England’s Important Arable

Introduction

England has a diverse arable flora. Rather than being ‘arable deserts’ the annual plants associated with this habitat are unique and some of our most threatened flora. Twenty-three vascular plants associated with cultivated and disturbed habitat are noted as being of conservation concern on Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Communities Act 2006. As such, the UK government created the England Biodiversity 2020 pledge, which includes increasing the amount of arable habitat.

The decline of arable plants can be attributed to many changes in the agricultural sector. The use of broad-spectrum herbicides introduced in the 1950s increased towards the end of the 20th century and are still a major factor influencing our landscape. Seed cleaning became more efficient, and fertiliser use increased along with the development of modern crop varieties that can take-up large quantities of nutrients growing faster than the arable plants that lived alongside them. In addition, farming systems have changed considerably resulting in a greater proportion of autumn-sown cereals compared with the historical spring-sown cereals, changes from conventional ploughing to minimum tillage, and there has been a decline in the ‘traditional’ rotation of crops resulting in the grass ley break in cultivation being replaced with a break crop. This has resulted in the fields being continuously cropped, and there is no low- intensity period when arable plants could establish and fulfil their short lifecycle. Across parts of England, particularly the smaller farms in the southwest of England, there is thought to be a decline of arable land, from one of mixed farming including growing cereals for livestock feed to more pastoral based livestock businesses with a reliance on grass silage. Meanwhile the costs of arable farming have increased; making it uneconomical for smaller farms to cultivate land, and the increasing size and costs of machinery has made it more difficult to cultivate smaller fields. More recently the tariffs offered for solar energy production have established a new land use of fields filled with arrays. Many of the fields used for this business were low-intensity arable fields. Solar arrays hinder any arable cultivation, as they panels are too close together for cultivation in between, and the housing is too delicate to be disturbed. There is the option of cultivating around the perimeter of the arrays, but few farmers are advised of this management through the Environmental Impact Assessment.

However, the arable fields that are still cultivated and managed with low-inputs retain impressive arable assemblages. Arable plants also survive along the edges of more intensely-managed cropped fields in annually cultivated uncropped margins, conservation headlands and low-input cereals and whole crop. These measures also benefit farmland birds, small mammals and insects, including providing a food source at an early period of the year when resources are short for pollinators.

Arable plants provide food and shelter for a huge variety of wildlife, many of which have also declined. During the spring and summer, flowers provide an essential nectar and pollen source for bumblebees, butterflies and other insects. Amongst many others, poppies Papaver sp., dead- nettles Lamium sp., field pansies Viola arvensis and corn marigolds Glebionis segetum are visited by bumblebees and provide pollen which is an essential part of their diet. Winter seeds from plants such as black mustard Brassica nigra, chickweed Stellaria media, fat hen Chenopodium album and annual meadow-grass Poa annua provide food for a wide range of farmland birds, small mammals and insects. In turn predators that feed on these insects, small mammals and birds will also benefit.

Rather than being evenly distributed across cultivated land, arable plants have a complex relationship with historical land use, soil type, crop and rotation, climate and topography. The amount of arable land that has been surveyed is very low as this land use had a low conservation profile until the ‘Fields of Vision’ conference held in 2000i, and there are difficulties obtaining access to cultivated fields to undertake surveys. In addition, arable plants do not necessarily germinate every year, and can remain dormant and undetected in the soil seed bank for many years until conditions are suitable. Further survey work is desperately needed to establish whether historical populations of arable plants are still surviving and locate new populations of arable plants.

This arable plant mapping exercise has been undertaken to identify the location of threatened arable plants across National Character Areas in England. It can be used to refine the targeting of conservation measures for arable plants and inform locations where further surveys should be targeted.

