Recent

Andy Shaw has noticed a new a new arrival in the county:

Orontium aquaticum, Golden-club, A Shaw

As he says: "There is a large and well established plant growing on the margins of the fishing pond at Caer Beris Holiday Lodge Park. The majority of the pond's margins support typical emergent species; Gypsy-wort, Water Mint, Angelica, Meadowsweet, Carex sp. etc  I'm guessing that the Golden-club may have been planted, but its certainly a well established plant, and its another introduced species that is likely to be on the move in the future."

A recent iRecord record up at Crychan Forest refound Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage at a site last recorded some while ago but it also struck me as "correct - but unusual". Then it dawned on me that is was showing fruits and seeds - we hardly ever see that. I'm not sure of the reason for this - maybe it is one of those species like Adoxa (Moschatel) that rarely sets seed?

Sue and Tess were going to the area in any case so went for a look.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage. Tess Lister

Sam continues to find significant records - this time he found Water-purslane up on Mynydd Llangors at its highest known altitude in the county (about 500m). This pinpoints the exact pool where it occurs - quite near the trig point. The New County Flora mentions the record originally made in 1973 so is good to know it is still there.

Lythrum portula, Water-purslane on Mynydd Llangors, Sam Coppard

And finally we found a lovely large patch of Wood Horsetail last week along a woodland track at Glasfynydd Forest - also at nearly its highest known altitude in the county. The population extended for some 300m or so.

Equisetum sylvaticum, Wood Horsetail

The Flora of Brecknockshire is available at Arden and Clocktower bookshops in Hay on Wye.