Andrew Chick Ecology

Saw-wort is a species with a curiously uneven distribution, being locally frequent in some parts of Cumbria while scarce or entirely absent in others. Its main strongholds lie from Sebergham north to Bewcastle, on the Asby–Orton limestone, and along the shores of Ullswater and Windermere, yet outside these areas it becomes an uncommon sight. This patchiness is striking, especially given the variety of habitats in which it can be found. Saw-wort thrives in damp roadside verges, particularly those on calcareous or base-rich soils, and can also be encountered in open woodland, herb-rich hay meadows, and coarse grassland where it often grows alongside species such as Sanguisorba officinalis, Cirsium palustre and various sedges. It is also at home in dry limestone grassland and on wooded, stony or rocky lake shores, demonstrating a considerable ecological flexibility.

Despite this versatility, its distribution is oddly constrained. On lakeshores it is a characteristic part of a distinct community that includes Thalictrum minus, Trollius europaeus and Galium boreale, yet it is only found around Windermere, Bassenthwaite and Ullswater, with no clear explanation for this restriction. The pattern becomes even more intriguing when viewed in a wider geographical context. Although relatively frequent in the north of the county, Saw-wort is very rare just across the Border in southern Scotland, emphasising how sharply its range contracts.

This unusual distribution, combined with its strong associations with particular plant communities, makes Saw-wort one of the more distinctive elements of the flora of northern England’s lakes and limestone landscapes.