Important Arable Plant Areasii

Important Arable Plant Areas (IAPAs) are a method of assessing arable sites based on the presence of threatened species and/or exceptional assemblages:

 Criterion A – threatened species. IAPAs selected under threatened species are based on the occurrence of arable plants recognised in National, European or Global red lists. Currently no arable plants present in Wales are considered to be threatened at a European level, thus there is no present qualification of European or Global level under criterion A. However, at the National level (UK and Wales) there is allowance of key sites of threatened or protected species, particularly those considered of conservation concern and stated on the Section 42 list of species on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 or as Biodiversity Action Plan species. Up to 30 ‘best’ sites from across Britain can be selected for threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable species). Populations of threatened species and county rarities not selected under criteria A as being of National Importance should be selected as being of County Importance.

 Criteria B – outstanding assemblages. IAPAs are selected based on a weighted scoring system regarding each species individual rarity (table 1). A basic list of plants was drawn together using PLANTATTiii and supplemented with a selection of additional plants considered to occur occasionally on arable land. Individual species scores range from 0 for no concern and 1-3 for degrees of least concern to 9 for critically endangered or extinct species (appendix A). The plant scores have recently been updated in January 2015 taking into account recent distribution information. In addition, cumulative score thresholds have been set accounting for County, National and European levels of significance based on soil qualities (table 2). This allows the relative comparison of different sites. The thresholds are considered to be provisional as they were based on the best available information in 2005 and further refinement work may be undertaken in the future.

Table 1: IAPA weighted scores based on the rarity of an individual species at a UK level. Score Status 9 Critically Endangered (CR) or Extinct (EX) 8 Endangered (EN) 7 Vulnerable (VU) 6 Near threatened (NT) OR additional Nationally Rare (i.e. 1-15 10-km squares) 5 Additional Nationally scarce: 16 to 50 10-km squares OR 51 to 100 10-km squares and change index of –1.0 or less 4 Additional Nationally scarce: other Nationally scarce species not covered by the above category 3 Species of local concern: 101 to 500 10-km squares 2 Species of local concern: 501 to 1000 10-km squares 1 Species of local concern: 1001 to 1500 10-km squares and change index less than 0.0 (i.e. negative)

Table 2: threshold scores for assessing the conservation status of IAPAs

Sands and freely Clays Chalk and limestone draining acid soils derived soils

County importance 20-34 20-29 30-44 National importance 35-69 30-69 45-89 European importance 70+ 70+ 90+

To ascertain the IAPA score for each tetrad the dominant soil type has been determined using NapMapiv soils data. The three soil categories are very broad and many different soil classifications fall within each category. There are also soils that straddle the boundary between the soil broad categories, and soils that do not fall into any of the broad categories. Table 3 provides examples of the soil types that fall into the three broad categories ‘sands’, ‘clays’ and ‘chalk/limestone’ soils and an ‘other’ category.

Table 3: Examples of soil types included in each broad soil category.

Sands and freely Typical sand-pararendzinas draining acid soils Typical sandy-gley soils Typical argillic brown earths (all other types)

Clays Cambic stagnogley soils Typical alluvial gley soils Pelo-stagnogley soils

Chalk and limestone Humic, brown, gley and colluvial rendzinas derived soils Brown earths over limestone bedrock

Other Disturbed soils (i.e. from disused mining operations) Raw oligo-amorphous peat soils Humus-ironpan stagnopodzols

Figure 1: IAPA score for each National Character Area. Darker reds are higher scores, indicating that there are a higher number of rare and threatened plants present. Map created using information collated in 2005.

Conservation measures for arable plants in England

Agri-environment measures are the primary conservation mechanism delivering management for arable plants, and will continue to play a major role in their conservation for the foreseeable future. Cultivated land has long been the target for conservation measures. The first agri- environment scheme in 1987 did not include measures on arable land, but they were introduced from 2002 onwards and have been a main component in Countryside Stewardship in the early 2000s, Environmental Stewardship from 2003-2014 and the latest measure, Countryside Stewardship which started in January 2015.

Monitoring of the scheme has identified that several measures are very beneficial for arable plants. Uncropped annually cultivated margins had higher species richness and abundance of arable plants, including rare and threatened arable plants, compared with other management options, such as conservation headlands and spring fallow, and conventionally managed cereals. These measures have been adjusted as a result of the monitoring, and adapted in the new Countryside Stewardship to achieve the best results for arable plantsv,vi,vii.

