Trinia glauca
Encyclopedia
Honewort is a low-growing umbellifer found in rocky areas.
.
near Bristol, coastal limestone in South Devon, and in the western Mendip Hills
(including the adjacent coast). Its British range covers around 20 sites in all, and the two largest native populations, comprising around 10,000 plants each, are both in this last area, at Sand Point
and Crook Peak. British populations are all of subspecies
glauca.
In the Avon Gorge
, it was first found by William Turner in 1562, one of the first rare plants to be documented in Britain. The stronghold of the species is in the western Mendip Hills
, where it was first found by Dillenius in c.1726. Here, in addition to the Crook Peak and Sand Point sites, it is found on Purn Hill
, on Wavering Down, Cross Plain and Axbridge Hill, at Hellenge Hill and South Hill near Bleadon
, and the nearby coastal limestone sites of Worlebury Hill
and Uphill Cliff and Walborough. Although many other rare limestone plants occur there, Honewort has not been found on Brean Down
. In Devon, the species is found at a single site, Berry Head
.
It also occurs at Goblin Combe
in North Somerset, where it was introduced as an experiment. Six rooted plants were planted and 40 seeds sown in 1955, and in 1989 18,000 plants were counted here. An 1868 specimen from Long Knoll
, in Wiltshire, which may be of this species, in present in Taunton Castle Museum.
Description
Honewort is a low-growing glabrous plant. Its stems can reach 20 cm, and are surrounded by abundant fibrous remains of petioles at the base. It is much-branched, with the branches spreading at a wide angle. The leaves are glaucous, and are 2- to 3- times pinnate, although upper leaves are less divided. The inflorescence is an umbel, with white flowers, and no sepals. It has an ovoid, laterally compressed fruit.Taxonomy and nomenclature
The genus Trinia is named after the German-born botanist Carl Bernhard von TriniusCarl Bernhard von Trinius
Carl Bernhard von Trinius was a German-born botanist.Trinius was a specialist in grasses and described many species in his career including Agrostis pallens, Cenchrus agrimonioides and Festuca subulata....
.
Habitat
In Britain, Honewort is restricted to dry stony limestone sites, typically occurring in short, open, grazed turf on south-facing slopes.Status and distribution
Honewort is found in central and southern Europe, north to southern England, and in southwest Asia.Status in Britain
In Britain, Honewort is found as a native species in three areas, all in southwest England: the Avon GorgeAvon Gorge
The Avon Gorge is a 1.5-mile long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. The gorge runs south to north through a limestone ridge west of Bristol city centre, and about 3 miles from the mouth of the river at Avonmouth. The gorge forms the boundary between the unitary authorities of...
near Bristol, coastal limestone in South Devon, and in the western Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
(including the adjacent coast). Its British range covers around 20 sites in all, and the two largest native populations, comprising around 10,000 plants each, are both in this last area, at Sand Point
Sand Point, Somerset
Sand Point in Somerset is the peninsula stretching out from Middle Hope, which lies to the north of the village of Kewstoke, and the stretch of coastline called Sand Bay. It is owned by the National Trust and is a popular place for walking...
and Crook Peak. British populations are all of subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
glauca.
In the Avon Gorge
Avon Gorge
The Avon Gorge is a 1.5-mile long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. The gorge runs south to north through a limestone ridge west of Bristol city centre, and about 3 miles from the mouth of the river at Avonmouth. The gorge forms the boundary between the unitary authorities of...
, it was first found by William Turner in 1562, one of the first rare plants to be documented in Britain. The stronghold of the species is in the western Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
, where it was first found by Dillenius in c.1726. Here, in addition to the Crook Peak and Sand Point sites, it is found on Purn Hill
Purn Hill
Purn Hill is a 6.1 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Bleadon, Somerset, notified in 1990. The site is a small promontory of Carboniferous Limestone projecting southward from the main Mendip ridge....
, on Wavering Down, Cross Plain and Axbridge Hill, at Hellenge Hill and South Hill near Bleadon
Bleadon
Bleadon is a village and civil parish in the historic countyof Somerset, England. It is about south of Weston-super-Mare and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 1,068.-History:...
, and the nearby coastal limestone sites of Worlebury Hill
Worlebury Hill
Worlebury Hill is the name given to an upland area lying between the flatlands of Weston-super-Mare and the Kewstoke area of North Somerset, England. Worlebury Hill's rises from sea level to its highest point of , and the western end of the hill forms a peninsula, jutting out into the Bristol...
and Uphill Cliff and Walborough. Although many other rare limestone plants occur there, Honewort has not been found on Brean Down
Brean Down
Brean Down is a promontory off the coast of Somerset standing high and extending into the Bristol Channel at the eastern end of Bridgwater Bay between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea....
. In Devon, the species is found at a single site, Berry Head
Berry Head
Berry Head is a coastal headland at the southern end of Torbay, to the southeast of Brixham, Devon, England.-National Nature Reserve:Berry Head to Sharkham Point is a haven for several nationally rare and threatened species which are dependent upon the thin limestone soils, mild climate and exposed...
.
It also occurs at Goblin Combe
Goblin Combe
Goblin Combe is a valley in North Somerset which stretches from Redhill, near Bristol International Airport on the A38 through to Cleeve on the A370. The combe is located at , and is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest originally notified in 1999, with being managed as a nature...
in North Somerset, where it was introduced as an experiment. Six rooted plants were planted and 40 seeds sown in 1955, and in 1989 18,000 plants were counted here. An 1868 specimen from Long Knoll
Long Knoll
Long Knoll is a 34.2 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, notified in 1971.Long Knoll is a ridge of chalk grassland some 1.5 km long. It forms the parish boundary between Kilmington to the south and Maiden Bradley to the north.The...
, in Wiltshire, which may be of this species, in present in Taunton Castle Museum.