

There are many plants which have several sub-species and sometimes it is only one particular sub-species which is actually scarce, othertimes several sub-species. But often one of the sub-species is also common, but occasionally not and they are all scarce to various degrees. Where it is only a select sub-species which is scarce, the sub-species in question is written out in full next to the Common Name (using 'ssp.' as the abbreviation for sub-species). For plants lacking sub-species, it is the species itself which is scarce.


  • Scarce overall, but locally common
  • Scarce, local, but seldom common
  • Local, and rare

But those are not easy definitions with which to work. Clive Stace devised an alternative method using the E, R, RR, and RRR designations described here.


  • RRR Rare. Found in less than 16 hectads.
  • E Extinct. Not found as a wild native in any hectads since 1987 (but that does not include any which are planted or specially grown - in particular - the BSBI distribution maps are not all blank for these 'extinct' plants)



  • Unless the Authors reading of the rules are incorrect (?), then it takes no account of any population decline (or increase) decade by decade. [If the rules were to say to take the whole decade with the least number of hectads since 1987, then it would indeed take into account the decline as years progressed, but the rules don't seem to say that - but your Author has assumed that in allocating rarity categories to plants (since he cannot find a definitive rarity list!)]. So, what was once uncommon in 1987 could have become RRR (rare) by 2013 but strict adherence to the definition would still classify it as R (uncommon). Most plants are indeed becoming fewer in number decade by decade. Only a tiny minority are actually increasing in number.

[As an aside, there is, as yet, no corresponding C, CC, CCC for expressing the commonality of plants in the UK. But your Author notes that it could be similarly done sitting in an armchair at home and counting the number of hectads occupied by the plants from the BSBI map data]

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