Flora of Monmouthshire by Trevor Evans by SEWBReC

ISBN 0 900278 49 8

Flora of Monmouthshire

Trevor Evans

Monmouthshire Meadows Group

Flora of Monmouthshire

Trevor Evans has lived in the old county of Monmouthshire all his life. He developed an interest in wild flowers in the 1940s, and was appointed Recorder for vice-county 35 Monmouthshire by the Botanical Society of the British Isles in 1972. Following his retirement from teaching in 1984, he and his band of botanists have recorded the plants in the county to produce the first Flora of Monmouthshire to show the distribution of plants using maps. This book describes the flora as we know it today, and tells of the changes seen during his lifetime.

Trevor Evans

Flora of Monmouthshire Watsonian vice-county 35

Trevor G. Evans With accounts of geology by Naylor Firth and habitats by Stephanie Tyler and George Peterken

2007

DEDICATION In memory of U. Thelma Evans, my wife, who not only supported my single-mindedness to plot the distribution of every wild plant to be found in the county, but accompanied me, from 1985, learning the plants and their Latin names and calling them out as I marked them off on a recording card, so that by 1998 we had walked much of the county, recording as we went.

“All flesh is plants” Look after the plants so that the animals can survive

ISBN 0 900278 49 8 Published by the Chepstow Society c/o Chepstow Museum Bridge Street Chepstow Monmouthshire NP16 5EZ

CONTENTS Foreword Acknowledgements Profile of Trevor Evans Introduction

Geology

Habitats

Botanical sites

Changes in the flora

List and initials of recorders

Species accounts

Extinctions

561

Bibliography

565

Index

566

FOREWORD I first met Trevor when he was leading a BSBI field meeting in the Wye Valley in September 1982. It was quickly apparent how well he knew his plants as he explained the diverse field characters of Calamintha, Mentha, Sorbus, etc. Fortunately he has written down much of this detailed knowledge in this flora, and now we can all benefit from his expertise. It was also apparent Trevor knew every nook and cranny of Monmouthshire backwards. I asked if he knew any local sites for Colchicum, and was given precise directions to a meadow where we duly photographed it in evening sunshine. Fortunately for us again, he has written a detailed summary of his amazing knowledge of the botany of the county in this Flora. A couple of years later Trevor kindly agreed to do some illustrations for my BSBI Crucifer Handbook. I once queried if he had drawn the hairs on the leaves of Draba aizoides correctly - he showed me the plant he had drawn, and he was right. This Flora has more of his excellent drawings. In 1985 he started recording plants for a new Flora of Monmouthshire with the help of local botanists. In addition to this work, he has also provided thousands of records for me for the BSBI Monitoring Scheme in 1987-1988, for the Countryside Council for Wales, for local councils, for the local naturalists trust, for the Ministry of Defence, etc. In 1994 he gave me details of the Rogiet Meadow Clary site when I was working on its conservation for Plantlife (and introduced me to my future wife at the same time). His cooperation in making all this information available to people who need it will help direct nature conservation, though as you read the book you will see it is rife with his personal stories of loss and change. In 1997 I joined the National Museum of Wales to run the Welsh National Herbarium. The first thing we find almost every time we look in a herbarium cupboard is a pile of Trevor’s carefully pressed and labelled voucher specimens, an invaluable archive for the future. There was simply not enough room to cite them all in the Flora. In 1998 at the age of 74 he bought a computer to write the Flora, and largely taught himself to use it. We have spent many evenings laughing together at our digital incompetencies, but he has stuck at it and won. I hope you will value the result as much as I value Trevor. Tim Rich 2007

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Grateful thanks are extended to the co-ordinators, shown below, and all who adopted a hectad and especially those adopting more than one. The Co-ordinators for 1985 were: SO/10: Mr Peter Jones. SO/21: Mr Colin Titcombe. SO/22: Mr & Mrs M. Kitchen. SO/23: Miss Sheelagh Kerry SO/30: Mr David Price. SO/40: Mr Rhodri Thomas. SO/41: Mr & Mrs P. C. Hall. SO/42: Mr & Mrs P. C. Hall. SO/50: Mrs Elsa Wood. SO/51: Mr Nigel Smith. ST/28: Mr Paul Glading. ST/38: Mr Gordon Bristowe. ST/39: Mr & Mrs Tim Pollard. ST/48: Mr Paul Glading. ST/49: Mr T. G. Evans. ST/58: Mr T. G. Evans. ST/59: Mr T. G. Evans Another two promises were not kept, so SO/32, SO/11, SO/31, SO/20, ST/19, ST/29, ST/18, ST/27 were managed by Mr T. G. Evans. During 1985 Mrs Alison Jones took over ST/28 & ST/48 from Paul Glading when his work took him elsewhere and Mrs Elsa Wood replaced Rhodri Thomas in SO/40 when he moved away. In SO/51 Mr B. J. Gregory replaced Nigel Smith when he moved in 1987, Mr R. Fraser became the coordinator of SO/20 and SO/31, and Mr Gordon Bristowe retired from ST/38. Without the dedication and help of the recorders (see List and initials of recorders) especially those with a * or + sign after their name, neither the species maps nor the species in tetrads map would have been so complete. The following deserve special mention as they took on ten or more tetrads in the first five years as indicated by the number following their name: R. Fraser 45; B. R. Gregory 10; P. C. & J. Hall 23; T. D. & J. Pollard 21; E. G. Wood 35 and U. T. Evans 80. I took on 112 tetrads. I can’t thank enough Dr T. C. G. Rich my editor, mentor, encourager, and adviser. His help was invaluable, especially when I ran into trouble with problems on my computer. He regularly came to Chepstow from Cardiff to discuss progress and profer advice. His red biro probably had greatest use on my misuse of the comma, my excuse - I was of a generation when the emphasis was different. Dr Naylor Firth for the best description of a vice county’s geology for botanists and the factors that influence the occurrence of plants plus the production of the Geology Map. The National Museum of Wales for use of their facilities, and Dr George Hutchinson who frequently and diligently researched in NMW to answer my questions. Dave Slade, Rebecca Johnson and Sewbrec for the topographical map of Monmouthshire. Alan Willams for the map of the number of species in tetrads map. Dr Stephanie Tyler for her great effort in approaching fifteen printers from which two stood out; and for her contributions on grasslands and uplands to the habitat section. Dr George Peterken for his contributions on forests, saltmarshes, linear habitats, rock faces and quarries to complete the Habitats section. Elsa Wood for her profile of me – don’t believe a word of it! FUNDING I would like to thank the Chepstow Society, Monmouth County Council, Monmouthshire Meadows Group, South-east Wales Biological Records Centre and the Wild Flower Society for financial assistance with the publication.

TREVOR G. EVANS By Elsa Wood My husband set the scene over lunch. ‘I was coming down from the hill when I saw Compo, Foggy and Clegg approaching. As they neared I realised that Compo (with his hat) was none other than Trevor Evans!’ This intrepid botanical surveyor had just been on a foray to discover the hybrid Trichophorum x foersteri in the mires of Blaenau Gwent. Those of us that have known Trevor for a number of years will know that field botany is one of his life long passions. Meticulous in his field recording, he has become the pre-eminent field botanist in the county and is the first port of call for both amateurs and professionals with questions concerning the local flora. So dedicated to his plants that I remember on more than one occasion Thelma gently chiding him “There’s more to life than plants, Trevor!” This enthusiasm for our native flora was sparked as a boy whilst watching one of his other passions: cricket. He and his friends used to hunt around under the stands collecting the cigarette cards that the other spectators dropped. One set of cards was of wild flowers and the rest, as they say, is history. Born in Portskewett and living in Chepstow from boyhood, Trevor grew up to know all the hedgerows, woods and meadows in the east of the county. He has often regaled me with stories of the days when he was courting Thelma and would spy this or that species growing in the hedgerow. Did he have his mind on the job? His schoolgirl sweetheart, Thelma became his wife and life long friend and companion, sharing his love of wildflowers and accompanying him on many days in the field. A committed family man, Trevor has two sons, three grandchildren and a great granddaughter. He was educated in Chepstow schools and then went to Caerleon teacher training college taking biology as his main subject. He then taught in Chepstow, starting as a supply teacher and even having to be acting headmaster in two schools. He then became science teacher at the secondary modern that became Kingsmark School. As well as an excellent botanist, Trevor is also a talented artist. Portraits are a speciality and those who have dropped in for a cup of tea can’t help but admire the craftsmanship of his woodcarvings. He is also interested in local history and has been a past Chairman and currently President of the Chepstow Society, and has written a history of the early Society. He is also keen on butterflies and like many botanists he has a garden full of plant treasures, some more amenable to the garden situation than others! Roaming the hills of Britain and Europe in search of botanical rarities has been one of his great joys. Always willing to share his great knowledge, Trevor has given many talks to many Gwent organisations over the years. Behind the serious exterior though lies his irrepressible and delightfully wicked sense of humourgive him an inch and he’ll tease you for miles! Long car trips to Welsh BSBI meetings have had their moments with Trevor in a packed car! In any group he can be the life and soul of the party! Arthur Wade published his ‘Flora of Monmouthshire’ in 1970 and then retired so the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) was looking for a new recorder for v.c. 35. Having been actively involved with the first ‘Atlas of the British Flora’ Trevor was persuaded by Franklyn Perring to take up the challenge of vice-county recorder, which he did in 1972. With gentle nudging from Basil Evans and others, he came to appreciate the rich diversity of the west of the county. It wasn’t all coal tips after all! His inheritance from Wade had been the book alone. Wade had not kept any paper records so Trevor had to build up a new collection from scratch being the sole recorder for much of that time. Trevor was one of the early members of the Gwent Wildlife Trust and served as Chairman of the Conservation Committee for a number of years. In this capacity he was able to alert the then NCC of many valuable habitats that were unknown to them, several of those now being SSSIs and/or Trust reserves. As a meticulous observer Trevor is always up to the challenge of finding something that the rest of us may consider obscure or unidentifiable! As well as mapping the common species he has also tackled dandelions,

hawkweeds, brambles and roses and several other critical species with relish. He has been responsible for several v.c first records including Asplenium marinum, Helictotrichon pratense, Eleocharis multicaulis and Oenanthe pimpinelloides, which as he modestly acknowledges is quite an achievement. He has also been responsible for putting Monmouthshire ‘aliens’ on the map with his frequent visits to Newport docks and in the early years scouring refuse tips! Trevor retired from teaching in 1984, allowing him more time to devote to his beloved botany. The life of a BSBI recorder is a busy one and he has been actively involved in a number of major projects such as the ‘Monitoring Scheme’ and ‘Atlas 2000’. Soon after retiring he mobilised the troops to assist in the updating of the county flora and this many of us did with considerable commitment. The question I have been asked most over the last few years is ‘When’s Trevor’s flora coming out? After a great deal of careful work together with family commitments, (Thelma sadly dying in 1999), the introduction was written in 2000 and the second ‘Flora of Monmouthshire’ was conceived. During a lengthy gestation, tackling computer problems and dealing with new records, I had frequent ‘scans’ in the form of update phone calls –“I’ve completed 18% - 25%…..76%, 99%. So now I, along with many others am delighted to welcome the birth of ‘Flora Of Monmouthshire’ by Trevor G. Evans. It will add considerably to our knowledge of the status of the plants of Monmouthshire and will remain a valuable reference work for many years to come. (This profile originally appeared in the Welsh Wildlife Magazine in 2001 and was updated in 2007).

Plate 1. Topography of Monmouthshire (vc 35).

Plate 2. Basic solid geology of Monmouthshire (vc 35). Based on 1994 BGS Geological Map sheet of Wales (Solid) 1:250,000 scale, by permission of the British Geological Survey. Copyright permit # IPR/89-13CGC

Plate 3. Heather and natural rock outcrop, Fir Clubmoss site. Plate 4. Fir Clubmoss, near Tir Abraham-Harris.

Plate 5. Hill’s Pit Chimney above Garn-yr-erw.

Plate 6 (above). Moonwort, Cwm du near Cwm Ffrwd-oer. Plate 7 (top right). Black Spleenwort on Hill’s Pit chimney.

Plate 8 (right centre). Sea Spleenwort n vertical hole in Trias sandstone, Sudbrook.

Plate 9 (lower right). Trias Sandstone on shore, Sudbrook.

Plate 10. Brittle Bladder-fern in Tintern iron work site.

Plate 11 (right). Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis on wall of Cas-troggy.

Plate 12 (below). Pwll-du Quarry, site for Limestone Fern and Green Spleenwort, from Autumn Gentian site.

Plate 13. Monkshood, below Holy Well. Plate 14. River Water-crowfoot, River Wye, Hadnock.

Plate 15. Cwm of Holy Well looking across to Usk.

Plate 16. Subsp. lecoqii of Long-headed Poppy with sap turning yellow.

Plate 17. Bladder Campion, Newport Docks.

Plate 18. Long-spiked Glasswort, Little Wharf, mouth of R. Rhymney.

Plate 19. Scotch Peter’s drained reservoir, site of Knotted Pearlwort.

Plate 20. Ragged Robin, Severn Levels.

Plate 21. Common Sea-lavender, Little Wharf, mouth of R. Rhymney.

Plate 22. Musk Mallow, roadside.

Plate 23. Common Mallow, roadsides.

Plate 24. Tree Mallow cresting the top of The Denny, low tide. Plate 25. Marsh Mallow, Goldcliff Pill.

Plate 26. Greater Cuckooflower, White Brook.

Plate 27. Black Poplar, near Abergavenny, showing diagnostic bosses on trunk.

Plate 28. A Coralroot, Cardamine quinquefolia, near Abergavenny.

Plate 29. Rape crop, near Raglan Castle.

Plate 30. Wild Cabbage at foot of walls of Chepstow Castle. Plate 31. Round-leaved Wintergreen, Freehold Wood Quarry, Abersychan.

Plate 32. Yellow Bird’s-nest, Blackcliff.

Plate 33 (above). Hybrid Water Avens. Plate 34 (top right). Marsh Cinquefoil, Llanfoist Farm. Plate 35 (lower right). Rock Whitebeam near Chepstow. Plate 36 (below). Meadow Saxifrage near Triley Mill.

Plate 37. Wild Liquorice, Heston Brake. Plate 38. Sainfoin, Crick-Shirenewton roadside.

Plate 39. Pale blue Spiny Restharrow, Caldicot.

Plate 40. Wood Vetch, Hadnock Road. Plate 41. Normal Spiny Restharrow, near Second Severn Crossing.

Plate 42. Strawberry Clover, Severn brackish marsh, Caldicot.

Plate 43. Subterraneum Clover, showing 3 arrow-shaped fruit clusters inserted earthwards, Sudbrook.

Plate 44. Sea Clover, seawall below industrial estate, Bulwark.

Plate 45. Dyer’s Greenweed in meadow NW of Pant-y-pridd Wood, Usk.

Plate 46. Uncrisped Parsley on Chepstow Castle walls.

Plate 47. Wood Sorrel, Lodge Wood Caerleon.

Plate 48. Meadow Crane’s-bill, dismantled railway verge, The Rock. Plate 49. Purple Loosestrife, Drybridge Community N.R.

Plate 50. Mistletoe on Cotoneaster, Whitehouse.

Plate 51. Hedgerow Crane’s-bill, roadside west of Llanvair Discoed.

Plate 52. Indian Balsam, near River Rhymney south of Trethomas.

Plate 53. Orange Balsam, Tredegar Park, Newport.

Plate 54 (above). Giant Hogweed colony at confluence of River Usk and Severn Estuary.

Plate 55 (right). Rock Samphire on Trias Sandstone, Sudbrook.

Plate 56. Corky-fruited Waterdropwort site on road verge, Tynewydd, with Colin Titcombe.

Plate 57. Part of a strong colony of Henbane, Goldcliff Pill.

Plate 58 (above). Close-up of Henbane flower.

Plate 59 (right). Yellow-wort, bank of Talycoed Wood.

Plate 60. Thorn-apple fruit, Sunnybank Farm. Plate 61 (below). Angel’s-trumpet fruit, Newton Geen, Mathern.

Plate 62 (right). Viper’s-bugloss, edge of River Monnow upstream of Llangua.

Plate 63. Field Bindweed, frequent on road verges.

Plate 64. Tuberous Comfrey, hedge Itton-Devauden Road.

Plate 65. Mare’s-tail, lake nr Prescoed

Plate 66. Moth Mullein, white form, amongst road stone north of Trothy.

Plate 67. French Figwort, marsh, Newport Docks.

Plate 68. Musk, The British, Abersychan.

Plate 69. Slender Speedwell.

Plate 70. Common Cow-wheat, Lasgarn Wood.

Plate 71. Cornish Moneywort, Nant-y-draenog.

Plate 72. Marsh Lousewort, Underwood-Llanmartin.

Plate 73. Lousewort, north of Gethley Wood, Kilgwrrwg.

Plate 74 (left). Purple toothwort, Yew Tree, Lydart. Plate 75 (right). Toothwort, Pierce Wood.

Plate 76. Spreading Bellflower, Yew Tree, Lydart. Plate 77 (left). Yellow-rattle.

Plate 78 (right). Yellow Common Broomrape, Newport Docks.

Plate 79 (left). Giant Bellflower, hedge south of Cae-caws House, Penallt.

Plate 80 (right). Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Cwm Coed y Cerrig.

Plate 81. Guelder Rose, Hardwick Plantation.

Plate 83 (above). Carline thistle, Gilwern Hill. Plate 82 (above). Teasel with Nick Evans, Chapel Reen, Undy. Plate 84 (below). Musk Thistle, Garn-yr-erw.

Plate 85 (below). Devil’s-bit Scabious.

Plate 86 (above). Woolly Thistle.

Plate 87 (above). Woolly Thistle with Colin Titcombe, south edge of Ifton Great Wood. Plate 88 (left). Meadow Thistle, Magor Reserve.

Plate 89 (below). Meadow Thistle, Barecroft Common.

Plate 90. Cotton thistle, SW of Llanwenarth Church, near River Usk.

Plate 91. Greater Knapweed, near Windmill Cottage, Rogiet.

Plate 92. Chicory, track, Tre-fal-du pools.

Plate 93. Pierce Woods from Wintour’s Leap. Salsify occurs near the three trees on edge of River Wye. Plate 94. Marsh Hawk’s-beard, Afon Cibi, Abergavenny.

Plate 95. Pearly Everlasting near Rhymney.

Plate 96. Monnow Bridge, site for Iberian Toadflax. Plate 97. Iberian Toadflax, Monnow Bridge.

Plate 98. Heath Cudweed, Little Oak,

Plate 99 (left). Tansy galled by Rhopalomyia tanaceticola, a gall midge.

Plate 100 (below). Corn Marigold, Ty’r Pwll Farm, 1997

Plate 101. Flowering Rush, Vaindre Winter Sewer, near West Usk Lighthouse.

Plate 102. Niger, Newport rubbish tip.

Plate 103. Arrowhead, reen near New House.

Plate 104. Frogbit, Barecroft Common Reen.

Plate 105. Common Cottongrass, N of Garn-yr-erw. Plate 106. Eelgrass, gravel beds, Rogiet. Plate 107. Cyperus Sedge, pond, Graig

Plate 108. Round-headed Club-rush, N of Spytty Pill, Newport, 2005. Plate 109. Bottle Sedge, utricles contracted abruptly.

Plate 110. Bladder Sedge, utricles tapering.

Plate 111. Thin-spiked Wood-sedge lining track, Great Barnetts Wood Plate 112. Flea Sedge, ridge above Highlands.

Plate 113. Golden Dog’s-tail, Newport rubbish tip.

Plate 114. Pyrenean Lily, St. Sannan’s Churchyard, Bedwellty. Plate 115. Orange Foxtail, Penpergwm Pond.

Plate 116. Japanese Millet, Newport rubbish tip.

Plate 117. Herb Paris, north of Newton Court. Plate 118. Herb Paris, Blackcliff.

Plate 119. Bog Asphodel, above Forgeside.

Plate 120. Wild Daffodils, Curley Oak Wood, Wentwood.

Plate 121. Blue-eyed-grass Springdale Farm.

Plate 122. Yellow Iris, Uskmouth Wetlands Reserve.

Plate 123. Autumn Lady’s Tresses, hundreds in Chepstow Cemetery, 2006. Plate 124. Autumn Lady’s tresses, Undy.

Plate 125. Marsh Helleborine., Uskmouth.

Plate 126 (top left). Greater Butterfly Orchid, Kilgwrrwg. Plate 127 (top right). Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Hardwick Plantation. Plate 128 (bottom left). Greater Butterfly Orchid, diverging pollinia. Plate 129 (bottom right). Lesser Butterfly Orchid, parallel pollinia.

Plate 130. Common Spotted Orchids, Newgrove Meadow. Plate 131. Fragrant Orchid, Henllys Bog.

Plate 132. Pyramidal Orchid, Mitchell Troy.

Plate 133. Southern Marsh Orchids, Uskmouth Wetlands Reserve. Plate 134. Heath Spotted Orchid, Underwood-Llanmartin.

Plate 135. Early Marsh Orchid, Underwood-LLanmartin.

Plate 136. Green-veined Orchid and Cowslips, Fernlea. Plate 137 (below). Green-veined Orchid. Plate 138. Bee Orchid, Pontypool.

Plate 139. Wasp Orchid, Wentwood (B. Hewitt)

Plate 140 (above). St Sannan’s Churchyard, Wood Bittervetch site.

Plate 141 (right). Monkey-flower hybrid in Llanwenarth Valley.

Plate 142 (below). Blackrock to St Pierre Pill, saltmarsh.

Plate 143 (above). Improved fields from Skirrid to Sugarloaf.

Plate 144 (left). Conifers in blocks, Wentwood, 1960s.

Plate 145. Failed oat crop but rich in arable weeds, Llantrisant Fawr.

Flora of Monmouthshire

INTRODUCTION I was appointed BSBI Vice-county Recorder for vc 35 Monmouthshire in 1972. Some other counties had begun to map their floras using grid squares which struck me as an interesting way to record plants, and although Arthur Wade’s Flora had only come out in 1970, I began to think that a plant distribution atlas would be a good idea for Monmouthshire too. My retirement in 1984, after forty-one years teaching mainly in Chepstow Secondary Schools, meant I would have time to produce such a flora. Over twenty years later here it is - the first Flora of Monmouthshire to show the distribution of plants using maps, and also the first to give detailed grid references. There have been a few previous floras of Monmouthshire. J. H. Clark (1868), born in Gloucester, was later a printer at Usk. In 1868 he published Sketches of Monmouthshire with an appendix, which was the first attempt to write a complete flora of the county. This was reprinted as a pamphlet called The Flora of Monmouthshire, and it contained 671 flowering plants, and 22 ferns and fern allies. His herbarium collection of dried plants is lodged in Newport Museum and Art Gallery. Rev. Augustin Ley (1842-1919) contributed a large number of records to Monmouthshire in reports of the Botanical Record Club for years 1873-86. His numerous notes in Journal of Botany from 1872 onwards and in Transactions of the Woolhope Field Naturalists’ Club 1883-1885 are rich in Monmouthshire plant records. Samuel Hamilton (c.1909), BA, MB, of Newport, was Medical Officer of Health for the Marshfield District of the Newport Union. In 1909 he published The Flora of Monmouthshire, a slim octavo volume of 81 pages. Though purporting to be a flora of the entire county, most of the records are his personal records from the Newport area. It consisted of 626 flowering plants and 23 ferns and fern allies. Dr W. A. Shoolbred (1852-1928), M.R.C.S., F.L.S., F.R.H.S., published his Flora of Chepstow in 1920 that covered a radius of 12 miles around Chepstow, roughly half of which was in Monmouthshire and half in Gloucestershire. He travelled widely, often with Rev. E. S. Marshall, and benefited greatly from his association with this very good botanist, which he acknowledged in his Flora. Fifty years of his observations contributed substantially to the knowledge of the flora of SE Monmouthshire. His volume deals with critical species (e.g. hawkweeds, brambles, roses and willows), with acknowledgements to various experts for their determinations. It also lists an incomplete record of mosses added to by A. Ley. Shoolbred’s herbarium is housed in the National Museum of Wales. Shoolbred practiced medicine in Chepstow from 1878 and shortly after took up residence in St. Anne’s, at the top end of Bridge Street, Chepstow, where he remained until his death in 1928. When the American Imperial Film Co. Ltd chose Chepstow Castle for most of the scenes for its film ‘Ivanhoe’ based loosely on Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Dr Shoolbred was employed as the official doctor to deal with casualties during the making of the film and he set up a table in his stable yard for the purpose. Chepstow shipyard workers were employed as extras for the battle scenes, and it is said that when they practised before the filming began their over-enthusiasm led to Dr. Shoolbred having more casualties to treat than for the whole of the actual filming. Dr Shoolbred had a particular interest in trees and shrubs of the British Isles and Brambles and Hawkweeds. Rosa x shoolbredii was named in his honour (it still occurs in the vc), and Marshall named a Scottish Hawkweed after him too. S. G. Charles (1883-1960) contributed to the knowledge of the county flora by his thorough exploration of NE Monmouthshire from 1924-51, with many records substantiated by specimens in the National Museum of Wales. His notebooks are in Monmouth Museum. The Flora of Monmouthshire by Arthur E. Wade (1895-1989), M.Sc., was the first complete Flora for the county and was achieved on the back of 50 years of week-end field work. He divided the county into five regions using topography and noted that each region had a distinct range of plants. For the BSBI he was vicecounty recorder for all Welsh vice-counties from 1940 until suitable recorders could be found for each separately. Monmouthshire was probably the last vice-county to be handed over in 1972. He was a referee for the genera Myosotis and Symphytum. From 1942 he was Assistant Keeper of Botany at the National Museum of Wales until he retired in 1961. 1

Flora of Monmouthshire Figure 1. The Vice-county of Monmouthshire (vc 35).

Flora of Monmouthshire Vice-county 35 Monmouthshire As the boundaries of the political county of ‘Monmouthshire’ have been changed several times in the second half of the twentieth century, it is necessary for me to say what is meant by vice-county 35 Monmouthshire. To explain what vice-counties are I must refer to Hewett Cottrell Watson (1804-1881), a famous amateur botanist who devoted his life to the geographical distribution of British plants. Watson compiled information on the occurrence of plants throughout Britain, noting their occurrence in different counties. The disparate sizes of the political counties did not suit his purpose, and so he divided the larger ones into two, three, or even five portions, and a few of the very smallest he added to nearby counties so that he ended up with areas more or less equal in size. He called each unit a vice-county (vc) and numbered them from 1 West Cornwall to 112 Shetland. Watson brought his system into use in the fourth edition of his Cybele Brittanica in 1852. Watson’s system has several advantages. First, vice-counties have been used to provide county floras and plant lists for the same areas ever since and do not change with local government reorganisation. Second, the vice-counties had readily discernible boundaries e.g. a river, hedgerow, hill ridge, etc and are easy to use. Third, botanists and zoologists, who know thousands of generic and specific names, would have no difficulty learning the positions and limits of 112 vice-counties. It must be remembered that when Watson was considering a suitable geographic unit, the Ordnance Survey national grid had not been introduced on maps, and even if it had, the accumulated valuable information on British plants on a county basis might have been lost if a new grid system had been adopted. Watson’s name has been commemorated by the Botanical Society of the British Isles (B.S.B.I.) by calling its scientific journal ‘Watsonia’. The county of Monmouthshire in Watson’s system was vc 35 (Mons.). Its main boundaries were the rivers Severn, Wye, Monnow and Rhymney. The boundary from the R. Monnow at the eastern ridge of the Black Mountains uses a number of physical features to complete its course to the R. Rhymney near Llechryd. The boundary takes a winding course from Redbrook to the Biblins to include land east of the Wye. It crosses the Wye near Little Hadnock and joins the Monnow about a kilometre above Rockfield, so including land north of Monmouth and the Monnow (Figure 1). The topgraphy is shown in Plate 1.

Nomenclature of hectads and tetrads Ordnance Survey maps show the national grid, which divides the country up into grid squares. The largest grid squares are the 100 x 100 km squares, each of which has been allocated a two letter code. Monmouthshire lies partly in the SO 100 x 100 kilometre square north of the horizontal 200000 grid line, and partly in the ST 100 x 100 kilometre square south of it.

Figure 2. Nomenclature of hectads (10 x 10 km squares) in vc 35.

Figure 3. Nomenclature of tetrads (2 x 2 km squares) within a hectad. 3

Flora of Monmouthshire Each 100 x 100 kilometre square is then divided into 10 x 10 kilometre squares, which are called ‘hectads’ by botanists. The name of a hectad takes the two letter code as for its parent square followed by the first number read from the SW corner of the square on the Horizontal line and then the first number on the vertical line from the same corner (Figure 2). Thus Chepstow occurs in hectad ST/59 and Monmouth in hectad SO/51. ALWAYS READ THE FIGURES ON THE HORIZONTAL LINES FIRST. Each hectad is then divided into one hundred 1 x 1 km squares (the smallest squares shown on the maps). A tetrad is a square of 2 x 2 km, giving a total of 4 km² (hence tetrad). There are thus 25 tetrads in a hectad. The coding of tetrads is as shown in Figure 3. The bottom left tetrad composed of four 1 x 1 km squares is ‘A’, the one above it ‘B’, and so on though eventually the letter O is omitted thus finishing with ‘Z’. To remember the position of the tetrad letters some recorders use the mnemonic All Frightened Kids Quickly Vomit where the initial letters give the bottom line of tetrad names. Others use the letters of the second line down that spells ‘DINTY’. The tetrads were named by adding the tetrad code to the hectad code. Thus Chepstow largely lies within the tetrad ST/59 G, and Chepstow Castle in tetrad ST/59 H. Today an increasing number of recorders use a GPS to find their position rather than trying to find it on a map. A GPS is a small, hand-held device which picks up signals from satellites and can quickly pinpoint the position on the ground and provide the Ordnance Survey grid reference to 10 figures, for example SO/34271.05382. Such grid references imply a precise position to 1 m, but the reading is liable to small errors shown on the instrument.

Recording for the flora Tetrads were a popular unit adopted for producing mapped floras in Britain, so these were chosen to map the flora. Vc 35 is made up of 406 either whole or part tetrads, the latter occurring around the boundaries of the vice-county where the tetrads may be shared with adjacent vice-counties. Only the portion of each tetrad in vc 35 has been recorded. To record the flora I would need help. To record all of the plants in each of the 406 tetrads, the ideal number of botanists would have been 812 - a pair of recorders for each tetrad would be company, provide an element of safety and supply better data. Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world. Any rural vice-county is lucky if it has ten competent botanists; usually it has far less, especially if there is no county university. What it usually has are numbers of people who are good general naturalists often with experience in recording practice in other fields e.g. ornithology, or who are intelligent and are eager to learn new skills in their retirement, or are men or women whose duties to their children have become less onerous. My first task was to contact known botanists by letter, phone or personal visit to explain what the project entailed and seek their co-operation. My second task was to enlist the help of members of the county wildlife trust, and I approached each of the local sections of the Gwent Wildlife Trust setting out my proposal. Thus I was able to get volunteers from Chepstow, Monmouth, Abergavenny and Newport sections. An enthusiastic band of people assembled at the start of the recording season of 1985. They were equipped with a Welsh Record Card ‘RP12’ (Figure 4) provided by the Biological Records Centre, Monks Wood, and an instruction sheet explaining how to proceed with recording. Both sides of the Welsh Record Card RP12 are shown in Figure 4. The cards list the abbreviated Latin names of plants likely to be found in Wales, but not all plants. Some plants are common in parts of Wales though rare or absent from others. When a plant was observed a short horizontal line was drawn through its name on the card. On each visit new plant species were added to the card, until eventually and hopefully all plants growing in the tetrad would be recorded. Each tetrad required its own recording card. The number of tetrads chosen for recording by each person varied according to ability and enthusiasm. The following deserve special mention as they took on ten or more tetrads in the first five years as indicated by the number following their name: R. Fraser 45; B. R. Gregory 10; P. C. & J. Hall 23; T. D. & J. Pollard 21; E. G. Wood 35 and U. T. Evans 80. I took on 112 tetrads. To achieve good coverage, each habitat (e.g. wood, field, stream, marsh) needed to be visited 2-3 times a year. Most of the maps of the common plants were completed in the years between 1985 and 1989. Since then a smaller number of people have been recording critical plants and adding records and revisiting the more interesting sites discovered during the first five years. 4

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 4. A Welsh Record Card RP12 showing both sides

Twenty-five volunteer co-ordinators were required for the 25 hectads to collect the tetrad cards from the recorders of their hectad and enter the records as dots on mini-maps (Figure 5). The minimap in Figure 5 refers only to plants seen in the hectad ST/49, which covers that part of Monmouthshire lying between CoedCwnwr, Devauden, Crick and Llandevaud. Four mini-maps A4 sheets of hectad grids were necessary to cover all the plants on the Welsh Record Card, and two more for additional plants that were not listed on the RP12. The number on top of each 5 x 5 minimap grid is a Biological Records Centre number for each species of plant, which appears before each species name on the Wales Recording Card RP12. Thus the first square 1177 is for Water Lobelia, which does not occur in the vice-county, and the third square 1183 is for Perennial Ryegrass, which is widespread as indicated by the dots. A dot in the grid it means that the plant has been recorded in that tetrad of the hectad. Recorders were asked to submit their cards to their coordinator by the end of September. When the coordinator for each hectad had converted the records on all the RP12 cards to dots on the minimaps for the year the six minimap sheets were sent to me by the last day of November. A colour was adopted for each year: black for 1985, red for 1986, green for 1987, blue for 1988, brown for 1989 and purple for 1990. This made it easier to see additions each year and was useful in dating an observation, but meant a lot of hard, painstaking 5

Flora of Monmouthshire work for the co-ordinators. I then transferred the card records to master cards, and dots on mini-maps to county maps so that each plant had its own county map. A meeting was held each spring before the start of the next recording season to discuss the results and deal with any problems encountered.

Figure 5. One page of the Minimaps for the hectad ST/49. 6

Flora of Monmouthshire The minimap system provided a good means of assessing coverage. To produce the final maps for the flora, the mastercards were entered in a computer program ‘DMAPW’ written by Alan Morton. They were checked against the master maps compiled from the minimaps. The number of records in each tetrad is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Numbers of records in each tetrad. 7

Flora of Monmouthshire

GEOLOGY OF MONMOUTHSHIRE By Naylor Firth

Introduction to Geology Planet Earth is a bit unusual. According to our existing knowledge of our solar system and the myriad of solid objects that occupy ‘Space’, we are the only object that hosts organic living items in the form of animals and plants. The simultaneous occurrence of water, a benevolent gaseous atmosphere and moderate temperatures encouraged evolution to diversify throughout much of the planet’s 4.6 billion years of history to cover it with life, from polar to tropical regions and from deepest oceans to highest mountains. Earth has a diameter of nearly 8,000 miles but the distance between the lowest ocean trench and highest mountain is less than 13 miles. Life therefore covers a very thin veneer indeed but the canvas on which this organic paint has been laid is made up of the surface geology, a complex and ever-changing material. Earth not only has an organic living surface, it also has an inorganic living interior. The inherited heat of the interior produces currents in the liquid core whose pattern changes. In some places and at some times these currents melt the mantle to form huge masses of molten material nearer the surface which later cool slowly to form rocks such as granite; on some occasions, the liquid rock emerges through the surface crust as lava and ash to emphasise to us through vulcanicity that the planet is truly a living planet. The rocks produced by the melting and re-solidification of existing material are called the primary or igneous rocks. The surface crust is also affected by the changing currents within the interior and a number of large plates which cover the surface of the planet are continuously being buffeted, in some areas being pulled apart from one another and in others being forced together. Enormous forces are involved in these crustal movements and mountain chains and large areas of generalised uplift have been formed to the accompaniment of earthquakes and vulcanicity. Gravity, water and wind combine to gnaw away at these upland areas so that the surface becomes a perpetual construction and demolition site. The products of the demolition come from the actions of ice, liquid water and wind and are carried by them to form the secondary or sedimentary rocks. With so much energy available in the crust from heat and earth movements it is not surprising that some of the existing rocks get squeezed and/or heated so that their mineral composition is modified sufficiently to produce a new rock type. This third category, produced by nature’s cookery, form the metamorphic rocks. In the multitude of geological events that have affected our county, the resulting thin surface veneer underlying Monmouthshire consists almost entirely of sedimentary rocks with two very small igneous rock occurrences of a very rare rock type called monchiquite outcropping at Golden Hill. To all intents and purposes therefore the vegetation of the county derives its growing medium from sedimentary rocks laid down in marine and freshwater environments as well as some deposited by glaciers during the recent ice ages. The geological events have included periods when earth movements lead to the rocks being squeezed, folded and torn by faults and the pattern we see today is just the current frame in a long film that is still being produced and directed. The human race tends to be obsessed by its own importance in the grand design. However it is worth putting this into the scale of geological time. If the planet were to be one year old then the three score years and ten of our lifetimes would count for just a half a second; we are that important. This fourth dimension, time, is of vital importance in understanding the present pattern of land and sea, of mountain and plain, of the juxtaposition of hard and soft rocks and of the evolution of living things from the earliest known fossils of marine algae dating from early July on our year’s scale, through the emergence of the first land plants during late November, the first reptiles on 8th December and the first mammals on 15th December. One of the first tenets of geological science is that ‘The present is the key to the past’. Natural events that we see going on around us are repeats of events that have gone on throughout geological time. We observe volcanic activity issuing large volumes of flowing lava in Hawaii and can see past instances of closely similar material in the rocks of Antrim; we see huge quantities of ash being distributed from the Mount St Helens 8

Flora of Monmouthshire eruption and see similar material in the very old Pre-Cambrian of some of the hills near Church Stretton. Similarly with sedimentary rocks we recognise limestone being formed in the Caribbean and encounter limestones of Lower Carboniferous age in SE Monmouthshire. Thus the present climates and environments that we are familiar with in our own part of the globe have changed throughout geological time so that during Devonian times Monmouthshire was the location for a huge fresh-water delta whilst in Upper Carboniferous times it was a luxuriant humid swamp with vast quantities of plant material subject to intermittent incursions from a saline sea. In Quaternary times the county was covered in ice and moraine from the large ice-fields to the North. Weathering processes associated with ice, liquid water and wind chew away at the rocks exposed at the surface to provide a range of loosely consolidated materials such as boulder clay, alluvium and sand-dunes. Geological maps therefore occur in two versions, the solid maps showing the consolidated rocks at the surface and the drift maps which show these overlying very recent deposits, typically lining river valleys, windy coastal areas and areas subject to recent glaciations. Plants of course grow on all these surface materials if water is present and any pattern of vegetation in an area must therefore reflect variations in both the solid geology and drift deposits. A radio comedy programme some decades ago used to contain the catch phrase ‘The answer lies in the soil’, said with a rich Wiltshire accent. How true! In a twinkling of a geological eye, surface materials, be they solid or drift, acquire a thin veneer of sub-soil and soil brought about by the actions of physical and chemical weathering, micro-organisms, non-vascular plants and vascular pteridophytes. The soils in many areas, particularly in those areas relatively undisturbed by man’s activities, reflect the chemical properties of their geological parent materials. Plant distributions and abundances subsequently reflect the nature of the solid and drift geology. Aerial geo-botanical surveys using false-colour techniques to identify different plant populations and the health of theses plants are being increasingly used to map large tracts of unsurveyed land. The technique can be particularly sensitive to identify mineral deposits and the extent of contaminated land.

