Scottish-briar
VU

Scottish-briar

Rosa spinosissima

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_pimpinellifolia

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Scottish-briar faces significant pressure from coastal development and tourism infrastructure along its primary dune and clifftop habitats. Agricultural intensification and grazing pressure have reduced suitable habitat, while invasive plant species compete for space in its specialized sandy soil environments. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting coastal stability.

Threat summary

Habitat

Scottish-briar inhabits coastal dunes, sandy clifftops, and maritime grasslands, particularly thriving in well-drained, calcium-rich sandy soils. The species also occurs in inland sandy heathlands and stabilized dune systems where salt spray influence remains moderate.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Scottish-briar classified as Vulnerable?
Scottish-briar is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Scottish-briar faces significant pressure from coastal development and tourism infrastructure along its primary dune and clifftop habitats. Agricultural intensification and grazing pressure have reduced suitable habitat, while invasive plant species compete for space in its specialized sandy soil environments. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting coastal stability.
Where does Scottish-briar live?
Scottish-briar occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Scottish-briar?
The main threats to Scottish-briar are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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