Ligusticum scoticum
Ecology
A perennial herb of coastal rock crevices and free-draining skeletal soils by the sea. Habitats include cliffs, rocky shores and platforms, spray-drenched shingle, stabilised sand dunes and stone sea-defence walls. The seeds float and retain some viability even after a year in sea water. Lowland.
Status
Trends
The distribution of L. scoticum in Scotland is little changed, but there are losses in N. Ireland, some since the 1962 Atlas. Drought sensitivity and the requirement for cold, wet conditions for germination may be important in limiting the southern range of this species in our area.
World Distribution
European Boreo-arctic Montane element; a coastal species also found in E. Asia and N. America.
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Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 8
Moisture (Ellenberg): 6
Reaction (Ellenberg): 7
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 5
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 3
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.8
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 13
Annual Precipitation (mm): 1293
Height (cm): 60
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 393
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 28
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 0
Atlas Change Index: -0.29
Weighted Changed Factor: -2
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
Atlas text references
Atlas (166b)
.
1988. The Irish Red Data Book. 1. Vascular Plants.
.
1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols.
.
1988. Biological Flora of the British Isles. No. 164. Ligusticum scoticum L. Journal of Ecology. 76:889-902.
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1980. Umbellifers of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles Handbook no. 2.