As part of the targeting for Countryside Stewardship, large-scale maps of National Character Areas (NCAs) were produced in 2006 (figure 1). This is a combination of IAPA score based on the presence of arable plants in each NCA, and the species richness in each NCA. Although very useful, this targeting is now out of date and needs to be renewed. It is also at a very large scale, and more detailed sub-NCA mapping would help target measures more effectively. However, it is the only information available and has been used for Countryside Stewardship. Positive and negative targeting has also been included based on known populations of arable plants found within 40 years. Positive measures, including cultivated margins and plots, can be targeted at areas with IAPA plants that have a score of 4 or more (Nationally Scarce, Nationally Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). Management that would be detrimental for arable plants, such as perennial nectar margin mixes, have been negatively targeted and cannot be placed at locations with IAPA plants scoring 4 or more.

Surveys of arable land have increased since 2000 when the decline was first recognised. However, there has not been any systematic survey and the landscape scale targeting is not appropriate for the placement of options. Finer scale mapping, in line with other datasets such as farmland birds, is required to increase the rigor of the targeting, such as sub-NCA priority species mapping and IAPA mapping at a tetrad level. Potentially, this would also indicate areas at a sub-NCA that require further investigation and survey based on historical records, a high IAPA score or the presence of conservation measures for arable plants under an agri-environment scheme. To achieve the maximum benefit for arable plants from any land management scheme, appropriate management options need to be targeted at the field and holding level so that they are located on populations of rare and threatened arable plants or where the arable plant community is particularly species rich.

There are two examples of Special Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs) designated purely based on the arable flora present. The first of these is based on the calcareous clay soils of the Polden Hills in Somerset. Shepherd’s-needle Scandix pecten-veneris, broad-fruited cornsalad Valerianella rimosa, corn buttercup Ranunculus arvensis and spreading hedge-parsley Torilis arvensis are three of the priority plants found at this site. It is comprised of three arable fields managed as low-intensity cultivated land by Somerset Wildlife Trust. The other site is Ranscombe Farm on the North Downs in Kent. Kitchen field is one of the richest in the country with ground-pine Ajuga chamaepitys. Longhoes Field, not part of the SSSI but part of the holding, has one of the few populations of broad-leaved cudweed Filago pyramidata. In terms of IAPAs, Ranscombe Farm is the highest scoring holding in the country and contains a diverse flora managed as low-intensity arable margins and whole fields by Plantlife. Although there are other arable fields designated as SSSIs, they are generally a small part of other larger SSSIs. The identification and designation of further SSSI’s may aid the survival of threatened arable plants if suitable management practices can be maintained.

Aims and Objectives

This evidence gathering work will collate all historical information of priority species and assess the importance of land for their threatened arable plant communities. There is a fundamental gap in our knowledge about low-intensity arable habitat and populations of threatened arable plants as no systematic and comprehensive survey of arable land has been undertaken across England. This project will fill this evidence gap providing a baseline of low-intensity arable land across England using the Important Arable Plant Area (IAPA) methodology. It is also important to assess how old the surveys are and whether they are comprehensive. A location may have a low score if it has been surveyed only once, as annual arable plants may not necessarily germinate every year. Fields may be part of a rotation and under a grass ley during the survey period, or the cropping practices at the time did not suit the germination and growth of arable plants.

The work included in this evidence gathering includes:

1. Mapping Section 41 (NERC Act 2006) arable plant distributions at a point, monad (1x1 km square) and tetrad (2x2 km square) level.

2. Map richness (based on the Important Arable Plant Area scoring criteria) at a tetrad level.

The mapping has been undertaken across five National Character Areas:  86 Suffolk and Essex Claylands  107 Cotswolds  119 North Downs  130 Hampshire Downs  143 Mid-Somerset Hills

The information gathered by this project will contribute to understanding ecological connectivity of arable plant populations and communities and targeting of conservation management measures supporting the resilience of arable plant populations across the wider English landscape. It will also help identify the best sites for arable plants which may determine new sites for protection in addition to other conservation measures.