Rock distribution in Monmouthshire In terms of geological age, Monmouthshire incorporates sediments deposited during the Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Triassic and Lower Jurassic periods covering ages from about 430 million to 190 million years ago. On our one year time scale this would equate to November 27th to December 16th. Most geological maps show the patterns of distribution of rocks based on their age. The simplified map of the solid geology of Monmouthshire (Plate 2) shows younger Triassic and Lower Jurassic sediments fringing the Severn Estuary, a mass of Lower Carboniferous sediments trending north-east from Magor to Tintern, a steeply inclined sequence of Carboniferous sediments marking the eastern extremity of the South Wales Coalfield and a window of Silurian sediments in the Usk area peeping through the Devonian sediments which occupy the majority of the area covered by Monmouthshire. Interesting as geological maps based on age are to humans, plants are not really concerned at geological age, they are much more interested in properties such as the texture, acidity and alkalinity, nutrients and pore space within the soils and subsoils derived from the underlying rocks. These combined properties are reflected in the lithologies of the rocks themselves. In Monmouthshire the lithologies of the Silurian rocks are represented by a mixture of fine mudstones and siltstones as well as some impure limestones giving rise to clayey soils with alkaline pH. The Devonian or Old Red Sandstone sediments were laid down in a large delta with water currents changing in direction and velocity with time. The resulting sediments are a mixture of clays, marls, fine sandstones and coarse sandstones, the latter with often large quartz pebbles in the soils from which they are derived. The Old Red Sandstone produces mainly acidic loamy soils although in the lower sequences of the period some calcareous beds do occur giving localised alkali conditions. The rich red soils of much of Monmouthshire and Herefordshire attest to their derivation from the deltaic sandstones.

Flora of Monmouthshire At the end of the Old Red Sandstone period, the Monmouthshire area experienced an invasion by shallow warm seas during the Lower Carboniferous period which laid down relatively large thicknesses of fossil-rich limestones. Their main occurrence in the county is in the South East where they have been extensively quarried for roadstone and general aggregate. Limestone is porous and nearly every valley in the limestone area is dry, the drainage being underground with the subsequent tendency to form caves. Limestones produce alkali soils and man has recognised the value of ‘liming’ to ameliorate the acidity of sandy soils. Thus Monmouthshire contains a classic pattern arising from the juxta-positioning of limestones and sandstones where numerous limestone workings can be found near the boundary to produce material with the minimum carrying distance to where it was needed. Carboniferous Limestone also occurs in the west of the county along the Pontypool ridge from Machen through the Clydach Gorge and Trefil where the relatively narrow outcrops reflect the result of earth movements buckling the sequence to form the basin of the South Wales Coalfield. As the Carboniferous period proceeded, the Earth’s crust in our area began to pulsate with the shallow sea covering and then retreating many, many times. This produced repeat patterns of sedimentation alternating from sandstones through clays to rich organic deposits of plant remains to mudstones to sandstones and back again. The pattern produced our main fossil fuel reserves, coal. To usher in this period in our geological history, the sea incursion deposited layers of quartz-rich sandstones and conglomerates making the Millstone Grit which outcrops around the flanks of the Coalfield above the Carboniferous Limestone. The material was used to make millstones, as the name implies, but its high quartz content also made it useful for the production of acid refractories for iron and steel making. The alternation sequences above the Millstone Grit make up the Coal Measures and patterns in undisturbed soils above these can be quite complex with clayey soils lying next to sandy, well-drained soils next to carbonaceous material. The sequence is further complicated by the occurrence of iron-rich carbonates which were the basis for the early iron industry along the Heads-of-the-Valleys road. At the top of the Carboniferous succession in Monmouthshire is the Pennant Sandstone which contains very little coal but vast quantities of iron-stained sandstones that make up the plateau uplands throughout the South Wales Coalfield. The flanks of the Pennant escarpments are prone to landslips but the rock has been used extensively across South Wales as building stone, much of it beautifully dressed by skilled masons during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Following a period of erosion and denudation during which the topography of the area was considerably changed, South Monmouthshire became a salty lake in the Triassic period with surrounding mountains providing sediments from outwash gullies which graded from coarse to fine as the slope decreased. Evaporite minerals such as the gypsum in the Aust and Sedbury cliffs precipitated out in saline pools and outcrops of red marls occur in the Crick, Magor and Redwick areas. At the end of the Triassic, the climate became wetter and the sea invaded the area to produce alternating deposits of shales, mudstones and limestones during the Lower Jurassic period. Only small outcrops occur in Monmouthshire but further west on the Glamorgan coast and in the Vale of Glamorgan these rocks form the basis of the cement industry. Soils derived from the Lower Lias beds of the Lower Jurassic resemble porridge when wet and concrete when dry so the county is fortunate not to have too much of it! Monmouthshire experienced a long period of geological time following the Lower Jurassic where no rocks are to be found representing this interval. However about 2 million years ago (4 hours ago on our year scale), the Pleistocene period brought alternating warm and very cold climates over the area, popularly called the Ice Ages. Ice is a potent erosion agent, scouring the landscape to produce broad U-shaped valleys and cwms as seen in the Black Mountains. However the material it has eroded and carried is deposited where the ice melts to leave a gardeners nightmare, boulder clay, which contains everything from the finest clay to the largest boulders in one deposit. This tends to remain in the upper ends of the glaciated regions but can also be found where the ends of the glaciers have retreated. Boulder clay and moraine deposits occur in patches between Machen and Newport, in the Ebbw Valley and the Usk valley North West of Abergavenny. Subsequent action by liquid water sorts this mixed material and deposits it lower down the river systems as gravel and sands as in many of the river valleys throughout the County. 10

Flora of Monmouthshire In geologically recent times erosion has continued to remodel the landscape, taking material from high to low ground and sorting it according to its hydraulic properties along the way. Rivers regularly flood to deposit alluvium on their floodplains, estuaries experience storm surges and high spring tides to deposit mud on their banks, vegetation accumulates on uplands to blanket the bedrock with peat and high winds occasionally drive dry sand to form coastal dunes. It is on this complex tapestry of old and young solid rocks, recently deposited unconsolidated deposits, alkali and acid environments, varying textures, fluctuating water contents and changing slopes that plants thrive or struggle.

The Impact of Geology on Vegetation As has been indicated in the previous two sections, soils are derived from the rocks on which they are found. These can either be the solid bedrock or unconsolidated material brought in by ice, water or wind that covers the bedrock but in either case the minerals in the original material start to undergo change in chemistry and physical structure to form subsoil. The gradual colonisation of subsoil with organic material creates the mixture of humus and mineral matter that is called soil. Sedimentary rocks as found in Monmouthshire vary from the acidic sandstones to the alkali limestones and these influence the pH of soils derived from them. Probably one of the best examples of the influence of these on plants is the difference in colour of hydrangeas showing blue colour on acidic soils and pink on alkali soils. However many plants show distinct preferences for colonising various bands of pH, no more so than rhododendrons and azaleas with their presence in acidic areas Because of the varied crystalline nature of the minerals that have come together to form rocks, soils have a mix of minerals that influence their properties. A high concentration of clay minerals imparts a heavy texture to soils; many clay minerals have structures similar to a pack of cards and swell in the presence of water to form a nearly impervious barrier to the further passage of water. Clay layers and lenses within sandstones occur in many Old Red Sandstone areas in Monmouthshire and give rise to spring lines where percolating water meets this impervious layer and emerges at the surface. Parts of the Silurian in the Usk area also have high concentrations of clay minerals in the soils. Mica minerals are common components in sedimentary rocks and tend to lie along bedding planes giving rocks a fissile nature; the abundance of flagstone material in the Old Red Sandstone and the Pennant Sandstone is a result of the presence of mica flakes. Micas do not swell in the presence of water. Quartz (silica) is a very common component of soils because of its resistance to chemical weathering. It is the main mineral in sandstones and very coarse grains and pebbles of quartz form the Quartz Conglomerate that caps much of the escarpment from Wentwood to Monmouth. This puddingstone as it is known locally was the basis for the production of millstones. The presence of quartz produces a soil with better drainage but this also results in poor water retention. The varying proportions of minerals gives rise to the broad subdivisions of soil texture into sands, loams, silts and clays. Weathering of rocks is brought about by chemical and biological agents as well as the physical effects of freeze/thaw, rain and wind erosion. Gravity is the ever-present agent relentlessly pulling weathered and unstable material downhill. Plants growing on flat land must contend with variations in drainage, erosion by lateral movement of streams and rivers and inundation at times of flood. As the gradient of the slope on which they are growing increases so soil-creep, solifluction and land-slips affect the ability of plants to colonise an area. Scree slopes in particular by the very nature of the large particle size of the weathered rock retain little water but do provide sheltered microhabitats, albeit in a highly unstable situation. Plants growing on cliffs have a more stable substrate but have a higher exposure to wind and patchy soil distribution. The basic building elements for the plant kingdom are carbon, oxygen and hydrogen which combine through photosynthesis to form the cellulosic polymer from which most of the plant is made. Calcium, magnesium and potassium stabilize the structure of the protoplasm and assist in enzyme activity. However a further eight elements are needed, albeit in small quantities, to ensure the health of the plant. The eight are called the 11

Flora of Monmouthshire essential micronutrients and include boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium and zinc. Plants require a window of concentrations of each of these elements to give of their best and both deficiencies and excesses can cause problems. It is important to remember that the availability of any of these elements is not related to the overall concentration in the soils but to the pH of the soils, the water regime within the soil and the microflora of the soil matrix. Liming for example can significantly alter the availability of micronutrients to plant roots. A detailed study of micronutrient status within Monmouthshire soils is outside the scope of this chapter, but the Triassic sandstones in the Newport area and the Old Red Sandstone to the West of Newport have been identified as being deficient in boron. Similarly the Pleistocene glacial sands and gravels in the Newport area and the alluvial clays around the Wentloog Levels have been found to be deficient in manganese. Most of the detailed research on the micronutrient status in plants has naturally concentrated on commercial crops and in particular those which go on to affect the health status and micronutrient requirements of livestock. It is likely that different species of non-commercial plants will have differing requirements for micronutrient concentrations. Some plants accumulate concentrations of elements from their parent soils to present potential problems for livestock. Whilst selenium is an essential element for animals, some plants in the genus Astragalus, for example, can accumulate over 5500ppm of the element and could be considered as a low-grade ore! Plants by their very nature reflect the immediate environment in which they live. Their soil, nutrients and water are very local whereas animals can roam and source food and drink from much wider areas. Humans can roam and source their food from almost anywhere on the planet and thus, in a sense, plants have a onedimensional, animals a two-dimensional and humans a three-dimensional existence. Because of the effect of trace elements and the preference of different plants for different concentrations of these elements, varying patterns of plant distribution can give clues to the concentration of mineral resources underlying an area. Thus an aerial scan of vegetation patterns using multi-spectral photo-reconnaissance can provide a fast comprehensive indication of the underlying geology of an area. The trick is to be able to relate the pattern produced to some ground truth sites, which shows that ‘this pattern’ means ‘this’. Nevertheless, geo-botanical exploration is proving to be a very useful quick technique in geological prospecting. With the South of Monmouthshire bordering the Bristol Channel and experiencing the prevailing South Westerly winds, salt spray can be blown inland to affect plants. The effects are not always harmful since salt spray also brings with it other elements from sea water such as iodine, which although not critical to plant health, provides an element essential for animal health, there being a strong correlation between iodine deficiency and the incidence of goitre in man and animals.

The Impact of Man’s Geologically-Related Activities on Vegetation. Ever since Man adopted a non-nomadic lifestyle, he has sought to modify the nature of the soils around him using nature’s materials to improve crop yields. Sometimes this action has been intentional such as liming but on other occasions it has been accidental as in the case of metal smelting where air pollution has either selectively killed off susceptible vegetation in the affected areas or, in extreme cases, has led to plant deserts where nothing grows. Increasing knowledge of the part played by the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the growth of plants combined with the ability of chemical industry to manufacture bulk quantities of these inorganic materials has led to the mass application of NPK fertilisers in agriculture. Significant increases in yields, particularly in forage crops, are now the norm and short-term effects on the diversity of natural plant populations have resulted and will result in fertilised areas from the encouragement of specific crops. Calcium tends to get leached from soils by leaching and crop uptake so that there is a tendency for soils to increase in acidity. Liming, usually with finely ground limestone, has been used for centuries to modify soil pH and many farms in Monmouthshire, particularly on the Old Red Sandstone outcrops, regularly apply lime to their fields. By altering the acidity of soils through liming the availability of other elements such a 12

Flora of Monmouthshire phosphorus, molybdenum, iron, manganese, copper and zinc to plant uptake will also be altered and selective encouragement or discouragement of different species will result. Liming also affects the balance of soil organisms by enhancing soil bacteria but inhibiting soil fungi. This has obvious implications not only for plant health but also for soil structure by encouraging bacterial activity in heavy, acid soils. Industrialisation of society from the 18th century onwards saw the establishment of large conurbations where heating was predominantly from coal burning and concentrated those activities where materials needed by society were produced. This was particularly seen in the production of metals from smelting operations. Many metal minerals occur as sulphides and their processing gave off huge volumes of sulphurous gases which greatly increased the acidity of soils downwind from the smelters. Even as late as the 1960s tracts of the Lower Swansea Valley were devoid of vegetation due to smelting activity and earlier sites such as Blaenafon suffered severely from acidic fall-out. Acidity will be reduced over time as rainfall leaches the ground but the concentrations of metals arising from smelting may contaminate affected areas for many years with possible health and selection implications for plants. However such is the adaptability of plants that on some of the worst metal-contaminated sites, vegetation has evolved strains which are metal tolerant. Sites in Northern Anglesey and near Wrexham where heavy metal burdens in soils have been very high have yielded strains of grasses whose progeny have been used to reclaim contaminated sites around the world. Coal burning produces acidic gases which, when washed out of the air by moisture, produce acid rain. The concentration of large coal-burning point sources at power stations disperses stack gases high into the atmosphere but this enables acid rain to reach farther from the stations and parts of Wales suffer from acid rain fallout from power stations in Central England. The effects are seen particularly in coniferous woodland where die-off can be quite visible.

Conclusions Plants grow because of their environment and not in spite of it. They are choosy and if conditions do not suit them then they will thrive somewhere else. Given an undisturbed natural environment, (of which there are precious few in Monmouthshire!) plants will sort out their winners and losers, will react to climatic changes in their own way and will continue to mutate and evolve as they have done for over 400 million years. Man has attempted to mould this natural environment for his own ends and through introducing agricultural and industrial systems has intentionally and unintentionally modified the canvas on which the plant paint is applied. In terms of geological time, these man-made changes are fleeting and insignificant UNLESS a species is completely wiped-out; the evidence throughout geological time, certainly for the animal kingdom, is that once a species has died out there is no reappearance and extinction is permanent. Such is the resilience of plants that Monmouthshire, as this volume emphasises, still contains an amazing diversity of plant life in spite of 3000 years of significant activity by Man. The county has a diverse topography, diverse habitats and a diverse geology and the range of plants amply reflects that diversity.

Flora of Monmouthshire

HABITATS IN MONMOUTHSHIRE By Stephanie Tyler and George Peterken

Monmouthshire may be a relatively small and mainly pastoral vice-county but within its borders it contains a remarkable diversity of habitats, ranging from upland moors in the north and west to salt marsh and mudflats along the Severn Estuary. The true uplands are confined to the Black Mountains and to the hills between the former industrial valleys in the west. Outside the main urban districts of Newport, Cwmbran and Pontypool, the farmland looks a pleasing mosaic of arable, permanent grass and hedges, studded with woods on high ground, steeper slopes and narrow headwater valleys. The well-wooded Wye gorge supports a wide range of semi-natural habitats, including famous inland limestone cliffs. Of course, most of the farmland is intensively used, but small patches of heath and marsh remain, a few districts still have significant amounts of seminatural grassland, and some reens in the coastal Levels retain a rich wetland flora.

Uplands Dwarf shrub dry and wet heath communities, bog, acid grassland, acid mires, flushes and headwater streams above the general level of enclosure are confined to the north-west and western hills. Related lowland heaths occur on the Trelleck plateau. Upland heath dominated by Heather, Bell Heather and Bilberry with Crowberry occurs on the plateaus in the Black Mountains, on the Blorenge, Coity Mountain and Mynydd Maen and other hills between the former industrial valleys of the west. In the northernmost hills of the Black Mountains on the plateau between the Olchon Valley and Honndu valley, Cowberry also occurs, as well as on the Blorenge. Much upland heath has been heavily sheep-grazed with the suppression of Heather and Bilberry and their replacement with grass. This has resulted in extensive areas of Mat-grass dominated acid grassland moor. Management of the Black Mountains moorland for Red Grouse has however, benefited the dwarf shrub heath communities. There are still areas of good Heather and Bilberry moor on parts of Mynydd Maen and on the Blorenge although vehicles and deliberate fires have caused much damage to vegetation. Rock outcrops and cliffs in the uplands support a range of ferns, and on the cliffs at Tarren yr Esgob plants as Green Spleenwort and Mossy Saxifrage survive on damp ledges. In damper areas on the moorlands, Purple Moor-grass bog with Cross-leaved Heath or true blanket bogs with bog mosses Sphagnum spp and Cottongrasses occur. One of the largest examples of blanket bog lies on Waun Afon, where among the Sphagnum and Cottongrass species, Round-leaved Sundew, rushes and sedges, the hybrid Deergrass Trichophorum x foersteri may be found. This hybrid occurs too in small areas of bog on Mynydd Maen. Acid flushes (M6 in the National Vegetation Classification -NVC) occur throughout the uplands with species such as Butterwort found in several flushes in the Black Mountains. Few-flowered Spike-rush is known from one flush on Bâl-Mawr near Llanthony. Some headwater streams and associated mires support species as Ivyleaved Bellflower, Round-leaved Crowfoot and Marsh Violet. On the hillsides and slopes of the upland areas above the first fields is the fridd land. This has huge areas of acid grassland (see grassland section), often with extensive stands of Bracken. European Gorse and Western Gorse form significant patches and there are often scattered Common Hawthorns and Birches.

Heaths and acid mires Lowland heath, characterised by more than 25% of the habitat covered in dwarf shrub heath, has suffered huge losses in the U.K. with 85% lost in the last 200 years. Very little lowland heath remains in Monmouthshire. 14

Flora of Monmouthshire

Much of the Trellech Plateau and Wentwood Forest were formerly heathlands but were extensively planted with conifers from the 1960s. Heather and Bilberry persist in the rides and soon reappear after an area is clearfelled and re-planted. Along walls and banks in this area, they are much in evidence. Recently the Forestry Commission and an alliance of conservation groups have overseen the clearing of conifers on Beacon Hill and at Broadmeend near Trellech, and fencing and grazing by Exmoor ponies in an attempt to re-establish heathland. These sites cover an area of about 45ha. Important areas of wet heath and wet acid grassland occur in the Penllwyn Grasslands SSSI near Pontllanfraith and at Cwm Celyn near Ebbw Vale. The Penllwyn grasslands also include Purple Moor-grass-Meadow Thistle fen meadow (M24) with species as Saw-wort, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Flea Sedge and Heath Spotted-orchids, as well as Cross-leaved Heath-Sphagnum compactum wet heath community. At Cwm Celyn among the plants to be found are Musk, Bog Asphodel, Lesser Skullcap, Marsh Violet and Bog Pimpernel. On the damp heath by Pen-y-van Pond near Blackwood are Petty Whin and Marsh Violets. Damp grassland (see grassland section), marshy grassland, mires, fen and bogs are terms that are often used synonymously. Strictly, a bog is a mire overlying peat; it has a high water level throughout the year, maintained mainly by rainfall. A bog is acidic and characterised by Sphagnum spp., sedges and ericoids, as on upland blanket bogs. A fen is similar, being a mire overlying peat but is base-rich; a marsh overlies mineral soils; both fens and marshes are mires that are also waterlogged for much of the year. They broadly include valley mires, fed by water flow from a stream or river, or basin mires and floodplain mires on areas with impeded drainage (see later section on marshes). Good examples of bogs, fens and marshes occur in Monmouthshire (see below). The best example of a lowland bog or valley mire is Cleddon Bog near Trellech. Here dwarf shrub heath occurs with Bog Asphodel, Round-leaved Sundew and Cranberry. A lack of grazing and reduced water flow perhaps due to the conifers planted around the mire, has led to Purple Moor-grass tussocks becoming dominant. Smaller remnants of acid mire or bog occur at Whitelye Common above Botany Bay where Bog Asphodel still occurs, and near The Narth and Penyvan. Many of these are also suffering from neglect or rather a lack of grazing and consequently are scrubbing over. Recently efforts have been made to clear scrub and birches from Cleddon Bog and Whitelye Common and to fence these to reinstate grazing. Near Penyvan, a small mire supports the only known population of Marsh St John’s-wort in eastern Monmouthshire. Ivy-leaved Bellflower and Bog Pimpernel occur in mires alongside streams near Penyvan and on the northern fringe of Wentwood. Cwm Coed-y-cerrig near Fforest Coalpit is another rich acid valley mire associated with an important Alder carr (see woodland section) and grading into marshy and acid grassland. Broad-leaved Cottongrass, Roundleaved Sundew, Common Butterwort, Bogbean, the scarce Early Marsh-orchid, Heath Spotted-orchid and the Yellow sedge subsp. brachyrrhyncha grow in the mire.

Grassland As elsewhere in Britain, much of the species-rich grassland in Monmouthshire has been lost to agriculture since the end of the Second World War. It has been ploughed and converted to Perennial Rye-grass leys with very few species other than White Clover and perhaps Common and Sticky Mouse-ear and Daisy (MG7 grassland).

Neutral Grassland The main grassland type that once occurred over much of the vice-county was neutral grassland of the Crested Dog’s-tail-Common Knapweed community (MG5 grassland) often with Meadow Vetchling a conspicuous component. Cuckooflower, Common Birds-foot-trefoil and Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil in damper areas, Red 15

Flora of Monmouthshire Clover, Pignut, Burnet Saxifrage, Bugle, Germander Speedwell, Yellow Rattle (in hay meadows), Oxeye Daisy and Cat’s Ear are among those species usually present. Significant remnants of this neutral grassland occur scattered throughout the central and eastern parts of the vice-county. However, the most important concentration of such unimproved grasslands is on the Trellech Plateau and in the Wye Valley. Here there are many small, steep fields that have not been ploughed or fertilised. They include traditionally managed hay meadows and old pastures often with numerous ant mounds. Cowlips, Green-veined Orchids and Common Twayblades often occur in large numbers. Meadow Saffron hangs on in a few sites but has been ousted from much farmland. Many fields support swathes of Wild Daffodils and in June Common or Heath Spottedorchids or hybrids between the two. The best orchid-rich hay meadows are at the Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) reserves at Pentwyn Farm at Penallt and at New Grove Farm near Trellech. Moonwort has been found at the latter site. Many very rich, small hay meadows have been found in recent years both by the Monmouthshire Meadows Group and by the Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT). These include a few acres at Maryland near The Narth with almost 200 Greater Butterfly-orchids and a species-rich orchard meadow at Tymawr Convent near Penallt with Common Twayblades, Pyramidal Orchid, Downy Oat-grass and Harebells. Other important hay meadows or grazing pastures are found on the Trellech Plateau in the Devauden area where several SSSIs have been designated, for example the Lower Nex Meadows and Plantation Farm and Gethley, as well as on Cobbler’s Plain between Devauden and Llanishen, at Penallt, around Penyvan and at Wyesham. There are several rich sites in the Wye Valley too, such as at Barbadoes Hill near Tintern, one of five or six sites with Greater Butterfly-orchids, whilst towards Wentwood some species-rich grasslands are found near Shirenewton. Important areas of MG5 grassland are to be found too in the Monnow Valley where Pepper Saxifrage occurs, and near Raglan, as for example, at Penrhos where Dyer’s Greenweed and Petty Whin abound. Above the Usk Valley another significant remnant occurs at Springdale Farm, a GWT Reserve, now well-known for its Blueeyed-grass and abundance of Adder’s Tongue. Between Pandy and Grosmont in the northeast of Monmouthshire, there is another important site in the headwaters of the River Trothy, the Blaentrothy meadows. Dinham Meadows near Caerwent are best-known for their limestone grassland but they include some excellent neutral grassland too. Further west the Memorial Park Meadows at Pontllanfraith, another area of species-rich MG5 grassland, includes the scarce Greater Burnet. Significant areas of species-rich neutral grassland occur along some road verges and in churchyards. Unfortunately mowing sometimes occurs too frequently or too early in the year both on verges and in some churchyards. Notable churchyard species-rich grassland occurs below Star Pitch towards Llansoy at Llanvihangel Tor-y-Mynydd Church, at Llangeview Church, at Penallt Old Church and at St Davids at Trostrey. Wild Daffodils are abundant at Llangeview and Penallt Old Church whilst Harebell and Autumn Crocus occur at St Davids. The grassland at Bedwellty Church, St Sannans, is a wonderful site for several local species including Wood Bittervetch, Wild Marjoram, Great Burnet and Sweet Cicely. Although many road verges have become enriched there are some spectacular sites where Cowslips are conspicuous in the spring and later species such as Common Knapweed and Field Scabious. Verges rich in Common Twayblades and Common or Heath Spotted-orchids occur near Cleddon Bog and near the Pecket Stone, both on the Trellech Plateau. On dry banks the increasingly uncommon Harebells may still survive. The area of neutral good quality grassland found during the CCW Phase 1 habitat survey in 1991 in the old county of Gwent which includes VC 35 but extends further west, totalled only 436 ha, with a further 1632 ha of secondary quality and another 77 ha of semi-improved neutral grassland. These figures need updating because other areas of good quality grassland have been found by the Gwent Wildlife Trust and Monmouthshire Meadows Group between 2003 and 2007. In addition to the MG5 grasslands, there are other neutral grasslands dominated by coarse grasses as False Oat-grass and Cocksfoot (MG1 grasslands). These often include Yorkshire Fog, Hogweed, Common Nettles and thistles. Good MG5 grassland may revert to coarse grassland if it is not cut or grazed and strips or patches of MG1 grassland may occur at the more enriched edges of species-rich grassland. This coarse grassland is particularly evident along main road verges where enrichment occurs from neighbouring fields or where the material cut along the verges is left in situ. 16

Flora of Monmouthshire Damper pastures with the Yorkshire Fog and Soft Rush community (MG10), often occur within MG5 grassland, as too may MG13 grassland that occurs on moist or waterlogged soils, often in river floodplains or alongside streams, which typically has Creeping Bent and Marsh Foxtail. It should be noted that many areas of grassland may contain a mosaic of vegetation types. Typical neutral grassland often has areas richer in lime or more acidic within it, so the presence of calcicoles and calcifuges alongside neutral species is not unexpected. Wetter areas in flushes or by streams introduce other vegetation types.

Calcareous Grassland Less than 75 ha of species-rich calcareous grassland (NVC types CG1, CG2 and CG3) remain in Monmouthshire with a further small area of semi-improved calcareous grassland. Much of this grassland overlies a band of Carboniferous Limestone that stretches from east of Newport across to Chepstow. Only a few unimproved remnants of calcareous grassland have survived agricultural improvement, notably at Rogiet and near Caerwent. The most extensive of these is at Dinham Meadows near Caerwent where a Sheep’s Fescue-Carline Thistle type (CG1) of calcareous grassland is found. It has a very diverse flora that includes Adder’s-tongue Fern, Autumn Ladies-tresses, Greater Knapweed and Grass Vetchling. Verges of the A48 at Five Lanes would abound with Bee Orchids if they were not cut May-June and with such a wide cut. The bank at Sandy Way on the Itton road has good displays of Bee Orchids and Cowslips. Other good examples of lime-rich grassland occur at Brockwells Meadow near Caerwent and nearby at Shirefield as well as at the Rogiet Poor Land, a GWT reserve, and in old quarries as Burness Castle and Caerwent. Species such as the scarce Small Scabious occur at some of these sites and Meadow Clary hangs on in one meadow near Rogiet. Fen meadows, which are noted below, are areas of lime-rich, damp grassland. Calcareous spoil by the A449 near Monmouth has led to the formation of excellent species-rich grassland on Dixton Embankment above the River Wye whilst near Mitchel Troy along the dual carriageway from Monmouth to Newport, Pyramidal Orchids grow in profusion on the banks both sides of the road. In the Caerwent area road verges may support a range of calcicoles including Greater Knapweed and Field Scabious. Elsewhere calcareous spoil at industrial sites as at the former Uskmouth Power Station (now part of the Newport Wetlands Reserve) and at Alpha Steel has resulted in large numbers of calcicoles including large stands of Marsh Helleborines and Southern Marsh-orchids as well as scarce species such as Grass-leaved Vetchling. Limestone chippings are often used on and alongside tracks in conifer plantations and on these calcicoles such as Bee Orchid and Yellow-wort frequently appear. The only other areas of limestone grassland in Monmouthshire occur in the north below quarries on Gilwern Hill just within the vice county to the north of the Blorenge, and at Pwll du on the east of the Blorenge, as well as in the west at quarries near Risca and on Mynydd Machen between Machen and Risca. These are all important areas for Autumn Gentian, a scarce plant in the vice-county. On the Blorenge is rich grassland with such species as Salad Burnet, Lesser Wild Thyme and Hairy Violet.

Acid grasslands These grasslands occur widely in the uplands of the north and west (see upland section) where Mat-grass, Sheep’s Fescue, Common Bent, Green-ribbed Sedge and Sheep’s Sorrel are characteristic species (U1 community). They also occur on Gray Hill near Wentwood although scrub and Bracken now cover much of the hill. Acid grassland dominated by Wavy Hair-grass occurs in the uplands as well as around heathlands on the Trellech Plateau (U2 community). Generally on lowland sites acid grassland of the U4 type is prevalent characterised by Sheep’s-fescue, Common Bent and Heath Bedstraw. Associated species include Tormentil, Lousewort and Milkwort. This type of acid grassland is widespread on Old Red Sandstone quartz 17

Flora of Monmouthshire conglomerate on the Trellech Plateau and around Wentwood. Areas of neutral grassland may grade into acid grassland. In the 1991 Phase 1 habitat survey, CCW recorded 1711 ha of acidic grassland in Gwent of which 1445 ha were in the lowlands and 266 ha in the uplands. Another 646 ha were classed as semi-improved acidic grassland. These figures would be somewhat lower for Monmouthshire.

Marsh and fens Some 478 ha of marshy grassland and 167 ha of mire were found in Gwent in the Phase 1 survey by CCW. Marshy grassland on waterlogged soils is an integral component of pastures and meadows, occupying depressions and the sides of streams and the edges of ponds and lakes. Although largely eliminated by land drainage, marshy grassland is still present in many small fields. Flushes may occur in grasslands as near Devauden where Meadow Thistle, Bog Pimpernel, Marsh Valerian and Meadowsweet are to be found. In the lowlands the most frequent type of marshy grassland is M23, characterised by Marsh Bedstraw and Soft Rush or Sharp-flowered Rush. It often grades into valley mires as along the small stream at Trellech near the Virtuous Well. Here, large tussocks of Greater Tussock-sedge are a notable feature. Small areas of Meadowsweet-Wild Angelica mire (M27) are found on moist circum-neutral soils, often by streams as along the top of the Whitebrook valley. Ragged Robin, Marsh Valerian, Common Sorrel and rushes are typical associated species. Flood meadows are now sadly much reduced because of flood prevention schemes along so many of our streams and rivers. However, fields along parts of the lower Wye, Trothy and Monnow, the Usk and the Olway Brook still become inundated when rivers overtop their banks. For the most part the fields have been agriculturally improved but areas of Meadowsweet-Wild Angelica marshy vegetation survive along the banks and in some flood meadows as along the Wye near Redbrook, Common Comfrey and Meadow Crane’s-bill are prolific. Another area of flood meadows is on the Neddern Brook between Caerwent and Caldicot. Within these flood meadows there are many small areas with Marsh-marigold. Marshy grassland habitats often have a combination of different communities (M22 to M25) as well as wet heathland (M15). Small remnants of marshy grassland occur within woodland or along woodland rides as for example, in Wet Meadow and Loysey Wood near Trellech where several types occur. Here, there are small patches of Purple Moor-grass acid mire and wet grassland with Devil’s-bit Scabious and Marsh Valerian. An excellent example of valley mire with different communities is to be found along the Mounton Brook at Llwyn-y-celin Bog near Shirewnewton. This is a fairly calcareous mire that grades into swamp communities. There are ten species of sedge, areas of Purple Moor-grass and Tormentil mire (M25) with Devil’s-bit Scabious, Bogbean, Bog Pimpernel, Marsh Lousewort and Greater Tussock-sedge. The grazing marshes behind the sea wall on the Gwent Levels were derived from saltmarsh or freshwater swamp habitats. Prehistorically, the levels went through huge changes in vegetation over millennia, not just extensive marshes, including Great Fen-sedge Cladium mariscus, but also fen or bog development. Most of the marshes have been drained and converted to improved or semi-improved grassland or to arable fields. Small areas remain where the water level in the surrounding ditches or reens is kept high and where they have escaped intensive agriculture. Some of the remnant wet pastures, for example at Barecroft Common near Magor, are very species-rich. The community characterised by Blunt-flowered Rush and Common Marshbedstraw (M22) is found on this common. Nearby Magor Marsh is the largest surviving fenland remnant. It overlies a layer of peat and is fed by lime-rich water. The reserve includes extensive areas of sedges, grazing pastures where Marsh-marigolds and Yellow Flags abound, taller emergent vegetation or swamp dominated by Reed Sweet Grass and Common Reed and two important hay meadows of the Purple Moor-grass-Meadow Thistle (M24) vegetation type. Many other species such as Marsh Ragwort occur on these two fen meadows. Purple Moor-grass-Meadow Thistle fen meadows also occur within a mosaic of habitats at the Penllwyn Grasslands site and at Memorial Park Meadows near Pontllanfraith. Henllys Bog, another GWT reserve, at the eastern edge of the coalfields is an important small fen habitat with a diversity of species including Marsh Helleborine, Common Butterwort, Dyer’s Greenweed and Broad-leaved 18

Flora of Monmouthshire Cottongrass. Another important area of marshy grassland is at Langstone-Llanmartin Meadows SSSI near Newport. There MG10 rush pasture, Crested Dog’s-tail/Marsh Marigold flood pasture, and fen meadows – Purple Moor-grass – Meadow Thistle mire all occur. Notable species include Fragrant Orchid, Fen Bedstraw, Marsh Helleborine and Southern and Early Marsh-orchids.

Woodland, plantations and hedges Woodlands are both a tree-covered form of vegetation and an environment in which grassland, heathland and wetlands are maintained largely free from the influence of farming. This is particularly true of Monmouthshire, where substantial tracts of wood-pasture once covered the higher ground, and still do in a few places, most of the surviving ancient woods have a long history as coppices with a network of rides, and some woods have the characteristic diffuse edges of upland woods open to pasturage. Monmouthshire was once the most wooded county in Wales, but during the 20th century far less ground has been afforested than in neighbouring counties of south and mid-Wales. Between 1895 and 1997, woodland increased from 9% of the land to nearly 14%. The principal tracts of afforestation have been on former heathland around Trelleck and on moorland and slopes in the western valleys. In 1997, there were 18,054 ha of woodland over 2 ha and a further 968 ha of small woods (0.1 - 2 ha). The current Monmouthshire figure is 19,000 ha (13.8% woodland cover) of which 9552 ha (50%) are broadleaved, 5425 ha (29%) are coniferous and 2926 ha (15%) are mixed, with small amounts of coppice (229 ha), felled (184 ha) and open ground (704 ha) (Forestry Commission 1997). Since the 1997 census, some conifer woodland has been clear-felled either for heathland restoration or conversion to broadleaves. The greatest loss between the national censuses of 1979-82 and 1997 has been in trees outside woodland: nationally, the decline was from 100 per square km in 1980 to just 33 in 1997. Monmouthshire has a high proportion of ancient woodland (ca. 35% is ancient woodland, much of it coniferised), but many ancient woods were classified as plantations when the Ancient Woodland Inventory was first compiled, leaving the county with a relatively large ‘loss’ of 67% between the 1930s and 1980s. Some of this was real, notably the extensive conversions to conifers in Wentwood, Chepstow Park Wood and other substantial woods on the Trelleck plateau, but some was due to conversion to oak and Beech high forest. Despite these losses, some 2249 ha of ancient woodland were classed as semi-natural, and some of the planted ancient woods are being restored to native broadleaves. Ecologically, the woods cover the transition between upland and lowland Britain. Not only do the woods range from more-or-less typical grazed ‘western oakwoods’ to readily recognizable lowland Ash-Hazel-oak mixtures on poorly drained clays, but many of the individual woods are not readily classified within the upland/lowland categories of the National Vegetation Classification. Moreover, Monmouthshire represents the extremity of the European range of beech, a species which to the south and east usually dominates woodland, but which in vc 35 is generally present as just one species in a mixture.

Woodlands on predominantly acid soils Woodland on the predominantly acid soils generated by much of the Devonian Sandstone is commonly dominated by Beech, both oak species, both birches and Hazel in various combinations. Small-leaved Lime is also a prominent component along the River Wye in the Hael Woods south of Monmouth and Lady Park Wood in the upper Wye gorge. The acid woods are best characterized with a few examples from the centre of vc 35. Ancient woods near Parc Seymour on gentle slopes covered by strongly acid (pH 4.0), freely-drained loams, are dominated by Sessile Oak former coppice with an admixture of Holly, Rowan, Silver Birch and occasional Common Hawthorn and Hazel. The ground vegetation is dominated variously by Bramble, Bracken or Bilberry, but diversified on the slightly more fertile ground by Wood Sorrel, Bluebell, Hairy Wood-rush, Creeping soft-grass and Greater Stitchwort, and by limited contributions from Wavy Hair-grass and Wood Sage on the base-poor ground. Much of Wentwood was probably like this before the conifers were planted. 19

Flora of Monmouthshire Another example at Priory Wood near Chain Bridge also has strongly-acid (pH 3.6), silty-loams, but its drainage is somewhat impeded and its composition reflects this. The former coppice of Hazel with occasional Field Maple grew with Pedunculate Oak standards, but Ash, Silver Birch and Holly increased after coppicing ceased about 1940. The ground vegetation is dominated variously by Bramble, or Bracken with a limited range of ferns (Broad Buckler Fern, Male Fern, Hard Fern) and a scatter of Foxgloves, Wood Pimpernel and Wood Speedwell. A more spectacular example is found on the steep, north-facing slopes of Coed y Person, in the beech-rich district around Abergavenny. At the top of the slope the sandy loams are freely-drained and strongly acid (pH 4.1-4.9). Under Beech – Sessile Oak former coppice the field layer is sparse, with just a light scatter of Tufted Hair-grass, Wavy Hair-grass and Hairy Wood-rush with Bracken, a Scaly Male-fern and Male Fern, Lady Fern and Hard Fern. Where the Beech thins out and the former coppice is dominated by Sessile Oak and Silver Birch high forest, the field layer is a dense sward in which Tufted Hair-grass and Bracken are both abundant. Despite continued grazing by sheep, a wider range of woodland plants is present, including Wood Sorrel, Common Wood-violet, Yellow Archangel, Wood Pimpernel and Marsh Thistle. At the base of the slope the sandy loams are slightly flushed, but still acid (pH 4.5), and the former coppice is co-dominated by Beech and Sessile Oak. Within this there are just a few Downy Birch, but at the very base of the slope a few Wych Elm, Field Maple and Ash enter the mixture. The commonest herb in a thin field layer is Tufted Hair-grass, but a few other herbs are present, including Foxglove, Hairy Wood-rush, Wood Sorrel, Wavy Hair Grass and Creeping soft-grass, with Bracken and Hard Fern. On the edge of the Brecon Beacons, the north-facing slope within Cwm Coed y Cerrig has an inherently basepoor (pH 3.8) clay loam, but towards the base of the slope it is flushed enough to generate a richer woodland mixture. The original Hazel – Sessile Oak coppice with oak standards has been infiltrated by Ash and Silver Birch since coppicing stopped, and the ground vegetation consists of a mixture of ferns (Lady Fern, Male Fern) and Tufted Hair-grass growing in a matrix of Wood Sorrel with a sprinkling of Greater Stitchwort, Wood Pimpernel, Foxglove, Yellow Archangel, Common Wood-violet, Creeping soft-grass and others. Here we see a common feature of the base-poor woods, which rarely have the grassy, bryophyte-rich carpets of western Wales, but usually a species-poor version of the flora of woods on lowland clays and loams. The theme is repeated in the woodland at Strawberry Cottage, also on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. Parts of the wood, a GWT reserve, growing on strongly acid (pH 4.3), loamy sand at the top of a steep slope, take the form of outgrown hazel coppice into which Ash, Silver Birch, Grey Willow, Common Hawthorn and Elder infiltrated after coppicing stopped. Tufted Hair-grass dominates the ground vegetation with associated Greater Stitchwort, Wood Sorrel, False Brome and thin Bracken. This may be closer to the original condition than the bulk of the wood, which is Sessile Oak high forest originating in the early 19th century, diversified by limited amounts of Hazel, Rowan, Silver Birch, Holly, Ash and Pedunculate Oak. Even though this on freely-drained, acid (pH 4.4) sandy loam, it has a relatively rich flora. Tufted Hair-grass still dominates the ground vegetation, but there is a surprisingly long list of associated species, including Wood Melick, Barren Strawberry, Wood Sorrel, Pignut, Yellow Archangel, Betony and Bitter-vetch.

