The distribution, status and conservation of

In England, Juncus balticus is now restricted to a small area of the Merseyside sand-dune system at Birkdale. Here it has spread from a known three sites in 1970 to ten in 1982. This seems to be associated with the availability of new wet-slack habitat and disturbance due to public pressure. The history of the plant in Lancashire and Merseyside is reviewed and its present habitat is described. New information is presented on the occurrence of two J. balticus hybrids, one of which is endemic to these counties. The conservation of these rare plants is discussed