A New species for the County

Balkan Spurge turned up on a Llanigon verge recently and was spotted by Sam - our newest (and youngest?) recruit to the group. Spotted while cycling through the village a week ago. 

Euphorbia oblongata, Balkan Spurge, Llanigon, Sam Coppard

The picture had enough detail for me to be very certain Sam had the species right, but I had to go for a look myself (and collect a "voucher specimen").

I did miss it driving past to park but soon spotted it walking back.

Euphorbia oblongata, Balkan Spurge, Llanigon, JRC 

It has been known in the UK since 1993 (in Hampshire). Not native, of course, but increasing in the country. It originates from the Balkans and Aegean.

I spotted this in the nearby hedgerow.

Centaurea montana, Perennial Cornflower

It isn't at all common in the county (no record reported for the area in the recently published Flora) but has been in the country growing in the wild for some time. I have encountered it in quite remote places. This probably escaped from a garden though.

Nina went to see another good population of Globeflower above Llangattock - where they are looked after and kept behind a fence.

Trollius europaeus, Globeflower, Nina Krauzewicz

Stephen found a new site for Bird's-nest Orchid in the Clydach Gorge.

Neottia nidus-avis, Bird's-nest Orchid, Stephen Marshall

And I photographed this early this morning at the Watton Car Park in Brecon.

Centranthus ruber, Red Valerian

Yet another non-native but well-established (sometimes even invasive) in many places.

Moonwort and Globeflowers (etc)

 Andy Shaw has found some wonderful populations of Globeflower on islands in the River Irfon:

Trollius europaeus, Globeflower "in" the River Irfon, A Shaw

One thing we have learnt about Globeflowers is that they are incompatible with sheep. This provides an explanation for these lovely populations.

Moonwort isn't something we see at all often. Bob spotted these on the way down the path we had gone up to Ffynnon y Parc on the back of Hay Bluff. (A new site for the county.)

Botrychium lunaria, Moonwort, R Peat, above the Gospel Pass

Tess and he had found it at Allt Rhongyr a few days before at a site where it was recorded last year. Mike Porter had recorded it there in 1968. So we had to go along this week (we were in the area) to see for ourselves.

Brecknock Botany Group inspect Moonwort at Allt Rhongyr

It is hard to spot - explaining but maybe not excusing the long gap in records!

We went to Penwllt - particularly to investigate dolines (sinkholes) and the quarries in the area - this week - the weather was atrocious but I noticed these Welsh Poppies doing well at Craig y nos car park before the deluge set in.

Papaver cambricum, Welsh Poppy

And we found some quite photogenic (and very pale) Heath Speedwell during another lull in the rain.

Veronica officinalis, Heath Speedwell

Miscellany

On Wednesday we explored an A40 road verge on the way to a side road we wanted to record along. Plenty of nice things are on the way for the A40 near Bwlch including Meadow Cranesbill. 

The side road was very interesting and we met the landowner who was very helpful. He had known Mike Porter and also knew what we were probably looking for! We found it exactly where he suggested - with plenty more a little further into the woodland - he had been a little concerned it might be affected by a recent thoughtless dumping of road sweepings.

Here is is:

Paris quadrifolia, Herb-paris near a woodland stream

We saw over 50 plants. Other notable species included:

Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Yellow Archangel draped by Melica uniflora, Wood Melick

(We did see fully flowering Archangel - but I like the combination above!)

And in the lane we saw a lot of Ulmus glabra fruits - coming from this tree - the largest I have seen in the county.

Ulmus glabra, Wych Elm, just coming into leaf.

Elsewhere, Stephen found this at Aberedw Rocks (in neighboring Radnorshire) - a reminder that is doesn't just grow on stream sides.

Saxifraga granulata, Meadow Saxifrage, S Marshall

And in Hay:

Allium triquetrum, Three-cornered Garlic looking well-behaved to me on Forest Road verge.

And in my garden:

Rhodiola rosea, Roseroot, sourced from a West Cork garden

Aegonychon purpureocaeruleum, Purple Gromwell, sourced from a Cheddar garden

Both of the garden plants above I suspect came from the wild to the gardens they were in. Cheddar gardeners apparently regard the Gromwell as a nuisance as it spreads rapidly. It is a joy to behold in Cheddar Wood.