Woodlands on limestone The woods on Carboniferous Limestone in Monmouthshire are some of the finest in Britain. They are concentrated in the Wye Valley and the extension of the exposed limestone towards Newport, but also occur in the upland fringes west of Abergavenny. Characteristically, they comprise mixtures of lime (both species), oak (both species, but mainly Sessile Oak in the Wye gorge), Beech, Ash, Wych Elm, Field Maple, birches (both species) and Wild Cherry with an underwood of Hazel, Holly, Yew, Common Hawthorn and a mixture of calcicole shrubs, such as Spindle and Dogwood. At their most extreme on the fringes of the cliffs, Beech and Yew grow with a variety of Whitebeams, and a rich array of shrub species. Perhaps the most spectacular of all is the Wyndcliff. In the mid-slopes below the Beech-Yew on the cliff itself, mixed deciduous woodland grows on stable boulder scree with a matrix of freely-drained, fine, dark-brown, calcareous (pH 8.3) sandy loam. Until 1900 the mixture of Small-leaved Lime, Ash, Hazel and occasional Wych Elm was coppiced, retaining a scatter of Sessile Oak standards, but Holly, Yew and Ivy have increased 20

Flora of Monmouthshire since management ceased. The ground vegetation is absolutely dominated by Ivy, but a limited variety of other species gain a foothold, including several ferns (Soft Shield Fern, Hard Shield Fern, Hart’s Tongue, Broad Buckler and Male Ferns, Western Polypody) and a few herbs, such as Lords-and-Ladies, Yellow Archangel and the inevitable Bramble. Further west, the woods of the steep slopes of the Cwm grow on freely-drained, calcareous (pH 6.8-7.7) clay loams. Under a scatter of Beech and Pedunculate Oak standards, they were all coppiced until the early 20th century as a mixture of Ash, Hazel, Field Maple, Small-leaved Lime, Beech and Wych Elm in various combinations that are not obviously related to aspect or position on the slopes. Since coppicing ceased, Ash, Wild Cherry, Silver Birch and occasionally Small-leaved Lime have regenerated with the re-growth, Traveller’s-joy and Ivy have grown into the canopy locally, a mixed underwood of Common Hawthorn, Yew, Holly, Wild Privet, Wayfaring-tree, Spindle and Dogwood has developed, and Sycamore has spread. The dense field layer is dominated in spring by mixtures of Dog’s Mercury, Bluebell and Wood Anemone or, at the base of the slope, by Ramsons. Associated with these we find, for example, Herb Paris, Common Woodviolet, Pignut, Soft and Hard Shield Ferns, Lords-and-Ladies, Wood Sedge, Barren Strawberry, Yellow Archangel and occasionally Lily-of-the-valley. Marginal woodland near the base of the slope often has a rich mix of edge species and moisture indicators, such as Bugle, Red Campion, Wood Melick, Hairy Wood-rush, Sweet Violet, Black Bryony, Common Twayblade and Wood Vetch. The nearby Salisbury Woods are similar, but the soil is somewhat heavier and less calcareous (pH 5.2 – 7.6). They too were treated as coppice-with-standards, and again the standards were Pedunculate Oak, but the coppice lacks Beech, and is instead a mixture of Wych Elm, Small-leaved Lime, Ash, Hazel, Field Maple and some Sycamore in various combinations, diversified by scattered Wild Cherry and Silver Birch. In spring the field layer is dominated by combinations of mainly Dog’s Mercury, Bluebell, Wood Anemone and Lesser Celandine diversified by Pignut, Sweet Violet, Goldilocks Buttercup, Wood Speedwell and Sanicle, Early Purple Orchid, Woodruff, Common Twayblade and others, but few ferns. The heavier soil is marked by the patchy presence of Tufted Hair-grass and Meadowsweet on level ground, where the drainage is impeded. In the upper Wye gorge, Lady Park Wood occurs on limestone, but parts are covered by water-deposited sandstone alluvium that is deep enough to generate strongly acid soils (below pH 4.0). Thus, while the upper slopes and steep lower slopes are covered by Dog’s Mercury, Ramsons and other common components of the limestone flora, and the lower ground has copious Hart’s Tongue and other ferns, the central levels have drifts of Great Wood-rush and, exceptionally, Bilberry. Lady Park Wood also demonstrates an increasing problem, for in the last 30 years the diversity of the ground flora has been greatly reduced by fallow deer, and Bramble has been almost eliminated, save in small enclosures. Deer are also preventing natural regeneration of one of the wood’s key features, the large population of Large-leaved Lime, principally on the lower slopes. Elsewhere, on heavier soils, deer have encouraged Pendulous Sedge and Thin-spiked Wood-sedge to increase on woodland rides. Many highly localised species such as Common Wintergreen, Yellow Bird’s-nest and Forster’s Wood-rush are associated with these limestone woods. Madder and Mountain Melick meet at respectively the northern and southern edges of their range. Likewise, Giant Bellflower and Nettle-leaved Bellflower can be found together. Disturbed ground is commonly colonized by Upright Spurge and Narrow-leaved Bittercress. The cliffs within the woods are famous for their Whitebeams.

Wet woodlands Monmouthshire is full of scraps of wet woodland along rivers and streams, including the cataracts running down the side of the Wye gorge. The principal dominant is Alder, supplemented with Ash, Wych Elm, Hazel and other species from mesic woodland. Most takes the form of narrow strips by watercourses, but a marginal form of wet woodland commonly occurs on the lowers slopes of mixed deciduous woods, where flushing is strong and consistent enough to allow Alder to persist in the coppice mixture. The transitional Alder woods on mineral soils seem to be particularly common in the little known woods of north-east Monmouthshire, such as Gaer House Woods, where Alder-Ash woods grow on waterlogged ground by the Monnow tributaries. 21

Flora of Monmouthshire Perhaps the best example of extensive woodland covers the valley floor at Cwm Coed y Cerrig. Here, the former coppice is dominated by Alder with Ash, Hazel, Grey Willow and Bird Cherry at the southern extremity of its British range, all growing on waterlogged organic ooze, in effect a wooded fen (pH 5.7-6.6). The ground vegetation is dominated by Meadowsweet and Lesser Pond-sedge mixed with Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Bittersweet, Wild Angelica, Water Mint, Lesser Spearwort, Lady Fern, Cuckooflower and Wavy Bittercress with the rare Early Marsh-orchid and Yellow Sedge at the more open western edge, with Bogbean, Marsh-marigold, Hemp Agrimony and Guelder-rose on the wettest ground. There is a good colony of Beech Fern. Much of the floral diversity is associated with slight mounds, where Broad Buckler Fern, Bluebells and Wood Sorrel and others find a foothold. Like most wet woodland, it grades into other types, both the acid woodland on the south side (described above) and a fine example of mixed Wych Elm, Smallleaved Lime, Beech and Sessile Oak coppice with scattered Beech standards on limestone. Here the generally moist atmosphere has encouraged a fine representation of ferns (Hard and Soft Shield-ferns and Hart’s Tongue). Elsewhere, the more typical associates of Alder carr are Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Marsh-marigold, Meadowsweet, Yellow Iris, Marsh Valerian and Hemlock Water-dropwort and, on slightly drier ground, Common Nettle, Bugle, Wood Speedwell, Remote Sedge and Pendulous Sedge. An extensive example grows along the Mounton Brook, where Monk’s-hood and Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage are also well represented.

Plantations Floristically, plantations bear the mark of the precursor vegetation. The rides on former moorland in the northwest and lowland heathland in the east have significant remnants of the preceding vegetation, such as rides fringed with Heather and Bilberry in the Trelleck plantations and the reappearance of Climbing Corydalis when these plantations are felled. As time passes, they are colonized by birches, Rowan and oaks, whilst Broad Buckler Fern and other shade species enter the ground vegetation. Where conifer plantations have replaced semi-natural woodland in ancient woods, fragments of the original flora survive on margins and below any retained broadleaves, but when the plantations are felled the principal beneficiaries are Bramble, Rosebay Willowherb and other fast-colonising plants. Most of the floristic diversity lies in the rides, bordered by informal meadows containing an admixture of shade herbs. In such places, many of the common grassland plants mix with common marsh species in ditches and ruderals along the carriageway. A few species seem particularly well suited, such as Common Spotted-orchid and Common Centaury. The overall impact of plantation forestry on the Monmouthshire woodland flora is difficult to assess. Certainly, the woods have become far more shaded than hitherto, and this has both reduced the flora and made it more uniform. When all niches are taken into account, however, the judgement is mixed. Thus, for example, the Minnetts – Slade Wood group of woods on the limestone of south Monmouthshire has lost some of the 350 species (e.g. Wild Liquorice, Pale St John’s-wort) it had before it was planted with conifers, but it still has Columbine, Adder’s-tongue Fern, Common Gromwell, Wood Small-reed and both Greater and Lesser Butterfly-orchids. These two orchids are however, close to extinction although removal of conifers would slow down the acidification of the soil.

Hedges Monmouthshire is still well-endowed with hedges, though many have been removed in the last 60 years. Some are former quickset boundaries, but most are mixtures in which Hazel, Common Hawthorn, Ash, Blackthorn and Dogwood are frequent, and oak (both species), Ash and some Beech trees survive in the boundaries round most fields. Most appear to be ‘old enclosures’ on banks, some of which may have been the boundaries of ancient woodland when they were originally formed, and this may explain the scattered presence of Smallleaved Lime. Certainly, they possess a woodland flora, with Bluebell, Primrose, Wood Anemone, Dog’s 22

Flora of Monmouthshire Mercury, Greater Stitchwort, Barren Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Lords-and-Ladies and others well represented, and even some highly localized species, such as Madder in hedges around Mounton.

Inland cliffs and quarries The limestone cliffs of the lower Wye Valley are divided between three counties. They invariably occur in woodland and most are so small that they are usually totally shaded, but some are taller than the trees growing at their base, and sheer enough to prevent more than shrubs developing on their face, and these have supported distinctive shrub and herbaceous assemblages. The main cliffs within vc 35 are at Lady Park Wood in the upper Wye gorge, Blackcliff and Wyndcliff in the lower gorge, and the lesser cliffs below Pierce Wood and Alcove Wood closer to Chepstow. Lower down, Chepstow castle acts as a continuation of a natural cliff, and there are substantial outcrops below Bulwark. Large cliffs also occur along the lower Mounton valley, but none of these is tall enough to escape the shade. The cliffs tend to support a mixture of roses and other shrubs and massive growths of Ivy, together with the colonist Red Valerian. They stand out botanically for two main reasons. First they are the home of many micro-species of Whitebeam growing with the Yews and depauperate Beeches on the driest limestone, and second they once harboured specialised ferns and herbaceous species that cannot stand full shade. For example, the cliffs above the railway line at Chepstow have Common Whitebeam, Rock Whitebeam, Grey Whitebeam together with Wild Service-trees, embellished with Pale St John’s-wort and a substantial population of Southern Polypody. Unfortunately, lack of woodland management and other factors have greatly restricted the open ground throughout the 20th century, so species such as Bloody Crane’s-bill, which once adorned the Wyndcliff, Piercefield Woods and Chepstow Castle have now gone. The large quarries at Hadnock, Ifton, Penhow, Caerwent and elsewhere are artificial equivalents of the major limestone cliffs and superficially provide much the same range of habitats. They are, however, also young habitats, and we have no indication of how their faces will develop as habitats when they are no longer worked. Their fringes allowed some fragments of limestone grassland to survive until they were quarried out, but the main developments are on the spoil and poorly-drained quarry floors after abandonment, where species such as Yellow-wort and Wild and Barren Strawberry may become common where they can avoid the spread of Butterfly-bush. Despite these limitations, some rare species have been recorded, such as Fingered Sedge in the quarry below the Wyndcliff. (See also section on limestone grassland).

Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds The county has abundant and varied watercourses. There are large rivers, from the River Wye in the east to the Rivers Rhymney, Ebbw and Sirhowy in the west, and a multitude of tributaries. The Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs south to Newport from Abergavenny and the Brecon border whilst the network of reens on the Gwent Levels provides many kilometres of slow-running water with important populations of floating, submerged and emergent plants. In addition there are reservoirs, lakes and numerous ponds. The River Wye forms the border between England and Wales from north of Monmouth down to Chepstow. A main tributary of the Wye, the River Monnow and its important tributary – the Afon Honddu, rise in the Black Mountains. The River Monnow forms the county border with Herefordshire (save in the few places where it has changed its course) from near Pandy down to Skenfrith. Other Wye tributaries include the Mally Brook, the Trothy Brook flowing from near Abergavenny through Llantilio Crossenny and Dingestow, and a series of short tributaries such as the Black Brook, White Brook, Cat Brook and Angidy Brook that arise on the Trellech Plateau and drop steeply down to the Wye. In the Black Mountains Wild Daffodils and Meadow Saxifrage still occur in profusion, the latter mainly on the Afon Honddu. The River Monnow below Pandy and the River Usk meander across floodplains and there are many vertical sand-cliffs and extensive areas of shoals. One characteristic plant of the shoals on the Monnow is Vipers Bugloss and along the shaded banks of the Monnow and Wye are large stands of Giant Bellflower. The lower Wye from Monmouth to Bigsweir supports 23

Flora of Monmouthshire healthy populations of emergent plants, notably Common Meadow-rue, Yellow and Purple Loosestrife and Flowering Rush. Unfortunately, on the Wye and its tributaries and indeed along most rivers in Monmouthshire Himalayan Balsam has become prolific and may out-compete native marginal species. It has also invaded moist pastures and woodland clearings. Several Wye tributaries are of botanical interest. For example, the Mounton Brook has extensive stands of Monkshood and at one site Water Avens survives, whilst the White Brook has been colonised by Greater Cuckoo Flower. Along the wooded banks of the Angidy Brook are patches of the scarce Wood Stitchwort, Narrow-leaved Bittercress and Oak Fern. Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage grows in small patches on the Angidy, White and Mounton Brooks, alongside the abundant Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage. The River Usk flows through the centre of Gwent from the Brecon border down to the Severn Estuary near Newport. The Afon Llwyd is a major tributary of the River Usk and there are a host of minor tributaries including the Gwernesney and Olway Brooks near Usk and the Grwyne Fawr in the Black Mountains. Many notable species occur along the Usk such as two willows – Purple Willow and Almond Willow. Another alien, Giant Hogweed, is well established along the Usk although currently there are attempts to eliminate it. In associated ponds such as Penpergwm Ponds near Llanover on the valley floor there are also noteworthy species. The open water and marsh at the edges of two ponds support, among others, Orange Foxtail, Lesser Marshwort, Bladder Sedge and Nodding and Trifid Bur-marigold. The western rivers and their tributaries all too frequently have their banksides dominated by Japanese Knotweed and many have their banks artificially strengthened and raised to contain flood water. A population of Cornish Moneywort grows on the banks of Nant-y-draenog, a small wooded tributary of the Sirhowy. The Ebbw supports some interesting hybrids and triple hybrids of Monkey Flower. The slow-flowing canal and numerous reens in the south of the county support a wealth of aquatic plants. The Monmouth & Brecon Canal is the vice-county stronghold for several species – Nodding Bur-marigold, Narrow-leaved Water Plantain and Unbranched Bur-reed, whilst it is the only site for Yellow Water-lily. The reens on the coastal Gwent Levels have suffered from some enrichment from inorganic fertilisers and from low water levels due to pumping. They are regularly managed by the Caldicot and Wentlooge Drainage Board and the species to be found at any reen greatly depend on how long it has been since reen-clearing was carried out. Old unmanaged reens become choked with emergent species such as Reed Sweet-grass or Common Reed. After clearing, the floating and submerged aquatic species again become dominant for two or three years. Frogbit, Arrowhead, Hairlike Pondweed, two hornworts, Whorl-grass, Rootless Duckweed and interesting Water-crowfoots are among the species to be found. Where water levels are high and there are muddy edges to the reen, Brookweed may occur. All too frequently the reens have been deepened and their sides made too vertical. Swamp communities develop in unmanaged reens and have their own interest. New large swamps, reed-beds, have been created at the Gwent Levels Wetland Reserve augmenting the existing old reed-bed in the old ash lagoon. Smaller reed-beds, sedge-beds and willow thickets occur at the Gwent Wildlife Trust Reserve at Magor Marsh and at Llanwern Steelworks and scattered through the reen network. The largest open body of water in the county is Llandegfedd Reservoir. Other reservoirs include Wentwood, Ynsyfro, Pant-yr-eos, Penyvan Pond, Garnlydan and Carno. There are a host of small reservoirs and manmade ponds, many of those in the western valleys, such as the Dunlop-Semtex Pond, created during the industrial past and Cwm Tillery Reservoir and ponds. The latter and Waun-y-pound support populations of Shoreweed, found also at Wentwood and Llandegfedd Reservoirs. On the dried mud and stony floor of the breached Scotch Peter Reservoir Knotted Pearlwort grows in profusion. The series of ponds in the Whitebrook and Angidy Valleys in the east of the county also owe their origins to the wireworks and paper mills which flourished in these valleys up to four centuries ago. Newer lakes created for recreation, fishing or conservation interests, include Brynbach near Ebbw Vale, Dingestow Court Lake renovated in the 1980s and The Hoop ponds near Penallt. There are also new ponds on recently constructed golf courses as at Raglan Golf Course. The creation of a brackish lagoon, scrapes and pools at the Newport Wetland Reserve has provided more wetland habitat. 24

Flora of Monmouthshire In Blaenau Gwent and Newport Borough there are 225 and 200 ponds respectively. Numbers in Torfaen and Monmouthshire Borough Council areas are unknown but must number well in excess of 500.

Marine and maritime Several habitats are influenced to varying degrees by the sea. The Severn estuary is lined by banks of mud, peat, gravel and exposed rock on which salt marsh develops. At the top of the marsh is an irregular band of grazed salt pastures, known as wharfs. The sea wall, which restricts the influence of salt water on the Levels forms a narrow belt of grassland and scrub which is subjected to salt spray. In a few places, there are small natural cliffs. The influence of salt water extends up the Wye, Usk and Rhymney, where attenuated versions of saltmarsh and brackish grassland occur many miles from the coast.

Saltmarsh The majority of the Severn coast is lined by saltmarsh, but the marshes tend to be fragmentary to the east and better developed to the west. Their form has been disrupted by the ancient sea wall and ancillary forms of coastal defence, such as lines of boulders stacked seawards of the main wall. Its features are also defined by the character of the Severn deposits, which consist of a mixture of fine alluvium and coarser sand and gravel, interleaved with peat, all overlying rocks that outcrop offshore and as cliffs that define the landward margin. In consequence, the various forms of marsh are patchy in their distribution and unusually sharply defined, but rarely form a complete sequence from the almost permanently inundated lower marsh to scarcely inundated upper marsh. The marshes are also copiously strewn with industrial and domestic litter that accumulates against the foot of the sea wall. The lowest zone of vascular plants on the Severn shore is occupied by the Eelgrasses Zostera marina and Z. noltii in the intertidal region. The lower saltmarsh starts at the top of this zone with the glassworts, usually with the rarest, Long-spiked Glasswort on the bare mud and in hollows in the wettest part of the lower region; other glassworts appear here and in the middle zone. Glassworts are succulents like Annual Sea-blite, Common Saltmarsh-grass, Common Cord-grass, Sea Plantain and Sea Aster and all live in the lower zone where tidal cover is frequent. The middle saltmarsh has some of the above but is joined by Common Sea-lavender, Sea Rush and Sea Arrowgrass and by Greater and Lesser Sea-spurrey, Wild Celery, Parsley Water-dropwort and Long-bracted Sedge. The upper saltmarsh is covered only by storm-driven high tides or spring tides, which wash against the sea wall, but this region is now more a brackish closely-cropped pasture because of drainage channels. It is covered by Red Fescue, Meadow Barley, Slender Hare’s-ear, Saltmarsh Rush, Annual Sea-blite, Sea Wormwood, Strawberry Clover, Kidney Vetch, Hard-grass, and Marsh-mallow and Sea Barley between Newport and Cardiff. The sea-wall, which has been raised or re-built more than once, can be seen as a modified part of the upper saltmarsh. The wall itself is mostly grassy, but it is commonly backed by a track and patches of unused land that allow scrub to develop. On the ‘wall’ are plants such as Knotted Hedge Parsley, Slender Thistle, Sea Radish, Sea Beet and on or among rocks, Rock Samphire, Rough Clover and Sea Pearlwort and in one place only, Sea Spleenwort. Where the sea wall has been constructed from limestone, many of the elements of calcareous grassland find a patchy footing. In 2006 Pyramidal and Bee Orchids occurred on the raised land on which the Electric substation has been built near the sea wall, south of Newhouse Industrial Estate, Bulwark.

Flora of Monmouthshire Sea Cliffs The only sea cliffs are found between Black Rock and Sudbrook, where there are low sandstone outcrops overlooking the salt marsh. These support the only mainland native populations of Rock Samphire together with Tree-mallow and Bastard Cabbage. Plants such as Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea and and Subterranean Clover grow on top of the cliffs. Crested Hair-grass Salad Burnet, Common Rock-rose, Meadow Oat-grass, Little Mouse-ear occupy the Iron Age fort defensive banks that terminate at the top of the cliffs. Although it is hardly a cliff, the lonely and rocky Denny Island has a fine mixture of cliff and ruderal species, including Tree-mallow, Rock Samphire, Stiff Saltmarsh-grass and Danish Scurvy-grass.

Brackish riparian grassland The influence of salt water extends several miles up both the Rivers Wye and Usk. On the Wye this is marked by a scatter of narrow brackish grasslands with Meadow Barley below Alcove Wood and up to Tintern. In addition to the lower and middle saltmarsh plants, such as Sea Aster and English Scurvygrass, these brackish grassland are notable, among other species, for Common Meadow-rue and Parsley Water-dropwort. Beside the Usk, as far up as Caerleon, Bulbous Foxtail grows on the edge of the remaining meadows. It is also abundant in brackish pastures at the mouth of the Wye just above the old Severn Bridge. This species was also found by a farm track many miles inland, near Llandegfedd Reservoir, after a farmer had mown the grass by the Usk and transported the hay to his farm.

Arable Modern agricultural methods, notably the widespread use of herbicides on crops, has spelt the demise of most ‘weeds’ of arable land in Monmouthshire, as elsewhere in the U.K. The modern practice of autumn sowing, rather than spring sowing of cereal crops has also led to the ploughing of stubble soon after the harvest. In the vice-county there is rather little arable land – less than 12 % of agricultural land in the 1980s. Wheat and barley crops have been largely replaced with Maize and Rape and by Flax, Lupins, Potatoes and Onions as well as Strawberries. A few cornfield plants such as Field Pansy and Corn Spurrey still survive in many crops, but once-widespread cornfield plants, such as Sharp-leaved and Round-leaved Fluellen and Field Woundwort, have all but disappeared. In recent years these species have only been found at three sites – in a maize field at Kilpale near Caerwent, in a barley crop in the Usk Valley at Llantrisant and in oat fields near Middle Hendre, west of Monmouth. The blue form of Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis, two scarce arable buttercups. and other now rare species also turned up in these oat fields.

Walls, tracks, verges, motorways and other rural linear habitats These linear habitats often provide the only habitats within intensively used farmland, though few species seem to be especially associated with them. The most distinctive are the species of walls, which are frequent as field boundaries in many districts. Road verges and hedges (see above) provide important opportunities for the species of semi-natural grassland and woodland to persist in farmland, and in a few instances they support uncommon species. Limestone walls (and walls with lime mortar) are notable for ferns, such as Rusty-back, Wall-rue, Black Spleenwort, Maidenhair Spleenwort and the pachyrachis subspecies, as well as Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Wallflower, Navelwort, Pellitory-of-the-wall, Yellow Corydalis and abundant Ivy. One notable grass is Flattened Meadow-grass. Many of these species are introductions and are largely confined to walls and cliffs. Rusty-back Fern is regarded as native, but is not known in a natural habitat. Dry-stone walls on the conglomerate have quantities of the larger ferns such as Hart’s-tongue, Common and Western Polypody and Hard-fern. Some on former heathland still have occasional relict Bilberry.

Flora of Monmouthshire Railway embankments are now, unfortunately, usually affected by herbicides used on the tracks although species such as Pale Toadflax may often be encountered. On disused lines, scrub and tree growth have largely eliminated any interesting plants. Old railway yards between Newport and Chepstow still support some plants of note (see below). Gateways and tracks in fields characteristically have weed species as Swine-cress, Annual Meadow-grass, Rat’s-tail-grass and Pineapple-weed. Road verges are discussed in the grasslands section but note must be made of the spread of salt-tolerant plants, notably Danish Scurvy-grass along salt-treated roads. These plants line many roads in the vice-county as for example, the A40 from Newport to Monmouth and the M48, where the central reservation is pale blue with it in spring.

Gardens, urban habitats and industrial land Gardeners are all too aware that native and naturalised plants spring up between the garden flowers and shrubs, but there has been no assessment of the wild garden flora in Monmouthshire. Flower beds and borders commonly have persistent rhizomatous species, such as Ground Elder and Couch-grass, as well as more tractable annuals, such as Petty Spurge, Common Cornsalad, Hairy Bittercress, Shepherd’s Purse, Red Deadnettle and Procumbent Yellow-sorrel. In addition, the shadier parts of shrubberies provide several woodland species, such as Bluebells and Wood Anemones with refuges. These have often come in with leaf mould gathered in woods, whilst Lord-and-ladies and Bramble arrive via bird droppings and Common Nettle from waste ground. Proximity to seed sources is a factor, as the occasional incursions of Pendulous Sedge from nearby woods demonstrate. Although it is no longer legal, one notices that Snowdrops, Wild Daffodils and perhaps others are sometimes transplanted into gardens from wild populations. The other garden component is the lawn, and here much depends on how permanent it is, how it originated, and how it is managed. Most consist of common grasses sown in mixtures into which little more than Daisy, Dandelion, Self-heal and Slender Speedwell infiltrate, and are periodically reduced by herbicides. A few lawns are important, if small, survivors of the grassland that occupied the site before it was built on. The best of these are found on the limestone, where garden lawns may still harbour Cowslips, Field Scabious and even Autumn Lady’s-tresses. Elsewhere, as at Penallt and Wyesham near Monmouth some garden lawns still support a few Green-veined Orchids among the Cowslips and Cuckooflowers. Such lawns require continuity of sympathetic treatment, but sadly often fall victim to a change of owner. A related artificial habitat is the churchyard. Obviously they are disturbed, but most take the form of grassland that is mown and/or grazed with varying degrees of enthusiasm, that developed floristically over the centuries as species colonized from surrounding fields and woods. The shadier portions often have woodland plants, such as Primrose and Lords-and-Ladies, neglected stonework may be covered in Ivy, and the grass between the graves may actually be the richest semi-natural grassland in the parish (see grassland section). St Mary at Llanvair Cilcoed has a fine display of Goldilocks Buttercup in those years when the mower is restrained. In fact, the churchyard flora is all too easily damaged by excessive tidiness, but greater interest in ‘God’s Acre’ has recently allowed more to flower for longer. A speciality of Chepstow churchyard is Ivy Broomrape, which seems to thrive on the Ivy in semi-shade below churchyard Yews. Industrial and urban land is often surprisingly rich in wild plants. Butterfly-bush is a common feature of disturbed ground in urban centres and can cover disused railway sidings, such as those between Severn Tunnel Junction and Undy. Parts of Alpha Steel’s land by the Usk has been known to produce thousands of Marsh Helleborines, hundreds of Pyramidal, Bee and Heath and Common Spotted-orchids along with other uncommon species, such as Salsify, Wild Mignonette, Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Dittander, Eastern Rocket and Wallflower Cabbage, though the display has latterly been reduced by waste dumping. Uskmouth Power Station also has Marsh Helleborines and Southern Marsh-orchids. Petty Whin, Adder’s-tongue and many sedges thrive in the stream valley to the NE of the spoil heaps at The British. Newport Docks had a fine stand of Grey Club-rush until it was built over. Disused railway yards at Undy have Bee Orchids, Autumn Ladies Tresses, Wild Mignonette, Twiggy Mullein, White Mullein, Common and Pale Toadflax and their 27

Flora of Monmouthshire hybrid Linaria x sepium, Pale Flax, and Spiked Sedge, whilst waste ground at The Rock, near Blackwood, support Meadow Crane’s-bill and Pearly Everlasting.

Conclusion The vice county of Monmouthshire still has a wealth of semi-natural habitats, though they occupy only a small proportion of the land area and need careful management. Artificial habitats such as old industrial sites and other brown-field sites also contribute greatly to diversity, though they do need sympathetic treatment. Much of what survives is due to deliberate conservation measures, from the creation of nature reserves and designation of important sites, to the careful interest of individual private landowners. There is reason for some optimism. Although some species-rich grassland has been lost to the plough over the last few years, other neglected grassland has been brought back into sympathetic management. Efforts are also being made to re-create species-rich grassland on semi-improved grassland and lowland heathland from conifer plantations. Removal of conifers from the sides of the Wye Valley is continuing and can only benefit woodland flora. Removal of conifers from the Minnetts-Slade complex and from other limestone woods such as Cuhere Wood, would be of even greater conservation value. The hope is that the Woodland Trust’s management of recently acquired parts of Wentwood will also include the removal of conifers. Perhaps the biggest challenge ahead is to safeguard and manage existing sites of botanical interest as well as to link up habitats, whether woodlands or grasslands, with corridors of suitable habitat.

Flora of Monmouthshire

BOTANICAL SITES The following is a list of sites that are of botanical interest in vc 35 Monmouthshire, together with some of the highlights of each site. ‘CL’ indicates the geology is Carboniferous Limestone. ‘SSSI’ indicates that the sites are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Grid references are general for the site, and do not indicate the location of the plants. Some of the plants listed for the sites have continued to suffer from policies where economics outweighed all the other factors in the management of the countryside. I have left them in the list for the following reasons:1. I had watched for several years the western edge of Ifton Quarry, where vegetation and much of the soil had been removed, in preparation for an extension of quarrying,. I expected to see the appearance of Bee Orchids (when two huge piles of material one near Blackbird Road and one east of Caldicot Pill, excavated during the building of the Severn Tunnel, were removed, Bee Orchids appeared and multiplied on the bare stony ground). When the Ifton Quarry ones appeared Dave Chapel, in 2000, saw 20 of them first and alerted Jerry Lewis and a meeting between officers of Monmouthshire County Council and the quarry managers of ARC Hanson took place and ARC Hanson agreed to erect two 20 metre square, rabbit-proof fences around them. By 2003 one fence protected 830 plants and the second 255. Recovery on a grand scale. 2. In the 1990s the Forestry Commission scraped off the surface on either side of the main E-W track through the Minnetts woodland complex (Ifton Wood is a component part). Two patches of Greater Butterfly Orchids appeared as the bared verges recovered, and hundreds of Autumn Gentians spread along 500m of the verges. The latter had been seen on a nearby track years before but had tailed off badly. 3. There has been a change of policy, brought about by public pressure, regarding the countryside by national and local government. Conservation features more strongly in decision making. 4. The Biodiversity Section of the local authorities and the appointment a young, very capable Biodiversity Officer for each authority with a remit to produce plans to reverse the decline in biodiversity. The co-operation of all the professional and amateur experts in achieving the aims of the plans gives grounds for hope. 5. The work of conservation bodies e.g. the Wildlife Trust, RSPB, etc., their purchase of land to establish reservoirs of plants and their animal associates, their education and training programs give me hope. The success of Pentwyn Farm, Newgrove meadows, Springdale Farm and the wetlands reserves of Uskmouth and Goldcliff bodes well for flower rich sites buzzing with insects and attendant predators. Before I die I hope to see the sites back to their best with other parts of the county following suit.

WOODLANDS There are many other woodlands with SSSI status which are good examples of a type of woodland under threat. 1.

Lady Park, High Meadow and Redding’s Inclosure complex (CL, SO/54.14). Creeping Bellflower (Campanula patula), Nettle-leaved Bellflower (Campanula trachelium), Wood Fescue (Festuca altissima), Wood Barley (Hordelymus europaeus), Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Maiden-hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes ssp pachyrachis), Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata), Large-leaved Lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) are among an extensive list of species. Dingle, King’s, Limekiln, Garrow Woods complex (SO/47.13). Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). Lesser Centaury (Centaurium pulchellum): need to have conifers replaced by deciduous trees. Tal-y-Coed Wood (SO/416.160). Lesser Centaury (Centaurium pulchellum) 100s, Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). 29

Flora of Monmouthshire 4.

Blackcliff to Wyndcliff (CL, SSSI, ST/532.980). Many good plants e.g. Bird’s Nest (Monotropa hypopitys) only vice-county site, Common Wintergreen (Pyrola minor), Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Mountain Melick (Melica nutans) at its most southerly UK site, Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata), Upright Spurge (Euphorbia serrulata), Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). 5. Briers Grove (CL, ST/51.95). The deciduous part has over 100 Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula), Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Primroses (Primula vulgaris) etc. 6. Whitfield Wood (CL, ST/496.962). Giant Bellflower (Campanula latifolia), Leopard’s-bane (Doronicum pardalianches). 7. Bishop and Great Barnets Woods (CL, ST/51.94). Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Thin-spiked Wood-sedge (Carex strigosa), Wild Service-tree (Sorbus torminalis), a hybrid Whitebeam (Sorbus x vagensis), Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). 8. St Pierre Great Woods (CL, ST/503.924). Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Bird’snest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Solomon’s-seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), 100s Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula), Large-leaved Lime (Tilia platyphyllos) the largest colony of mature trees in the vicecounty, Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata), Wood Vetch (Vicia sylvatica). 9. Coombe Woods (CL, SSSI, ST/457.932). Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), wide range of plants. 10. Stoneycroft Wood (CL, ST/465.935). Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor), Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana), Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) among 62 taxa in this small wood. 11. Cuhere Wood (CL, ST/450.928). Toothwort (Lathraea Squamaria), Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Common Calamint (Clinopodium ascendens), Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata), Primroses and Bluebells. 12. Wentwood Forest (ST/40.94-ST/42.95). Last known vice-county site for Heath Cudweed (Gnaphalium sylvaticum); Stag’s-horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea x intermedia), at least three extensive Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) sites, Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Wood Vetch (Vicia sylvatica), Lesser Centaury (Centaurium pulchellum) and a variety of other plants. 13. Craig-y-Perthi (ST/384.879). Smallish wood untouched by present-day forestry practices. More than100 Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula), many Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus), 100s Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), abundant Primroses, Cowslips, Great Horsetail etc. 14. Longditch Wood (ST/38.87). Nearby wood with damp patches has Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) and Twayblade (Listera ovata). 15. Lasgarn Wood (CL, SO/273.034). Round-leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. maritima), Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense). 16. Mescoed Bach (ST/277.902). Large Wild Daffodil colony. 17. Coed Robert (SO/397.098). Elongated Sedge (Carex elongata) 83 tufts in 2002 (one of two Welsh sites), Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus), Bluebells. 18. Western extension of Coed y Prior Wood, adjacent Ochram Brook (SO/289.098). Upland Enchanter’snightshade (Circaea x intermedia). 19. Triley Great Wood (SO/311.182). Water Avens (Geum rivale), hybrid Avens (Geum x intermedium), Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium), Bird Cherry (Prunus padus), Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris). 20. Salisbury Wood (CL, SSSI, ST/425.898). Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). 21. Wern Fawr Wood, Goetre (SO/3239.0554). 100s of Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus). 22. Rock Wood, Penhow (CL, ST/421.913). Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Twayblade (Listera ovata), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis), Wood Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), Millet Grass (Milium effusum), Wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana), Primroses and Cowslips; Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). 30

Flora of Monmouthshire 23. Minnetts – Slade Wood complex (CL, ST/45.89). Before the removal of the deciduous trees and replacement with conifers this wood had over 350 species of vascular plants. Today, though not up to that standard is still very good. Still present Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), Adder’s-Tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum), Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), Wood Small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos), Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella), Twayblade (Listera ovata), Earlypurple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana), Common-spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Greater-butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Lesser-butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia) the latter two on the point of extinction, Mezereon (Daphne mezereum), Wild Liquorice (Astragalus glycyphyllos), Pale St John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum), Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis).

PONDS, RESERVOIRS AND LAKES 1.

Penpergwm Pond (A) (SSSI, SO/326.098). Lesser Marshwort (Apium inundatum), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis), Tasteless Waterpepper (Persicaria mitis), Bladder-sedge (Carex vesicaria), Trifid Bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita), Nodding Bur-marigold (Bidens cernua). 2. Penpergwm Pond (B) (SO/322.099). Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis). 3. Liswerry Pond (ST/341.876). Rigid Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba), Fringed Water-lily (Nymphoides peltata). 4. Waun y pound Ponds (SO/154.107). Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora), Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile). 5. Pond, Gallows Green (SO/263.069). Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata) a declining sedge in the vice-county. 6. Cwm Tillery Reservoir and Ponds (SO/220.071 and SO/219.068). Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora), Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum). 7. Clawdd Mill Pond (SO/394.111). Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis), Fine-leaved Water-dropwort (Oenanthe aquatica). 8. Llandegfedd Reservoir (ST/33.99). At north end depending on fluctuating levels, Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis), Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea), Shore Weed (Littorella uniflora). SO/32.00. 9. Wentwood Reservoir (ST/43.93). Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora) all round grassy edge. 10. Moorcroft Cottage Pond (SO/518.094). Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis). 11. Hendre Lake (ST/245.804). Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) 48 flowering spikes and more nonflowering plants. 12. Scotch Peter’s Reservoir (empty) (SO/155.089). Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa), variety of plants.