Species Data

The species distribution data has been gathered from a number of different sources:

 The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland’s (BSBI) distribution database – This database holds all of the information submitted to the BSBI through the vice-county recorders and other recorders. The data has been digitised and mapped to the most precise scale taken from the submission details. This may be at the scale of a data point (six-figure grid reference or smaller spatial scale), monad, tetrad or hectad (10x10 km square) scale. Data has been used under license from the BSBI database.

 Plantlife’s Important Arable Plant Area database – the database was set-up in 2012 and contains all of the records submitted to Plantlife and used to develop the methodology for identifying IAPAs. Recent surveys have also been included. Much of the older data is at a tetrad level, whilst newer data is at a point and monad level relating to fields that have been surveyed.

All of this data has been combined to provide information on the distribution of each species. In particular, 23 priority species (Section 41 species of conservation concern listed under Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006 and regarded as Criterion A) have been mapped to determine distribution and whether the populations occur from natural sources or from recent introductions (table 4).

Table 4: Threatened and rare arable plants (Criterion A)

Species GB threat status England threat statusviii Pheasant’s-eye Adonis annua Endangered Endangered Ground-pine Ajuga chamaepitys Endangered Endangered Interrupted brome Bromus interruptus Nationally Scarce Nationally Scarce Thorow-wax Bupleurum rotundifolium Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Cornflower Centaurea cyanus Least Concern* Least Concern* Upright goosefoot Chenopodium urbicum Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Red-tipped cudweed Filago lutescens Endangered Endangered Broad-leaved cudweed Filago pyramidata Endangered Endangered Purple ramping-fumitory purpurea Least Concern Vulnerable Red hemp-nettle Galeopsis angustifolia Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Corn cleavers Galium tricornutum Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Wild candytuft Iberis amara Vulnerable Vulnerable Darnel Lolium temulentum Critically endangered Critically endangered Grass-poly Lythrum hyssopifolium Endangered Endangered Cotswold Pennycress Microthlaspi perfoliatum Vulnerable Vulnerable Corn buttercup Ranunculus arvensis Critically endangered Endangered Shepherd’s-needle Scandix pecten-veneris Critically endangered Endangered Annual knawel Scleranthus annuus Endangered Endangered Small-flowered catchfly Silene gallica Endangered Endangered Spreading hedge-parsley Torilis arvensis Endangered Endangered Broad-fruited cornsalad Valerianella rimosa Endangered Endangered Fingered speedwell Veronica triphyllos Endangered Critically Endangered Spring speedwell Veronica verna Endangered Endangered * Cornflower is listed as Least Concern in the GB and England Red Lists, but this also includes introduced populations from sown seed (often of European origin). Naturally occurring populations of cornflower are considered to be Endangered.

Mapping Method

Data for each species was collated and mapped with tetrads being the largest mappable unit used in the analysis. Records at a spatial scale larger than tetrads were considered too big to provide an accurate location of a threatened arable plant population. IAPA status was mapped at a tetrad level by combining all of the scores for all IAPA species present on farmland within the tetrad and assessing the threshold category for the major broad soil category of each tetrad.

All of the mapping was undertaken in ArcGIS v10.2. Maps were generated to provide a clear guide to the broad soil category, historical and recent records, natural and introduced populations and IAPA score per tetrad. Each page is interpreted and comments, such as location of threatened plant populations and location of additional surveys, have been included to provide background to some of the conclusions of this evidence gathering work.

Results and discussion

The results of the mapping can be found on the individual NCA reports.

