Upright Clover (Trifolium strictum)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vascular plant > flowering plant > Herbaceous plant |
| Red List Status: | Vulnerable (Not Relevant) [VU(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Trifolium strictum |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | L. |
| 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: | Confined to the Lizard on mainland England, & recorded from 7 broad locations since 2000 recorded from at least 11 sites historically). Pearman (2017) records a loss of 36% of sub-sites in 8 year period to 2016. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Targeted conservation of serpentine & schistose rock outcrops in coastal zone & coastal valleys needed to restore lost populations |
| 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: | Yes |
| Justification: | Widespread reintroduction of extensive grazing to coastal slopes & coastal valleys has unquestionably aided species, but more widespread grazing (with associated scrub clearance &disturbance) needed, particularly along coastal strip. |
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: | Loss of up to 36% of subsites since 2008 probably due to (i) increased height of vegetation (both grass & scrub), (ii) build-up of dry organic litter/mor humus, & proliferation of pleurocarpus mosses all leading to loss of bare mineral soil microsites for germination & growth. Species responds well to summer drought, & often relatively abundant in year immediately following drought year. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Maintain or introduce programme of practical management at all sites known since c. 1950 including scrub clearance, moderate to heavy extensive grazing etc. Works should target currently ungrazed coastal slopes, but additionally focus on some inland rock outcrops where the species has been historically recorded
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 20 sites
High priority sites: Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff SSSI. West Lizard SSSI. Caerthillian to Kennack SSSI. Goonhilly Downs SSSI
Comments: Significant management work currently underway (2023-2025) through Species Recovery Programme within West Lizard SSSI, Caerthillian to Kennack SSSI & Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff SSSI
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Maintain database (established by David Pearman & Cornish botanists) of all current or post 1950 sites, to include known population size/extent, history and management. Monitor all populations on 1-3 year cycle.
Action targets: 3. National Monitoring Plan agreed and implemented
Action type: Targeted monitoring
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 20 sites
High priority sites: As listed under action 1
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Undertake research into role of humus (undecomposed dry litter & mor humus) & pleurocarpous moss growth in negatively impacting survival of this & associated species as part of wider study on autecology. Review roles of grazing & disturbance in mitigating impacts.
Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: West Lizard SSSI. Kennack to Coverack SSSI
Comments: Introduction of conservation grazing does not appear to have entirely reversed fortunes of species. More detailed assessment of causes at the micro-level required.
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.