RIVERS, STREAMSIDES and FLUSHES 1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

River Wye (Bigsweir –Monmouth) (SO/5.0-SO/5.1). Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus), Common Meadow-rue (Thalictrum flavum), Almond Willow (Salix triandra), Giant Bellflower (Campanula latifolia). River Wye (Chepstow) (ST/53.95). Common Meadow-rue (Thalictrum flavum). Angidy River (Tintern) (SO/51.00). ‘Welsh’ Wood Stitchwort (Stellaria nemorum ssp montana), Narrow-leaved Bittercress (Cardamine impatiens), Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris). White Brook (SO/52.07). Greater Cuckooflower (Cardamine raphanifolia) 100s metres. Cleddon Brook (SO/524.044). Hybrid Wood Stitchwort (Stellaria nemorum ssp nemorum x montana), Wild Daffodils. Mounton Brook (ST/49.94). Monk’s-hood (Aconitum napellus), Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Mounton Brook, Llwyn-y-celyn (SSSI, ST/47.94). Monk’s-hood (Aconitum napellus), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), Greater Tussock-sedge (Carex paniculata), Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre), Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella). Cas Troggi Brook (ST/44.94-95). Ivy-leaved Bellflower (Wahlenbergia hederacea), Hybrid Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus x luteus). 31

Flora of Monmouthshire 9. Nant-y-draenog (ST/187.927). Cornish Moneywort (Sibthorpia europaeus) only vice-county site. 10. River Usk, right bank, Llanllowell (ST/387.983). Purple Willow (Salix purpurea). 11. River Usk, right bank, Llanfair Kilgeddin (SO/358.088). Purple Willow (Salix purpurea). 12. River Usk, right bank, Abergavenny (SO/283.141). Almond Willow (Salix triandra). 13. River Usk (sites at SO/358.078, 302.124, 344.089, 360.080, 301.132). Meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata). 14. River Ebbw, Ebbw Vale (SO/17.09). Hybrid Monkey Flower (Mimulus x polymaculus). 15. River Ebbw (SO/172.092, SO/183.056). Triple hybrid Monkey Flower (Mimulus (cupreus x luteus) x guttatus). 16. Mounton Brook, Rhyd-y-fedw (ST/474.957). Water Avens (Geum rivale), Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica). 17. Waun Tysswg flush, S. of Mountain Ash Pub (SO/141.063). Marsh St John’s-wort (Hypericum elodes), Many-stalked -Spike-rush (Eleocharis multicaulis). 18. Bal Mawr flushes (SO/26.26). Few-flowered Spike-rush (Eleocharis quinqueflora) only vice-county site, Hybrid Sedge (Carex x fulva), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor). 19. Bal-bach flushes (SO/27.26). Marsh St John’s-wort (Hypericum elodes), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris). 20. Ysgyryd Fawr stream (SO/325.173). Water Avens (Geum rivale). 21. Norton Brook, Walson (SO/433.195). Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale). 22. The British (SO/25.04). Musk (Mimulus moschatus), Ivy-leaved Bellflower (Wahlenbergia hederacea), Many-stalked Spike-rush (Eleocharis multicaulis), Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Petty Whin (Genista anglica), Marsh St John’s-wort (Hypericum elodes), many sedges. 23. Afon Cibi (SO/286.173). (A wooded stream); Marsh Hawk’s-beard (Crepis paludosa) in its only vicecounty site, Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium), Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica).

THE MONMOUTSHIRE-BRECON CANAL The margin of this canal from Llanfoist to Newport is the county stronghold of Nodding Bur-marigold (Bidens cernua) with six sites, Narrow-leaved Water-plantain (Alisma lanceolata) eight sites and Unbranched Bur-reed (Sparganium emersum) three sites. Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar lutea) has its main county site in the canal at Five Locks, Pontnewydd. The canal is also the home for many submerged aquatics, but the increased boat use has caused a decline in many species.

REENS Reens on the River Severn moors are often important for plants. Naming the best reens is complicated by management procedures. Sometimes clearance improves the botany of the reen over the following few years and sometimes a reen that was rich one year lacks interest for some years after clearance. Spraying herbicides has a decidedly degrading effect. The very steep, deep, smooth sides may assist water flow to the Severn, but plants like Brookweed (Samolus valerandi) have suffered and become very scarce on the moors, where it was once common on reen banks that sloped gently. Perhaps the greatest threat to the reen flora is the extent to which the water table has been lowered. In particular, reens on the Caldicot Levels are often dry for much of the year, even well inland from the sea wall. Plants of wet ditches cannot thrive in such conditions. The reen by the side of Saltmarsh Lane and sea wall reens on the edge of Peterstone Great Wharf and Rumney Great Wharf had Soft Hornwort (Ceratophyllum submersum) but the lack of water in some summers since 1991 has seen the demise of the plant and deliberate search in 2002 has failed to find any. Many plants e.g. Hairlike Pondweed (Potamogeton trichoides), Lesser Pondweed (P. pusillus) and Small Pondweed (P. berchtoldii) are submerged and are not easy to detect and have to be dragged out of the water to be seen and identified. It is not easy to name, in any one year, which reen is going to be botanically rich; hence the need to preserve the reen system as a whole to keep a healthy seed bank. 32

Flora of Monmouthshire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vaindre Winter Sewer (ST/308.825). Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus), Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia), Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum). Wharf Reen (ST/307.833). High concentration of Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia). Bowleaze Reen (ST/377.855). Tufted-sedge (Carex elata), Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus circinatus). Stutwall Reen (ST/416.867). Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum), Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) Petty Reen (ST/417.864). Rootless Duckweed (Wolffia arrhiza).

BOGS AND MARSHES 1.

Waun Afon (SO/22.10). Largest of its kind in vice-county. Hybrid Deergrass (Trichophorum x foersteri), Sphagnum spp., Cottongrasses (Eriophorum spp.), Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), rushes and sedges, Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). 2. Mynydd Maen (ST/259.964). Only other site for Hybrid Deergrass (Trichophorum x foersteri), Cottongrasses. 3. Sirhowy Valley, Bedwellty Pits (SO/158.058). Wood Clubrush (Scirpus sylvaticus). 4. Cwm Merddog (SO/186.064). Hybrid Sedge (Carex x boenninghauseniana), Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris). 5. Cwm Coed-y-cerrig (Pontyspig) NNR (SSSI, SO/29.21). Best example of a valley bog and carr in vicecounty. Early Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris), Yellow Sedge (Carex viridula ssp brachyrrhyncha), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Broad-leaved Cottongrass (Eriophorum latifolia), Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis). 6. Coity Mountain, Forgeside (SO/24.08). Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Musk (Mimulus moschatus), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor), Round-leaved Crowfoot (Ranunculus omiophyllus), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris). 7. Ty-to-maen Marsh (SO/302.076). Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii and D. maculata), Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica), 7 species of sedge, Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor), Eared Willow (Salix aurita), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). 8. Heol y Cefn Marsh, Aberbargoed (ST/162.987). Petty Whin (Genista anglica). 9. Llanmartin Marsh (SSSI, ST/385.895). Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris), Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Blunt-flowered Rush (Juncus subnodulosus), Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Tawny Sedge (Carex hostiana), Blunt-flowered Rush (Juncus subnodulosus). 10. Llanmartin Marsh (SSSI, ST/383.899). Blunt-flowered Rush (Juncus subnodulosus). 11. Henllys Bog (SSSI, ST/264.927). Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), Broad-leaved Cottongrass (Eriophorum latifolium), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Purple Moorgrass (Molinia caerulea). 12. Pentre Bach Marsh (ST/289.924). Wood Club-rush (Scirpus sylvaticus). 13. Magor Marsh (SSSI, ST/425.866). Remnant rushy fen. Mare’s-tail (Hippuris vulgaris), 10 sedges species, Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus). 14. Barecroft Common (ST/418.865). Marsh Dock (Rumex palustris), Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Blunt-flowered Rush (Juncus subnodulosus). 15. Llwyn y Celyn Marsh (SSSI, ST/480.946). Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), Monk’s-hood (Aconitum napellus), Greater Tussock-sedge (Carex paniculata), Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica). 16. Cleddon Bog (SSSI, SO/509.039). Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata), a Bramble (Rubus trelleckensis). 17. Pen-y-fan Bog (SO/528.053). Marsh St John’s-wort (Hypericum elodes), Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). 33

Flora of Monmouthshire 18. Graig-y-Rhacca wet wood and meadow (ST/192.892). Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) 5-10 trees, Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) abundant; Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) abundant; two Hawkweeds (Hieracium sabaudum and H. umbellatum).

WET HEATHS 1.

Penllwyn grasslands, Pontllanfraith (ST/167.962). Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), Wood Bitter-vetch (Vicia orobus), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense ssp pratense), Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum), Petty Whin (Genista anglica), Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), Saw-wort (Serratula tinctoria), Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica ssp sylvatica and ssp hibernica), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris), Eared Willow (Salix aurita), Deer Grass (Trichophorum cespitosum ssp germanicum). Cwm Celyn (SO/20.08). Wood Bittervetch (Vicia orobus), Musk (Mimulus moschatus), Southern Marshorchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris), Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma), Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) and in wet wood Whorled Caraway (Carum verticillatum) in its only vice-county site.

SALTMARSHES All six are rich in plants but may be devastated by overgrazing. 1.

Mouth of River Rhymney (ST/22.77). Large colony of Common Sea-lavender (Limonium vulgare), Slender Hare’s-ear (Bupleurum tenuissimum) abundant; Long-spiked Glasswort (Salicornia dolichostachya), Purple Glasswort (Salicornia ramosissimum), Dittander (Lepidium latifolium) large colonies, Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum), 1000s of Pale Flax (Linum bienne). Rumney Great Wharf (ST/23.77 to 27.79). Sea Barley (Hordeum marinum) 1000s, Common Sealavender (Limonium vulgare), Slender Thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus), Slender Hare’s-ear (Bupleurum tenuissimum), Parsley Water-dropwort (Oenanthe lachenalii). West of Lighthouse Inn to West Usk Lighthouse (ST/29.80 to 31.82). Distant Sedge (Carex distans) the only extant site, Sea Barley (Hordeum marinum), Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia distans), Stiff Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia rupestris), Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum). From E end of Uskmouth Wetlands Reserve to S of Goldcliff (ST/34.82 to 36.82). Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), Common Sea-lavender (Limonium vulgare), Slender Hare’s-ear (Bupleurum tenuissimum), Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis). River Severn side meadows/saltmarsh (ST/481.870). 10,000s Bulbous Foxtail (Alopecurus bulbosus), 50+ Wild Celery (Apium graveolens), numerous Sea Clover (Trifolium squamosum), Strawberry Clover (Trifolium fragiferum), Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus glaber), 3 colour forms of Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa), Parsley Water-dropwort (Oenanthe lachenalii). Black Rock to St Pierre Pill (ST/51.88 to 52.89). Large patches of Sea Rush (Juncus maritimus), Longbracted Sedge (Carex extensa), Wild Celery (Apium graveolens).

ISLAND 1.

Denny Island (ST/458.810). Tree Mallow (Lavatera arborea), Stiff Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia rupestris), Danish Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia danica), Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum).

COASTAL CLIFFS 1.

Sudbrook Fort and cliffs (ST/50.87). The only vice-county sites for Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium maritimum), Meadow Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pratense) and Crested Hair-grass (Koeleria 34

Flora of Monmouthshire macrantha), other plants present are Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum), Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum), Sea Pearlwort (Sagina maritima), Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium), Great Brome (Anisantha diandra), Sea Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus), Tree Mallow (Lavatera arborea), Little Mouse-ear (Cerastium semidecandrum), Sea Mouse-ear (Cerastium diffusum), Subterranean Clover (Trifolium subterraneum), Early For-get-me-not (Myosotis ramosissima), Danish Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia danica).

RIVER CLIFFS 1. 2.

Chepstow Castle (CL, ST/531.941). Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Ivy Broom-rape (Orobanche hederae). Chepstow Rail Cutting/Wye Cliffs (CL, ST/538.926). Rock Whitebeam (Sorbus rupicola), English Whitebeam (Sorbus anglica), Wild Service-tree (Sorbus torminalis), Grey-leaved Whitebeam (Sorbus porrigentiformis), Pale St-John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum).

MEADOWS 1.

Brockwells (CL, SSSI, ST/469.897). Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), Autumn Lady’s-tresses, (Spiranthes spiralis), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum), Quaking-grass (Briza media), Upright Brome (Bromopsis erecta), Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea), Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans), Long-stalked Crane’s-bill (Geranium columbinum), Pale Flax (Linum bienne), Yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus minor), Primroses and Cowslips. 2. Dinham Meadows, MOD Caerwent (CL, SSSI, and other grassland ST/47.91). Upright Brome (Bromopsis erecta), Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), Autumn Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis), Downy Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens), Small-flowered Buttercup (Ranunculus parviflora), an Eyebright (Euphrasia pseudokerneri), Early Forget-me-not (Myosotis ramosissima), hybrid Bedstraw (Galium x pomeranicum), Lesser Centaury (Centaurium pulchellum). 3. Shirefield Cottage Meadow (CL, ST/465.897). Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). 4. Common-y-Coed, small field, (CL, ST/437.891). Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria), Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis). 5. Common-y-Coed, large field bank (CL, ST/434.888). Woolly Thistle (Cirsium eriophorum), Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans), Dwarf Thistle (Cirsium acaule). 6. Rectory Meadow, Rogiet (SSSI, CL, ST/458.883). Only extant Welsh site for Meadow Clary (Salvia pratensis). 7. Gethley Meadow (part SSSI, ST/472.975). 40 Greater Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera chlorantha), Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica), Pale Sedge (Carex pallescens), Smooth-stalked Sedge (Carex laevigata). 8. Lower Nex Meadows, Devauden (SSSI, ST/479.980). Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), Earlypurple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Quaking-grass (Briza media), Twayblade (Listera ovata), Cowslips (Primula veris), Hay-rattle (Rhinanthus minor). 9. Fernlea (SO/475.015). Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Twayblade (Listera ovata), Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea). 10. Newgrove Farm Meadows (SO/501.071). Best vice-county site (1000s) for Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), 1000s of both Spotted Orchids, Twayblade (Listera ovata), Adder’s-tongue Fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum), 1000s of Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea). 11. Pentwyn Farm Grasslands (SSSI, SO/523.093). 145 (2002) Greater Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera chlorantha), Hay-rattle (Rhinanthus minor), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). 12. Blaentrothy Meadows (SSSI, SO/372 218). Pale Sedge (Carex pallescens), Quaking-grass (Briza media), Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica), Slender Wood-sedge (Carex strigosa), Broad-leaved 35

Flora of Monmouthshire Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga), Betony (Stachys officinalis). 13. Barbadoes Hill Meadows (SSSI, SO/528.009). Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). 14. Ty’r-hen-forwyn Meadows (SSSI, ST/237.998). Wood Bitter-vetch (Vicia orobus) the best remaining site for the plant. 15. Parc-y-dert (Tregare) fields (SO/422.102). 1000s Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) over acres 16. Four Acres, Maryland (SO/518.058), c. 200 Greater Butterfly Orchids, Spotted Orchids and many, good meadow species. 17. Ty Mawr Convent (SO/504.078). 100s Wild Daffodils, Orchids, many good meadow species.

ROAD VERGES Attempts to get protection for verges have had mixed success. The Authorities have tried to co-operate but personnel change cause breakdown of plans. Sub-contractors, some of whom are farmers, often have to fit in their time with other work, so sometimes cuts are made at inappropriate times and they seem unaware of agreements. Though some farmers are sensitive to attractive verges or unusual wild flowers and leave such areas uncut (one such person cuts round an Early Purple Orchid and a patch of Cowslips on a road bank between The Star and Llansoy), most regard wild flowers as weeds and treat them accordingly. Marker posts are not always seen, and even if they are, their significance is not always recognised. Local concern and interest to press the claims of a particular verge and follow up any agreements reached is probably the best way forward. 1. Roadside bank, N of Mynyddislwyn (ST/194.945). Wood Bitter-vetch (Vicia orobus), Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), a hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum). 2. Roadside bank, St Illtyd – Llanhilleth (SO/214.017). Wood Bitter-vetch (Vicia orobus), Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia). 3. Hedge, Penallt Old Church Road, S. of Cae-caws House (SO/511089). Giant Bellflower (Campanula latifolia); this plant occurs frequently in lane margins in the Penallt area. 4. Road/woodside, Cwm Coed-y-cerrig (SO/290.211). Nettle-leaved Bellflower (Campanula trachelium). 5. Verge, Shirenewton – Coombe Road (ST/47.93). Two large patches Druce’s Crane’s-bill (Geranium x oxonianum). 6. Verge, Tynewydd, High Cross to Henllys Road (ST/272.915). Corky-fruited Water-dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides) maximum three plants, in 2002 one plant, in its only Welsh site. 7. Crossroads, E. 2 quadrants, Cross Hands (SO/431.039). Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), Common Restharrow (Ononis repens), Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga), Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium), Quaking-grass (Briza media) and a good range of grasses and other plants.

CHURCHYARDS 1.

Bedwellty Churchyard, St Sannans (SO/166.003). Its position alone is superb with views all round. Wood Bittervetch (Vicia orobus) scattered over site, a Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum), Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) with its aniseed fragrance, Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) also scented, Primrose (Primula vulgaris), Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), Pyrenean Lily (Lilium pyrenaicum) obviously planted long ago and now spread widely. Llangeview Churchyard (SO/397.007). In 1987 this would have competed with the above for top spot, but for misguided action of the parishioners, who insisted that it be kept cut. Why not let the following have free reign ? Primrose (Primula vulgaris), Cowslip (P. veris), Bluebell (Hyacinthoides nonscripta), Common-spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea), Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), Betony (Stachys officinalis). The disused church with its boxed pews is worth a visit. 36

Flora of Monmouthshire 3.

David’s, Trostrey (SO/360.043). Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia), Primroses (Primula vulgaris), species of Waxcaps (Fungi), Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale) not seen lately. St Mary’s Churchyard, Llanfair Cilgoed (SO/390.193). The best display of Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) I have seen outside a wood - if only the use of the mower were curtailed.

ARABLE 1. 2. 3.

Kilpale (CL, ST/468.924). Maize crop, one of very few vice-county sites for Round-leaved Fluellen (Kickxia spuria), Sharp-leaved Fluellen (Kickxia elatine). Llantrisant Fawr (SO/395.150). Barley crop, Sharp-leaved Fluellen (Kickxia elatine), Field Woundwort (Stachys arvensis), Bifid Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis bifida). Middle Hendre, field east of road (SO/456.133). Oat crop, Sharp-leaved Fluellen (Kickxia elatine), Field Woundwort (Stachys arvensis), mainly blue form of Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis ssp. arvensis). Middle Hendre, field west of road (SO/454.133). Oats and Common Vetch crop, 100+ Sharp-leaved Fluellen (Kickxia elatine), 50+ Field Woundwort (Stachys arvensis), 31 Lesser Quaking-grass (Briza minor), 1 St Martin’s Buttercup (Ranunculus marginatus), 30-40 Hairy Buttercups (Ranunculus sardous), mainly blue form of Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

BUILDINGS (man-made cliffs) 1.

2. 3. 4.

Chepstow Castle (ST/533.941). Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria), Pale St John’s-wort (Hypericum Montanum), Maiden-hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes ssp pachyrachis), Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae), Uncrisped Garden Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri). Cas Troggy (ST/415.952). Maiden-hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes ssp pachyrachis) and its variety troggyense and the hybrid between the sspp pachyrachis and quadrivalens. Caldicot Castle (ST/487.885). Maiden-hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes ssp pachyrachis), Southern Polypody (Polypodium cambricum), Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri). Roman South Wall, Caerwent (ST/468.903). Grey Sedge (Carex divulsa ssp. leersii), Common Calamint (Clinopodium ascendens), formerly Danewort (Sambucus ebulus) now ‘cleaned off’.

INDUSTRIAL SITES, DOCKS and OTHER ARTEFACTS 1.

2. 3.

Alpha Steel, Newport (ST/335.844). 1000s Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris), 639 (2002) Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis), more than100 Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), more than100 Southern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), 100s Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii and D. maculata), Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Wallflower Cabbage (Coincya monensis ssp recurvata), Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus glaber), Dittander (Lepidium latifolium), Eastern Rocket (Sisymbrium orientale), Tall Rocket (Sisymbrium altissimum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). Uskmouth Power Station Alder Carr (ST/333.840). 100s Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris), Southern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa). Severn Tunnel Junction – Undy, Shunting Yards (ST/461.870 – 441.872). More than 100 Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), more than 100 Autumn Ladies-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis), Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Twiggy Mullein (Verbascum virgatum), White Mullein (Verbascum lychnitis), large colony of Spiked Sedge (Carex spicata), Pale Flax (Linum bienne), hybrid Toadflax (Linaria x sepium), pond on south side Mare’s-tail (Hippuris vulgaris), bank on north side of bridge 100-150 Field Garlic (Allium oleraceum). Late in 2002 there was a project to make the area into an amenity park, and great heaps of soil were imported and trees and shrubs planted over the ballast.

Flora of Monmouthshire 4.

Pwll-du (disused) Quarry (CL, SO/252.115). Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride), Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella), English Whitebeam (Sorbus anglica), Limestone Fern (Gymnocarpium robertianum). Scotch Peter’s Reservoir (SO/155.078). Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa) more than1000 plants spread over bed of the empty reservoir in its only vice-county site, Small Cudweed (Filago minima), Water-purslane (Lythrum portula), Ivy-leaved Crowfoot (Ranunculus hederaceus), Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma) among a wide range of plants. Sam Bosanquet has added the rare mosses Fossombronia incurva first vice-county record, F. wondraczekii and Ephemerum serratum var. serratum first vice-county record. Newport Docks, north dock to south dock area (ST/31.84). The unused, rough, disturbed or grassy areas and river margins have long (30 years, at least) been well known for a wide range of alien plants that have come in from abroad with ships and their cargoes. Some have persisted over those years e.g. Southern Yarrow (Achillea ligustica), Balm-leaved Figwort (Scrophularia scorodonia) and White Mignonette (Reseda alba). Many native species also thrive and some of those are nationally rare e.g. Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) c.1500 in 1997. Others are locally scarce or interesting e.g. Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) known to me for 30+ years with such numbers as 1000+ in 1991 and Orobanche minor var. flava, a yellow form of Common Broomrape. The Record Card for the area has the largest number of taxa of any other similar area in the county.

Flora of Monmouthshire

CHANGES IN THE FLORA I have lived all my life in the vice-county and have seen changes that have had a large impact on plants and animals, especially since about 1960. Unless one had lived here in the 1950s or before, it is impossible to appreciate the extent of the decline in biodiversity. This decline cried out for the distribution of the plants to be mapped to provide a sound statistical basis on which future surveys could compare changes in plant distribution, especially in light of the threat from global warming. My first wildlife passion was bird watching. Then the diversity of shape and behaviour of invertebrates wowed me. Later an interest in plants was roused by cigarette card sets of wild flowers. Turning over the soil of an unimproved field to form a garden for our home in 1949, a fascinating world of more invertebrates was revealed which had to be named and studied. I saw my first Ghost Swift (Hepialus humuli), a fascinating crepuscular moth. The male was white and quite large, with all four wings the same size and shape, and it floated ghost-like above the grass to attract the pale yellowish-brown female, a reversal of sexual roles. The larvae lived in the soil feeding on roots of plants, another oddity. I mention all this because there is a clear link between what was happening to plant numbers and distribution and the rise and fall of animal populations. To the casual observer, the vice-county of Monmouthshire looks a pleasant, green land of fields and woods, with rivers meandering largely from north to south. Much of the high land is in the west or north, though there is a hilly ridge in the east, running north to south from Monmouth through Trellech to Devauden and then branching westwards through Wentwood. But those who know the county as it used to be see it differently. Flower-rich meadows were widespread in my youth, and those over the Carboniferous Limestone were particularly fine. Fields south of Victoria Road, Bulwark had a scattering of Bee Orchids with Hay Rattle, Quaking Grass, Meadow Crane’s-bill and Greater Knapweed, as did fields from Chepstow to Magor. These provided food for the myriads of insects and their larvae, which in turn provided food for the insectivorous amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. Over 90% of these meadows have been lost. There are numerous factors that have contributed to the dramatic decline, but some have had a bigger effect than others. The changes in farming are a major cause. Modern machinery enables farming operations to go ahead more rapidly and affect larger areas than was possible in the past. Crops have changed with Maize, Rape and even Linseed becoming widespread. ‘Improved’ grassland and monocultures have reduced the range of food plants necessary for countless insects; some larvae are quite specific in their requirements. Skylarks and other ground-nesting birds relied on fields with grass tufts to conceal their nests and time to rear their young and get them away before the crops were harvested - all grassy fields had their quota of larks with their song filling the summer skies. Over much of the vice-county skylarks are now missing. The big Agro-chemical firms have had far too successful a campaign, and their herbicides and insecticides have created considerable gaps in the food chain. The reduction of plant variety has coincided with the disappearance of the nightingale and the red-backed shrike from the vice-county, with the cuckoo, the redstart, turtle dove and spotted flycatcher becoming very scarce. The lack of insects has also caused considerable reductions in swallow, martin, swift and bat numbers. Farmers are urged to leave margins around arable fields; too few do it. In the past, headlands were necessary to allow the horses to turn at the end of the furrow and these were unsprayed and formed rich pockets for wild flowers. Unsprayed, wider margins would greatly benefit wildlife. The use of large machinery requires large fields to make their use economic; this has meant the removal of many hedges so that small fields can be converted into larger ones. Though loss of hedges has not been as bad as in many eastern British counties, Monmouthshire has fewer hedgerows today. Many of the remaining hedgerows are cut low and square, which on roadsides may be necessary for safety reasons, but elsewhere removes a refuge for many woodland plants and also a source of homes, shelter and food for many animals. Some cutting is still carried out while animals are still breeding.

Flora of Monmouthshire The over-use of fertilizers has vastly reduced biodiversity among plants. Many plants only thrive in nutrientpoor soils and the addition of any fertilizers, organic or otherwise, rapidly reduces their numbers. Surplus nitrates have leached out into hedgerows and verges, most of which used to be bedecked with Fragrant Violets, Primroses and Cowslips, and were a refuge for glow-worms when I was courting. Today, such plants are largely confined to some narrow country lanes. Narrow country lanes are now too often damaged by the modern large tractors, or their banks have to be cut in full flower to allow safe passage of other motorised vehicles. The use of herbicides by the County Council in the 1960s did hedgerows no favours. New machines that cut verges, chop up the cuttings and drop them onto verge plants will also reduce biodiversity, as some of the plants will not survive the process whilst the coarser plants will thrive on the increased nitrogen. Similarly, new machines that reduce small tree trunks and brushwood to great piles of small chippings which are then left on banks on the edge of woods, such as along the Chepstow to Usk road and Wye Valley road, are going to add not only nitrogen but also plant-unfriendly substances such as tannic acid which further adversely affect the woodland and verge floras. Wood chippings are also used in gardens and urban parks to suppress growth of weeds. Wood chippings blown over the fence of the Pulp Mill have changed the vegetation on the banks of the Iron Age fort at Sudbrook, and not for the better, where two rare grasses Meadow Oat-grass and Crested Hair-grass have their only vice-county sites. The ‘Tidy Village Competition’, an anathema to me, has left an unfortunate legacy. Its original purpose of keeping attractive gardens and well-kept houses and surroundings free from litter has become corrupted to converting every bit of grassland in the village into billiard table-like surfaces with few plants. This tidiness has spilt over into churchyards and cemeteries, where regular cutting also became the order of the day. What a pity that with the loss of flower–rich meadows in the countryside the cemeteries and churchyards couldn’t be used to counter the downturn. If these grasslands were set aside to revert to meadows full of wild flowers, they would be wonderful places to have one’s ashes scattered. Woodlands, particularly over limestone, were better in the past because conifers did not feature in their composition. Photographs of Tintern, taken at the beginning of the 20th Century, show the valley sides clothed in deciduous trees with no conifers. The widespread planting of conifers changes the nature of the substrate; the carpet of needles changes the pH quickly turning neutral soils acidic. Even strongly calcareous soils become acidic given time, and the ground flora changes with a reduction of numbers and variety. Changes in my lifetime reflect not only in the increase in conifer planting but also in the results from such density in deciduous tree cultivation. The woods used to be coppiced and kept open. Most country houses had gardens and grew their own vegetables. Peas and beans needed sticks, as did garden fences and jumps on racecourses, and so there was a steady demand for coppice products. More open woodlands have a greater number of species in their understorey, and coppicing kept open spaces for plants such as Butterfly Orchids. In the 1950s in the Angiddy Valley alone it was possible to see 32 species of butterfly, half the total of British species, and many of them in large numbers. Now a dozen species is a bonus and then only in small numbers. The coppicing and felling of yesteryear was limited to what men could do using muscle power alone. Two men on each end of a saw tired, and the felling was limited to produce dappled shade. This favoured the spread of woodland plants and the light coming through was not so intense that it favoured non-woodland, invasive plants. Chainsaws enable large areas of woodland to be clear-felled. There may be a colourful display of plants such as Foxglove or Broom for one year after the clear-fell, but quickly Bramble or Bracken take over and restrict the resurgence of woodland plants. Spraying herbicides to facilitate access has also not favoured the woodland ground flora either. The running of too many farm animals in woodlands also reduces ground flora which is either eaten or trampled underfoot. The increase in wild mammal herbivores (e.g. deer) gives the impression of increasing biodiversity, but high population density seems to be adversely affecting the plants upon which they browse. Where the plants are already scarce the attention of these grazing animals can have disastrous results. Maintaining broad rides is beneficial to biodiversity in that it gives better light to woodland plants that thrive in it and allows some more light into the edge of woods to plants that need only dappled shade. In the Wye Valley there used to be several small parking areas where a few cars could park and the occupants could 40

Flora of Monmouthshire picnic. This activity kept the spaces open and plants such as Pyramidal and Narrow-leaved Helleborine Orchids were able to bloom. Earth barriers to prevent access have allowed dense thickets of Ash to take over and the orchids have gone. Tree planting schemes are good as long as they are carried out by people who know what they are doing. Selecting native trees, appropriate to the land on which they are going to grow, should be a priority. A tree planting scheme, involving scouts and guides, saw the planting of 100 trees on the edge of one school’s grounds. Half of the trees planted were Sycamore, a persistent alien weed which produces a massive crop of seeds. Fortunately, the spring planting was followed by a very dry summer and none of the trees survived. Where trees are planted is important; as marshes, flower-rich meadows and heath-land increase the richness of wildlife they should not be considered favourably for tree planting schemes. Though loss of flower–rich meadows has caused the greatest deterioration of biodiversity, land drainage has also had a severe effect. A whole community of organisms, unique to marshes, has been lost from many parts of the county. Large lengths of the River Severn margins were marshy, a portion of which was brackish; these have gone due to the erection of the sea ‘wall’ that stops river flooding. The criss-crossing of the Levels with drain pipes that carry the surface water into the reens, and the lowering of the water table by the deepening of reens, the spraying of vegetation in the large reens that carry water to the Severn and the use of sluice gates have gone too far. Many reens east of Newport are now dry for much of the year particularly the sea wall reens. Plants as Horned Pondweed, Brookweed, Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot and Flowering Rush have largely lost their habitats. The Flowering Rush fortunately has a second home around some ponds and on some reen margins and along the banks of the Wye, north of Bigsweir, but the others are now difficult to find anywhere. If the sea wall has to be raised so that the estuarine water never forms the brackish water marshes of yesteryear, then the few remaining salt marshes on the Severn side of the sea wall should not be subject to installation of drainage pipes or to over-grazing by animals. Saltmarsh plants are confined to this special habitat, and if not grazed to the ground, afford variety and cover and food for the waders that are driven from the mud and gravels in the estuary by the incoming tide. The mouth of the Wye near the Wye Bridge (M48), Caldicot Pill to Magor Pill, Goldcliff Pill to Uskmouth, Mouth of the River Ebbw to Lighthouse Inn and Peterstone Gout to the mouth of the River Rhymney are salt marshes valuable to the maintenance of biodiversity, supporting scarce plants found nowhere else in the county. The soil acts like a sponge, especially when bound by plant roots, holding water and releasing it slowly. With all the land drains discharging their water from the fields into the streams and rivers, it is no wonder the rivers cannot deal with the water flow after heavy rain, and the flooding causes problems. The increased spread of maize crops and the accompanying use of herbicides means that after the harvest the ground remains barren and bare for months, and when the winter rains drain off rapidly they rapidly swell the swollen rivers. Unsprayed arable fields also provide homes, shelter and food for a wide range of animals and homes for many archaeophytes (plants introduced by man before 1500 and associated with his activities ever since). Whereas most arable fields in the past supported of a number of archaeophytes, today the situation is bleak. In 2002 I drove around much of the eastern part of the county searching for unsprayed fields. Only three remained of those seen fifteen years before. They had Field Woundwort and Sharp-leaved Fluellen as the most notable weeds, one had Round-leaved Fluellen and another had Lesser Quaking Grass, Hairy Buttercup and St Martin’s Buttercup; two of the latter three probably colonising from further south in Britain. One additional field at Undy that had several archaeophytes in the past had a potato crop. The haulms had been sprayed with a herbicide and the weeds had been zapped at the same time, except for one corner where 13 Field Woundwort plants had escaped the spray. Nowhere have I been able to find Dwarf Spurge which was so common in the past (SDSB reported some plants at Dingestow Court in 2003). Bogs are a declining habitat with a special flora and fauna. Waun Afon is the largest and among its flora is included the insectivorous Sundew and a hybrid Deergrass, which has only one other vice-county site (a much smaller one, high up on Mynydd Maen, is the second site). There is a fine bog on the lower eastern slopes of Coity Mountain above Forgeside that contains Sundew, Musk and other county rarities. There are other bogs and some of them already have some protection. 41

Flora of Monmouthshire Heathlands afford another variety of habitat with its own special residents. The county has some fine examples on the upper slopes of some of its uplands in the west, but the central raised portions have been ploughed and the eastern ridge has had its heathlands covered by forest. The creation of the Wetlands Reserve at Uskmouth with lagoons formed on the old ash pans of Uskmouth Power Station has improved the biodiversity locally. Bee Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids, Marsh Helleborines, Southern Marsh Orchids, Heath and Common Spotted Orchids and Grass Vetchling have increased dramatically in the area. The spread of planted Common Reed has been equally dramatic as runners many metres long can extend the colony in one or two years to cover areas containing the orchids. I hope serious thought has been given to limiting the spread of reeds to stop the damage they can cause to the attractive and very scarce plants present. I would like to see Bearded Tits in the reeds, but not at the expense of the current biodiversity. Improving biodiversity does not mean importing exotic plants from abroad or even from other parts of the country and planting them in the countryside to ‘improve’ it. They can contaminate the local gene pool, and frequently introductions do not last long when they have to compete against native plants. The hybrid Lupins that were planted on roadsides around Abergavenny soon succumbed to the resurgence of the native plants. The Dutch trumpet daffodils planted along the motorways are bad enough, but when they are planted along the Wye Valley, which has its own dainty wild daffodil and plenty of other beautiful plants and scenery for the discerning eye, a lack of understanding beyond belief is displayed. Some people do not respect the countryside. Too often woodlands and moorlands are used as dumping grounds for cars (often left as burnt out wrecks), old carpets, fridges, televisions, furniture etc. Dumping of some things such as plastic bags is a hazard to livestock that may ingest them. Clean ponds can be attractive and relaxing, but filled with household waste and supermarket trolleys and surrounded by the remains of takeaways, they lose their appeal and are not beneficial to their natural inhabitants. Some minor roads near St Mellons have been completely blocked by illegally dumped builders’ rubble. Surely, solutions to these problems are not beyond modern man. Failure to solve them leads to further degradation of the countryside. It can be argued that extinctions have been going on for years, even before more recent changes in farming practices, but anyone living from the 1950s and before will confirm that many, relatively common plants have been alarmingly reduced in numbers. Wake up calls are at last coming through! One happy example is the success of the Monmouthshire Meadows Group encouraging small landowners to manage their grasslands and woodlands with conservation in mind and increase the biodiversity of their properties. Another praiseworthy organisation is the Gwent Wildlife Trust. Their example should be supported and spread to other habitats too.

