Portland Spurge
First found on Portland over 300 years ago (in 1715) this perennial plant is not confined to the island, but is a local species of coastal cliffs and sand dunes in western Britain north to Argyll.
On Portland it is found in open rocky habitats around the abandoned quarries, and on the undercliffs (Weares), where it can be found in flower for much of the year. The small yellow flowers are attractive to bees and it is the food-plant of the scarce Spurge-bug, which can also be found here.
Horseshoe Vetch
Horseshoe Vetch is a vital plant for caterpillars of the Chalkhill and Adonis Blue butterflies, which feed on nothing else. Its yellow pea-like flowers can be seen from April to July.
Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Bird’s-foot Trefoil is the food plant of the Common Blue and the Silver-studded Blue caterpillars. Its yellow flowers are followed by seed pods that look like a bird’s feet or claws, which explains the common name.
Kidney Vetch
Kidney Vetch is the food plant of the Small Blue caterpillar. The cluster of yellow flowers has a woolly appearance. It is a species which colonises bare ground and in the later stages of natural succession tends to get crowded out by other species.
Carline Thistle
The Carline Thistle is a spiky plant found on dry chalk grassland. Its distinctive brown and golden flower heads look like they’ve gone to seed, but are actually in full flower. It is a nectar source for butterflies including the Chalkhill Blue.