Appendix A

IAPA List and Scores

Score Status 9 Critically Endangered (CR) or Extinct (EX) 8 Endangered (EN) 7 Vulnerable (VU) 6 Near threatened (NT) OR additional Nationally Rare (i.e. 1-15 10-km squares) 5 Additional Nationally scarce: 16 to 50 10-km squares; OR 51 to 100 10-km squares and change index of –1.0 or less 4 Additional Nationally scarce: other Nationally scarce species not covered by the above category 3 Species of local concern: 101 to 500 10-km squares 2 Species of local concern: 501 to 1000 10-km squares 1 Species of local concern: 1001 to 1500 10-km squares and change index less than 0.0 (i.e. negative)

The default is to use the RDB status for native species and archaeophytes with adjustments to account for scarcity of plants in arable habitat or where populations are introduced. Neophytes are included in the IAPA list as part of a habitat component under IAPA criteria B (species assemblages) but can only be awarded the status of Near threatened or additional Nationally Rare (6) (noted as 'Near threatened' in the table for ease of identification).

NB: the distribution information for each species below includes all historic extent. As a consequence, some species appear to be more widely distributed than their current distributions.

Species Native GB Status GB Score status (based on GB Red List 2005 and/or the most recent survey data) Pheasant’s-eye Endangered (RDB status) 8 Adonis annua (234 hectads, change index of -2.19) Corncockle Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Agrostemma githago (815 hectads, change index of -0.75) Ground Pine Endangered (RDB status) 8 Ajuga chamaepitys (43 hectads, change index of -0.62) Hairy Mallow or Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Rough Marsh-mallow (88 hectads, change index of 0.11) Althaea hirsuta Small Alison Neophyte Nationally Scarce 6 Alyssum alyssoides (0 hectads, change index of -1.24) Blue Pimpernel Nationally Scarce 5 Anagallis arvensis ssp. foemina (no distribution data available) Small Bugloss Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Anchusa arvensis (1514 hectads, change index of -0.7) Corn Chamomile Endangered (RBD status) 8 Anthemis arvensis Stinking Chamomile Vulnerable (RBB status) 7 Anthemis cotula Annual Vernal-grass Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Anthoxanthum aristatum (93 hectads, change index of -2.65) Bur Chervil Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Anthriscus caucalis (659 hectads, change index of -0.16) Dense Silky-bent Neophyte Nationally Scarce 4 Apera interrupta (104 hectads, change index of 0.8) Loose Silky-bent Near Threatened (RDB status) 6 Apera spica-venti (326 hectads, change index of -0.21) Slender Parsley-piert Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Aphanes australis (1549 hectads, no change index) Lamb’s-succory Extinct (RDB status) 9 Arnoseris minima (83 hectads, change index of -3.72) Bristle Oat Nationally Scarce (No RBD status) 5 Avena strigosa (270 hectads, change index of -3.01) Black Mustard Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Brassica nigra (1080 hectads, change index of -0.02) Lesser Quaking-grass Nationally Scarce (RDB status) 5 Briza minor (92 hectads, change index of 0.28) Field Brome Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Bromus arvensis (no distribution, change index of -3.15) Interrupted Brome Neophyte Nationally Scarce 6 Bromus interruptus (no distribution, change index of -1.73) Rye Brome Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Bromus secalinus (403 hectads, change index of -1.15) Greater Pignut Near Threatened 6 Bunium bulbocastanum (13 hectads, change index of 0.14) Thorow-wax Critically endangered (RDB status) 9 Bupleurum rotundifolium (287 hectads, change index of -4.58) False Flax Least Concern (RDB Status) 5 Camelina sativa (248 hectads, no change index) Small Bur-parsley Extinct (RDB status) 9 Caucalis platycarpos (no distribution information) Cornflower Endangered 8 Centaurea cyanus (884 hectads, change index of -0.39) Small Toadflax Least Concern (RBD status) 1 Chaenorhinum minus (1468 hectads, change index of -0.63)