Flora of Monmouthshire

LIST AND INITIALS OF RECORDERS Dates following the name indicate when that person made records before 1985. Names underlined belong to referees. Names in italics belong to authors of Monmouthshire county or part county floras. The * indicates people who recorded 1 or more tetrads in the 1985-1990 intensive effort to survey every tetrad. The + indicates people who have continued recording to 2006. The $ indicates the person’s NCC/CCW records have been usefully incorporated. AA AAD AB ABr AC ACJ ACo ACT ACTi ADu AEW AGP AH AHW-D AJ AJA AJI AJR AJS AL ALe ALG ALN ALP AM AMB AmcGS AMo AMP AO AOC AP APC ASL AT ATi ATS AW AWa AWh AWi AWR BAT BB

Alec Alford * A. A. Dudman Ann Booker Andy Briscombe Andrew Carey * A. Clive Jermy A. Cox Tony C. Titchen Angus C. Tillotson A. Duthie A. E. Wade 1895-1989 A. G. Purchas 1839 Allan Hopkins * A. H. Wolley-Dod Alison Jones * A. J. Akeroyd A. J. Iles * A. John Richards Alan J. Silverside Augustus Ley -1904 Alan Lewis Adrian L. Grenfell Alan L. Newton Anthony L. Primavesi Alec McKenzie A. M. Boucher Allan McG. Stirling Alan Morgan Alison. M. Paul Alan Orange Arthur O. Chater A. Parris Ann P. Connolly A. S. Lewis Adrian Thomas Tony Titchen A. Tom Sawyer Adrian Wood * + Anne Wareham A. Whitfield Alan Williams Bert W. Reid Barry A. Thomas Breda Burt *

BC BCh BE BH BJG BM BMa BMF BMO BMW BP BS BW CAS CASh CB CBa CC CCB CCH CCh CDP CE CEA CEH CES CFB CGT CHu CJ CK CL CM CMH CMH CMS-B CP CS CT CWT DB DBu

Bruce Campbell Barbara Chapman Basil Evans Benison 1881 Billy Hughes Brian J. Gregory * + Betty Morgan Billy Mathias B. M. Frederick B.M. Ogden, 1944 B. M. Watkins -1873 Beryl Pullen * Barry Stewart Barbara Welch 1939 Clive A. Stace Cicely A. Shirley C. Bucknall C. Bailey Charles Conway 1837 C.C. Babington, 1851 Chris C. Howarth Colin Charles Chris D. Preston Charlotte Evans Claude E. Andrews Charles E. Hubbard C. E. Salmon 1926 Chris F. Brown C. G. Trapnell 1921 Clive Hurford C. Jeans 1967 Clare Kitchen * Chris Lindley $ Clare Mockridge $ C. M. Harris Chris M. Hatch * C. M. Sankey-Barker, 1957 C. Parkinson, c. 1894 Christine Scotter Colin Titcombe * + C. W. Thomas Diana Bevan D. Buisson, 1881 43

DC DE DEG DEL DG DGl DH DI DJH DJL DJU DL DM DMc DN DPS DPT DTP DW DWH DWood EAL EBB EC EFW EG EGW EH EHW EJC EJL EJN EJS EL ELB EMR EN ENe EPP ER ER ES

Dave ChappelL D. Evans Dave E. Green + David E. Lewis * Dan Guest $ D. Gladwin D. Hart Digby Idle David J. Hambler D. J. Lewis Derek J. Upton + D. Lannon, 1944, 1957 Doug Mayo David McClintock 1954 David North David P. Stevens $ D. P. Thurlow * David T. Price * Dave Worrall D.W. Horne Dr Wood 1884 E. A. Loveys E. B. Bishop Ed Cooper E. F. Warburg E. Gee 1885 Elsa G. Wood * + E. Howe E. H. Williams 1940 Eric J. Clement E. J. Lowe 1867 E. J. Nicholl E. Joan Searle * E. Lees -1868 Ernie L. Burt Edgar Milne-Redhead E. Newman E. Nelmes 1945 E. P. Perman 1935-37 E. Rickard Eira Rosser E. Sculthorpe, 1936

Flora of Monmouthshire ESM E. S. Marshall -1916 ESMT E. S. M. Todd ESR E. S. Rainforth EV Eleanor Vachell -1942 FAR F. A. Rogers 1892 FHP Franklyn H. Perring FJAH F. J. A. Hort -1850 FJR Fred J. Rumsey FR Francis Rose FS F. Stewart FWSW-B FWS WorsleyGAM G. A. Matthews GANH G. A. Neil Horton GB Gordon Bristowe * GBe George Bentham 1858 GBo Gemma Bode GCF G.C. Francis GCR G. C. Rees GDW G. D. Wilson GFM Gerald F. McQuade * GFP George F. Peterken GGG G. Gordon Graham GH George Hutchinson *+ GHo Gareth Howells GJ Gary Jones * GL Geoff Lock GMB Gill M. Barter $ GMK G. M. Kay GMT Gwent Mdws. Team GS Gaye Sheridan GSH Graham S. Harris + GSM Graham S. Motley $ GT Glenys Titcombe GTa George Taylor GW Goronwy Wynne * GWG George W. Garlick HAI Hywel A. Iowerth HB Heather Barri * HH Heather Hutflesz HJK H. John Killick * HJV H. J. Vernall -1958 HN H Neale HØ Hans Øllgaard HOG H. O. Gale HP H. Parcele HPR H. P. Reader 1886 HR H. Rickards -1925 HR Howard Ray HRo H. Rowland 1947-49 HS Helen Scourse HSo H. Southall, 1875 HSR H. S. Redgrove HVC Heather V. Colls * +

HWM IBH IC IED IK IMV IR ITG JA JAG JAi JAW JB JBa JBH JBL JBl JBN JBr JCE JCM JCV JD JDD JDP JDRV JDW JE JEB JED JEJ JF JFH JFl JG JGB JH JHC JHr JJ JK JLa JLe JLi JM JMa JMu JN JND

H. W. Monington – 1888 Ian B. Hart Ian Colqhoun $ Ida E. Dunn Ian Kennet * I. M. Vaughan 1959 Ian Rabjohns * International Taraxacum Group John Alder Jean A. Green * Jessica Aidley John A Webb Jim Bevan J. Ball 1849 J. B. Hart J. B. Leney -1946 J. Bladon 1857 John B. Northcott Julian Branscombe + J. C. Ellis -1942 J. C. Melvill J. C. Vogel John Denyer J. D. Davies 1955 Joan D. Pollard * J. D. Rae Vernon + Jon D. Winder Jean Eagle * J. E. Beckerlegge, 1942-1943 J. E. Dandy J. E. Jones J. Freer 1951-52 John F. Harper * J. Fleming J. Gay J. G. Baker, 1876 Joan F. Hall * J. H. Clark -1868 Joan Harris * Jilly Jones * John Killick J. Lane c. 1940 Jerry Lewis + John Lightfoot 1773 Jonathan Mason * John MacQueen -1953 Jacqueline Murphy, FC Joy Newton Jim N. Davies + 44

JP JPB JPC JPW JR JS JSC JSt JSW JT JULS JVHS JW JWa JWB JWG JWh JWo JWs JWy KAC KCJ KEH KGC KLD KMB KR KSW KWM LC LEH LH LHa LHD LMS LMW LP MA MAB MacN MARK MB MBa MBG MBl MBr MC MCH MCh MCl MCo MD

Jeffrey Price J. Peggy Baker * J. P. Curtis Julian P. Woodman +$ J. Rees -1944 Jean Sadler * J. S. Clarke 1904 John Stabler Jan Winder Joan Tanner J. U. L. Scholberg 1924 John V. H. Syms J. Williams J. Watt 1943 J. W. Barker 1847 J. W. Gough -1946 J. White, 1886 John Wohlgemuth J. Woods -1856 Julian Wyllie Karl A. Crowther K. Clive Jones Kate E. Harris * Karl G. Crowther K. L. Davis Kate M. Bryant * Kate Rigby $ K. Sue Westwood $ K. W. Mieszkis Laurie Clarke L. E. Hollings 1953 Libby Houston Lyn Harper L. H. Davies Laurie M. Spalton L. Marilyn Williams Liz Powells * Martin Anthoney M. A. Briggs 1957 Mrs MacNabb Mark A. R. Kitchen * Mrs M.Bristow * Molly Barnett M. B. Gerrans Margaret Blakemore Margaret Braine Marion Card M. C. Horley M. Chorley Mary Cleaver M. Cobbe 1922 Mary Davies

Flora of Monmouthshire MDBR MDS ME MEG MF MG MGR MGt MHR MI MJ MJH MJo ML MM MMa MMG Mo MP MPa MPi MPr MR MSG MSM MSP MSW MVM MW MWa MY NBt NFS NMW NRE NS NSa NTHH NW OG PAS PB PC PCa PCH PDM PDS PFW PFY PG PGa

Mat D. B. Rich Mike D. Sayce * Mary Edwards * Mary E. Gillham Mary Farmer Mary Gibby M. G. Rippin Martyn Groucutt M. H. Rickard M. Iles * Martyn Jones + Mr & Mrs M.J.Hallett *

M. Jones Martin Lee Mary Morris * Margaret Marples * Monmouthshire Meadows Group. Mrs Morgan Mike Porter M. Parry 1937 Matthew Piccard Martin Price M. Rogers Mrs Gough Mrs Matthews Mrs Paterson Miss Woodhall, 1894 Merle V. Marsden M. Wainwright * Michael Way Marcus Yeo $ Newport Biodiversity team Nick F. Stewart + Nesta M. Wintour Nicholas R. Evans Nigel Smith * N. Sandwith -1946 N. T. H. Holmes Nancy Whitcombe Olwen Gibbon Paul A. Smith + Peter Boddington * Peter Cobb Peter Carpenter Peter C. Hall * P. D. Moore Peter D. Sell Peter F. Williams * Peter F. Yeo Pauline Goodhind P. Gay

PH PJ PJMN PM PMcP PMM PMW PPA PR PRG PRi PS PSJ PT RA RAJ RAJo RB RCP RDM RDP RDR REH RES RF RGE RH RHR RHu RJ RJP RL RLH RLS RM RMa RoF RPH RPK RSW RSWa RT RTy RVL RW RWD RWi RWR SA SAJPB SAR SB SBr

Pauline Hindmarsh * Pat Johns * Philip J. M. Nethercott Peggy Moseley * Peter Macpherson P. M. Millman P. Max Wade Phyl P. Abbott Paul Reade P. R. Glading * Paul Richards Peter Smith Peter S. Jones * Prof. Thompson R. Arthur * Richard A. Jones * R. Andy Jones Ruth Brown * Richard C. Palmer R. D. Meikle Richard D. Pryce R. D. Randall Bob E. Hewitt * R. E. Stumbles 1953 Bob Fraser * + R. Gwynn Ellis Bob Hallett * R. H. Roberts Robert Husbands Roger James + Richard J. Pankhurst R. Lewis 1944 Rene L. Huquet R. L. Smith, 1924-7 R. Moore Roger Maskew Ro. Fitzgerald Bob P. Harding Richard P. Kilshaw Ray. S. Waite R. S. Waldren Rhodri Thomas * Rosemary Tyler Richard V. Lansdown Richard Wiston Dick W. David R. Williams 1966 R. W. Rickards -1935 S. Arthur, 1933 Sam. Bosanquet Sen.+ Shirley A. Rippin * + Sue Bellamy $ S. Bryan 45

SC SDSB SEE SEN SGC SH SHB SJ SJT SK SMG SP SPo SS SW SWe TAC TAJ TB TBa TC TCEW TCGR TDP TD-S TE TGE TGT THT TLW TPB TR TW TWG UB UTE VAW VM VMa WAS WHP WHT WK WR WS WSt WT WTW

Sian Cobb Sam D. S. Bosanquet+ S. E. Erskine S. E. Newton 1955 S. G. Charles -1951 Samuel Hamilton 1909 S.H.Bickham Susanna Jacks Stephanie J. Tyler * + Sheelagh Kerry * Sheila M. Gooch Sheila Perry * Stephanie Poulter Stuart Smith Steve Williams S. Westwood Tom A. Cope T. Alasdair Jacks * T. Blackstock T. Bailey T. Clark T. C. E. Wells Tim C. G. Rich Tim D. Pollard * Teona Dorrien-Smith Tom Edmondson Trevor G. Evans * + Tom G. Tutin T. H. Thomas -1902 T. L. Williams 1929 T. Paul Bartlett Terry Ryan * T. Walford 1781 T. W. Gissing -1853 Ursula Burgoyne U. Thelma Evans * + Vanessa A. Williams * Vicky Morgan V. Matthews W. A. Shoolbred 1920 W.H. Purchas 1895 Bill H. Tucker * Bill Keene W. Rönnfeldt 1895 W. Sanderson W. Standish Will Thomas W. T. Williams

Flora of Monmouthshire

SPECIES ACCOUNTS The species accounts are given in the following format: Nomenclature and sequence follows Stace (1997) unless otherwise stated (e.g. Hieracium), so the authorities are not given. Arc preceding the Latin name indicates the plant has probably been introduced to Britain by man before 1500 AD. ! preceding the Latin name indicates the plant is an alien introduced after 1500 AD and covers all recent introductions. A description of each plant is given, with more important characters emphasised in bold, and sometimes underlined. No descriptions are given in the large and difficult genera Hieracium, Rubus and Taraxacum, where specialist texts need to be consulted. Wherever possible in writing up the accounts of plants I used living or herbarium specimens to jog my memory, a process which reminded me of how difficult it was sometimes to name an individual plant, in situ, particularly for one that had close and similar relatives. Maps are given for species occurring in 5 or more tetrads. Some very common species are not mapped. The grid lines are spaced at 10 km intervals and are numbered using the 100 km and 10 km numbers on the margins; for the equivalent national grid 100 km letters and numbers which are cited in the text see Figure 2 (page 3). The habitats and records are then given. Old pre-1984 records are usually cited first, often referring to records in Wade’s (1970) Flora of Monmouthshire, and sometimes Shoolbred’s (1920) Flora of Chepstow, and often citing such records for more interesting species. All or a selection of recent post-1984 records are then cited in detail, usually in the order locality, grid reference (varying from hectad to 8 figures depending on the information available), year, recorder (as initials, see page 43). A * means there is a specimen in the Welsh National herbarium (NMW). ‘det.’ means the identification has been checked (determined) by an expert, and ‘conf.’ means an original identification has been confirmed. At the end of the records the number of current tetrads is given and sometimes the number of tetrads with old records where it has not been recorded recently. For instance, ‘3 t (6 t)’ means recorded in 3 recent tetrads and 6 historic tetrads. The number of old tetrads cited is very incomplete as lack of grid references in old floras make it difficult to allocate a record to a specific tetrad; there are far more losses from the tetrads than here shown.

Flora of Monmouthshire

LYCOPODIOPSIDA Clubmosses

LYCOPODIUM Clubmosses

Clubmosses are small herbs with simple or littlebranched stems; the simple leaves have a single vein; the sporangia are borne singly in leaf axils or on the upper side of a leaf near its base or many together may form a cone.

The main stem creeps horizontally and bears erect branches some of which bear spores in terminal cones.

LYCOPODIACEAE Clubmosses

A procumbent, spreading, perennial plant with a stem that roots at intervals and sends up a slender, vertical stalk usually ending in two cylindrical cones; there are hair-points on the leaves.

Lycopodium clavatum Stag’s-horn Clubmoss

Clubmosses are moss-like herbs with simple or branched, creeping and rooting stems, sometimes erect; the single type of spore may be borne in the axil of a leaf or, as an aggregate, terminate a branch as a cone.

HUPERZIA

Fir Clubmoss 22

These have ascending to erect, equal branches resembling miniature fir trees; the leaves spiral up the branch often bearing bud-like propagules in their axils; sporangia are borne on leaves similar to the sterile ones.

Huperzia selago

Fir Clubmoss

This is a short (c. 10 cm tall), tufted, pricklyleaved, evergreen plant that has the appearance of a miniature juniper.

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18 32

It grows in upland moorlands or on shady, northern-facing woodland rides. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave ten sites. The first recent report by TDP & JDP in 1980 was a patch on a broad Forestry Commission track in Ffrwyd Wood, SO/288.112. In October 1982, AL & CT saw 1 plant (later found to be 5-10 plants, TGE) on a woodland path-side in Wentwood, ST/411.945. 14 plants were counted where a wood had been clear felled down the hill, E of Penallt Old Church, SO/527.107, 1983, SJT: a patch 1.5 m in diameter on an artificial heap of stony soil, mainly under Calluna, by a hollow and the road that runs from Foxhunter Car Park to Keeper’s Pond, SO/2616.1065, 2000, GSM, SDSB; one patch under leggy heather on an old track through forestry near the head of Cwm Carn at ST/257.957, 2004, both GSM, SDSB. 3 t (12 t) Figure 7

It is found in acidic uplands. The first recent find, after nearly a hundred years, by PDM in June 1999 was a 2 x 2 m colony in a hollow, with Calluna, Carex binervis, Empetrum, Vaccinium myrtillus and Juncus squarrosus in the shelter of a bedrock exposure near its eastern end at Tir AbrahamHarry, SO/244.111. In the same tetrad but at SO/250.106, HR recorded 2-3 patches on partially colonised coal spoil above a small gulley. On 10 January 2004, SDSB saw it on the top of a sandstone rock in the middle of a stream in St Mary’s Vale at SO/272.175. 2 t Plates 3 & 4

SELAGINELLACEAE Lesser Clubmoss family Stems branching variously bear roots on naked ‘stems’ or from basal swellings. Leaves simple with microscopic ligules on base. They bear two types of sporangia at the base of special cone forming leaves. 47

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 7

Lycopodium clavatum

Stag’s-horn Clubmoss

Selaginella kraussiana

Krauss’s Clubmoss

This ground-trailing, branching plant has stems massed with small leaves which are massed on the ends overlapping so that their arrangement is concealed. In older parts of the stem, where they are more spaced out, it is possible to see that on the upper part of the flattened stem there are two rows of 1-1.5 mm leaves and on the sides are two rows of leaves almost twice as big. The leaves have short, forward pointing, translucent spines spaced along their edges. Long, naked threads end in root branches. The spores are borne on fertile branches. They are contained in sporangia in the axils of leaves. The microsporangia burst open to shed many, tiny spherical spores visible with a 20 x lens and the megasporangia release very few larger spores. This alien from Azores, tropical or South Africa here may be found in damp, shady places, usually as an escapee from greenhouses. This 1st vc record was dominant over 10 x 2m, below north wall of church, Llangybi, ST/373.967, 2007, SDSB.

EQUISETOPSIDA Horsetails Fig.8 Selaginella kraussiana Krauss’s Clubmoss 48

These herbs form colonies of erect stems rising from branching rhizomes; the stems are jointed and bear tiny, 1-veined leaves in a whorl on the top

Flora of Monmouthshire edge of a sheath around the stem; whorls of branches occur at the nodes in some species; the spores are produced in terminal cones, which usually occur on stems with whorls of branches but may have separate, simple, fertile stems.

EQUISETACEAE Horsetail family As above with fertile stems, usually brownish or whitish, produced before the green, vegetative stems.

EQUISETUM

Horsetails

These contain small variations within characters described above for the family.

the

! Equisetum ramosissimum Branched Horsetail

Equisetum arvense

Field Horsetail

The first shoots of this winter-deciduous horsetail appear late March or early April and are white or pink, unbranched and tipped with a cone widest at the middle. Once the spores are shed, the shoot withers. The infertile, green stems appear later and are thinner and have whorls of branches. The branches have leaves forming fused sheaths and the green or paler tips separate and curl away from the internode beyond; this is diagnostic. The central cavity is small and is not easily compressed.

This horsetail has dark brown rhizomes from which 2-3 mm wide, bright green, largely hollow stems arise to 80 cm; the stems have 6-12 or more rounded ridges, which viewed against the light with a x10 lens reveals 40-50 pimples per cm length, which give the stem a rough feel between the fingers; the main stem has whorls of 4-6 usually, unbranched branches separated by 4.55 cm internodes; branches from some of the lowest nodes are 30 cm to almost as long as the stem; the sheaths to 7 mm have a brown margin tipped by fine, 2-3 mm, pale teeth; the small, 11.5 cm, apical cones are rounded to apiculate but fewer than half of the stems bear cones in any one year. Previously found in Britain introduced on a river bank in Lincolnshire in 1947, and on the edge of a park in Weston-super-Mare in 1963. In vc 35, 100– 150 m² was found on a substrate of chippings and soil, on a brown-field site between the end of Lilleshall St. and Gaskell St. and the R. Usk, Newport, ST/3235.8748, 2005, RPK, conf. TGE, ACJ, PJA, FJR. 1 t

Equisetum fluviatile

Water Horsetail

A noticeable colony-forming, semi-aquatic horsetail, with stems that bear no branches in open water to well-branched (though short ones) whorls on stems in shaded water. Some of the stems will be topped with fertile, blackish cones. The stems contain a large hollow so that if squeezed between finger and thumb they flatten easily. Widespread in reens, ponds and slow-moving water. 99 t

Widespread on all substrates, and it can occur on much drier ground than other horsetail species. 265 t

Equisetum sylvaticum

Wood Horsetail

The most delicately attractive of our horsetails, with dense whorls of slender, branchedbranches that droop towards their tips. 49

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 9

Equisetum sylvaticum 50

Wood Horsetail

Flora of Monmouthshire Though growing in various wet habitats, it is commonest in soils that do not dry out completely. 119 t

Equisetum telmateia

Great Horsetail

This is the largest of our horsetails, with bright green, whorled branches arising from the nodes of stout, white stems. The cones are produced in April on unbranched stems, with very loose, distinct sheaths.

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35 22

Wood Horsetail is inclined to form large colonies. A wet substrate is the predominant requirement and most colonies seem to be found on acidic soils. Reservoir margins are a favoured habitat, as at the east side of the top reservoir at Cwm Tillery, SO/222.072, RF; below N end of reservoir, The British, SO/249.044, TGE; damp grassland just N of Pen y Van Pond, SO/19.00, TGE. Flushes also feature as a habitat e.g. on Bal Bach, SO/277.261, CK, MARK; wet heath, Pontllanfraith/Blackwood, ST/167.963, Grassland Team; ditch above & W of Forgeside, SO/2417.0839, TGE; woodland flush Cwm Merddog, SO/18.06, SJT. 30 t. Figure 9

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Once established it can form large colonies. Sitting in front of one of these colonies one can imagine what living in a forest of giant horsetails during the Carboniferous period 300 million years ago was like. Such colonies can be seen on the side of the Offa’s Dyke path between Limekiln and Dingle Woods at SO/467.128 and on the northern edge of Craig y Perthi Wood, W of Bishton, ST/385.880. A combination of water seepage, lime and clay favours the development of colonies. Hedgebanks, where water seeps down through hedges from sloping fields provide a home and may be seen on the north side of the B4293, S of Goldenhill Farm at ST/520.946. The Levels, near the R. Severn, used to support many colonies but the deliberate lowering of the water-table by the deepening of the drainage reens has reduced numbers considerably. 39 t

PTEROPSIDA Ferns

Equisetum palustre

Marsh Horsetail

This species has rather simple, smooth, upright stems usually with whorls of up-curved, simple branches. Many of the stems terminate with dark green or blackish cones in June. The leaf sheaths have black, clasping teeth, not spreading as the pale green teeth of E. arvense. 23

Note whether the fronds (leaves) form a shuttlecock arising from a rhizome crown, as in the Buckler ferns, or grow up separately from an underground spreading or branching rhizomes, as in Bracken. It is best to examine a pinna from the middle of a frond especially with sori on its

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Flora of Monmouthshire underside. Observe whether the frond is once, twice, three times or more pinnate, beware of the final division is it pinnate or merely pinnatifid, i.e. divided to short of the midrib. Note the colour, shape and density of scales on the stipe (stalk). Some fern specimens examined may prove impossible to identify! This is particularly true of young ferns, which may be difficult to name; it is better to choose a mature plant with spore-bearing organs which often provide good diagnostic factors. Beware of a plant that does NOT fall into a satisfactory category, it may well be a hybrid, especially where closely related species grow together. In some plants microscopic examination of the spores might be helpful; the presence of colourless and empty spores may indicate a hybrid.

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BOTRYCHIUM Moonworts These have 1-pinnate, sterile blades and a panicle of branches with sessile sporangia borne proud on the upper fertile part.

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Adder’s-tongue family These have a short, scaleless rhizome which may be corm-like; the petiole bears a simple or 1pinnate frond, but often continues to a fertile blade in the form of a spike or panicle bearing sporangia either side of the axis.

Botrychium lunaria

Moonwort

Like Ophioglossum, it is small and has a single leaf but this is divided into fan-shaped lobes (pinnae) either side of the mid-rib and the fruiting part is branched and is an aggregate of tiny, rounded sporangia.

OPHIOGLOSSUM Adder’s-tongues These have simple, sterile blades and a simple spike of sunken sporangia either side of the axis.

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Adder’s-tongue

This species produces 1-2, broadly lanceolate to triangular, fleshy, yellow-green leaves from May onwards. Some leaves will be found half way up a stem that ends in a slightly, flattened cylindrical spike, where the spores are produced. It is best sought in early May when the yellow-green leaves contrast with the surrounding green grass; later other vegetation overtops them. Wade (1970) described it as rare to locally frequent and gave 22 sites. It tends to avoid uplands and acidity, but can be abundant as in meadows at MOD Caerwent, where there are 1000s of plants at ST/465.915, TGE, 1991, or at Cefn Campstone on the steep WNW facing slope at SO/342.215, SAR, 1999. Hundreds may be seen at Church Farm, SO/469.016 and Little Goytre, SO/352.237, JPW & CM. Some sites have numerous plants some years and then nothing for years e.g. Hardwick Plantation along the path sides in 1987 only, and the roadside grassy verge at Foresters Oaks, CT, 1978-80. More often population sizes are much smaller than the above examples. 18 t

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Wade (1970) described it as a rare native and gave 5 sites. Though found in meadows, it is commoner on old coal spoil heaps. It is usually found only in ones or twos and it seldom comes up again in the same spot. It was first reported as 1 plant on the N verge at Carn-y-gorfydd, Blorenge SO/272.110, 1970, MEG; one plant on a spoil heap in Cwm Lickey, ST/273.991, 1981, GWG; 3 plants were recorded on moorland, Garn yr erw, SO/247.098, 1995, PDM and King’s College students; the best 52

Flora of Monmouthshire record was of 16 plants in 4 m² at Garn-yr-Erw SO/237.098, 1997, TGE & CT. Other records: less than 10 plants in a cattle-grazed meadow at Cwmynyscoy ST/285.997, 1992, JPW & CM; 1 patch in meadow at MOD Caerwent ST/472.918, 1993, JPW; on spoil tip, The British SO/251.044, SW, 1996; in a slightly acidic, mesotrophic field at Griffithstown ST/284.993, 1992, JPW et al.; 1 plant on coal waste in Cwm du SO/250.023, 1997, TGE; 3 plants in an orchid meadow Newgrove Farm, SO/501.068, 1997, SJT & GFP. 10 t (7 t) Plate 6

substrate and looks like an Alga mat, which suggests that it could be in other suitable crannies. The sporophyte fern is found in W Ireland and in some very wet places in W Britain but is rare everywhere, including in vc 35 where it was found: Cleddon Shoots Reserve, Cleddon, SO/52.03, SO/52.04, 1997, FJR, MG, AMP, JCV, MHR; in gaps under rocks, SO/520.039, 1997, TGE, MARK, CK; in deep hole in sandstone outcrop, E bank of Grwyne Fawr, Cefn-coed, SO/258.268, 2004, SDSB (Thamnobryum alopecurum was the nearest plant on the outside of the hole). 3 t

HYMENOPHYLLACEAE Filmy-fern family

POLYPODIACEAE Polypody family These have evergreen leaves arising separately from a creeping rhizome; the deeply, 1-pinnate leaves are similar with narrowly oblong pinnae or lobes; the circular to oval sori are borne on the lower surface and lack covering indusia; the spores are of one size.

These have thin, scaleless, glabrous or shortly hairy rhizomes, which run along the surface of the wet substrate of its habitat; the 1-3-pinnate leaves are all similar, very thin and translucent and borne at intervals along the rhizome; the sporangia are enclosed in 2-valved indusia protruding from the edge of the base of the leaf.

POLYPODIUM

Polypodies

These wintergreen ferns are found growing on banks, trees, walls, screes and rock faces, creeping from rhizomes that tend to follow cracks to give a linear growth form. The fronds are once-pinnately divided. Microscopic examination, as explained on page 169 of Welsh Ferns by GH & BAT, is useful to confirm identifications.

HYMENOPHYLLUM Filmy-ferns These have glabrous, thread-like rhizomes; the 1-2pinnate leaves have wingless petioles; the indusia are 2-valved and lack a protruding bristle.

Hymenophyllum tunbrigense Tunbridge Filmy-fern

Polypodium vulgare

George Hutchinson recounts that he and Barry Thomas found a yellow Biological Record Card, ST/29 57 26 97 dated 1970 when rummaging through BRC fern cards whilst preparing the 7th edition of Welsh Ferns. The fern was reputed to have been found near a waterfall, under an overhang near Blaen Bran Reservoir at I assume ST/26.97. I have made two searches, one with CT, without finding either feature, TGE, 2003, and suspect it was an error. (1 t)

Polypody

TRICHOMANES Killarney Fern

These ferns have thin, pubescent rhizomes; the 2-3pinnate leaves have a petiole winged at least in the upper part; the covering of the sporangia is tubular and develops a protruding bristle.

18 31

Trichomanes speciosum gametophyte Killarney Fern

Its fronds tend to be narrower than the other two species and the near parallel sides emphasise this. The spore-producing sori, on the underside of the fronds, are round and mature to a reddish brown to bright orange colour that make them

This fern remains in the gametophyte stage of its life in permanently damp, cool holes or crevices under rocks. In this stage it forms a net of green, branching filaments on the surface of the 53

Flora of Monmouthshire This plant is usually found on calcareous substrates. One of the best sites for P. cambricum is the rail cutting W of Chepstow Railway Station at ST/53.92; there are scores there with P. interjectum and possible hybrids. There are small numbers on the walls of the castles of Chepstow, ST/53.94, c. 1973; Caldicot, ST/486.884, TGE, 1990; Grosmont SO/405.245, DP, 1992, if they have not been cleaned off since. RHR recorded it on mortared walls Tintern Abbey, 1969, and they were cleaned off. It has also been noted on a wall top at Cleddon, SO/521.038, TGE, 1978; 6 plants on a rock face at Blackcliff, TGE, 1985; on a wall at Troy House, SO/50.11, TG & UTE, 1986; in Cwm Tyleri, SO/2.0I, RF, 1987; on a wall nr R. Wye, Lady Park Wood SO/54.14, TGE, 1982; one small clump, Far Hearkening Rock, SO/5410.1508, 2005, TCGR, *. 8 t (3 t)

conspicuous. This taxon is more to be found on acidic rock types. 125 t

Polypodium interjectum Intermediate Polypody Similar to the last species but its fronds are more elliptic in shape with the pinnae tending to get gradually shorter at both ends. The sori, often oval in shape, ripen to a yellow-brown colour. 23

Polypodium vulgare x P. interjectum = P. x mantoniae

This hybrid is intermediate between its two parents. It has been found on roadside banks near Newchurch West church at ST/47.98, TGE, 1985 and at Grosmont SO/399.248, TGE, 1989. 2 t

18 31

It occurs on various substrates. 147 t

DENNSTAEDTIACEAE Bracken family Bracken may cover large areas due to branching, scaleless, subterranean, pubescent rhizomes, which give rise to tall, erect, usually 3-pinnate, scaleless leaves at short intervals; the leaves unfurl like a bishop’s crozier; the sori are borne close enough to the underside edge of the pinnules to be enfolded by the reflexed pinnule margin; the spores are of one size.

Polypodium cambricum Southern Polypody As the longest pinnae are near the base of the frond, the leaf tends to have a triangular shape. It is the only species to have paraphyses (sterile hairs) among the sporangia (x 10 lens). The sori mature to an amber-yellow colour.

PTERIDIUM

Bracken

Bracken has erect, long petioles each topped by a long rachis bearing paired pinnae further divided into pinnules forming large triangular ‘wings’, to present a distinctive shape, which when crushed has an equally distinct odour.

Pteridium aquilinum

18 31

Bracken

The spaced out individual fronds arise from deep rhizomes and its crushed leaf smell make bracken unmistakable. It is found everywhere except some of the lowlying, wet Severn moors. 363 t

Flora of Monmouthshire are all similar, each capable of bearing sori on the underside; the petiole is at least as long as the leafy part.

Pteridium aquilinum 23

Phegopteris connectilis

Beech Fern

Beech Fern fronds arise separately from a thin, spreading rhizome. Each frond consists of a long stipe and a triangular blade held at an angle to the stipe with the lowest pair of pinnae held upwards from the plane of the blade and away from the rest of the pinnae, which are largely parallel to each other. Its round or oval sori are arranged around the edges of the pinnae lobes and have no indusium.

18 31

35 23

THELYPTERIDACEAE Marsh Fern family Marsh Ferns have long, thin, scaly rhizomes that give rise to single leaves or to leaves in terminal tufts, scales are infrequent on the petioles; the sori are situated on the underside margin of the pinnules with rolled over edges covering the sori instead of indusia.

THELYPTERIS Marsh Ferns These have sterile and fertile fronds separate; the fronds arise individually at short distances along the rhizome; the paired pinnae of the frond are longest near the middle getting shorter to both the petiole and the apex ends.

Thelypteris palustris

18 31

A small fern that forms colonies in upland, damp, shady habitats. Wade (1970) described it as a rare native and gave 9 sites. A good colony may be found on the S side of Cwm Coed y Cerrig, towards Pont y Spig, in a flush, on a bank, under trees SO/292.209, 1874, AL, 1973-2004, TGE. Other Wade sites are on Tarren yr Esgob, SO/25.30 where they should be looked for among the tumbled scree or on ledges, SGC, 1941. Sites at SO/1.0 M & ST/2.9, and one in Cwm Tillery, SO/1.0M are unknown to me. THT recorded it near Mamhilad in 1859. Old sites in the Wye Valley were at Hael Wood, Penallt, SGC, 1924, Boggy Wood, Tintern, WAS, 1892 and damp wood, Kilgwrrwg, WAS, 1908. More recent records are: a colony of more than 150 fronds is on a steep rocky slope SSW of Pistyll-gwyn on Mynydd Garnclochdy, SO/2872.0703, SDSB, 2002. These can be overgrown during the summer by Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina, Rubus idaeus, Blechnum spicant and be surrounded by mosses Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum palustre and Plagiothecium undulatum. 5 t (9 t).

Marsh Fern

The erect, shortly-spaced fronds arise from thin rhizomes, close to the surface. Normally, there are infertile fronds with the pinnae well spaced and deeply lobed, and much taller, narrower, stiffer, fertile fronds with longer stipes. The fertile pinnae are narrower partly because their edges curl over the sori. This fern is found in shaded marshes and fens. In vc 35 it grows only in a wooded marsh in Cwm Coed y Cerrig at the Pont-y-spig end, SO/288.209. Near the road is an open space full of sedges in very wet soil; beyond that the trees begin but they are spaced out with the ferns in the spaces. Here I have failed to find any fertile fronds for years and I am inclined to think that they are too shaded and the trees need to be thinned. 1 t

PHEGOPTERIS Beech Ferns These have the longest paired pinnae near the base of the frond to give it a triangular shape; the leaves 55

Flora of Monmouthshire lobes at their base and taper to a point at their tip. The sori form lines, on the undersides, running from mid-rib to edges.

OREOPTERIS Lemon-scented Ferns These have short and stout rhizomes which bear tufts of leaves at their ends; the basal pair of pinnae are very short and the petiole is much shorter than the leafy part.

Oreopteris limbosperma Lemon-scented Fern

The fairly large fronds are elliptic in shape due to the pinnae getting progressively shorter from the middle. They grow upright, around the crowns of the rhizome, curling outwards near their tips to form a shuttlecock shape. The sori occur near the edge of the lobes of the pinnae. If the blade is turned over, the underside is covered with tiny, glistening, yellowish glands very noticeable in sunshine under a x10 lens. These cause the distinct lemon scent when the frond is lightly crushed. In old plants, because the rhizome branches, a cluster of plants can form.

18 31

Widespread in the vice-county, growing on walls and in shady, damp woodlands. 324 t

ASPLENIUM

Spleenworts

These are small, tufted ferns with 1-3-pinnate fronds or with irregularly linear lobed fronds with narrowly oblong to linear sori, parallel to each other and the lateral veins of pinnae or pinnules.

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Black Spleenwort

An evergreen fern of verge banks, less commonly in walls and in screes, with fronds a shiny, yellowish green.

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Most frequent in the wet uplands of the west. 71 t

ASPLENIACEAE Spleenwort Family

These are small, tufted, evergreen ferns found particularly on walls and rocky substrates; the sporangia are in lines along the pinnule veins.

PHYLLITIS Hart’s-tongues These have simple, entire leaves with no more than very sparse scales on the lower side; the long, linear sori are parallel to each other and to the lateral veins; each apparent sorus is actually two closely parallel sori, with the slits that release the spores facing each other.

Phyllitis scolopendrium

18 31

One remarkable site is on a stone chimney over 7m tall by 2.3m x 2.3m square at c.415m altitude to north and above Garn-yr-erw, Blaenavon

Hart’s-tongues

The evergreen, longish, strap-like, simple, shiny blades form an irregular shuttlecock. They have 56

Flora of Monmouthshire SO/2390.1027. More than 120 plants are scattered over 3 sides of this chimney -a vent for a former colliery called Hill Pit. The chimney and nearby spoil heaps are the only current evidence of the pit. 125 t Plate 7

Asplenium marinum

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis Maidenhair Spleenwort Apart from the attractive arrangement of its pinnules the fronds grow appressed to the wall surface and are greyer in appearance than in the other subspecies.

Sea Spleenwort

Though described as an evergreen fern, its fronds may be dried up or missing after a prolonged dry spell. The glossy, lanceolate fronds taper to a pinnatifid, rather pointed tip. The sori are linear-oblong. It grows best on the Atlantic coast of Europe in crevices in cliffs and caves where it is kept cool and moist. In vc 35 it occurs in two vertical holes in Trias sandstone, at Sudbrook, ST/503.872, in low cliffs, bathed by water from the R. Severn Estuary only by spring tides, where it was first found in 1973 by TGE. It is very much under threat at Sudbrook, particularly if global warming brings longer warm, dry spells when spring tides do not coincide with the heat. 1 t Plate 8

Asplenium ruta-muraria

18 31

18 32

First record, 1856, J. Enys. 19th Century records give R. Wye bank N of Monmouth and Monmouth Castle sites that do not have it today. They also quote Caldicot Castle and castle, Wentwood, which probably refers to Cas Troggy, where it is still to be found. There is an extreme form to be found on the remaining wall of Cas Troggy, named var. trogyense, its lobed pinnules arranged like French louver window panes. The ones I saw in 2002 inside the main entrance to Caldicot Castle to the east of the gate had the same structure. The St Arvans record was on the wall near Temple Doors, as the road begins its descent towards Tintern; a very warm dry spell since 1989 seems to have brought about its demise there. In Lady Park Wood it grows in crevices in a low cliff to the south and above the main R. Wye track and to the west of the vice-county boundary and The Slaughter. The 5 plants recorded in 2000 were down to one plant in 2003. It was discovered on the walls of Chepstow Castle in 1989, where there were thousands on the walls of the most westerly bailey until the late 1990s when most were cleaned off by renovation activities; other walls have it in very small quantities. 5 t Plate 11

Wall-rue

The fronds are small with small pinnules in 3s near the apex and in pinnate arrangements towards the base. When the indusia fall the close linear nature of the sori disappears and the whole of the underside of the leaf lobes seem to be one mass of sporangia.

An evergreen fern normally found on limestone or other basic rocks is much more common here in cracks in stone walls or in the mortar between bricks. With modern affluence, walls are better maintained and the old mortar is replaced by modern cement mixtures resulting in some decline in this and other wall plants. 292 t

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens Maidenhair Spleenwort Subsp. quadrivalens is an evergreen perennial found on most kinds of calcareous, rocky habitats, including man-made walls of stone or brick. It has 57

Flora of Monmouthshire spring that turn a rusty brown later, which explains its English name. These tend to hide the linear sori that lie along veins in the upper part of the frond.

long, narrow, tapering fronds with paired, simple pinnae along a thin, black midrib. The fronds grow away from the wall surface. 23

18 31

By far the commonest subspecies, it is only uncommon where walls are uncommon such as on the levels. 329 t

A small, tufted fern of natural limestone rock and in mortar, and widespread, despite the limited distribution of limestone. 245 t

Asplenium viride

WOODSIACEAE Lady-fern family These have scaly rhizomes of varying lengths with 1-4-pinnate leaves borne in tufts at the ends and uncoiling from young, spiral coils formed at the end of the previous autumn.

Green Spleenwort

This evergreen perennial, which has a green midrib, occupies north-facing or overhung crevices in calcareous rocks in the western upland. The first site is just to the south of Pwll du quarry (disused). There is a path leaving the B4246 just north of Pen-fford-goch Pond down to Pwll-du Quarry just before the path forks, one branch going down beside the stream descending in Cwm Ifor, there is low crevice in rocks below head height on the west side of the path, SO/254.113. The second site is in a joint of a rock just below at the junction of the paths mentioned above. The third site is on Tarren yr Esgob at SO/25.30. Only a small portion of the ledges making up the Tarren extends southwards into vc 35, but halfway up the steep slope there is a linear outcrop of rock and many plants occur in crevices under overhangs. 2 t

ATHYRIUM Lady-ferns Lady-ferns arise in shuttlecock fashion from short rhizomes; the fronds are twice pinnate; the sori are not protected by inrolling of the pinnules and may or may not have indusia.

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady-fern

CETERACH Rustyback These have simple, lobed or pinnate leaves where the lobes frequently alternate either side of the midrib to give a zigzag effect; there is a dense covering of the underside with rusty scales that hide the uncovered sori that merge into a rusty mass at maturity.

Ceterach officinarum

Rustyback

The fronds are lobed to give a wavy edge and are covered on the reverse with silvery scales in the 58

Flora of Monmouthshire Lady fern is a medium to large, tufted fern with twice pinnately-divided, lanceolate fronds that are widest near their middle. It looks more lacy than the Buckler ferns. The stipes are covered with buffcoloured scales; the sori are covered with an indusium that is C or J shaped. It is widespread in damp woodlands and on stream margins. It is variable and in the vice-county there are two forms: the shorter, softly arching form by the sides of streams and in damp woodlands, and a taller, stiffer one that grows in drier situations. 288 t

Gymnocarpium robertianum Limestone Fern This is similar to G. dryopteris but is slightly taller and firmer but narrower as the lower pair of main branches are noticeably smaller than the rest of the frond, the blade is angled much less than a rightangle and the stipe is a greeny-brown, the blade is covered with scattered tiny glands and the stipe even more so (none occur on the frond of G. dryopteris). 23

GYMNOCARPIUM Oak Ferns Oak Ferns have long rhizomes from which thin, wiry petioles arise, which are much longer than the triangular blades at their apex; elliptic sori are near the margins of the pinnules and have no indusia.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Oak Fern 19

The lower pair of pinnae are each as big as the rest of the frond and give the blade a tripartite look; the stipes are slender and black and the blades are held at a right-angle to them.

