Ecological Flora of the British Isles
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Kew Gardens

The Ecological Flora of the Britain and Ireland is a database constructed from a wide variety of sources by Dr Helen Peat and Professor Alastair Fitter at the University of York, with financial support from the British Ecological Society and the Natural Environment Research Council. It consists of data on 3842 species of higher plants that occur in the Britain and Ireland (of which some 2400 species including all the natives and many common introductions have ecological traits entered), together with the bibliography of sources. This version has been produced by Dr Henry Ford.

The data comprises information on taxonomy (family, genus, specific name, authority, and vernacular name, together with common synonyms), a suite of over 240 ecological and morphological characteristics, vice-county distribution in Britain, European distribution by country, mycorrhizal associations, associated phytophagous insects and fungi. The data are obtained from the literature and the coverage varies greatly between species. The data set is therefore incomplete.

Where appropriate we now have links to the NBN and BSBI UK distribution maps, worldwide distribution from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the accounts from the Biological Flora series in the Journal of Ecology, National Vegetation Classification Habitat codes, CABI fact sheets, the Database of Insect Food Plants, the USDA Forestry Department Fire Effects database, the USDA NRCS Plant Guides, UK Herbarium sheets and Google Pics. We have galleries of photographs for some 400 species, and descriptions and data for 2100 species to which we are continually adding. These are being updated at the moment. Seed weight, 2cDNA and Ellenberg data have been updated (2019). 2021 has seen the addition of data from the BROT Mediterranean database and the PLADIAS Czech database, with permission and thanks. 2022/3 has seen the addition of data from the FAO crop database

Navigate by means of the menu on the left. Please report factual errors, missing data, and web errors to manager@ecoflora.org.uk.

We have carefully compiled the information on the website and the database but cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information nor be held liable for damages occurring as a result of the use of this information. Neither can you claim any rights in relation to this information.

We are always looking for new sources of data, photographs and contributors. Contact manager@ecoflora.org.uk

A glossary of botanical terms

Bluebells