Endangered plants in Derbyshire identified in "red" list (with pictures)

THE bogbean and spiny restharrow may sound like names from a children's fantasy book but their story is a far-from-happy one.

They are two types of plant in Derbyshire whose numbers have dwindled, making them in danger of being classed as rare species. Others include the butterfly orchid, the herb paris and the green-winged orchid.

The Bogbean

These are just some of the rare and endangered plants across Derbyshire that have been identified during a 12-year study of the county's flora.

The full list will be published on Derby City Council's website so that conservation and wildlife groups can see what plants are at risk and consider what should be done to preserve them.

The Herb Paris

The database has been a labour of love for Nick Moyes, senior keeper of natural sciences at the city council.

Mr Moyes and a team of volunteers across the city spent more than 10,000 hours researching and comparing three-quarters of a million records on plants made during the last 300 years.

The Butterfly Orchid

The aim was to find out which species were thriving and which were dwindling to the point of rarity.

The Spiny Restharrow

"This is incredibly important because it will help conservationists identify and protect rare species," Mr Moyes said. "Without that work to see what we have got and how it is changing, we don't know what needs conserving and protecting."

The Green-Winged Orchid

The list of threatened species, known as the Red Data List – so named because the first books that named internationally rare and endangered species had red covers – will be on the website from tomorrow at www.derby.gov.uk/flora.

The Pink Butterfly Orchid

It replaces a similar list of plants and flowers produced by the museum seven years ago.