18 31

18 32

It grows on open or partly shaded, limestone screes or woods. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave 12 sites: a colony on the E edge of Hadnock Quarry, SO/542.153, 1946-94, SGC but it seems to have dwindled fatally; Lilyrock Wood; Lady Park Wood; Highmeadow Woods, *, SGC; foot of Blorenge, Bowman; near Pontypool, 1902, *, THT; between Penallt and Whitebrook, 1951, SGC; Rogiet (dried up, 1976) and Mounton (small quarry now filled in), early 1940s, TGE. Of recent records, in the vice-county, the best colony of thousands of fronds spread over two tetrads is on the E scree slope of the Blorenge, Craig yr Hafod, SO/273.100 and SO/273.098, 1953, DPMG, 1998, GSM, SDSB; another good site is among a streamwashed scree on the N facing slope of Tarren yr Esgob, SO/254.305, 1904-2003, *, AL, SGC, TGE; a few small patches grow about 4 m above the path leading down to Pwll du Quarry (disused), just below and to the E of the B4246 and Keeper’s Pond, SO/253.115, 1988-2003, RF, TGE. 5 t

It grows in upland woods and among scree rocks. Vice-county records: good colonies occur in a deciduous wood on a shady bank between the road and the Angiddy Brook, near Tintern Cross, ST/511.004, 1980-2000, SJT; on a steep N-facing slope in Glanau Wood, SO/496.073, 1982-2003, SJT; on a steep wooded slope, SE of Old Furnace, SO/515.001, 1978-2000, RSW; among largish scree stones, E of the B4246 at Garn Ddyrys, SO/3594.1194, 2003, CFB. The other five known sites have suffered in various ways and I have failed to re-find the fern in some of them. 9 t

CYSTOPTERIS Bladder-ferns They may have long rhizomes with fronds arising singly, or short rhizomes confining fronds to tufts; the fronds are 2-3-pinnate; the sori on the underside of the pinnules have a flap-like indusium that curls back to expose the sporangia. 59

Flora of Monmouthshire

Cystopteris fragilis

Brittle Bladder-fern

A small fragile, tufted fern with a brittle stipe and a delicately 2-pinnate divided, lanceolate blade.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 20 31 19

Widespread in woodlands and hedgebanks. 230 t

Polystichum aculeatum 31

It grows mainly in the uplands on basic rocks or on mortar of walls. In the vice-county it occurs mainly in the west, but one site, in the east, on a wall of the Tintern Ironworks (ruins) along the Angiddy Valley, SO/51.00, 1994, TGE, still has it. 34 t Plate 10

DRYOPTERIDACEAE Buckler-fern family This family has short, densely scaly rhizomes giving rise to tufted groupings of fronds, which when young are tightly coiled and unroll looking like a bishop’s crozier; sori are orbicular and covered by a peltate or kidney-shaped indusium; the spores give rise in an appropriate damp spot to a green, small plate of cells containing the sexual cells.

POLYSTICHUM Shield-ferns Their fronds are 1-2 pinnate with sori arranged down either side of the pinnae, or pinnules or lobes of pinnules; the indusia are peltate, lifting from the centre.

Polystichum setiferum

Hard Shield-fern

This plant, compared to P. setiferum, forms smaller fronds, which are leathery and narrower with much shorter basal pinnae. The basal pinnules of the pinnae have a less defined basal lobe and its base forms an acute angle. The pinnules are sharply pointed and lack the distinct stalk.

18 31

It is much less common than P. setiferum, preferring damp, shady woods on limy soils. 107 t

Soft Shield-fern

These are large ferns with fronds arching away from the centre like a shuttlecock. The fronds are more numerous than in P. aculeatum and rather flaccid and twice-pinnately divided, with the final divisions (pinnules) angular in shape with slender spinose margins. Observe the basal pinnules and their basal lobes; the lobe should form a right angle with the axis of the pinnule; the pinnules are distinctly stalked.

DRYOPTERIS Buckler-ferns The grouped sporangia making up the sori are covered by a kidney-shaped indusium in this genus. All species develop a large shuttlecock of fronds.

Flora of Monmouthshire

Dryopteris filix-mas

or black patch at the junction of the pinnae with the rachis in living material. The indusium is tucked in around the sporangia in the immature stage. Widespread in shady sites. 261 t

Male-fern

This is a fern that forms large, lance-shaped fronds with sturdy stipes covered in light-brown scales. The fronds are once pinnate, but the pinnae are so deeply lobed that a cursory glance would suggest that the fern is twice pinnate. The pinnules are noticeably toothed around their edges. The sori form along the length of the pinnules and the indusia lift as they mature exposing the sporangia around the edges; eventually the indusia fall away.

Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis This subspecies is the least like D. filix-mas. It has shiny blades with densely covered golden-scaly stipes. The pinnae are straight and parallel-sided for their basal half. The lowest pinnae are about half as long as the longest. The pinnules are truncate and have straight, parallel sides with no teeth. The lowest pinnules on each pinna have insignificant rounded basal lobes. The indusia remain tucked in, sometimes splitting radially, but remaining attached into winter. The fronds remain green until the new leaves take over in spring.

22 31

35 21

Widespread and common in various habitats. 371 t 20

Dryopteris affinis

Scaly Male-fern 19

23 18 22

Widespread in shady sites. 105 t

Dryopteris affinis subsp. cambrensis This subspecies has rather shiny blades with densely reddish-golden scaly stipes. The lowest pinnae are less than half the length of the longest pinnae. The pinnae taper from base to tip. The pinnules have rounded ends with blunt teeth and sides bluntly toothed and rolled downwards. In this case the lowest pinnules have a noticeable basal lobe, often overlapping the rachis. The indusia lift slightly as the sori mature, sometimes splits, and only falls off as winter starts. The few plants that have been found in this newly recognised subspecies suggest upland woodlands are its preferred habitat. Records: 1 plant was seen in the woods at Blackcliff, ST/53.98, 1989, Fern

18 31

This is similar to D. filix-mas though the stipe and rachis (together making up the main axis of the frond) are densely covered with orange-yellow to dark brown, shaggy scales. The fronds are more yellow-green and shiny and persist longer. The pinnules are parallel-sided and some are truncate-ended, the ends are bluntly toothed and the sides sub-entire. There is a dark-brown 61

Flora of Monmouthshire Group, ACJ; in woods N of the road in Cwm Coed y Cerrig towards the Pont y Spig end, SO/29.21, 1989, TGE conf. HVC. 5 t

Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow Buckler-fern The lower pinnae are turned into a horizontal position to break up a narrowly, triangularlanceolate blade. The stipe is as long as the blade and is sparsely covered with concoloured, pale brown scales. The lowest pinnae are as long as the longest pinnae.

subsp. cambrensis 23

18 31

35 19

Dryopteris affinis subsp. borreri This subspecies most resembles D. filix-mas. The blades are barely shiny and their stipes are fairly well covered with pale-golden scales. The lowest pinnae are more than half as long as the longest pinnae. The pinnules have rounded ends, often with a large tooth on each shoulder to resemble cat’s ears, and toothed sides, while the lowest have a large, pointed basal lobe. Apart from the irregular lengths of the pinnules, the basal half of each pinna is parallel-sided.

It is at home in damp woods, marshes, fens and wet heaths, though more sparsely scattered. 55 t

Dryopteris dilatata

Broad Buckler-fern

The fronds of this common and widespread fern are thrice-pinnate, with the lowest pinnae longest. A key feature is the scales with dark brown centres and paler margins.

23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 31

The commonest of the subspecies, tolerates more basic conditions in shady locations. 152 t

It occurs in most shady woods, hedgerows and ditches. 330 t 62

Flora of Monmouthshire contain megaspores. Several layers can accumulate on the water surface in favourable seasons.

BLECHNACEAE Hard-fern family This family has either all fronds alike, or sterile and fertile fronds, the fronds are once-pinnate with entire pinnae; the linear sori lie either side of the midrib of the pinnae and parallel to it and run almost the length of it, and are covered by linear indusia.

Blechnum spicant

Hard-fern

A dark green, once pinnate, leathery fern with narrowish fronds that are elliptic due to the central pinnae being longest with the rest shortening gradually towards each end. The outer fronds often form a flattened rosette around the erect inner ones. The erect, longer-stiped, fertile fronds are taller and the pinnae look linear because the pinnae enfold the linear sori.

18 31

Most finds are made on the reens draining the Severn moors, though its presence on a reen one year is no guarantee that it will re-appear there the following year. It also occurs on some inland ponds e.g. Ty Mawr Farm pond, Dingestow, SO/437.099, 1989, WT, 1995, DTP; The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is favoured sometimes e.g. Ty Coch, ST/29.93, CT; and Brynglas to Crindau Bridge, SO/309.891-304.896, 2000, SW. 36 t

PINOPSIDA Conifers, Gymnosperms All conifers, with the exception of Yew, are alien and have been planted originally. The records include both planted trees and saplings regenerating from seed. The cones described are usually female.

18 31

Common, particularly in wet, acidic woodlands. It does not occur on open, improved farmland or the R. Severn moorland. 194 t

PINACEAE Pine Family These may be evergreen or deciduous trees which produce resin; the leaf buds have brown budscales; the entire, linear to needle-like leaves are borne singly on long shoots or in clusters on short shoots; male and female cones are separate but on the same tree; in the male cone there are 2 sporangia per cone-scale, and each of the spirally arranged female cone-scales bear 2 ovules; the mature cones open on a hot, dry day to release the winged seeds.

AZOLLACEAE Water Fern Water Fern has very slender, floating, branching stems, from which hang simple roots; the twolobed leaves lie either side of the stem and bear sori on the underside of the basal lobe of the first leaf of each branch.

! Azolla filiculoides

Water Fern

Seen floating on the surface, this small alien fern could be mistaken for a Duckweed. It starts off glaucous green becoming reddish in the autumn, the colour is given by a symbiotic Alga. The alternating leaf arrangement along the upper surface of the stem gives a plaited look to the plant. The sori, each in its own indusium, mature to

ABIES Firs These firs have cones upright on top of the branches. The foliage is of medium texture, with rather blunt, smooth, leathery leaves, which arise from a cup-like base, so leaving a circular scar 63

Flora of Monmouthshire when falling. Resin blisters are a feature on young bark.

! Abies alba

! Abies procera

European Silver-fir

A narrow tree, widest at its base, with whorled branches, and with a greyish trunk. It can grow to c. 50 m tall. The leaves are up to 2 cm long, dark green above and with two whitish stripes on lower surface, thus when the wind blows the upturned leaves give the tree a silvery appearance; they are arranged in 2-3 dense ranks. The erect cones, situated in the crown of a mature tree, are c. 12 x 3 cm tapering to a rounded top, with bracts exerted and depressed down against the cone. The green cones turn orange-brown by September, and in the following spring both the seeds and the scales are shed separately so normally no cones can be found on the ground. The only record, with no details, is for SO/3.0H, 1997. 1 t

! Abies grandis

Noble Fir

These trees are broadly columnar reaching c. 45 x 5 m in size. Gales often damage the top, and, particularly when crowded by other trees, the lower branches die. Developing on the topmost branches, the large, erect, purplish, cylindrical cones c. 24 x 8 cm look green due to them being covered by reflexed, green, broad-based bracts. 23

Giant Fir

Probably the fastest-growing introduced conifer, eventually reaching a height of 54 m, largely columnar. If grown, in the open, it produces large, low branches that turn up suddenly. On olivegreen, downy twigs, it has two-ranked, flattish needles, arranged like teeth on a comb, with the shorter needles above. The needles are bright, shiny green above and have two narrow, silver lines underneath, they have a strong orange scent. Male flowers are small and hung on the undersides of side shoots high up; the cones, without visible bracts, are c. 7 x 4 cm, small, turning from green to red-brown on the uppermost branches

They are grown, often as the form ‘Glauca’, mainly as specimen trees on large estates. 4 t (1 t)

! Abies pinsapo

Spanish Fir

This is a rare, grey-green fir that can grow to 30 m. Its 1-1.5 cm, blunt-tipped leaves are arranged all round the shoot, stiffly at right angles to it; there are two bands of grey stomata on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Its 1 x 0.5 cm, reddish-purple male cones are borne, in clusters, among the needles towards the end of young shoots in April. The 10 cm, pale, female cones stand erect at the top of the tree. There is one tree in the grounds to the SW of the ruins of Great Dinham Manor at ST/476.922. 1 t

PSEUDOTSUGA Douglas Fir Evergreen; buds sharply pointed; pendent cones, falling whole.

! Pseudotsuga menziesii

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Douglas Fir

These trees reach 55 x 7 m. While growing they are rather narrowly conical with ascending, whorled branches. The leaves emit a fruity, resinous odour, and are a variable green dusted with a glaucous colour above and with two whitish bands beneath. In older trees the dense foliage droops in pendulous masses. The distinct feature that identifies this tree is the green-turning

It is to be found as a specimen tree on large estates and in numbers in plantations. 16 t 64

Flora of Monmouthshire brown cone, which has prominent three-pronged, forward-pointing bracts that project from between the scales.

Scattered plantings occur in many of the larger woods. 40 t PICEA Spruces Spruces are evergreen; the flattened leaves are twisted near their base to display most of their lower surface uppermost, they are borne singly, falling to leave distinct brown pegs; pendent cones with minute bracts fall whole.

! Picea sitchensis 20

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Sitka Spruce

A conical tree with arching branches and flattened, stiff, prickly-pointed leaves which look whitish because the underside, in this case facing upwards, has two broad white bands on it, whereas the dark green upperside faces downwards. The c. 8 cm cones hang down and fall whole to show their crinkly-edged, brown, papery scales.

This tree is widely favoured by forestry companies that cover large tracts of land with plantations; the closely planted trees reduce the light so that little grows beneath their canopy. Their use as windbreaks is also popular. 55 t

TSUGA Hemlock Spruces Falling leaves leave short brown pegs on the twigs; pendent cones fall whole.

! Tsuga heterophylla Western Hemlock-spruce

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This tree is often grown in large plantations in bigger forests. 40 t

! Picea omorika

Serbian Spruce

This very slender tree described as ‘spire-like’, reaches c. 30 m in height. The needles are flattened and have two, broad white bands on their under surface. Their cones are 6 cm long. The one reported tree in ST/2.9 F comes with no details. 1 t

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! Picea abies

Norway Spruce

In Britain this is better known as the Christmas tree. It grows to c. 45 m. Its leaves are four-angled, sharply pointed and green; its pendent cones, with their round-tipped scales, can be up to 20 cm long, so are prominent on the tree or lying on the earth below.

A graceful tree to c. 48 m distinguished by it short-stalked, flattened needles of varying lengths and by its small, ovoid, pendulous cones, with no apparent bracts, that hang at the end of small shoots. It is odorous but smelling more like Ground-elder than Hemlock. 65

Flora of Monmouthshire Common in plantations, but are more frequently replaced by the Japanese Larch in new plantings. 122 t

! Larix x marschlinsii

hybrid Larch

The hybrid between European and Japanese Larches is a similar tree but does not usually exceed 30 m, it has a cone more like the European Larch but the cone scales tips are recurved to varying degrees. Its characters are intermediate between its parents.

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35 22

Norway Spruces are common in plantations or nurseries where they satisfy the Christmas Tree trade, or are grown on for their timber, referred to as ‘white deal’. 73 t

LARIX Larches These are the only European deciduous conifers; needles are borne singly on long shoots and in clusters on short shoots; erect cones eventually fall entire.

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! Larix decidua

European Larch

A conical tree with down-sweeping branches and long, pendulous twigs that are covered with bright light-green leaves in the spring, attaining an eventual height of 46 m; the shoots are not glaucous; the leaves have faint green stripes on their undersides. The cone is longer than broad its scales are NOT recurved, but may be slightly undulate on the margins.

Not as common in vc 35 as its two parents. 58 t

! Larix kaempferi

Japanese Larch

Japanese Larch may reach 37 m. Its shoots are glaucous and its leaves have conspicuous whitish stripes on their undersides. The broader-thanlong cones are the shape of brown, miniature cabbages or lettuces with the tips of the scales noticeably curved back.

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Increasingly used in plantations. 109 t 66

Flora of Monmouthshire CEDRUS Cedars Cedars are the only evergreen conifers where the needles on second or older shoots are borne in dense whorls on short spur-shoots. Cones are erect and disintegrate after at least two years on the tree; the seeds are winged. Cedars are ornamental in large estates and are almost certainly under-recorded as they are obviously planted.

! Cedrus deodara

PINUS Pines Pines have needles in bunches of 2 3 or 5 on dwarf, short shoots.

! Pinus sylvestris

Deodar

Distinct in having drooping leading shoots, this cedar can attain a size of 36 x 5 m. Older trees have nearly horizontal upper branches and lower ones that sweep downwards, the lowest often very big. Cones, when seen, are barrel-shaped to 14 cm. It is rarely planted. 2 t

! Cedrus libani

Scots Pine

Fully mature, this tree can reach 35 x 5 m; the branches bearing blue-green foliage occur in the upper half of the tree; the branches and the upper trunk have a distinctive rusty colour that becomes pinkish in old trees. The twigs are hairless and bear paired, twisted needles. The cones, in three years, change from pink to green to brown. 23

Cedar of Lebanon

A dark green, flat-topped tree attaining a 40 x 8 m size. It develops huge lower branches and horizontal upper ones, on which sit 5 x 3 cm, barrel-shaped cones, that first have lilac-tipped, green scales that ripen to a brownish-purple. It is much grown as a specimen tree on the lawns of the houses of large estates, especially in the Lower Usk Valley. 6 t

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Widely planted for timber and ornament but seldom in abundance. 151 t

! Pinus nigra

Austrian Pine

This pine is more regularly conical in shape than Scots Pine and has blackish-brown trunk and upper branches; the trunk is straighter to the apex and the cones are shiny and tawny.

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! Cedrus atlantica

Atlas Cedar

The glaucous form of this tree is most often grown; its crown is broadly conical and its widely-spaced, ascending branches bear leaves on spurs on long shoots. The leaf clusters give a flattish look to the middle of the branches in spite of the drooping ends. The barrel-shaped cones may be up to 8 cm tall and shed their seeds and fan-shaped scales leaving only the central core on the tree. It is rarely planted. 2 t

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Flora of Monmouthshire Pinus nigra seems to be grown as wind-breaks and for ornamental use, where it can reach 40+ m in height. 28 t

! Pinus contorta

Lodgepole Pine

Lodgepole Pine grows to 25 m. Its specific epithet comes from the twisted nature of many of its buds. The clustered cones have spines on the bosses of the scales.

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! Pinus peuce

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Widely grown in plantations. It appears to be under-recorded. 9 t (1 t)

! Pinus radiata

Macedonian Pine

This is a five-needled pine that forms a narrow, pyramidal tree, eventually 30 m tall. Its pendulous 8-15 cm, cylindrical cones are immediately distinctive. The needles, in dense clusters are blue-green due to having white lines on all surfaces. Apart from being reported from ST/3.8J, an estate in Newport, no details are known. 1 t

! Pinus wallichiana

Bhutan Pine

This 30 m narrowly pyramidal tree grew in an ornamental grove near to and to the NE of Piercefield House from 1958 to at least 1995, but was very old, and dying by the latter date. The pendulous cone was banana-shaped, its colour due to an encrustation of resin was green and bluegrey, on the ground it was woody and dark brown and between 20 and 30 cm in length. The needles, in fives, were glaucous (one surface green, the other blue-grey), forward pointing and pendulous and 18-20 cm long. 1 t

Monterey Pine

A large, high-domed tree with wide-spreading branches to the ground. The grass-green foliage is made up of slender needles in threes, 10-15 cm long. The 12 x 9 cm cones are glossy brown with an asymmetrical base, where the large woody scales on one side bulge out far more than on the other. The cones are clustered in threes to fives and remain on the trees for years and are quite difficult to remove from the twigs. Forest fires in its native California, create open spaces and provide the heat to open the cones to release the seeds, and the burnt, bare soil underneath on which they fall is an ideal medium for germination. Ten trees grew in the field adjacent to the B4293 on the south side of Devauden, at ST/48.98 (one blew down in a gale recently), TGE, 1945-2004; two trees grow at the western end of the Wetlands Reserve, Uskmouth ST/32.83, TGE, also known for many years; one tree grows in Lady Wood, Usk, near a house, SO/38246.04503, TGE, 2004. 3t

! Pinus pinea

Stone Pine

This is a dark-green, umbrella-shaped tree, sometimes called the Umbrella Pine. It is wellknown for its large 10 x 10 cm, shiny-brown cones, with their thick scales and their rich, oily, edible seeds. Its stoutish 10-15 cm, dark, greyishgreen, often-twisted needles are in pairs. It is common in western Mediterranean countries There is at least one mature tree near the pottery house to the S of Tredegar House, Newport, ST/288.850, and one slightly damaged tree is to be found in the Llanover churchyard, SO/317.094. 2 t

Flora of Monmouthshire in Bigsnap Wood a number at SO/53.04; in Park Woods, Usk, SO/38.02. 8 t

TAXODIACEAE Redwood Family These have evergreen or deciduous leaves and produce resin; the leaf buds lack proper bud-scales; the entire, linear, needle-like or scale-like leaves are borne spirally and singly on the long shoots; the male and female cones are separate but occur on the same tree; there are 2-8 sporangia per male cone-scale and 2-12 ovules on each of the spirally arranged female cone-scales; the ripe cone opens to release the winged seeds on a fine day; there is some fusion between cone-scales and bracts.

! Taxodium distichum

Swamp Cypress

This is a graceful, conical tree with light-green, feathery foliage, which allows plenty of light to pass through it. The leaves, on side shoots, are flat and two-ranked, though in a spiral arrangement, only obvious when the twig-enclosing bases of the leaves are examined with a good lens. It is unusual in that it is deciduous and loses its leaves on the onset of winter. Two trees have been planted on an island in a large pond, on the N edge of Park Wood, Usk, SO/383.027 and another one by the side of a path, W towards Cwm Cayo Farm. 1 t

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SEQUOIADENDRON Wellingtonia This very large, conical evergreen tree has thick, spongy, red-brown outer bark; its leaves taper from a decurrent base to a pointed tip; the spherical male cones are solitary at the ends of the short lateral shoots at the end of the branches; the female cones have 15-25 cone-scales, which end in wide diamond-shaped ends with a sunken centre.

SEQUOIA Coastal Redwood This evergreen tree has thick, spongy, red-brown outer bark; the leaves are flattened against the twigs on opposite sides; the terminal, lateral, stringy-barked shoots are deciduous.

! Sequoia sempervirens

! Sequoiadendron giganteum

Wellingtonia

A majestic, 40-50 m high, conical tree with darkgreen foliage on down-sweeping branches, and a massive trunk covered with thick, rufous, fibrous bark. Its needles are awl-shaped and arranged all round to cover the shoots. The cones are ovoid to 8 x 5 cm with the scales emerging as wrinkled, lip-shaped bosses.

Coastal Redwood

In the coastal fog belt of California this tree grows to over 110 m high, but in Monmouthshire it can only reach 40+m; it still forms a spectacular, narrow columnar tree, standing on a buttressed trunk covered with thick, spongy, red-brown outer bark. Its flattish leaves are arranged like those of yew, in two ranks, lying in one plane, on either side of the green twigs, but are angled to point towards the end of the twig. Young female cones have bristly-tipped scales but become woody, 18-25 mm globes. They are grown as feature trees near large houses and churchyards, but are grown in groups in a few plantations. It can be found in the churchyards, at Caldicot, ST/483.886 and Penyclawdd, SO/452.078; near the S bank of the R. Usk near Pant y Goetre Bridge; on a knoll S of Dingestow Court, SO/45.08; one young tree planted E of The Catholic School and of Bulwark Rd., ST/533.932;

18 31

It is planted as a specimen tree close to houses on large estates. Probably under-recorded. 13 t 69

Flora of Monmouthshire male cones tip the branches and the globular, woody female cones are set further back.

CRYPTOMERIA Japanese Red-cedar This evergreen tree has reddish-brown bark which flakes off in long fibres; the spreading, awl-shaped leaves taper from a decurrent base to a point; the male cones lie in the axil of leaves a short distance from the end of a branch; the spherical, female cones have 20-30 cone-scales with 4-6 curved spines around the edge.

! Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Lawson’s Cypress This evergreen, conical ‘false’ cypress can reach 35 m or more. Its trunk is often forked and its slender branches are clothed with flattened sprays of branchlets covered in over-lapping scale leaves. The globular, green then purplish-brown, 8 cm cones are borne on the ends of side branchlets.

! Cryptomeria japonica Japanese Red-cedar An evergreen tree to 30+ m with fibrous, redbrown, outer bark. The curved leaves have a decurrent-keeled base and pointed tip. The cone, on an upcurved stalk, consists of 20+ scales, each edged with 5-6, short, curved spines.

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They are grown in many woods as windbreaks for newly transplanted saplings, and remain for many years. 62 t

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THUJA Red-cedars Similar to Chamaecyparis except for the elongated female cones with usually 10-12 flattened scales, each ending in a recurved, apical spine

It was grown in a small forestry plot, at The Cot, ST/506.990. 4 t CUPRESSACEAE Juniper Family These are resin-producing trees or shrubs; the leafbuds lack proper bud-scale-leaves; the trees have needle-like or scale leaves in opposite or whorled arrangements; male and female cones are separate and may be on the same tree or on separate trees; there are 3-5 male sporangia per scale-leaf; the female cones may be woody or succulent and have varying numbers of sporangia per scale-leaf; the female cone-scales are arranged in opposite pairs or in threes; the seeds are winged.

! Thuja plicata

Western Red-cedar

CHAMAECYPARIS Cypresses These have twigs branching in one plane to form flattened sprays; mature foliage consists of scalelike acute to acuminate leaves appressed to the twig on opposite sides; the separate male and female cones occur on the same tree; the ephemeral

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire Thuja plicata is a dense, narrow, spire-like tree with fern-like foliage, which when crushed gives off a fruity, resinous odour. The twigs are covered with appressed, flattened, four-ranked scales, bright shiny green above and white-streaked below. The 1.5 cm cones are green then yellow then brown, when the overlapping scales spread open. They are often grown as windbreaks. 12 t

ST/532.935; one tree in the grounds of ‘Gwentlands’, ST/530.932; one tree SW of Great Dinham Manor, ST/476.922, all TGE; one fine tree at entrance to Mounton Close, off Mounton Rd. Chepstow, ST/526.935, 1950-2004, TGE. 13 t

TAXACEAE Yew Family These are evergreen trees or shrubs with leaf-buds covered in green, scale-leaves; the linear leaves are spirally arranged; the male sporangia are borne 4-9 per scale on one tree, and the ovules are borne singly on the ends of short, lateral branches on a different tree.

JUNIPERUS Junipers Juniper foliage is 3-dimensional; juvenile leaves are erect or patent in whorls of 3; mature foliage consists of appressed, scale-like leaves, opposite on the twigs; trees are usually male or female; the female cones are berry-like and have succulent, fused scales; unwinged seeds, 1 per scale, are dispersed while still within the ‘berry’.

! Juniperus communis

Taxus baccata

Common Juniper

This small, prickly-leaved tree has been planted on the hill fort, S of Glasllwch, Newport, ST/28.86. It is NOT native to the vice-county. 1 t ARAUCARIACEAE

Monkey-puzzle Family

! Araucaria araucana

Yew

A dark-green, broadly-pyramidal tree that has distinctive cones; the male cones are ovoid and have peltate scales with pollen sacs below, and the one-seeded female cone, which becomes purplish, is surrounded by a fleshy, red aril when ripe.

Monkey-puzzle

A 30 m tall, domed, evergreen, straight-trunked tree. Young branches are clothed in leathery, broadly-triangular, dark green leaves that end in a sharp spine. The leaves stand proud of the branch surface to make them difficult to hold.

19 23 18 22

Few churchyards are without one, but many woods have a scattering of them. It is especially abundant in the woods on limestone in the north-east corner of Piercefield Park. 245 t

MAGNOLIOPSIDA ANGIOSPERMS, FLOWERING PLANTS.

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MAGNOLIIDAE Dicotyledons In the field these plants can be recognised by having leaves which may have pinnate or palmate arranged large veins with a network of smaller ones; they usually have flower parts in fours or fives; their seeds have two cotyledons.

Possibly, under-recorded. It can be found N of old chapel, Llandogo, SO/526.042; Near Trellech old school, SO/500.055; near Gwern du Farm, ST/399.977; at Llandevaud ST/388.907; at the Welsh Chapel, Llanover, SO/315.079, all CT; one tree in garden of 33, Hardwick Avenue, Chepstow, 71

Flora of Monmouthshire many water-lily-free years and is presumably planted. It is found in the R. Severn moorland reens, canals and ponds (in some cases it is possibly native), and gently-flowing, quiet sections of rivers. 24 t

LAURACEAE Bay Family This family is easily recognised by being evergreen trees or shrubs with aromatic leaves and separate sex plants; the perianths are in 4s. LAURUS Bay This has the characters are those of the family as there is only one genus.

! Laurus nobilis

NUPHAR Yellow Water-lilies There are both submerged and floating leaves; the leaf veins fork and do not rejoin around the leaf margin; there are usually 5 sepals; the petals are yellow and shorter than the sepals; the ovary and fruits are bottled-shaped.

Bay

Bay is an evergreen, shrub or tree occasionally to over 15 m. Its petiolate leaves are elliptic in shape and aromatic. It is grown in gardens for its culinary, flavouring properties and is probably under-recorded. 3 t

Nuphar lutea

NYMPHAEACEAE Water-lily Family This family is composed of aquatic, perennial plants, which have simple, entire leaves, the petioles of which grows to the length that allows the leaves to rise from the stout rhizome and float on the surface. The stamens are numerous.

CERATOPHYLLACEAE Hornwort Family Members of this family are submerged, aquatic, perennial herbs with regularly branched, filamentous leaves arranged in whorls.

NYMPHAEA White Water-lilies These usually have only floating leaves; the leaf veins rejoin around the leaf margin; there are usually 4 sepals; the petals are white (or pink to purple in some cultivars), and are much longer than the sepals.

Nymphaea alba

Yellow Water-lily

The yellow flowers are more cup-shaped and the fruit is carafe-shaped and is held at the water surface. There were 100s of plants in the Monmouthshire Canal at Five Locks, Pontnewydd, ST/288.968, TDP, EDP, 1986; some were seen in an artificial pond at Glen Usk, ST/363.928, TDP, EDP, 1989. 1 clump, Hawse Reen, ST282.824, 2005, JPW, 3 t

CERATOPHYLLUM Hornworts The whorled leaves may be stiff or flaccid, and may be twice or thrice forked; the fruits may have two basal spines or none.

White Water-lily

The white flowers are Peony-shaped, with the outer petals longest. The fruit is obovoid, but is usually held just below the water surface.

Ceratophyllum demersum

Rigid Hornwort

This plant often forms extensive, dark-green patches under water. The rigid leaves are branched once or twice only. The fruit usually has two, long basal spines.

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Wade (1970) considered it native, but it seems to make an appearance soon after a new pond has been constructed and it reappears in old ponds after

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire Rigid Hornwort is predominately found in the R. Severn moor reens, though it is occasionally recorded in ponds 42 t

Ceratophyllum submersum

Caltha palustris

Marsh-marigold

Caltha has simple, long-petioled, cordate leaves with bluntly-toothed edges. The flowers are like large, saucer-shaped buttercups. The flower produces a group of follicles, which open down one side only.

Soft Hornwort

Similar to Rigid Hornwort but a paler green, less stiff and its leaves are branched 3-4 times. The fruit has no basal spines.

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Its habitat is wet, whether it be in woods or in meadows. Though the distribution map shows Marsh-marigold is widespread, it has declined due to loss of wet areas lost to drainage and tree planting. 167 t

It has been recorded only from the reens. There seems to have been two main centres for it, the first in the Goldcliff area and the second off Rumney/Peterstone Great Wharf in sea wall reens. The deliberate lowering of the water table by deepening of the reens and the dense vegetative growth in some has had a detrimental effect on the survival of this very local aquatic, and it is now difficult to find anywhere. Past records are for: Saltmarsh Reen, Goldcliff, ST/353.833, PRG, 1983; reen/ditch NW part of Peterstone Great Wharf, ST/273.800, GH, DE & AO, 1988; reen, Rumney Great Wharf, ST/235.778, TGE, UTE, 1991. 7 t

TROLLIUS Globeflower The flowers are usually solitary with 5-15 yellow sepals which look like petals, 5-15 petals which look like nectaries, and numerous stamens and carpels.

Trollius europaeus

Globeflower

This is an herbaceous perennial with palmate, deeply-dissected leaves. Its yellow flowers are composed of rather numerous petals, stamens and sepals and formed into a slightly flattened globe. It used to grow beside rivers and in wet upland meadows, but is now extinct in the vice-county. The last records were around 1950. Past records were for: Grwyne Fawr Valley SO/2.2; near Pontnewydd, ST/2.9 R; near Varteg, SO/2.0; near Risca, ST/2.9; Near Michaelstone y Vedw. (4 t)

RANUNCULACEAE Buttercup Family These are annual or perennial herbs, or sometimes woody climbers; the leaves are usually spirally arranged without stipules; each flower produces a head of separate achenes or follicles.

HELLEBORUS Hellebores Hellebores are herbaceous perennials, with leaves with deeply divided, toothed lobes. The flowers have 5 sepals and more numerous petals in the form of tubular nectaries. The fruit is a follicle.

CALTHA Marsh-marigold These are herbaceous perennials with few flowers, each consisting of a whorl of 5-8 yellow sepals which look like petals, numerous stamens and 5-15 carpels. 73

Flora of Monmouthshire

Helleborus foetidus

of Upper Llanover, SO/29.06; 3 m² in Grange Wood, just S of Nant-y-Coch, ST/430.892, TGE, UTE, 1998; 1 plant at boundary of wood bank and road, Cicelyford, SO/503.036, BJG, 1998. 3 t (1 t)

Stinking Hellebore

This rare plant has no rhizomes but has stems that last from spring one year to the next, and are strikingly paler than the leaves; the pale bracts are nearly entire. The dark-green leaves are divided almost to the petiole. The pale green sepals are edged purple to produce cup-shaped flowers that tend to droop.

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! Helleborus orientalis

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Lenten-rose

The record in SO/5.1 is probably of a garden escape, but I have no details. 1 t

Probably native in woods on calcareous soils but most sites in the vice-county suggest a garden origin. Records are: possibly native in woodland, The Coombe, ST/459.932; churchyard, Llanwenarth, SO/275.148, RF, 1989; roadside garden escape, Goytre, SO/326.052, RF, 1989; naturalised outside garden hedge, Cwmcarvan Hill, SO/477.058, JH, 1993; road bank garden escape, Troy, SO/50.11, BJG, 1995; verge, E of quarry, N of canal, Risca, ST/238.913, TGE, 1997. 7 t

Helleborus viridis

! Helleborus niger

Christmas Rose

This plant should be well known to gardeners, it is similar to Green Hellebore but has white sepals. Two plants flowering on 19 February 1993 had been picked four days later on the R. Wye bank, Monmouth, SO/514.120, BJG. 1 t ACONITUM Monk’s-hoods Monk’s-hoods are herbaceous perennials, the leaves are deeply-palmately lobed, the flowers are zygomorphic and are arranged in a terminal raceme, each is subtended by a bract, there are 5 petaloid sepals, the upper one forms the elongated hood, the petals form nectaries.

Green Hellebore

This rare plant is rhizomatous, and its stems do not survive the summer. Its hard leaves are a paler green than in H. foetidus and are not divided so deeply with some leaflets joined to a third of their length. The pale green flowers are saucer-shaped and erect. Native in woods on calcareous soils. The best site, of half an acre, was in a field on the edge of Salisbury Wood. When the wood was given SSSI status the half acre was left outside the boundary; a piggery later uprooted the scores of plants that graced the site. Plants have been found at: 30-40 plants native in High Grove Wood, ST/427.894, TGE, 1997; WNW of Pysgodlin, SO/259.162, JPSB; edge of field, above bank of road leading down from car park to W side of Llandegfedd Reservoir, ST/428.937, H & JB, 1991; Craig-yr-allt Wood, S

Aconitum napellus

Monk’s-hood

The flowers are bluish often with a reddish tinge. The upper sepals width equals their height. The pedicels are generously covered with appressed hairs. The pollen is full (microscope) and the seeds are fertile. The largest colony of 400 m² is in a field to the SE of the bottom of the Holy Well cwm, SO/3012.0537; there are good populations at a number of stretches along the Mounton Brook where there are over 100 plants e.g. Llwyn-ycelyn, ST/479.948 and Prysgau Bach, Coppice Mawr, ST/493.943. The R. Wye bank has a number of populations. The R. Usk and streams in 74

Flora of Monmouthshire other parts of the vice-county have small patches. 20 t. Cover, and Plates 13 & 15

Aconitum napellus

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Common and widespread apart from the Severn moors and the higher parts in the north and west. ‘Improved’ grassland has reduced numbers, but many woods, hedgerows and unimproved grassland still have them, and in abundance in some woods. 277 t

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! Aconitum x cammarum (A. napellus x A. variegatum) hybrid Monk’s-hood Similar to Monk’s-hood but differs in that it may have some white in its flower colour; the upper sepal is noticeably higher than wide; the pollen is empty and the seeds are infertile. Probably a garden escape; recorded only from SO/1.0 V. 1 t

! Anemone apennina

Blue anemone

This species is similar to Wood Anemone but it has narrower sepals that are usually blue, but may be pink or white; it has an erect head of achenes when in fruit. The origin of the plant in SO/5.1 B is almost certainly a garden. 1 t

CONSOLIDA Larkspurs Annuals; the upper sepal is long-spurred.

! Anemone ranunculoides Yellow Anemone ! Consolida ajacis

This species is similar to Wood Anemone, but usually has 5 yellow sepals. This is grown in gardens and in the right conditions proliferates quite happily. Yellow Anemone is at home and increasing along the sides of the drive through the wood leading up to the ‘Wyelands’, ST/523.922. 1 t

Larkspur

Larkspur has deeply divided lower bracts, on stems from which branches rise sharply. The flowers are blue, pink or white. The follicle is shortly hairy. They have a garden origin. Before Newport Rubbish Tip became sanitised, at least one plant appeared every year between 1974-1984. (1 t)

CLEMATIS Traveller’s-joys These plants are woody climbers, twining around other plants. Their leaves are opposite, usually pinnate or ternate; the flowers are actinomorphic, with a single whorl of petaloid sepals and numerous stamens; the fruit is an achene with a style that becomes long and feathery.

ANEMONE Anemones Anemones are herbaceous perennials with palmately-divided, basal leaves, though the three bracts half way up the stem look leaf-like. The flowers are actinomorphic composed of petaloid sepals. The stamens and achenes are numerous.

Anemone nemorosa

Wood Anemone

Clematis vitalba

These plants spread by rhizomes; the stem is topped by a solitary flower of 6-7, white sepals, often tinged pink or purple. In fruit, the weight of the head of achenes causes the head to droop.

Traveller’s-joy

It is called Old Man’s Beard by country folk because of its white, feathery fruiting head in the autumn. It is a prolific climber with dense clusters of flowers, whose sepals are pale cream or white. 75

Flora of Monmouthshire

This is an erect perennial, with its pubescent, basal leaves deeply, palmately dissected. The sepals are not reflexed. Its achenes are glabrous, smooth and possess a short, hooked beak. Though still widespread, there are now few in many improved meadows. 397 t

Ranunculus repens

18 31

Creeping Buttercup

As its name suggests, this perennial buttercup spreads by runners that root at the nodes from which new plants arise. The basal leaves are tripartite with the long-stalked middle part longer than the two outer ones. The sepals are not reflexed and the achenes are glabrous, smooth and with a short, curved beak.

