Hesperis matronalis
Ecology
A perennial, or sometimes biennial, herb of shaded moist habitats, found in hedgerows and wood borders, on river-banks, roadsides and waste ground, usually near habitation. It is often well-naturalised, but only where there is little competition. Casual plants occur on tips and in waste places. Lowland.
Status
Trends
H. matronalis has been cultivated in gardens since at least 1375 (Harvey, 1981), and was known in the wild by 1805. The increase in records since the 1962 Atlas may indicate a real change, but is more likely to be due to better recording of aliens.
World Distribution
Native of S. Europe and W. Asia, although absent from the Mediterranean area; widely naturalised in C. & N. Europe, N. America and elsewhere.
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Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 7
Moisture (Ellenberg): 7
Reaction (Ellenberg): 7
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 7
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.6
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 14.8
Annual Precipitation (mm): 969
Height (cm): 100
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 1709
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 515
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 4
Atlas Change Index: 1.53
Weighted Changed Factor: -9
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
Atlas text references
Atlas (50a)
.
1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols.
Jalas & Suominen (1994)
.
1991. Crucifers of Great Britain and Ireland. Botanical Society of the British Isles Handbook no. 6.