Maple-leaved Goosefoot Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Chenopodium hybridum (285 hectads, -0.32) Fig-leaved Goosefoot Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Chenopodium ficifolium (745 hectads, 1.9) Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Chenopodium murale (412 hectads, -1.63) Many-seeded Goosefoot Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Chenopodium polyspermum (998 hectads, 0.62) Upright Goosefoot Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Chenopodium urbicum (239 hectads, -4.57) Tansy Mustard or Flixweed Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Descurainia sophia (636 hectads, -0.29) Purple Bugloss Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Echium plantagineum (79 hectads, 0.36) Common Stork's-bill Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Erodium cicutarium (no distribution, -0.11) Musk Stork’s-bill Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Erodium moschatum (338 hectads, 0.47) Treacle Mustard Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Erysimum cheiranthoides (929 hectads, -0.65) Dwarf Spurge Near Threatened (RDB status) 6 Euphorbia exigua (1039 hectads, -1.18) Broad-leaved Spurge Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Euphorbia platyphyllos (248 hectads, -0.24) Narrow-leaved Cudweed Extinct (RDB status) 9 Filago gallica (21 hectads, 0.01) Red-tipped Cudweed Endangered (RDB status) 8 Filago lutescens (85 hectads, -0.34) Broad-leaved Cudweed Endangered (RDB status) 8 Filago pyramidata (132 hectads, -1.14) Common Cudweed Near Threatened (RDB status) 6 Filago vulgaris (980 hectads, -1.2) Tall Ramping-fumitory Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Fumaria bastardii (423 hectads, 0.39) White Ramping-fumitory Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Fumaria capreolata (482 hectads, 0.31) Dense-flowered Fumitory Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Fumaria densiflora (307 hectads, -0.37) Common Ramping-fumitory Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 ssp. neglecta (no distribution data) Western Fumitory Nationally Scarce 5 Fumaria occidentalis (31 hectads, 0.04) Small-flowered Fumitory Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Fumaria parviflora (128 hectads, -0.55) Purple Ramping-fumitory Least Concern (RDB status) 4 Fumaria purpurea (191 hectads, 0.25) Martin’s Ramping-fumitory Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Fumaria reuteri (13 hectads, -0.62) Few-flowered Fumitory Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Fumaria vaillantii (116 hectads, -0.51) Red Hemp-nettle Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Galeopsis angustifolia (616 hectads, -3.31) Downy Hemp-nettle Extinct (RDB status) 9 Galeopsis segetum (32 hectads, no index) Large-flowered Hemp-nettle Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Galeopsis speciosa (999 hectads, -1.82) False Cleavers Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Galium spurium (55 hectads, -1.87) Corn Cleavers Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Galium tricornutum (386 hectads, -4.78) Nit-grass Least Concern (RDB status) 5 Gastridium ventricosum (159 hectads, -1.48) Long-stalked Crane’s-bill Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Geranium columbinum (887 hectads, -0.34) Small-flowered Crane’s-bill Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Geranium pusillum (1237 hectads, 0.16) Corn Marigold Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Glebionis segetum (1682 hectads, -1.8) Jagged Chickweed Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Holosteum umbellatum (no distribution data) Henbane Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Hyoscyamus niger (796 hectads, -1.38) Smooth Cat’s-ear Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Hypochaeris glabra (272 hectads, -1.01) Wild Candytuft Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Iberis amara (47 hectads, -1.21) Sharp-leaved Fluellen Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Kickxia elatine (911 hectads, -0.18) Round-leaved Fluellen Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Kickxia spuria (622 hectads, -0.07) Henbit Dead-nettle Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Lamium amplexicaule (1485 hectads, -0.22) Northern Dead-nettle Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Lamium confertum (397 hectads, -0.4) Yellow Vetchling Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Lathyrus aphaca (174 hectads, -1.38) Small Tree-mallow Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Lavatera cretica (31 hectads, 0.15) Venus’s-looking-glass Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Legousia hybrida (552 hectads, -0.6) Greater Venus's-looking-glass Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Legousia