It is usually an indicator of a calcareous substrate. With such a limited distribution of Carboniferous Limestone in vc 35, one has to look at the inclusion of limy nodules in the drift and the use of limestone in road and track building and garden escapes to find an explanation for its widespread occurrence. 259 t

RANUNCULUS Buttercups Herbaceous perennials or annuals, some aquatic; sepals 3 or 5; petals usually 5 or 7-12 and usually with a nectar pit towards the inner base, stamens numerous; fruit are achenes, free and numerous, style shorter than the part containing the ovule.

18 31

Subgenus 1 RANUNCULUS Petals usually yellow, normally 5; achenes not transversely ridged; roots usually not tubers.

It is ubiquitous, recorded in nearly every tetrad. 399 t

Ranunculus acris

Ranunculus bulbosus

Meadow Buttercup

Bulbous Buttercup

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire This buttercup is an erect perennial with a swollen stem base. Its basal leaves, in three parts, often has a sessile central segment. Its sepals are strongly recurved at anthesis. Its achenes are finely pitted. Widespread on neutral and calcareous soils, but may be under-recorded due to the early and shortlasting flowering period. 264 t

Ranunculus sardous

Ranunculus parviflorus Small-flowered Buttercup The annual plants here should be called Small Buttercup, because everything is small. The small leaves are palmately-lobed to half way and are held flat on the soil; the flowers are more often nearer to the 3 mm than the 6 mm limits in diameter; the strongly reflexed sepals at anthesis are not easily seen, nor are the minute, hooked spines on the side of the achenes, without a good lens. The size of plants may well be governed by the well-drained substrate. Previous records: near Monmouth, SH; near Pontnewydd Works, Conway; railway embankment near Usk, JHC. About 50 plants were recorded on the built up bank of the bunker 840 in MOD, Caerwent, ST/467.919, 1991, TGE; 100s were recorded nearby on gritty soil, sparsely covered with other vegetation, ST/46867.91716, 2002, TGE. 1 t

Hairy Buttercup

Hairy Buttercup is similar to Bulbous Buttercup, particularly in its strongly recurved sepals in anthesis, but there are differences. Firstly, R. sardous is an annual and lacks a swollen stem base, the flowers are a paler yellow (though this is not always distinctive enough even when they grow near one another), and its achenes have faint tubercles just inside their outer edges. 23

Arc. Ranunculus arvensis

Corn Buttercup

It seems to need disturbed ground. Its main centre is between Raglan and Hendre but nowhere is it common. 8 t

This is an erect annual with shallowly-lobed basal leaves but middle stem leaves deeply lobed. The achenes have noticeable spines on the sides. It was to be found on cultivated ground, particularly where cereals were grown. Recorded at: Abergavenny, SH; Fiddler’s Elbow, Monmouth; Onen, Llangattock Vibon Avel, SGC; Watery Lane, Monmouth; Castleton; Michaelstone y Vedw; Llantarnam, SH; Usk District, BMF; near the Wilderness, Malpas; near Chepstow, Shoolbred; in a garden, Caldicot ST/471.896, 1973; in a garden, Parc Seymour, ST/405.918, 1977; near Caerwent Quarry offices, ST/474.895, 1973, CT. (14 t)

! Ranunculus marginatus St Martin’s Buttercup

Ranunculus auricomus Goldilocks Buttercup

18 31

This is an erect perennial that flowers in April and May; basal leaves three-lobed but shape variable; the few stem-leaves are finely lobed with the lobes held horizontally. The yellow flowers are seldom perfectly symmetrical because some petals are smaller than others, and occasionally petals are absent. The achenes are shortly pubescent. It is mainly in deciduous woods or copses, and absent from the hilly west, the coastal levels, and the central improved farm land. 73 t

This is similar to Hairy Buttercup but has tubercles all over its achenes. One plant of a sample of R. sardous collected in a field just S of Middle Hendre Farm, SO/454.132 had achenes with tubercles as described above, all the rest were typical R. sardous. Subsequent searches failed to uncover anything other than R. sardous. Was the single plant an abnormal Hairy Buttercup; it did not look otherwise different, but had it been introduced like the 31 clumps of Briza minor in the same field ? 1 t

Flora of Monmouthshire R. auricomus 23

18 31

Wade (1970) considered this plant native, but gives only two sites, one of which to the E of the Virtuous Well, Trellech had a single patch in the stream for 5-10 years and then was destroyed c. 1980 when the narrow field, home to a few horses, was ploughed for a crop of potatoes for one year only; the spearwort and a large colony of Southern Marsh Orchids were lost. It appears to have been introduced to most of the vice-county sites. Apart from the site above, it has been recorded at: Llwyny-Celyn marsh, ST/479.949, 1976, TGE and persisted for many years without increasing; a ditch near the club-house, Trevethin Golf Course, SO/282.029, 1988, RF; a wet valley, SE of St Pierre Lake, ST/515.904, 1987, TAJ; SW of Goetre in stream in woodland, SO/326.057, 1995, TGE, introduced and did not survive; pond/B4293 side, S of Llanishen, SO/473.025, 1999, CT; boggy field, near Monkswood, SO/333.029, c. 1918, BMF. 8 t

Ranunculus sceleratus Celery-leaved Buttercup This buttercup is an erect annual with shiny, glabrous, rather fleshy, broadly, three-lobed basal leaves, higher up the stem the leaves have much narrower lobes; the flowers are comparatively small with sepals strongly reflexed; the achenes are glabrous, smooth and with an insignificant beak. 23

Ranunculus flammula subsp. flammula Lesser Spearwort

18 31

It grows in wet places but particularly by reens on the Severn moors. 111 t

! Ranunculus lingua

Greater Spearwort

Greater Spearwort can be over a metre tall; its flowers are 25 cm in diameter, with sepals not reflexed; its basal leaves are heart-shaped but withered by time the flowers appear; the glabrous, upper stem leaves are narrowly lanceolate; the achenes are minutely pitted, narrowly winged and have short, curved beaks.

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire This subspecies is similar to subsp. ficaria but produces fewer flowers with smaller petals and empty pollen cells; few achenes are produced; tubers are produced in leaf axils after anthesis, so they may be readily observed above ground. Gardens, damp shady places and water side subject to flooding seem to favour this subspecies, and when it does occur it can be quite extensive. The low numbers of records for this subspecies as against those for subsp. ficaria may be due to recorders not checking carefully enough, though my impression is that subsp. bulbifera is much more limited in distribution in this vice-county. 28t

Lesser spearwort is similar to Greater Spearwort but is smaller in all characters. It seldom reaches half a metre in height; its flowers vary from 0.7 to 2.5 cm in diameter; its achenes are wingless. It is essentially a wetland plant and can exist in quite small wet areas. 260 t Subgenus 2 – FICARIA This subgenus has 7-12 yellow petals; 3 sepals; achenes not transversely ridged; some roots formed into tubers.

Ranunculus ficaria subsp. ficaria Lesser Celandine It has entire, triangular leaves, with a hastate base.

Subgenus 3 – BATRACHIUM This subgenus has white petals, usually 5 and 5 sepals; the achenes are transversely ridged; there are broadly-lobed (laminar), floating leaves, or finely divided (capillary), submerged leaves, or both leaf types (heterophyllous) on the same plant.

Ranunculus hederaceus Ivy-leaved Crowfoot Low-growing plant with all laminar leaves divided to less than halfway into usually 3-5 lobes widest at their base; the petals are usually between 2.5 and 3.5 mm and do not overlap at anthesis and having a lunate nectar-pit, the petals are little longer than the sepals; sepals not reflexed, receptacle and immature achenes glabrous.

18 31

It starts flowering in March before the other family members. It is catholic in choice of habitat. 346 t

Ranunculus ficaria subsp. bulbilifer Lesser Celandine

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 20

It grows in shallow water or on mud in lowland sites. 40 t

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire

Ranunculus omiophyllus Round-leaved Crowfoot

Low-growing plant with all leaves laminar, divided to less than halfway into usually 3-5 lobes widest above their base; the petals are usually between 5 and 6 mm and are 2-3 times longer than the sepals; the sepals are reflexed at anthesis. It is similar, otherwise, to Ivy-leaved Crowfoot.

19 23 18 22

Ranunculus trichophyllus Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot

This subaquatic water-crowfoot has only capillary leaves; its petals, non-contiguous at anthesis, are less than 6 mm and have lunate nectar-pits; the sepals are not reflexed; the receptacle and achenes are pubescent.

18 31

35 23

It grows in similar places, as well, but in western, upland sites as shown by the map. An area to the W and above Forgeside is the best site for it, where 100s of plants grow on wet tracks, in streams and on a marshy area at SO/2442.0823. 49 t

Ranunculus baudotii Brackish Water-crowfoot

This subaquatic plant is variable largely due to the state of its habitat. Usually it is heterophyllous, but it may have only capillary leaves, with rigid divergent branching in water, or laminar leaves only if growing out of water. Its petals are longer than 5.5 mm, bear lunate nectar-pits, and overlap at anthesis; the sepals are reflexed and often blue-tipped, though this is not exclusive; the immature achenes are glabrous becoming slightly winged and are borne on a pubescent, elongated receptacle at maturity. This plant is confined to brackish reens and shallow scrapes that fill with water near the coast. From the ephemeral nature of its habitats due to the unnatural lowering of the water table, two facts emerge; a site represented by a map dot is not necessarily going to have the correct conditions for the presence of the plant at all times and the number of tetrads it occurs in changes from year to year. 12 t

18 31

R. trichophyllus has been recorded only near the coast, and like R. baudotii is affected by lack of water in the reens in recent years, and is very much under threat. 13 t (1 t)

Ranunculus aquatilis Common Water-crowfoot This subaquatic plant is heterophyllous or has only capillary leaves; its laminar leaves are divided just over half-way into usually 5 lobes, with acute basal sinuses; its petals, with circular nectar-pits, are contiguous at anthesis and less than 10 mm long; in fruit the pedicel is usually less than 50 mm and is shorter than the petiole of the 80

Flora of Monmouthshire opposed laminar leaf; the sepals are not reflexed. The sepals and receptacle are pubescent.

Ranunculus penicillatus Stream Water-crowfoot This species is a perennial subaquatic, which is heterophyllous or with capillary leaves only and these are flaccid and are longer than the adjacent stem internode, they can fork 4-6 times, their divisions lie parallel to each other in the water, the ultimate divisions can number over 100; their fruit pedicels are greater than 50 mm and are shorter then the adjacent stem internode; the petals are greater than 10 mm and have pearshaped nectar-pits; the sepals are not reflexed; the receptacle and achenes are pubescent. It is found in fast-flowing rivers and streams, but does not persist in streams that dry up, often due to over-extraction by the Water Board. Sites recorded: R. Wye, Monmouth, SO/513.122, 1980, TGE; Mounton Brook, Mathern, ST/516.919, 1990, TAJ, the brook dried up that year and the plant did not re-appear; R. Sirhowy, Blackwood, ST/1.9T, 1990, RF; R. Ebbw, Risca, ST/2.9F, 1991, TGE, UTE. 4 t

18 31

This plant used to be common in the vice-county but the infilling of ponds, fewer season-long, water-filled ditches, the increased use of boats on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal have contributed to its decline, and its presence in all the tetrads shown above is doubtful in 2004. 33 t

Ranunculus fluitans River Water-crowfoot All the leaves of R. fluitans are capillary and longer than the adjacent stem internode, they are never less than 8 cm, are flaccid and often trail a great deal more than 8 cm, but they are rarely forked more than 4 times; the petals are 7-13 mm long, are contiguous at anthesis and have pear-shaped nectar-pits; the sepals are not reflexed; the receptacle is pilose to glabrous and the achenes glabrous or scarcely pubescent.

Ranunculus peltatus Pond Water-crowfoot Like R. aquatilis, R. peltatus is heterophyllous or has capillary leaves only; however, its laminar leaves are divided over half way, into five lobes, with obtuse basal sinuses; the petals are greater than 10 mm long and bear pear-shaped nectarpits (rarely lunate); the sepals are not reflexed and they and the receptacle are pubescent.

23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18

31 31

This grows in the larger, free-flowing rivers; patches occur on the R. Sirhowy and the R. Usk, but by far the most showy display can be seen at Monmouth up and down the R. Wye, where sheets of green and white cover the river in high summer. 23 t Plate 14

It is found mainly in ponds, but as ponds have been filled in or polluted the species has declined possibly even from the limited number of tetrads. 16 t 81

Flora of Monmouthshire

Ranunculus circinatus Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot

A former, rare weed of cornfields. Recorded at Magor by JH and at Chepstow by WAS. (2 t)

This aquatic Water-crowfoot has capillary leaves only, at the stem nodes they form green, short, single-layer ruffs; the petals vary in length between 4 and 10 mm hardly overlapping at anthesis, they have lunate nectar-pits; the sepals are not reflexed; the receptacle and immature achenes are pubescent.

AQUILEGIA Columbines These are herbaceous perennials with doublyternate leaves; it has actinomorphic flowers with 5 petaloid sepals and 5 petals, each with a long spur, curved at the end and producing nectar.

Aquilegia vulgaris

Columbine

Columbine flowers, though usually blue, can be pink to purple or even white.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

35 18

Nearly all records were made in the reens between Whitson and Magor, but a pond and a lake were home to it as well. The lowering of the water table has caused a considerable decline. Records include: reen, Undy Moor ST/445.867, 1974, TGE; Yoke Reen, Whitson, ST/395.851, 1974, CT; reens, Innage Farm, ST/52.90, 1974, TGE; Rush Wall, Magor, ST/41.86, 1985, TGE; reen, Whitson, ST/36.85, 1987, TGE, UTE; reen, Porton House, ST/38.82, 1987, TGE, UTE; small pond, SW of Catbrook, SO/502.022, 1985, EW; Bowleaze Reen, Whitson, ST/377.853, 1993, TGE. The following records were made in reens by the NCC in their reen survey 1982-83: Bowleaze, ST/37.85; Parish, ST/37.84; Elver Pill, ST/38.84; Middle Road, ST/388.856; and Petty, ST/445.859. 7 t

Usually found in calcareous woods where they can be well scattered and frequent. In built up areas they are often garden escapes. 100 t THALICTRUM Meadow-rues Meadow-rues are herbaceous perennials, with pinnate to ternate, spirally-arranged leaves; the flowers are in compound inflorescences, the numerous stamens are the dominant feature of the flowers, which have 4 insignificant sepals and no petals.

Thalictrum flavum

Common Meadow-rue

T. flavum forms clusters of 1 m tall, upright stems arising from rhizomes; the leaves are pinnately divided; the compound inflorescence has bright yellow flowers in dense clusters, with the massed erect to patent stamens on fine filaments. River banks, fens and meadows subject to flooding favour this species. There have been many sites along the R. Wye, and others on the River Ebbw, River Sirhowy and R. Usk. In the past there have been extensive patches on the moors of the R. Severn, but here drainage has caused a big decline. There is a good patch in a hedge on a minor road

ADONIS Pheasant’s-eye Annuals with solitary flowers, 5 sepals and 5-8 red petals, numerous stamens and carpels, the latter developing into achenes.

! Adonis annua

Pheasant’s-eye

This annual had finely divided leaves, the petals are bright red with a dark basal spot, forming actinomorphic flowers 15-25 mm in diameter; the receptacle elongates as the achenes ripen. 82

Flora of Monmouthshire subject to flooding running out NE of Usk, SO/385.009, another extensive area is the flat river meadow on the R. Wye, just N of Chepstow Castle and below Alcove Wood, ST/53.95. 20 t

BERBERIDACEAE Barberry family Usually shrubs with yellow wood, often spiny, and with a perianth of several whorls and a one-celled ovary.

Thalictrum flavum

BERBERIS Barberries These plants are favoured by gardeners for their showy clusters of yellow flowers that later produce red to purple, often bloomed berries and as hedging plants because they deter intruders with their spines. The spines are frequently arranged on the stems in threes, starting from a common origin but pointing in three different directions, although in the same plane.

Berberis vulgaris

18 31

! Thalictrum minus

Barberry

Barberry is a deciduous shrub to 3 m, with leaves 2.5-6 cm, mainly obovate in shape and with many small, spiny teeth; its yellow flowers form pendent racemes. The two records, one for Newport and the other for Trostrey, are by competent botanists, but neither gave any sign of the excitement of their finds, and as both have now died more specific locations are unavailable; formerly in hedge S of Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd, DTP. 2 t (1 t)

Lesser Meadow-rue

Thalictrum minus did not feature in Wade’s Flora. This species can grow up to 1 m, but usually is less, its stems vary from erect to spreading; the leaves are a mixture of pinnately or ternately branched structures; the flowers are in diffuse panicles, but are pale yellow and with pendent stamens.

! Berberis x stenophylla

Hedge Barberry

This cross between B. darwinii and B. empetrifolia is an evergreen shrub with the three directional spines and 1.5-2.5 cm leaves that are narrowly elliptic because their edges are curved under, and each simple leaf ends in a spine; the golden-yellow flowers are in small groups; it has a bluish-black fruit. A shrub of it had, probably, been planted to landscape spread coal waste between Brynmawr and Nantyglo, because on the same development area there were also Alnus incana, Sedum spurium. Clarkia tenella and Thlaspi arvense. 1 t

! Berberis darwinii 31

Darwin’s Barberry

This evergreen shrub can grow to 3 m; it has a variable number of spines in each group; the leaves are dark green and glossy above, often with spiny margins that make them resemble small holly leaves; the orange flowers are in pendent racemes; the fruit is bluish-purple. It is commonly grown in gardens and birds feed on the berries and are sometimes responsible for conveying seeds into the wild. One plant could have thus been sown into a joint in the stonework of a bridge over the R. Rhymney at Rhymney,

18 35

Though grown in gardens, it has become naturalised in the following places; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1989, RF; rail bank, Goetre, SO/326.047, 1989, RF; Llewellyn Dingle, Llanllowell, ST/39.98, 1989, TDP, EDP; several patches, in scrub, Glebelands Recreation Ground, Newport, ST/317.904, 2000, TGE. 7 t 83

Flora of Monmouthshire SO/11.07, 1989, RF; the one in the Llandogo area was reported with no details. 2 t

! Papaver pseudoorientale

MAHONIA Oregon-grapes Mahonia are spineless, evergreen shrubs with pinnately arranged leaves; the yellow flowers form bluish-black-bloomed berries with few seeds.

! Mahonia aquifolium

Oriental Poppy

Oriental Poppy is a tufted perennial with a basal rosette of leaves at flowering time; it has pink to orange-red petals, often with a dark basal blotch, which are over 45 mm long; the anthers are violet in colour; the capsule can reach 40 mm with the stigma as wide as the capsule. As it is widely grown in gardens and can selfpropagate given disturbed ground, and the single plants are reported not far from dwellings; it is obvious that the plants reported from Coedkernew, Ponthir and from a trackside on Canne’s Farm, Monmouth, SO/513.148, 1993, BJG are garden escapes. 3 t

Oregon-grape

The upward curving stems of Oregon-grape can grow to 1.5 m; its leaflets are about twice as long as wide, glossy on the upper side and lacking in tiny nipple-like projections on the lower side, the edges of the leaves have varying numbers of tiny spines.

Arc. Papaver somniferum

Opium Poppy

Opium Poppy is an upright, noticeably-glaucous plant that can grow to 100 cm; it has variously slightly-divided, stem-clasping leaves; variouslycoloured, though more often of a mauve shade, 2050 mm petals; the fruit to 90 mm is globose to obovoid has a stigma as wide as the capsule.

21 31

35 20

It is grown for ornamental, purposes and on a small scale to encourage game birds. Bird-sown seed sometimes augments the planted populations. Most common in the northern half of the vice-county. I have details for only three of the above eight sites; they are: One plant on S rail embankment near the Wye bridge, Chepstow, ST/537.939, 1980, TGE; well established in the mixed woodland of Hayes Coppice, SO/523.146, 1992, BJG; and 2-3 plants in a hedgerow near Llandewi Court, SO/34.16, 1996, JDRV. 8 t

18 31

The subsp. somniferum with glabrous leaves appears on tips, waste ground or disturbed soil near dwellings or roads and is scattered over the vicecounty. 65 t

Papaver rhoeas

PAPAVERACEAE Poppy family The poppy family are noted for having white or yellow sap, often large and brightly coloured flowers, often with 2 sepals and four petals that have to straighten from their crumpled state in bud, they have numerous stamens, and ovaries which lack a style but have large stigmas, and they produce numerous small seeds.

Common Poppy

This erect, annual poppy has patent hairs and green stem-leaves that do not clasp the stem; the flowers are usually bright red, often with a dark basal blotch, the anthers are bluish-black; the glabrous capsule is less than twice as long as wide with its stigma as wide as the capsule; the latex is usually white but can be yellowish.

Flora of Monmouthshire

Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii Long-headed Poppy

This is very similar to subsp. dubium but differs from it in the following ways: exposure to air turns its white latex yellow in seconds; the end lobes of the upper leaves are usually less than 1.5 mm wide.

20 23 19 22 18 31

Wade (1970) reported it to be frequent to common in the north and east of county – how things have changed! Today, this plant is usually seen in small numbers on the edges of cereal crops or grassland, or verges or waste ground, unlike the past when it turned some fields red. It is still the most common of our poppies but its presence in one site one year is no longer a guarantee that it will re-appear there in the following year. The number of tetrads above may not be fulfilled every year. 151 t

18 31

It usually grows on waste ground, but is not likely to persist unless the nearby soil is disturbed. It has been recorded at: La Cuesta garden, ST/528.936, 1975-80, TGE; spoil heaps, adjacent to R. Usk river bank S of George Street Bridge, Newport, ST/329.877, TGE; 5 plants field/path side, St. Kingsmark Secondary School, Chepstow, ST/52.94, 1982, TGE; 12 plants near seawall track, ESE of Peterstone Gout, ST/284.805, 1997, TGE; 1 plant on waste ground adjacent to N of entrance to Severn Tunnel Junction car park, ST/461.876, 2006, TGE, CT. The two subspecies were not differentiated in Wade (1970). 4 t Plate 16

Papaver dubium subsp. dubium Long-headed Poppy The most obvious difference from Common Poppy is in the capsule, which is more than twice as long as broad. Its latex is white or cream; the end lobes of the upper leaves are usually greater than 1.5 mm wide; the anthers are brown or bluish-black. 23

Papaver argemone

18 31

Prickly Poppy

This poppy is usually an upright annual with appressed hairs; its petals are a pale scarlet and often have a dark blotch at their base; the less than 1.5 cm long capsule is distinctive in that it is more than twice as long as wide and is sparsely covered with appressed bristles. Its habitat is usually arable fields and waste places on light soils. There are only two records: 1-5 plants occurred as a contaminant in amongst Blom’s bulbs (from E Anglia) in La Cuesta garden, ST/528.936, 1985-92, TGE; between St. Arvans and Chepstow Road, ST/5.9, prior to 1920, WAS. (2 t)

It is found in similar places to Common Poppy and the number of tetrads is also unlikely to be attained in any one year. 60 t 85

Flora of Monmouthshire Rock, Bicheno; near Mathern Pill, *, WAS; by the R. Usk, Newport, JHC. In the early 1980s, spring rosettes appeared in cracks at the foot of the sea wall for two years near Goldcliff Pill, ST/36.82, but conditions could not have suited them because they had disappeared before flowering, TGE. (5 t)

MECONOPSIS Welsh Poppy Welsh poppies are upright perennials with yellow latex; yellow flowers are solitary; a style is present bearing a 4-6 lobed stigma; the capsule opens by elongated pores at the apex.

Meconopsis cambrica

Welsh Poppy CHELIDONIUM Greater Celandine The flowers of Greater Celandine, a perennial with orange latex, are less than 3 cm in diameter, mostly in umbels of 4 or more, and it has a 2-celled capsule of less than 6 cm with a 2-lobed stigma.

The leaves of this poppy, that may grow to 60 cm tall, are yellowish-green and pinnate and then further pinnately-lobed; the yellow flowers with yellow anthers are up to 80 mm in diameter and produce a narrow, obovoid capsule.

Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine

This perennial has broadly-lobed, pinnate leaves, yellow flowers to 25 mm in diameter, producing a narrow capsule to 5 cm long.

35 19

Its native habitat is in upland areas among rocks or under trees. In this county, particularly in the Wye Valley, it seems to be a garden escape. In the NW of the vice-county the rocky river banks with their lining of trees could provide the appropriate natural habitats. 17 t

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Widespread on hedge banks and less commonly on walls. Monmouthshire folk break the stem of the plant and apply the oozing orange latex to remove their warts. 191 t

GLAUCIUM Horned-poppies These poppies have yellow sap, glaucous leaves, with the lower hairy, solitary red or yellow flowers and long pods opening from the apex to reveal seeds embedded in the septum that separates the two chambers.

Glaucium flavum

ESCHSHOLZIA Californian Poppy This poppy has a watery sap, sepals that are fused and shed as a cap as the flower opens, and a receptacle raised above the base of the ovary.

Yellow Horned-poppy ! Eschscholzia californica Californian Poppy

These plants tend to sprawl and seldom reach 90 cm in height in the vice-county; the leaves are variously pinnately-lobed; the yellow flowers may be up to 9 cm in diameter and produce a narrow pod up to 30 cm long that opens along two valves, with the seed embedded in the septum between; the stigma is 2-lobed. They grow on coastal shingle or sandy banks. Wade (1970) gave four sites but none more recent than about 1920, they are: Chepstow, SH; Black

Californian Poppy usually does not survive the British winter; it has glaucous, pinnately and finely divided leaves with narrow leaflets; its solitary flowers range from yellow to orange and up to 12 cm in diameter; the narrow, 7-10 cm, linear, capsule with a 4-6, deeply-lobed stigma opens in two valves along its length. Always recorded as a garden escape, though the one plant I remember with white flowers was 86

Flora of Monmouthshire recorded on Newport rubbish tip, ST/30.85, 1982, ALG & TGE. 4 t

flowers have a spurred dorsal petal. It has seeds with an aril.

FUMARIACEAE Fumitory family The plants of this family are herbaceous and have a watery sap; their leaves are spirally arranged or all basal; the zygomorphic flowers are in simple or compound racemes, there are two small sepals that often drop as soon as the flower opens, and four, white to pink, purple or yellow petals with the dorsal or the dorsal and ventral ones with a basal spur; the ovary is one-celled but produces many seeds in a fruit that may be either an achene or a capsule.

Ceratocapnos claviculataClimbing Corydalis This plant scrambles over other plants climbing to 75 cm using its tendrils to obtain a purchase; its pale cream flowers are 4-6 mm with a basal spur of only 1 mm. 23

PSEUDOFUMARIA Corydalises The non-climbing Corydalises are perennials with much branched, rather fleshy stems, that bear leafopposed inflorescences; the cream to yellow flowers have their dorsal petal spurred; the fruit is a capsule. Their seeds have an aril.

Pseudofumaria lutea

Yellow Corydalis

Because of its weak stems, Yellow Corydalis tends to sprawl over its substrate or other plants; its leaves are pinnately or ternately divided and have ridged petioles; it has 12-18 mm (including the 2-4 mm spur) yellow flowers; its seeds are shiny.

It is locally common in woods on an acidic substrate, particularly in the Wye Valley and in the wooded part of the western valleys in the southern half of the vice-county. 33 t FUMARIA Fumitories Fumitories are much-branched scrambling annuals; they have only pinnately-arranged stem leaves; their white to purple flowers are in racemes that are leaf-opposed; the dorsal petal has a basal spur and the dorsal and lateral petals have darker coloured tips; the seeds lack an aril. Stace (1997) or Rich & Jermy’s Plant Crib (1998) should be consulted before trying to name one, as all members are very similar. Of ten species, only 4 have been recorded wild in the vice-county, but beware of complacency, as other members of this weedy group could turn up on disturbed ground.

18 31

! Fumaria bastardii Tall Ramping-fumitory It freely seeds and propagates itself on walls and may find its way on to banks or natural rock outcrops. It seems to favour the shady parts of the Wye Valley where it is common on cottage garden walls, and the hilly parts of the NW. 58 t

CERATOCAPNOS

F bastardii has pinkish flowers c. 9-11 mm long but small sepals 2-3 x 1-2 mm with a serrate margin; its fruit is almost orbicular and rugose when dry. AL recorded it at Llandogo in the 19th century. (1 t)

Climbing Corydalis

This annual climbs by means of leaf-tendrils; the inflorescences are leaf opposed; the pale cream 87

Flora of Monmouthshire

Fumaria muralis subsp. boraei Common Ramping-fumitory

This has pink flowers 9-11 mm long in a raceme about as long as its peduncle; its sepals are 3.5 x 1.5-3 mm and are dentate near their base; its fruit is usually 2-2.5 x 2 mm drying to a smooth or slightly rugose surface.

20 23 19 22 18 21

This is a weed of cultivated ground and is the most widespread of the species in the vice-county. Because of the reduction in allotments, farmers’ fields for vegetables and cottage vegetable gardens, it has declined since the 1950s. 103 t

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PLATANACEAE Plane family Planes are deciduous trees with palmately lobed, alternately arranged, simple leaves. The male and female flowers hang on different, pendent peduncles on the same tree; the female flowers produce bundles of nutlets that hang like little balls from the twigs long after the leaves fall in the autumn. The leaves from suckers or from young, trees are not typical.

It grows mainly on ploughed or otherwise disturbed land, but seldom in any quantity. It is scattered in the vice-county, but is rare in the hilly west. 83 t

Fumaria purpurea Purple Ramping-fumitory F. purpurea has 10-13 mm, pinkish-purple flowers; its upper petal has narrow, erect margins; its sepals are characteristically oblong, 5-6.5 x 2-3 mm and can be denticulate; its fruit is 2.5 x 2.5 mm and is borne on a recurved pedicel. It grows on waste or disturbed ground. There are no known extant sites in 2004, but it has been found in the past at: Chepstow, ST/53.94, 1909, JCM; Tintern, 1914, CB and ESMT, 1918; on banks of R. Usk, Usk, SO/37.00, 1924, JULS; Kymin Hill, Monmouth, SO/50.12, 1934, SGC; more than 10 plants on disturbed soil, St Kingsmark Secondary School, Chepstow, ST/528.945, 1984, TGE & RoF; 2 plants on waste ground, near railway, S of Blackbird Road, Caldicot, ST/497.878, 1985, TGE; Penhein, nr. Llanvair Discoed, ST/44.93, 1990, JW. (6 t)

Fumaria officinalis

PLATANUS Planes The characters are those of the family as there is only one genus.

! Platanus x hispanica (P. occidentalis x P. London Plane

orientalis) 23

Common Fumitory

F. officinalis has 7-8 mm, pink flowers with a lower petal spathulate, they are in racemes longer than their peduncles; their sepals are 1.5-3.5 x 11.5 mm and serrate; the fruits are truncate and wider than long, 2-2.5 x 2.25-3 mm.

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Flora of Monmouthshire London Plane can attain a height of 44 m and is grown along town avenues because it is pollutiontolerant. It sheds its bark in irregularly-shaped plates to leave the trunk as a patchwork of greens and greenish-browns, the accumulated street grime being shed at the same time leaving the pores free to carry out gas exchange. The veins of the palmate leaves end in large points. Because planted trees have been rather ignored by botanists until recent surveys, this plane has been under-recorded. 5 t

Ulmus x hollandica

Ulmus procera

English Elm

The obovate to oblong crown shape for a 33 m tall mature tree can only be appreciated in the memory or in a Constable or David Shepherd painting. The 5-9 cm leaves are often nearly circular but with an asymmetric base, their upper surface is rough to touch and they have 10-12 pairs of lateral veins.

ULMACEAE Elm family This deciduous tree has alternately arranged, simple, serrated leaves, usually with bases asymmetrically joined to the petioles; the flowers are produced in small axillary clusters, before the leaves, and the fruits, have two broad wings, that form a circular thin plane to transport them away from the parent tree on the wind.

Ulmus glabra

Dutch Elm

The trees reported were hedgerow plants and I doubt whether anyone but a specialist in elms could be certain of identification. (6 t)

Wych Elm

This tree seldom reaches the 37 m quoted for its pre-Dutch elm disease days. Its crown was orbicular in outline due to the trunk soon dividing into long, spreading branches, the leaves vary from 8 to 16 mm in length, are very rough on the top side and quite asymmetrical near the petiole, overlapping it on one side; each leaf has more than 12 pairs of lateral veins and a petiole less than 3 mm; the buds are abundantly covered by rustcoloured hairs.

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The remaining plants are confined largely to hedgerows and woods but as soon as they reach a height of about 7 m, shoots turn brown as the tree succumbs to Dutch Elm disease. 209 t CANNABACEAE Hop family Members of the hop family are herbaceous; their leaves are palmately veined or lobed; their flowers are small but clustered on longish peduncles; their fruit is an achene, subtended by a bract.

CANNABIS Hemp Hemp is an annual with the upper leaves alternate; male and female inflorescences are borne on different plants.

! Cannabis sativa

Hemp

This erect herb has its leaves divided almost to the base, into 3-9 lanceolate lobes, widest near their middle, and edged with spaced, forward pointing teeth. Hemp is grown commercially for its fibre, or more recently for medical purposes, but has featured in illegal cultivation for recreational drugs. The seed also occurs in wild bird seed and plants growing

No undamaged mature trees remain in the vicecounty, but immature trees, many with dead or dying parts, may still be found in woods and hedgerows, in all but upland parts of the west. 304 t 89

Flora of Monmouthshire from this accounts for most of the vice-county records. Findings are from: Newport rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.85 and 86, often both male and female plants in 1973, 1975, 1979 and 1980, TGE; roadside, Panteg, ST/300.988, REH; 1 plant on rail ballast, Rogiet, ST/460.874, 1994, TGE, UTE; 1 plant in Newton Green garden, Mathern, ST/518.917, 2004, KCJ. 1 t (4 t)

! Ficus carica

Fig

Figs are usually spreading shrubs in the vicecounty, but they can become trees to over 10 m; their leaves may be hairy and are divided into 3-5 rather rounded lobes; their figs are green or blackish when ripe. 23

HUMULUS Hop Hop has all its palmate leaves opposite, the lobes reach no more than three-quarters of the way to the base; the male and female inflorescences are borne on different plants.

Humulus lupulus

Hop

Hop has twining stems that can help it achieve a height of more than 7 m; its leaves are split into 3-5 ovate lobes; the male inflorescences are loose and spreading, the female ones are terminal on the peduncles and when ripe form cone-like structures, made up of papery bracts, and are used in brewing to flavour beer.

18 31

18 32

All recorded figs originate from cracks in walls over rivers or streams, which suggests that the seeds are buoyant and lodge in the cracks when the river is in flood. Known sites are: stone wall, over River Ebbw, Aberbeeg, SO/208.019, 1987, RF and 1995, PAS; brick wall, over stream, Garndiffaith, SO/26.04, 1988, RF; in stone wall, by stream, Bailey Park, Abergavenny, SO/302.146, 1991, RF; Afon Llwyd wall, Blaenavon, SO/248.089, 1994, RH; on wall near Ffrwyd Bridge, Talywain to Viaduct Road, SO/263.045, 1994, REH; wall at Beaufort Arms, Raglan, SO/414.077, 1990, RF. 6t

URTICACEAE Nettle family This family consists of herbaceous annuals or perennials; they have opposite or alternate, simple leaves; the flowers are small and insignificant to view, solitary or in crowded inflorescences.

Widespread in the vice-county, mainly scrambling over hedges. 267 t MORACEAE Mulberry family This family consists of deciduous trees or shrubs, with simple leaves, often palmately lobed; the flowers are small but crowded into dense heads or into hollow receptacles; the male and female inflorescences are separate but on the same plant; latex is produced.

URTICA Nettles These erect annuals or perennials have opposite, toothed leaves, equipped with stinging hairs; their flowers are in dense axillary inflorescences; the perianth has two inner and two outer parts that enclose the fruit.

Urtica dioica FICUS Fig Fig has a milky latex; its fruiting head is pearshaped.

Common Nettle

Common Nettle can form 1.5 m high, extensive colonies because the leafy stems arise from yellowish spreading rhizomes and/or stolons; the 90

Flora of Monmouthshire plant is usually a dioecious perennial with hairy stems and leaves and many hairs are designed to sting; the terminal leaf-tooth is longer than the laterals.

home for the plant but as times have changed and they have fallen into disuse, so the nettle is harder to find. It favours lighter soils. 27 t PARIETARIA Pellitories-of-the-wall Pellitories are perennials with decumbent stems; softly pubescent, entire leaves; their flowers are in dense, short inflorescences, which are mainly unisexual.

Parietaria judaica

The plants have much-branched stems to 40 cm, though in very favourable conditions they can be much bigger; its leaves are elliptical and the flowers are borne at the leaf base in short clusters.

Pellitory-of-the-wall

18 31

35 22

The plants are ubiquitous, though actions of gardeners and farmers and specific herbicides have tended to reduce numbers so that though every sizeable tetrad has them, they do not form as extensive areas as in the past. They persist in hedgerows and wood edges. 400 t

Urtica urens

Small Nettle

Small Nettle is an annual seldom exceeding 60 cm tall with different sex flowers on one plant; the leaves and stems are abundantly covered with stinging hairs but there are few non-stinging hairs. The terminal leaf-tooth is about the same size as the lateral teeth.

It grows in cracks or joints in walls or rock faces, but seems to be scarce in the upland regions and does not do well in dry walls. 70 t SOLEIROLIA Mind-your-own-business Mind-your-own-business is a low, spreading perennial with thin stems that root at the nodes; the entire, circular leaves are alternately arranged; the monoecious flowers are solitary in the leaf-axils.

! Soleirolia soleirolii Mind-your-own-business

A low-growing plant with slender stems and roundish leaves. It has been naturalised on damp, shady walls and banks. Its needs are fulfilled admirably in the well at White Castle, SO/379.168, 1987, TGE, UTE, and 2002, JB; on a walled embankment on NE side of A472, Pontypool, SO/291.005, 1989, GH; base of quartz conglomerate wall at entrance to ‘Barberry’, Penallt, SO/525.106, 1994, TGE, UTE;

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This plant is quite local and depends on cultivation of the soil and bare waste areas. Mathern, Caerwent and Caldicot in the SE has afforded a 91

Flora of Monmouthshire Most if not all trees have been planted in large gardens, and there have been few reports of them in the western coalfield upland or northern hills. 26 t

inside Caldicot Castle, ST/487.885, 2002, TGE & CT. No details are given for the other sites. 17 t

Soleirolia soleirolii 23

FAGACEAE Beech family This family consists of deciduous or evergreen trees with alternate, simple leaves; male and female flowers occur on the same tree; the fruit is a nut, cupped with fused scales.

FAGUS Beech Male flowers of Beech hang in numerous tassels and their nuts are in ones or twos to a cup.

Fagus sylvatica 31

JUGLANDACEAE Walnut family Members of this family are deciduous trees with pinnate leaves; both male and female flowers occur, in pendent catkins on the same tree; the fruit is a drupe or a winged nut.

JUGLANS Walnut This tree has entire leaflets which are aromatic when crushed; the one to a few fruits are drupes with a green husk enclosing a hard-shelled kernel. The juices stain brown.

! Juglans regia

Beech

After a good fruiting year, the soil around a tree may be covered with sprouting seedlings growing from three-angled, brown nuts. The sharplypointed, winter buds are narrowly spindleshaped.

Walnut

Non-suckering walnut trees grow to a height of over 20 m; their leaves have 3-4 pairs of entire, ovate leaflets terminated with a single one.

