(Rare for our county that is.)
I have been away for much of the time since the last post but that didn't stop the intrepid Brecknock Botany Group members going out and finding things.
Some notable finds:
Chrysosplenium alternifolium (Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage)
Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort)
and Wahlenbergia hederacea (Ivy-leaved Bellflower) all near Erwood by Anne Griffiths
Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling) in Brecon by Joan Millard
Sherardia arvensis (Field Madder) Field edge near Newbridge by Fiona Stone.
Since I came back the main event has been the full confirmation of Circaea
alpina at a completely new site on Tarren yr Esgob, right on our border.
Sam Thomas took us to it, confirming the difficulty of access and that the
population was more extensive and robust than first thought. It is near one of
the well-recorded Sorbus stenophylla trees but far enough above on
difficult terrain to easily be overlooked. As when Sam first found the site, it
poured with rain!
Alpine Enchanter's-nightshade or Llysiau-Steffan y mynydd, Circaea alpina
Picture by Steph Coates
At our BSBI meeting on 13th July we found several
long unseen species at Craig y Rhiwarth, particularly Galium sterneri
(Limestone Bedstraw), Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-valley) and Polypodium
cambricum (Welsh Polypody).
Limestone Bedstraw or Briwydd y calch Galium sterneri
Picture by Tim Oliver
