Monitoring Populations of Saxifraga cespitosa in Scotland

Abstract

Saxifraga cespitosa is listed as Endangered on the UK Red List, compiled using IUCN criteria (Cheffings & Farrell, 2005). It is also one of the species listed for conservation priority at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) under Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). The species has been monitored extensively in the past, but there have been limited surveys in recent years. RBGE and the National Botanic Garden of Wales plan to survey all the UK locations of this species to increase information on existing populations and the threats to its survival. The field work and surveys carried out in 2013 are described in this paper and they have proved to be a useful learning experience for developing both staff skills and survey methods. Information on cultivation of the species from seed is also given. A field data sheet is provided as an appendix.