A Good Week

We explored a practically unrecorded tetrad on the Black Mountain last week. The route from where we parked had a lot of good things that could not be completely ignored so it took us until 1230 to enter the area of interest. 

This shows where most of us explored - the river (Afon Gwys) providing the most interest.

Meanwhile intrepid Stephen descended into the steep Afon Giedd valley to explore places like this:

Afon Giedd entering its gorge.

A good haul of records was obtained and both common Cotton-grasses were seen with Hare's-tail Cotton-grass being the most abundant:

Hare's-tail Cottongrass near the Afon Gwys Fawr

Then I heard that Hairy Greenweed (Genista pilosa) was flowering at Ogof Ffynnon Ddu on the limestone pavement. This seems to be a rare occurrence so three of us went there on Friday to check it out. The species is quite rare in the UK with relatively strong populations in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire and only a few other isolated sites in the whole country. (Cadair Idris hosts it also in Wales.) So our population is quite important. We found five patches in all growing and flowering strongly.

Hairy Greenweed (Genista pilosa)

Cold, wet, but worth it

Llangors Lake and its margins often have something new to offer. But the day we chose for this botanical exploration was windy, cold and wet. However the Blackthorn cheered us up.

The group at Llangasty

Ash inflorescences

And Marsh Marish gold (Caltha palustris) is always good to see.

But this: Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris) was the find of the day - a new record for the area.

A good re-find on our first outing of the year.

Petrosedum rupestre (L.) P V Heath (Sedum rupestre L.) or Rock Stonecrop,  Briweg Felen, isn't thought to be a native in the British Isles these days but J A Webb commented in a draft for a Flora of the county* that Rock Stonecrop was  “almost certainly native and abundant on rocks 40’ high in the Duhonw Glen at Aberduhonw” where A E Wade had first recorded the plant in 1921. (This site is probably Duhonw Rocks SO0348, where it was found by Mike Porter in 1970 and Brecknock Botany Group two days ago.)

The rocks near Llandewi'r Cwm where we spotted the plant. 

A close up picture from Sue Goodhead's camera

New information (20/02/2025): Rev W M Rogers saw it at "Duhonw Glen" in 1898. Probably also the same location.

* This Flora never made it to print...