Cut Leaved Germander

Cut-leaved germander typically occurs as a biennial species, which flowers once, and then dies in the UK, but may occasionally occur as an annual (2)(3). In cultivation, and possibly sometimes in the wild, some plants may flower more than once, and be short-lived (to at least four years) perennials, which die back to a bud at ground level in the autumn (3). The life-cycle is variable, and depends on the time of germination and yearly weather conditions. The seeds usually germinate in spring or autumn but seedlings may appear at other times of year depending on the weather, and bare ground is essential for this to happen (2)(3)(4). The flowers open from July to September (exceptionally November); they are either pollinated by bees, or self-fertilisation can take place. The seeds are heavy, and fall close to the parent plant, so the species is not a very good coloniser of new suitable habitats (2).

Five out of the six known UK populations occur within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and two sites are managed by local Wildlife Trusts; they therefore receive a degree of protection. Conservation management including 'harrowing' to create bare areas and to break up the soil; scrub clearance and turf cutting has been carried out, and the species has responded well (2).

Cut-leaved germander is a hairy plant that, as the common name suggests, has leaves that are cut into a number of oblong-shaped lobes (1). The flowers, which are arranged in clusters, are purple or deep pink in colour and can reach up to 2 cm in length (1).

It is recorded from arable field margins, fallow fields, open grasslands, disused quarries and chalk spoil heaps, as well as a chalk river cliff with open scrub. It is especially characteristic of open, disturbed sites and usually occurs on fairly bare soil. It is very tolerant of drought but not shade. The soils are usually bare, calcareous mineral soils low in nutrients (individual plants may benefit from nutrients from rabbit latrines) and it will also thrive on open, nutrient-rich soils (3), (4).

This species declined in the UK after the 1930s, and is currently known from just six sites in the south of England (2), having disappeared from another nine (4). It is widespread in western, southern and central Europe, reaching east to Poland and Romania, and north to the UK, and also occurs in Algeria (2).

Classified as Vulnerable in Great Britain and fully protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (3).

Cut-leaved germander does not seem able to survive in the face of competition with tall vegetation (3)(4). Agricultural intensification is a major threat (2), and if conservation management were to end, the species would be at great risk (2). At one site, urban development has started to affect the area (2).

Teucrium botrys, the cutleaf germander or cut-leaved germander is a low to short downy annual, sometimes biennial, plant. It was noted by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and is classified as part of the genus Teucrium in the family Lamiaceae. It has oval, but deeply cut leaves, which appear almost pinnate in form. Its flowers are two-lipped but with the upper lip diminutive. They are pink to purple and form from the stem at the base of the leaves, in whorls. It is in flower in the northern hemisphere from June to October. It prefers limy soils and bare stony ground. It is native to Western Europe, especially France and Germany. It has been introduced into north-eastern North America.

Teucrium botrys