Corn Cleavers (Galium tricornutum)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vascular plant > flowering plant > Herbaceous plant |
| Red List Status: | Critically Endangered (Not Relevant) [CR(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Galium tricornutum |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Dandy |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | in Stroh et al., 2014 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | CR in England; one extant site |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Will not disperse to new sites without assistance |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | It is so rare that only very targeted management will benefit the species |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 5. Remedial action identified |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Combination - insufficient |
| Species Comments: | The population at Rothamstead is well monitored |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Monitor population size, habitat condition and habitat management at recent locations
Action targets: 3. National Monitoring Plan agreed and implemented
Action type: Targeted monitoring
Duration: 1 year
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 10 sites
High priority sites:
Comments: Repeat action at least every 3 years, ideally annually
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Undertake research into the autecology of the species and its response to management regimes. This research should be carried out on a series of sites representing the geographic and habitat range of the species. Research should cover the factors controlling/affecting germination, seed longevity and dormancy, seed production and seed dispersal, associated plant communities, effect of soil type and should include experimental management aimed at local population increase. Assess its restoration potential and methods for recovery including translocations.
Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 1 year
Scale of Implementation: Not applicable
High priority sites:
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Translocation trials at suitable sites across its natural range.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: (Re-)introduction
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 10 sites
High priority sites:
Comments: Requires sourcing suitable material for translocation, probably necessitating ex-situ propagation to bulk up seed. Ongoing monitoring of translocation sites needed after the duration of the action.
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.