Environmental Records Centre
for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Cornish Vascular Plants

There are approximately 2600 taxa (species, subspecies, all microspecies, and varieties) of vascular plants in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This compares with over 4600 for the British Isles, but that number includes very few of the microspecies (Brambles, Dandelions, and Hawkweeds).

Thrift
Photograph taken by CA Perry

A relatively high proportion of Cornwall’s vascular plants rank as aliens (40%). Of the still extant native species, 38 are Nationally Rare (Red Data Book) and about 70 are Nationally Scarce. There are several endemics in Cornwall. This leaves a further group – those that are very common in other parts of Britain but are extremely local in Cornwall such as Lesser Pond-sedge Carex acutiformis. Finally, some that are very common elsewhere in Britain are entirely absent from Cornwall, a good example being White Bryony Bryonia dioica.

Pyramidal orchid
Photograph taken by CA Perry

More details about vascular plants found in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, along with botanical events, can be found in Botanical Cornwall 12 and on the Botanical Cornwall Group website.

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