speculum-veneris (Only 1 site) Field Pepperwort Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Lepidium campestre (886 hectads, -0.7) Corn Gromwell Endangered (RDB status) 8 Lithospermum arvense (614 hectads, -1.91) Darnel Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Lolium temulentum (341 hectads, -4.05) Grass-poly Endangered (RDB status) 8 Lythrum hyssopifolium (112 hectads, -1.12) Common Mallow Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Malva neglecta (1196 hectads, -0.22) Field Cow-wheat Neophyte Nationally Threatened 6 Melampyrum arvense (50 hectads, -0.49) Corn Mint Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Mentha arvensis (1965 hectads, -1.3) Annual Mercury Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Mercurialis annua (793 hectads, 0.28) Weasel’s-snout Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Misopates orontium (488 hectads, -0.89) Mousetail Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Myosurus minimus (339 hectads, -0.66) Cat-mint Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Nepeta cataria (478 hectads, -1.23) Common Broomrape Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Orobanche minor (800 hectads, -0.2) Prickly Poppy Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Papaver argemone (874 hectads, -1.78) Babington’s Poppy Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Papaver dubium ssp. lecoqii (no distribution data) Rough Poppy Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Papaver hybridum (357 hectads, -0.35) Corn Parsley Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Petroselinum segetum (482 hectads, 0.12) Four-leaved Allseed Nationally Scarce 5 Polycarpon tetraphyllum (16 hectads, -0.04) Northern Knotgrass Nationally Scarce (RDB status) 4 Polygonum boreale (109 hectads, no change index) Cornfield Knotgrass Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Polygonum rurivagum (274 hectads, no change index) Corn Buttercup Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Ranunculus arvensis (824 hectads, -3.77) Rough-fruited Buttercup Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Ranunculus muricatus (18 hectads, no change index) Small-flowered buttercup Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Ranunculus parviflorus (497 hectads, -0.08) Hairy Buttercup Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Ranunculus sardous (544 hectads, 0.24) Wild Radish Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. (no distribution data, -1.39) Raphanistrum Greater Hay-rattle Neophyte Nationally Threatened 6 Rhinanthus angustifolius (90 hectads, -0.1) Shepherd’s Needle Critically Endangered (RDB status) 9 Scandix pecten-veneris (780 hectads, -3.65) Annual Knawel Endangered (RDB status) 8 Scleranthus annuus (983 hectads, -2.68) Field Madder Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Sherardia arvensis (1635 hectads, -0.94) Small-flowered Catchfly Endangered (RDB status) 8 Silene gallica (455 hectads, -2.78) Night-flowering Catchfly Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Silene noctiflora (686 hectads, -2.04) White Mustard Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Sinapis alba (1082 hectads, -0.9) Corn Spurrey Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Spergula arvensis (no distribution data, -2.3) Field Woundwort Near Threatened (RDB status) 6 Stachys arvensis (1418 hectads, -1.17) Cut-leaved Germander Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Teucrium botrys (12 hectads, -0.42) Perfoliate Penny-cress Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Thlaspi perfoliatum (9 hectads, -0.94) Spreading Hedge-parsley Endangered (RDB status) 8 Torilis arvensis (389 hectads, -2.56) Knotted Hedge-parsley Least Concern (RDB status) 3 Torilis nodosa (708 hectads, -0.36) Narrow-fruited Cornsalad Endangered (RDB status) 8 Valerianella dentata (600 hectads, -1.86) Hairy-fruited Cornsalad Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Valerianella eriocarpa (59 hectads, -0.69) Broad-fruited Cornsalad Endangered (RDB status) 8 Valerianella rimosa (181 hectads, -2.55) Green Field-speedwell Least Concern (RDB status) 1 Veronica agrestis (1715 hectads, -0.38) Grey Field-speedwell Least Concern 2 Veronica polita (1237 hectads, 0.07) Breckland Speedwell Neophyte Near Threatened 6 Veronica praecox (6 hectads, no change index) Fingered Speedwell Endangered (RDB status) 8 Veronica triphyllos (33 hectads, -0.82) Spring Speedwell Endangered (RDB status) 8 Veronica verna (7 hectads, -0.64) Slender Tare Vulnerable (RDB status) 7 Vicia parviflora (136 hectads, -1.05) Smooth Tare Least Concern (RDB status) 2 Vicia tetrasperma (1159 hectads, 0.45) Wild Pansy Near Threatened (RDB status) 6 Viola tricolor ssp. tricolor (no distribution data)

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