp-flowered Rush, is a rush or a grassy plant of the genus Juncus. As the name suggests, the plant has notable sharp-looking flowers, flowering between July and September.-Physical description:...
), jointed rush (Juncus articulatus
Juncus articulatus
Juncus articulatus is a species of rush known by the common name Jointleaf Rush, and more ambiguously as "Jointed Rush" which can also refer to J. kraussii from Australia . It is native to Eurasia and much of Canada and the United States. It grows in moist areas, such as wet sand, and thrives in...
) and blunt-flowered rush (Juncus subnodulosus
Juncus subnodulosus
Juncus subnodulosus, the Blunt-flowered Rush, is a species of rush. It natively occurs from the Mediterranean region across temperate Europe, but it does not range far into Scandinavia...
).
Only 8% remains of the area thought to have existed in 1900. In the UK estimate the area is thought to be less than 70000 hectares (172,973.6 acre). Their importance is recognised and are included as a priority habitat in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan
United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan
The United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan is the governmental response to the Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1992. When the Biodiversity Action Plans were first published in 1994, the conservation of 391 species and 45 habitats was covered. 1,150 species and 65 habitats are...
.
Etymology
In DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
it is known as culm grassland, after the Culm Measures
Culm Measures
The Culm Measures are a geological formation of the Carboniferous period that occur in south-west England, principally in Devon and Cornwall. They are so called because of the occasional presence of a soft, sooty coal, which is known in Devon as culm....
on which it is predominantly found. In East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
it is known as litter meadow due to the practice of cutting it for bedding. In Wales it is known as rhôs pasture.
Typical grasses
Common bent (Agrostis capillarisAgrostis capillaris
Agrostis capillaris is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial in the grass family . It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world...
), crested dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus
Cynosurus cristatus
-Introduction:Crested Dog’s-tail is an ornamental plant, but also found in the wild typically in species rich grassland. It is a perennial short-lived plant characterised by a seed head that is flat on one side. It thrives in a variety of soil types but avoids the acid and calcerous extremes of...
), floating sweet grass (Glyceria fluitans
Glyceria fluitans
Glyceria fluitans R. Br. is a species of perennial grasses in the genus Glyceria native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia and occurring in wet areas such as ditches, riverbanks and ponds...
), marsh foxtail (Alopecurus geniculatus
Alopecurus geniculatus
Alopecurus geniculatus is a species of grass known by the common name water foxtail or Marsh foxtail.It is native to much of Eurasia and North America, where it grows in moist areas. This is a perennial grass forming bunches of erect stems up to about 60 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves...
), purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea), red fescue (Festuca rubra
Festuca rubra
Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates; it generally needs full sun to thrive...
), sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum
Anthoxanthum odoratum
-Introduction:Anthoxanthum odoratum, known as sweet vernal grass, holy grass, vanilla grass or buffalo grass, is a short-lived grass found wild in acidic grassland in Eurasia. It is also grown as a lawn grass and a house plant, due to its sweet scent, and can also be found on unimproved pastures...
).
Characteristic species
The Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Farm Environmental Plan handbook defines the habitat as grassland with at least two of the following species are found frequently, with another two being found occasionally.- Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum)
- Bog mosses (SphagnumSphagnumSphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
spp) - Bog pimpernel (Anagallis tenellaAnagallis tenellaAnagallis tenella known in Britain as the Bog Pimpernel, is a low growing, perennial plant found in a variety of damp habitats from calcareous dune slacks to boggy and peaty heaths in Eurasia but absent from North America...
) - Bugle (Ajuga reptansAjuga reptansAjuga reptans, commonly known as Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Carpet Bungleweed, Common bugle, or Burgundy lace, is an herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe. This plant is often used as an ornamental plant. It is invasive in parts of North America.-Description:The bugle has...
) - Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- Common meadow-rue (Thalictrum flavumThalictrum flavumThalictrum flavum is a plant species in the genus Thalictrum. It is often called common meadow-rue or yellow meadow-rue...
) - Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralixErica tetralixErica tetralix is a species of heather found in Atlantic areas of Europe, from southern Portugal to central Norway, as well as a number of boggy regions further from the coast in Central Europe. In bogs, wet heaths and damp coniferous woodland, Erica tetralix can become a dominant part of the flora...
) - Devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensisSuccisa pratensisSuccisa pratensis Moench, also known as Devil's-bit Scabious, is a flowering plant of the genus Succisa in the family Dipsacaceae. It differs from other similar species in that it has 4 lobed flowers, whereas Small Scabious and Field scabious have 5 lobes and hence it has been placed in a separate...
) - Globeflower (Trollius europaeus)
- Greater Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalisSanguisorba officinalisSanguisorba officinalis is a plant in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae. It is native throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America....
) - Greater bird's foot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)
- Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
- Jointed rush (Juncus articulatusJuncus articulatusJuncus articulatus is a species of rush known by the common name Jointleaf Rush, and more ambiguously as "Jointed Rush" which can also refer to J. kraussii from Australia . It is native to Eurasia and much of Canada and the United States. It grows in moist areas, such as wet sand, and thrives in...
) - Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammulaRanunculus flammulaRanunculus flammula L. is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus Ranunculus , growing in damp places throughout the Boreal Kingdom. It is very closely related to R. reptans L., which is distinguished by prostrate and more slender stems, narrower leaves and smaller flowers and is...
) - Lesser water-parsnip (Berula erecta)
- Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica)
- Fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosumGalium uliginosumGalium uliginosum or Fen Bedstraw is a plant species of the genus Galium....
) - Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustrisPotentilla palustrisComarum palustre , known by the common names Purple Marshlocks, Swamp Cinquefoil and Marsh Cinquefoil, is a common waterside shrub. It has a Circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly the northern regions...
) - Marsh hawk's-beard (Crepis paludosaCrepis paludosaCrepis paludosa, the Marsh Hawksbeard, is found beside shady burns, and in other damp shady places.Flower diameter c 1.5-2.5 cm...
) - Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustrisCaltha palustrisCaltha palustris is a herbaceous perennial plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere....
) - Marsh pennywort (Umbilicus palustris)
- Marsh valerian (Valeriana dioica)
- Marsh violet (Viola palustrisViola palustrisViola palustris is a perennial forb of the genus Viola. It inhabits moist meadows, marshes, and streambanks in northern parts of North America and Eurasia....
) - Meadow thistle (Cirsium dissectumCirsium dissectumCirsium dissectum, also known as Meadow Thistle, is an erect perennial herb. It is found in England, Wales, Ireland, from western France to the Netherlands, and Germany. It is found in fens and less acidic peat bogs i.e. it prefers damp boggy areas....
) - Meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris)
- Orchids (Orchidaceae)
- Ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)
- Rough hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus)
- Saw-wort (Serratula tinctoriaSerratula tinctoriaSerratula tinctoria, commonly known as Saw-wort, is a species in the genus Serratula. It is a native of Europe. It grows in moist soil, full sun to part shade, and grows up to one meter tall....
) - Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica)
- Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)
- Water avens (Geum rivale)
- Water mint (Mentha aquatica)
- Whorled Caraway (Carum verticillatum)
- Wild angelica (Angelica sylvaticum)
- Small blue-green sedges: Glaucous Sedge (Carex flaccaCarex flaccaCarex flacca, with common names blue sedge, gray carex, glaucous sedge, or carnation-grass, , is a species of sedge native to parts of Europe and North Africa....
), Common Sedge (Carex nigraCarex nigraCarex nigra Reichard is a perennial species of plants in the family Cyperaceae native to wetlands of Europe, western Asia, NW Africa and E North America. The eastern limit of its range reaches central Siberia, Turkey and probably Caucasus....
), Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea) etc. - Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorusIris pseudacorusIris pseudacorus is a species of Iris, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Common names include yellow iris and yellow flag...
)
Key animal species associated with purple moor grass and rush pastures
- Marsh fritillaryMarsh FritillaryThe Marsh Fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.It is widespread in the Palaearctic region from Ireland in the West to Yakutia in the East, and to North-west China and Mongolia in the South.E. aurinia is represented by many subspecies.The most widely accepted...
butterfly (Eurodryas aurinia), uses scattered scrub and carr in September/October. - Brown HairstreakBrown HairstreakThe Brown Hairstreak is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The range includes most of the Palaearctic.-Subspecies:...
(Theccla betulae) - Narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth (Hemaris tityusHemaris tityusHemaris tityus, the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, is one of two similar species of sphingid moth occurring in Britain that closely mimic a bumblebee. It has a wide range, from Ireland across temperate Europe to the Ural Mountains, western Siberia, Novosibirsk and the Altai...
) - fly during April/May, during the day. - Eurasian CurlewEurasian CurlewThe Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia...
(Numenius arquata) - lays eggs in April/May in open ground on a mound or tussock, incubates them through to June, and young may not be ready to fly until late July or into August. - Common SnipeCommon SnipeThe Common Snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia...
(Gallinago gallinago) - Barn OwlBarn OwlThe Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
(Tyto alba) - Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) on the wing in June/July.
- Reed BuntingReed BuntingThe Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....
(Emberiza schoeniclus) uses scattered scrub and carr in September/October.
Threats
- Drainage
- CultivationTillageTillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
- Fertiliser Application
- OvergrazingOvergrazingOvergrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.Overgrazing reduces the...
- Frequent Burning
- Undergrazing - leading to succession to scrub and woodland. Can become dominated by Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
- AfforestationAfforestationAfforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forest cover, either naturally or artificially...
Management
Natural England Guidance advocates an average grass height of 7 and 8 cm (2.8 and 3.1 in) for rush during April and May, increasing to 10 and 13 cm (3.9 and 5.1 in) in June to October, a quarter of the sward no more than 15 centimetres (5.9 in) for grass and 40 centimetres (15.7 in) for rushes - a diverse sward of shorter areas interspersed by taller tussocks.Areas of dense litter are beneficial to over-wintering insects and small mammals, but should be less than 25% of the total area in October.
Protection
In the UK there are a number of initiatives to help prevent deterioration and to restore these sites. These include designation as Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
s, National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
s, voluntary entry into the Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England. It was formally launched on 18 March 2005, although the first agreements did not start until 1 August 2005....
Scheme by landowners, or work by voluntary conservation organisations such as the Devon Wildlife Trust
Devon Wildlife Trust
The Devon Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts partnership covering the county of Devon, England. It is a registered charity, established in 1962 as the Devon Naturalists Trust, and its aim is to safeguard the future of the county's urban, rural and marine wildlife and its...
.
External links
- Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Farm Environmental Plan manual
- Purple moor-grass and rush pasture leaflets by Natural EnglandNatural EnglandNatural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
- UK Habitat Action Plan for purple moor grass and rush pastures
- English Nature description of Culm grassland
- Nature On The Map Nature on the Map showing Purple moor grass and rush pasture locations in the UK