Beech seems to be catholic in its requirements as it is widespread in woods, hedgerows and field borders. Only the peaty Severn moors are without it. 330 t

NOTHOFAGUS Southern Beeches Similar to Beech but male flowers are 1-3 in stiff clusters and the nuts are three to a cup.

! Nothofagus obliqua

18 31

Roble

Roble has simple leaves that are coarsely doublyserrate with 7-11 pairs of veins; the fruit cupules have short stiff scales. My only record for this S American tree is from the Cumberland Plantation, S of Llanishen, SO/ 475.023, 1991 & 1994, TGE. 1 t

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Nothofagus nervosa

lobes appear rather narrow, the lower side can have varying degrees of pubescence; the rather shortlooking acorns are encased in a cupule covered in curved, narrow, green scales.

Rauli

Rauli has simple, ovate to oblong, finely serrate to subentire or crenate margined leaves, with 14-24 pairs of veins; the fruit cupules have deeply laciniate scales. It has been seen at: Cumberland Plantation, S of Llanishen, SO/475.023, 1991 & 1994, TGE; in woodland, NE of Mill Farm, S Wentwood, ST/40.92, 1989 & 1990, TGE; Coed Robert Wood/roadside, SO/39.09, 1994, TGE; the fourth site in the Earlswood area has no details. 4 t

CASTANEA Sweet Chestnut These are deciduous trees with rather stiff catkins, with female flowers in threes at the base, and male flowers above; pollination is by insects.

Arc. Castanea sativa

Sweet Chestnut

Old trees of Sweet Chestnut can be easily recognised by the spiralling of the deep ridges in the bark of the trunk and by the simple, up to 20 x 10 cm long leaves, the margins of the leaves are noticeably toothed; the edible, 1-3 nuts are encased in a very prickly cupule.

Planted widely in small numbers for decorative purposes. 39 t

! Quercus x crenata

Lucombe Oak

This is a cross between Turkey and Cork Oaks and is semi-evergreen; the leaves, with pubescence underneath, are lobed to less than half way, with mucronate to aristate margins; petioles are less than 2 cm. There are 2 trees in Trevethin churchyard, SO/284.020, 1997, CT. 1 t

! Quercus ilex

18 31

Widespread, except on the hills and near the coast, in woods where it may be grown as coppice, when it affords cover for pheasants, or for mature timber or fencing. 146 t QUERCUS Oaks Oaks form a large group, worldwide, with half of the species deciduous and half evergreen; they all bear acorns.

! Quercus cerris

Evergreen Oak

The specific name of this oak suggests its leaves have prickly margins, but like some Hollies many trees have leaves with entire margins, the undersides are grey-tomentose; the green acorn is enclosed between one third and one half in a cupule covered by numerous short, fawn, felted scales. The vice-county records suggest that Carboniferous Limestone close to the surface favours the growth of seedlings, because where this happens there are big concentrations of self-sown trees e.g. around Chepstow, NE of Monmouth and around the edge of the coalfield. However, the tree is much planted as it provides an impressive specimen tree; the tree at Goldcliff illustrates this as the Severn moors do not form a natural habitat for it. 30 t

Turkey Oak

Q. cerris is a deciduous tree with leaves of varying shapes, but having 7-9 lobes each side makes the 93

Flora of Monmouthshire Quercus ilex

23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18

31 31

Quercus petraea

Sessile Oak

Quercus robur

Deciduous Sessile Oak has a taller, straighter trunk and less spreading branches than the other common oak, Q. robur; other differences are: its leaf bases are cuneate to cordate and auricles are not obvious, there are 5-8 pairs of shallower lobes, the petiole can be up to 25 mm, the leaf underside has many simple hairs and some stellate ones. Sessile refers to the acorns, though they may confusingly have peduncles up to 2 cm.

Pedunculate Oak

Deciduous Pedunculate Oak has leaves with petioles less than 1 cm, leaf bases cordate, with distinct auricles and usually 3-6 pairs of rounded lobes; the underside is glabrous or with simple hairs only; the peduncles vary between 2 and 9 cm; winter twigs can be recognised by the cluster of terminal buds, in most trees there is one terminal bud that in the spring extends the length of the twig; the bud cluster may contribute to the zigzag growth of the branches.

18 31

Shallow sandy or acid soils favour colonisation by this tree and the hilly parts of the vice-county have the biggest concentrations. 158 t

This is the commonest oak spread from Severn shore to hilly north, but on the highest hills it gives way to Q. petraea. 349 t

Quercus x rosacea

! Quercus rubra

a hybrid oak

This tree is intermediate between its parents Q. petraea and Q. robur. Most records come from woods where its parents grow side by side, but it is probably underrecorded. 36 t

Red Oak

Red Oak has large leaves with acuminate to aristate lobes, acorns in cupules covered with short, appressed scales and with the nut shell hairy inside. 94

Flora of Monmouthshire prominent primary teeth and a truncate base; the wings of the fruit look like two large, round ears; next years male pendent catkins may be seen throughout the winter. It grows in woods and heaths on poor, acid soils. When growing by itself it forms a tree of beautiful form, but usually it grows thickly from the plentiful seed crop and because of this is by some called the ‘Weed of the Woods’. 330 t

Betula x aurata

a hybrid birch

This is intermediate between its parents, B. pendula and B. pubescens.

18 31

35 23

Red Oak is grown in woods and on estates for its bright red autumn colouring. 18 t

BETULACEAE Birch family These are deciduous trees or shrubs with simple, alternate leaves; their flowers are very small, in the case of males pendent and in the case of females pendent or erect; the fruit is a nut and may be winged.

BETULA Birches Birches have winged fruits in a compact, conelike structure formed from dried-out threelobed bracts; male flowers 3 to a bract; the stamen lobes are well separated.

It is probably under-recorded. 19 t

Betula pendula

Betula pubescens

18 31

Silver Birch

Downy Birch

The trunk of Downy Birch may be brown, grey or white but does not develop the blackish fissures in the lower trunk; its leaves are acute but not drawn out into an elongated apex, the margins are serrate with teeth more even in size, the leaf base is rounded or cuneate.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

B. pendula is a deciduous tree with silvery bark, which becomes darkly fissured in its lower trunk with age; its shoots are glabrous, pendulous with resin glands; its leaves are acuminate, glabrous, doubly-serrate, with

18 31

Flora of Monmouthshire Downy Birch has a preference for upland, peaty or acid soils. 203 t

ALNUS ALDERS Alders are deciduous trees where the whole fruiting cone comprised of woody bracts falls with its seeds; the male catkins open before the leaves, the lobes of the stamens are only slightly parted.

Alnus glutinosa

Alder

Alders can attain a height of over 25 m and have a dark brown, fissured bark, their leaves usually have a cuneate base and an indented apex and their 1030 mm long female cones begin as ovoid balls but become dark brown, very noticeable cones on the trees from autumn to spring.

18 31

! Alnus cordata

Italian Alder

A. cordata is separated from A. glutinosa and A. incana by its ‘heart-shaped’ leaves and rather larger cones.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 31

Alder-lined rivers are so familiar in the lowlands, from where they have spread into other damp areas, particularly woodlands. The buoyant cones and seeds float along waterways and come to rest on the banks where they germinate and form lines of trees. 357 t

! Alnus incana

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A more recently planted tree along roadsides and on unstable coal tips. It could be under-recorded. 7t

Grey Alder

CARPINUS Hornbeam Hornbeams are deciduous trees to over 20 m; it has female catkins with noticeably leafy bracts, the ones subtending the nuts are enlarged and three lobed.

Grey Alder is similar to the common Alder but differs in the following ways: it has grey, fairly smooth bark; the leaves have a cuneate base, a pointed apex, and doubly-serrate margins. It is commonly planted on landscaped, often wet, coal waste, both to beautify the landscape and to stabilise the slopes by binding the particles with its network of roots, hence the concentration in the old coalfields in the west of the vice-county. 35 t

Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam

This deciduous tree is superficially like a beech, but differs in having a fluted trunk, the twigs are less fragile-looking, leaves that have a doubly serrated margin, hairs at least on the underside veins, a slightly corrugated surface, and the threelobed leafy bracts subtending the nuts are distinct. 96

Flora of Monmouthshire free petaloid parts; stamens are numerous; the fruit is succulent, berry-like and 6-10 lobed due to a close combination of carpels.

PHYTOLACCA Pokeweeds These have regular flowers in leaf-opposed racemes, 5-30 stamens and 5-16 carpels which are free or joined to the base.

! Phytolacca acinosa 19

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Hornbeam is widely planted, but looks native in the Wye Valley. 73 t

CHENOPODIACEAE Goosefoot family Chenopods generally are weedy and not colourful; they are annual or perennial herbs, or occasionally shrubs; their bisexual or female flowers are small, greenish and usually numerous, and consist of a single whorl of tepals; their fruit an achene; the triangular shape of many of the leaves and their cuneate bases led to the appellation ‘goosefoot’.

CORYLUS Hazels Hazels are large shrubs. The instantly recognisable nuts are held in a cup of fused bracts.

Corylus avellana

Indian Pokeweed

This is an erect, branching plant growing to over 1.5 m; its leaves, which may be as much as 30 cm long, are ovate in shape; its erect racemes may also be 30 cm long; the perianth is whitish-green to red; the fruit is blackish with a red juice. There is only one record, a garden escape at St Pierre, c. ST/51.90, 1925, HES. (1 t)

Hazel

Hazel usually has suborbicular leaves, cordate at the base, the male catkins are tightly-closed from leaf-fall until late winter, when they open on warm days and turn yellow. The female flowers are enclosed in buds, from which emerge inconspicuous wine-coloured styles in the spring.

CHENOPODIUM Goosefoots These are herbs, often annual, with often mealy, entire, toothed or lobed leaves; there are no bracteoles; the flowers are either bisexual or female with 4-5 tepals which persist in fruit.

Arc. Chenopodium bonus-henricus Good-King-Henry

Good-King-Henry is an upright, rhizomatous perennial, with greenish flowers in a terminal panicle; the leaves are triangular with prominent basal lobes and veins on the lower surface.

23 19 22 18 31

It is widespread in woods and hedgerows at all altitudes. 372 t

PHYTOLACCACEAE Pokeweed family This family consists of herbaceous perennials, with a somewhat woody base; the simple, entire leaves alternate on the stem; the many flowers in racemes are leaf-opposed; the perianth is in one whorl of 5

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Flora of Monmouthshire Good-King-Henry grows on roadsides, waste land, near farm buildings or paths, grassy areas, spoil heaps, sewage waste and old gardens, all sites are associated with human activity. Some examples include: near farm paths, Undy, ST/435.868, 197276, TGE; roadside, W of Beaufort School, SO/182.115, 1977-82, RF; waste land, Pentwyn Mawr, ST/195.962, 1990, RF; 2 plants, rough ground, Dingestow, SO/459.105, 1985, HVC; wild part of Cleppa Park garden, ST/27.81, 1990, EJS; many plants, E side of road, Began, ST/228.830, 1986, GH; 10 plants, road verge opposite telephone box, Bedwellty SO/166.011, 1997, TGE, CT & GHa; c. 60 plants on spoil heaps, Goldcliff Pill, ST/363.826, 1996, MJ; large number of plants, dry sewage waste, Nash Sewage Works, ST/33.83, 1996, MJ. 26 t

Chenopodium rubrum

Red Goosefoot

This herb has shiny, slightly fleshy, triangular leaves with prominent lobes, which often turn reddish with maturity. 23

Arc. Chenopodium glaucum Oak-leaved Goosefoot

This herb is an erect or procumbent plant with oblong leaves, green above and glaucous-mealy below, with shallow lobes giving them a resemblance to miniature oak leaves.

They frequently occur on farm soil heaps or around manure piles. Their association with cultivated land is noticeable on the distribution map where they are missing from higher ground. 75 t

Arc. Chenopodium polyspermum Many-seeded Goosefoot

This much-branched, glabrous plant most often seems to grow horizontally across the surface of cultivated soil; the glabrous leaves are mostly entire, the tepals are rounded below; the seed coat had raised radial, sinuous striations.

23 19

22 18 31

It is confined to industrial areas of Newport and to the coast nearby. Records are: waste ground, Newport rubbish tip, Mendalgief Level, ST/309.855, 1975-1982, TGE & CT; waste ground, E of Llanwern Steelworks, ST/34.87, 1988, TGE; 500+ plants, barish margins of sludge beds, Alpha Steelworks, ST/33.84, 1993-1998, TGE & MJ; gateway, W of Nash, ST/336.835, 1994, TGE; 100s plants on disused ash pans, Uskmouth Power Station, ST/338.824 and 342.825, 1986-2003, TGE; 3 plants, road verge in front of Goldcliff Manor, ST/362.830, 1996, TGE; 38 plants, near S Dock, Newport, ST/313.845, 1997, MJ. 6 t (1 t)

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Chenopodium polyspermum is a weed of barish soil that has recently been cultivated. Apart from valleys, it is not common in upland regions. 83 t 98

Flora of Monmouthshire

Arc. Chenopodium vulvaria Stinking Goosefoot

Arc. Chenopodium ficifolium Fig-leaved Goosefoot

This plant has mealy-grey stems, much-branched from the base, ascending to 35 cm or more; its entire leaves are ovate to triangular; the lower, outer side of the tepals is rounded and the seed testa has faint radial furrows. As the plant looks like a goosefoot, smells so obviously of rotting fish, and is so rare, misidentification is unlikely. Wade (1970) gave two locations; Raglan district, before 1975, BMF; Chepstow Castle, ST/534.941, 1781, TW. (2 t)

C. ficifolium tends to be mealy in its flowering panicle, with distinct leaf-shape, the lower leaves are narrow, almost parallel-sided apart from two forward-pointing basal lobes, which leave the central lobe much longer; the tepals are weakly keeled beneath; the seed coat is pitted radially and the pits are elongated in the same direction. 23

Arc. Chenopodium hybridum Maple-leaved Goosefoot

This goosefoot is easily recognised by its mapleshaped leaves, having pointed lobes and a heartshaped base. There are only two known sites: a small-holding weed at the Nurtons, Tintern, SO/535.011, 1985, EW; garden weed, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/527.936, 1987-2003. Warning; the latter record is the result of taking a part of a prolific seedproducing plant home with you! 2 t

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Like other members of the group, it is associated with cultivated land and has a similar distribution avoiding hilly areas. It is most frequent on the margins of crops or bare meadow margins. 59 t

Arc. Chenopodium urbicum Upright Goosefoot Usually a glabrous, erect plant to 1 m; leaves roughly triangular with pointed lobes; tepals are rounded beneath; the seed coat has a network of faint furrows. Wade (1970) gave two sites: by the Wye Bridge, Monmouth, 1892, FAR; site of a manure heap, roadside, near St. Mellons Post Office, *, 1949, AEW. (2 t)

Chenopodium album

Fat-hen

This is easily the commonest of the group in the vice-county and is similar to C. ficifolium in that it has a branched panicle and tepals that are lightly keeled, but its leaves lack the basal lobes and are more triangular; the plant sometimes takes on a purple tinge or can become very mealy. 23

Arc. Chenopodium murale Nettle-leaved Goosefoot

This is similar to C. album but has some leaves quite toothed. Older records: rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1975 & 1978, TGE & CT; Newport Banks, JHC which must have been prior to 1868 and presumably refers to the banks of the R. Usk, Newport, in Wade (1970). Recent records are: Bassaleg, ST/27.86, 1987, EJS; Ynysfro Farm, ST/28.89, 1987, EJS; Craig-y-dorth, SO/48.08, 1987, JFH. 3 t (2 t)

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Flora of Monmouthshire Fat-hen occurs wherever cereal crops are grown and on waste ground even in the hilly parts. 333 t

TGE, det. RDM; on dumped soil, lane side, Pen-yClawdd, SO/442.078, 2002, TGE. (3 t)

! Chenopodium strictum

Atriplex prostrata

Striped Goosefoot

This is like C. album but usually has a red-striped stem; its leaves are narrowly-oblong, slightly toothed but not lobed; its tepals are scarcely keeled. It was found on waste ground, Newport Rubbish Tip, ST/30.86, 1975, TGE, det. EJC. (1 t) BASSIA Summer-cypress These are annuals with entire, non-mealy leaves, the lowest of which are hairy; there are 4-5 tepals which persist in fruit.

! Bassia scoparia

Summer-cypress

B. scoparia is an annual herb that has a globose growth form due to its erect stem branching many times, usually falling short of a metre in height; the sessile leaves are linear to lanceolate, the linear ones have one vein and the wider ones three veins; in the autumn the plant may become conspicuously reddish. Recorded once on the bank of the tidal portion of the R. Rhymney, Llanrumney, ST/210.791, 1995, TGE. (1 t)

ATRIPLEX Oraches Oraches are annual herbs or perennial shrubs; their leaves are flat, entire, toothed or lobed and often mealy. They have many characteristics of Chenopods but their flowers are either male or female and usually are in terminal panicles, with branches in the axils of bracts, the flowers are male of five tepals or female of two bracteoles that enlarge to conceal the fruit. Where the orientation of the seed radicle is diagnostic it is important to take care when separating the two bracteoles that the seed is not dislodged from its attachment to at least one bracteole.

! Atriplex hortensis

Spear-leaved Orache

A. prostrata is an erect or procumbent annual, which may grow to 1 m; its lower leaves are broadly triangular and have a truncate base with outwardly pointing lobes; the plant can be green or mealy (the latter more often when growing on the shore); the triangular bracteoles are less than 10 mm and have stalks of less than 5 mm and are fused only at the base, which may be thickened, the two enclose, basally, the seed, whose radicle can be seen directed laterally or obliquely.

It is frequent on the tidal shores of the Rivers Severn and Wye, but is also found frequently inland on waste or cultivated ground. 153 t

Atriplex x gustafssoniana

Kattegat Orache

This hybrid between A. prostrata and A. longipes varies in appearance between its two parents; the former has sessile bracteoles and the latter has stalks greater than 5 mm so the hybrid has stalked bracteoles between 1 and 5 mm. It has been recorded to the E of Blackrock, near the sea wall at ST/51.88, 1996-97, TGE conf. AOC; upper shore and on rocks of sea wall, Uskmouth, ST/33.82, 1996, TGE conf. AOC; salt marsh, between Newport’s transporter bridge and Alpha Steel, ST/32.85, 2000, TGE. 3 t

Garden Orache

Garden Orache can reach 2 m in height in cultivated soil; the longer, triangular leaves can exceed 10 cm, they have a truncate base which may have pointed lobes; the plants found in the vice-county have been a deep purplish-red (they can be green); the bracteoles have been orbicular and fused only at the base, but may not be present with all female flowers. Two of the records have been on Newport Rubbish Tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.86 & 30.85, 1975,

Atriplex glabriuscula

Babington’s Orache

This is similar to A. prostrata but the bracteoles are fused for more than one third of their length and the basal lobes of their leaves are forwardly directed; the seed has a radicle directed away from the point of attachment. 100

Flora of Monmouthshire There were several plants on the salt marsh on the E bank of the R. Usk, S of Newport’s transporter bridge, ST/32.85, 2000, TGE; it was also recorded on muddy banks of R. Wye, Chepstow, ST/5.9F, before 1920, WAS. 1 t (1 t)

Atriplex longipes

Long-stalked Orache

Atriplex longipes is similar to A. glabriuscula, but the bracteoles are fused at the base only i.e. less than one quarter of their length, at least some of them are over 10 mm long, with stalks over 5 mm long and are leaf-like distally. First recorded on the W bank of R. Wye, Chepstow, ST/539.936, 1988, MARK, CK, det. JA 1989 (the site was cleared of vegetation in the early 1990s by an adjacent industrial concern). 3 plants were recorded among Spartina anglica, just above the R. Usk mud, just to the W of Alpha Steel, Newport, ST/326.854, 2000, TGE, *. 1 t (1 t)

! Atriplex littoralis

18 31

BETA BEETS Beets are herbs that range from annuals to perennials; the roots may be swollen; the leaves are not mealy; the flowers are hermaphrodite with 5 persistent tepals.

Grass-leaved Orache

This Orache can attain a height of 1.5 m. Its lower leaves are linear or linear-lanceolate, when held up to the light their lateral veins are opaque (in plants of A. patula, with narrow leaves, the lateral veins are translucent); its sessile bracteoles are fused at the spongy base only. Wade (1970), though he gave only two sites, regarded this Orache as native, it certainly appears so in Glamorgan, but in vc 35 the 3 recent sites near the R. Severn, where it has been noted, are all man-or-bird influenced. They are: 100+ plants on bare, rust-brown margin of old sludge pond, frequented by waders, Alpha Steel, ST/338.848, 1993-1997, MJ; 3 plants on top of artificial earth sea wall, where men had added soil, SW of Lighthouse Inn, ST/297.814, 1996, TGE; 1 plant on spoil tip, N of Goldcliff Pill, ST/363.826, 1996, MJ. 3 t

Atriplex patula

Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Sea Beet

Sea Beet is a much branched, sprawling plant, with lower leaves less than 10 cm long and an inflorescence of a long, terminal spike with long, lateral spikes in the axils of bracts, individual flowers are grouped in small clusters, each group subtended by a leaf-like bracteole; the numerous, ball-shaped fruits are very prominent in late summer. 23

Common Orache

This is the commonest Orache, an erect or procumbent annual; its lower leaves are frequently narrowly lanceolate with an acutely cuneate base with basal lobes pointing forward; the triangular bracteoles are fused from one third to one half their length. Common on road and lane verges, cultivated and waste ground and on the shore. 300 t

18 31

The plant is frequent along stretches of the tidal parts of the rivers, and occurs on Denny Island, ST/459.810. 38 t

101

Flora of Monmouthshire recent work suggests that it may not be so distinct from S. europaea; is this one such instance? 22 t

SALICORNIA GLASSWORTS Glassworts are annual halophytes i.e. plants adapted to living in saline conditions. They are distinct in several ways; they have succulent tubular stems divided into segments by paired scale-like leaves that form a sheath around the stem, the sheath rises to a low point or scale and above this scale the one or three simple flowers appear, they take the form of one or three triangles each containing 1-2 stamens, which eventually hang out from the central opening; where there are three the central one can be roughly the same size as the outer two or more often larger. It is important to note the comparative sizes of the central and lateral flowers. The best time to study Glassworts is in late August or early September because by that time the greens have turned to a distinctive red or yellow colour.

Salicornia europaea

Common Glasswort

S. europaea is usually more erect than S. ramosissima and turns a yellowish-orange, though late in the season becomes tinged with red; the fertile segments have convex sides but not so that they give a knobbly appearance; the apex of the scale is 90 degrees or less. 23

Salicornia europaea agg. 19

This aggregate has 0.2-0.5 mm anthers; usually 1 stamen; a central flower distinctly larger than the outer two; the fertile segments have distinctly convex sides; the seeds are 1-1.7 mm.

Salicornia ramosissima

18 31

Purple Glasswort

It is found in salt marshes, where it is commoner in the middle. It grows where muddy saltmarshes, still exist along the Severn shore. 9 t

S. ramosissima is the commonest and most distinctive Glasswort of the Severn Estuary shore; it becomes a bright red or dark purple in the autumn; the fertile segments have such convex sides that it gives the terminal sections of the stem a knobbly appearance; the apex of the scale is 110120 degrees.

Salicornia procumbens agg. This aggregate has 0.6-0.9 mm anthers, usually 2 stamens; all three flowers roughly the same size; the fertile segments have sides scarcely convex and even slightly concave; seeds usually 1.5-2.3 mm.

Salicornia fragilis

18 31

Yellow Glasswort

S. fragilis is usually erect and moderately wellbranched; the fertile segments are practically cylindrical, as are the primary lateral branches; the terminal spikes consist of 6-16 or more segments. It is dull green to yellowish-green becoming bright yellow late in the season. This plant favours the lower, muddy part of the Spartina marsh. There are two records: numerous plants among Spartina on muddy saltmarsh, Towyn Pill, Caldicot ST/47.86, 1986, TGE, det. FR; several plants in muddy parts of Spartina marsh, S of Saltmarsh, ST/34.82, 1986, TGE, det. FR. 1 t

Parts of the shore produce plants that do not become so distinctive; Stace (1997) reports that 102

Flora of Monmouthshire

Salicornia dolichostachya Long-spiked Glasswort

Suaeda maritima

Annual Sea-blite

This is an erect, greyish, branched annual herb though its lower stem can be quite woody; the fleshy leaves have a pointed tip and a short petiole that is a narrowing of the leaf; it can become purplish-red late August-September.

S. dolichostachya is usually erect and much branched, the tapering terminal spikes have 1230 segments, though more often in the low twenties; its colour is a dark, dull green, becoming paler or turning dull yellow in fruit.

23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18

31 31

It grows in the muddy parts of the banks of the tidal stretches of the vice-county rivers. 33 t

There are seven sites, all on the mud below the vegetated banks in the runnels where the water drains off the vegetated saltmarsh, or in the muddier parts of the Spartina marsh. It has been recorded at: muddy saltmarsh, near Towyn Pill, Caldicot, ST/47.86, 1986, TGE & DJU; abundant in muddy saltmarsh, near new Rogiet rifle range, E of West Pill, ST/46.86, 1995, TGE; frequent in mud, S of Uskmouth Power station, ST/33.82, 1995, TGE; mud off Peterstone Great Wharf, ST/25.78, 1996, TGE, conf. IKF; c. 50 plants on mud, S of Maerdy Farm, ST/234.777, 1996, TGE; in pill, Peterstone Gout, ST/278.806, 1999, TGE; E end of Rhymney Great Wharf, ST/251.788, 2001, TGE; E end of Peterstone Great Wharf, ST/271.799, 2001, TGE; Several square metres on bare mud near the Limonium vulgare colony, Little Wharf, mouth of the R. Rhymney, ST/2210.7751, 2006, TGE, CT. 7t Plate 18

AMARANTHACEAE Pigweed family The members of the Pigweed family are alien, herbaceous annuals or perennials with simple, entire leaves that alternate on the stem; they are separated from Chenopodiaceae by having a brownish, thin papery perianth and often a fruit that is an achene or a dehiscent, one-seeded capsule.

! Amaranthus retroflexus Common Amaranth This N American weed is an erect, greyish annual with a thickish, mainly terminal inflorescence, little branched and with leaf-like bracts only in the basal part; the 5 tepals have a midrib that ends short of the apex which is often very pointed; the leaves are stalked and oval; its fruit is dehiscent. In the vice-county, it grows on the edge of crops such as maize. It sometimes appears on waste ground, roadsides and at bird feeding stations. Its abundant seed is probably imported unwittingly with crop seed. 6 t (2 t)

SUAEDA Sea-blites Sea-blites are annual herbs or perennial shrubs; its one veined leaves are succulent and linear with a flattish upper surface and a rounded lower one, they are entire with acute to obtuse tips; its small flowers, borne in the axils of the leaves, are bisexual and female and have 5 tepals that partly enclose the fruit. 103

Flora of Monmouthshire The only record is for a weed in a garden in Mathern, ST/5.9, 1906, WAS, *. (1 t)

Amaranthus retroflexus 23

! Amaranthus standleyanus Indehiscent Pigweed

This pigweed is usually leafy to the apex of the flowering stem; the flowers are in axillary clusters, though some may be shortened into a leafless, apical, spike-like panicle; the 5 equal, obovate to spathulate tepals are a similar length as the fruit but half as long as the spiny-tipped bracteoles; the fruit does not open to release its seeds. Its only record is for a rather sprawling plant on waste ground on Newport rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.85, 1977, TGE det. EJC. (1 t)

18 31

PORTULACACEAE Blinks family Blinks are annual or perennial herbs with their simple, untoothed leaves basal, or opposite to alternate; their hermaphrodite flowers are solitary or in cymose clusters, each has 2 sepals and has 4-6 free petals or ones joined at their bases; their fruits are many-seeded capsules.

! Amaranthus hybridus s.l. Green Amaranth This is similar to A. retroflexus, but its inflorescence is less dense and more branched; the plant has female and often male flowers as well, the tepals are tapered to an acute apex and their subtending bracteoles can be up to twice as long as them; the fruit is transversely dehiscent. This is increasingly found in maize crops, formerly on tips. County records are: a few plants on Newport rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.85, 1980, TGE, conf. EJC; tens of 1000s in maize crop, Bayfield, Chepstow, ST/520.933, *, 2004, RH, EJC (using Stace, 1997, it keyed out as A. powellii, but EJC points out ‘every book treats the subdivision differently – there are 10s of variants and A. powellii is scarcely a ‘good’ species! - It fades into the others!!). (1 t)

! Amaranthus caudatus

CLAYTONIA Purslanes Purslanes are slightly fleshy plants with one pair of opposite leaves; they have stalked flowers in a terminal cyme, they have 5 free petals and 5 stamens and a one-seeded capsule.

! Claytonia sibirica

Pink Purslane

C. sibirica is a hairless annual, it has a rosette of loose, stalked, oval leaves and paired, sessile leaves; the flowers are usually pink, with notched petals that are longer than 5 mm.

Love-lies-bleeding

This garden plant terminates in a long, drooping inflorescence that can be green or red, large plants have axillary inflorescences as well; it has 5 tepals that overlap well; its fruit is transversely dehiscent. Grown in gardens but escapes occasionally on to tips. Both colour forms grew among the rubbish on Newport tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.86, 1975, TGE conf. EJC. This was at the time the rubbish was not covered with soil for months. (2 t)

! Amaranthus albus

White Pigweed

Amaranthus albus has stiff, white, flowering stems that are leafy to the apex, the flowers are borne in dense, spike-like terminal panicles, with larger plants having axillary ones too; it has 3 linearlanceolate tepals that are shorter than the fruit and half as long as the spiny-tipped bracteoles.

18 31

They grow in damp woodlands, by streams or rivers, especially where the soil is acid and sandy. 104

Flora of Monmouthshire Wade (1970) gave only one site at Dingestow, BG, *, and it has spread as markedly in the vice-county as it has elsewhere in Britain. 18 t

have up to four marginal rows of broad, shortpointed tubercles. Wade (1970) gave sites as: near Chepstow Park, Mounton Brook, Tintern, Yellow Moor, and Rogerstone Grange, St Arvans, WAS, *. It has been found recently only in a wet ditch at Llechryd, SO/11.09, 1988, TGE. 1 t (?5 t)

MONTIA Blinks Blinks are small plants with stems with several alternate or opposite leaves; their stalked flowers are in terminal or axillary groups of one to three in terminal cymes; sepals are present to late summer; 5 petals may be free or fused at their base; there are 3-5 stamens; the fruit is usually a three-seeded capsule.

Montia fontana

M. fontana subsp. amporitana

Blinks

Blinks is an annual to perennial plant with branched stems; there are only opposite stem leaves; the white petals are less than 2 mm long; the seeds are dark brown to black and are diagnostic to the subspecies so testa ornamentation should be examined with a good lens. Stace (1997) has good micrographs of the ornamentation. The subspecies are under-recorded.

M. fontana subsp. fontana

M. fontana subsp. chondrosperma

Blinks

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Pink family Some large families, like this one, have many variable characteristics, so for amateurs it is wise to compare 2-3 plants they know reasonably well to find common factors; in this family Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Mouse-ear and Procumbent Pearlwort might be good choices as they are easy to find and fairly well known. From them these common features could emerge: they have paired leaves that have no stipules or scaly stipules at their base; their petals and sepals number four or five and their stamens are double the number; the fruit is a many-seeded capsule, which if sliced in half has a cavity with a central column to which the ovules/seeds are attached. Looking at a wider range of family members will show that flowers are most often white, though shades of red, and to a less extent other colours,

18 32

It grows in streams and other seasonally wet places, particularly in the wetter west of the vicecounty and down the eastern hilly ridge and Wye Valley. The distribution map shows this very well, but it probably includes some records of the other subspecies. 81 t

M. fontana subsp. variabilis

Blinks

The seeds of subsp. chondrosperma are covered with broad, rounded tubercles, which are dull. This is the most distinctive of the subspecies and it is the least likely one to be found in streams, though it grows in seasonally wet areas. It has been noted at: after a wet spring, in woodland on ORS, near Wentwood Lodge, ST/417.944, 1977, CT; dry, acid field on hill top, near Moorcroft, SO/514.092, 1992, JFH; low tump in field, wet in spring, S edge of Graig Wood, SO/251.163, 1996, TGE; 1 plant in stubble field near Old House Farm, SO/444.101, 1996, SDSB. 3 t (1 t)

The seeds of subsp. fontana have smooth, shiny faces and margins, with only faint sculpturing.

Blinks

The seeds of subsp. amporitana have smooth, somewhat shiny centres to their faces and at least three marginal rows of long, pointed tubercles. Wade (1970) gives six sites: Cwm Carn, Abercarn, Cwm Lickey, near Pontypool, Cwm Lasgarn, Abersychan, near Malpas, near Penheol-y-baddFawr, Henllys, Trellech Bog, WAS, *. The one recent record for this is in a stream in the field to the E of the Virtuous Well, Trellech, SO/50.04, 1968-98, TGE. 1 t (?6 t)

Blinks

The seeds of subsp. variabilis have the centre of their faces smooth and somewhat shiny and 105

Flora of Monmouthshire occur, and the leaves are frequently narrow and some also have stipules. There are exceptions to the above and those have to be learnt individually.

ARENARIA Sandworts Sandworts may be annuals or perennials, with petals and sepals 5 in number, the petals are white and usually entire, the stamens number 10; the styles are usually 3; the fruit is a capsule opening at the apex by usually 6 teeth.

Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Sandwort

This sandwort is usually a low-growing annual; it has ovate leaves; the numerous flowers have their petals shorter than their sepals and 3 styles. The subspecies are found on well-drained acidic or calcareous soils. 140 t

It occurs particularly where fine-grained ash has been strewn, though it is also found in other habitats. It may well be under-recorded. 22 t

A. serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia This subspecies has a stiffer appearance with broadly ovate leaves; its sepals are twice as long as its petals, which are 1.6 mm long or more; its capsule is flask-shaped, with a concave-curved neck, its walls are fragile once the seeds are gone.

MOEHRINGIA Three-nerved Sandwort These are usually annuals, they have 5 sepals and petals, 10 stamens and usually 3 styles; their fruit is a capsule opening by usually 6 teeth, which contains seeds with a noticeable oil-body.

Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort

This is a sprawling, well-branched plant with ovate leaves that have usually 3 veins, but despite its name sometimes has 5 the white, entire petals are shorter than the narrower sepals.

23 20

22 19

21 18 31

The preponderance of this plant on the coalfield is due to the gritty nature of the coal waste tips, which provide the drainage favoured by this plant. 140 t

18 31

A. serpyllifolia subsp. leptoclados

. It grows widely in woodland margins and hedgerows, apart from the highest parts and near the R. Severn, where it becomes less common. 273 t

This subspecies is similar to subsp. serpyllifolia but had narrowly ovate leaves, the whole plant looks more slender; its petals are 1.6 mm or less; its capsule has straight-sided walls that remain flexible after the seeds have gone. 106

Flora of Monmouthshire HONCKENYA Sea Sandwort This succulent perennial has 5 sepals and petals, 10 stamens (in male flowers) and usually 3 styles in female flowers; its fruit is a globose capsule that opens by 3 valves.

STELLARIA Stitchworts Stitchworts are annuals or perennials with 5 sepals and white notched petals, though sometimes there are fewer petals or even none, 10 stamens, 3 styles and a capsule, opening by 6 teeth.

! Honckenya peploides

Stellaria nemorum

Sea Sandwort

Stellaria nemorum subsp. nemorum Wood Stitchwort The pair of bracts at the lowest node of the inflorescence are little smaller than the leaves at the node below; moving up the inflorescence, the bracts at the node above are more than a third as long and the bracts at the next node up are only slightly smaller again; so there is a gradual reduction in size, from the highest pair of stem leaves to the highest pair of bracts. The seeds are globular with the sides only slightly flattened, the rim has up to 4 rows of rounded tubercles, those on the sides are mere impressions. Wade (1970) gave: bank of R. Wye, Hadnock, SO/5.1H, prior to 1951, SGC; Penallt, SO/5.1F, prior to 1951, SGC; Tintern, SO/5.0F, EL. In 20023 only one possible site remains, which is under trees near the R. Wye just S of Redbrook, SO/535.091, 1998, BJG, who recorded it as subsp. montana. The majority of the colony is the hybrid between subsp. montana and subsp. nemorum but some plants could be the subsp. nemorum. ?1 t

MINUARTIA Sandworts Minuartia species may be annuals or perennials; sepals occur in 5s; petals are white, entire and in 5s or may be absent; stamens occur in 10s or fewer, styles are usually in 3s; the fruit is a capsule opening by 3 teeth.

! Minuartia hybrida

Wood Stitchwort

Wood Stitchwort is a stoloniferous perennial with hairy stems that can grow to 60 cm. The lower, ovate to cordate leaves are long-stemmed. The petals are about twice as long as the sepals, and curved distinctively backwards. For the differences between the subspecies, see illustrations. Wood Stitchwort grows in shady woods, usually by the sides of streams, and can be confused with Myosoton aquaticum but that has 5 styles. It is best looked for in early May.

Sea Sandwort is a low-growing plant with ovate, succulent leaves and flowers with petals and sepals of equal length in males but shorter petals in females. As the plant usually occurs on a coastal, sandy substrate and has extensive stolons or rhizomes to bind the surface together and gather rain water, necessary in a saline habitat that drains quickly, and little sandy or gravely shoreline occurs along the R. Severn, I do not consider the plant a native of the vice-county. The records given by Wade are: Severn coast, JHC; St. Brides Wentloog and Peterstone Wentloog, Hamilton. There are no voucher specimens in NMW from these sites and as I have had, from enthusiastic laymen, records that on investigation turned out to be Glaux maritima; I wonder if similar errors have been made before. (3 t)

Fine-leaved Sandwort

M. hybrida is a very slender, erect annual, with upright, linear-lanceolate leaves, petals that are shorter than the sepals and 3 styles. It grows on dry, bare stony ground, tracks, walls and suitable cultivated soil. Its sites in the vicecounty suggests that it is an alien: on a stony/ashy path, Cleppa Park, ST/271.856, 1987, EJS (no specimen was collected though Joan was a careful observer); on railway ballast, Hadnock, 1944, SGC, *. (2 t)

107

Flora of Monmouthshire

subsp. montana Figure 10

Stellaria nemorum 108

Wood Stitchwort

Flora of Monmouthshire

Stellaria nemorum subsp. montana Welsh Wood Stitchwort

For this subspecies, the lowest pair of bracts are little shorter than the leaves at the next node down, but the pair of bracts at the next node up are less than a third as long and the third pair up the inflorescence are little more than leafy scales, so there is a dramatic reduction in bract length from node to node up the inflorescence. The seeds are rounded in one plane but comparatively flat in the other and are covered with cylindrical papillae that have a barbed cap when viewed under a microscope at x50.

18 31

18 32

Shady damp woods near streams provide its habitat and has been recorded: 30-50 plants, bank of R. Wye, foot of Lady Park Wood, SO/549.143, 19791999, TGE; Penarth Brook, Llyna Wood, SO/483.046, ?NCC; 50+ plants below Freedom, Llandogo, SO/524.042, 1976-2000, TGE; 10-20 plants, at Coed Beddick, SO/527.025, TGE; wooded streamside, Woolpitch Wood, SO/492.048, 1988, EGW; rough vegetation, by path, R. Wye bank, Penallt, SO/534.090, 1998, BJG; 1 m² near fence, above Angiddy Fawr Brook, ST/496.999, 1998, TGE; numerous plants under trees above R. Wye bank at junction of Upper Hael and Graig Woods, SO/532.083, 1999, CT. 10 t

This subspecies also grows along shady stream banks or nearby woods. For the last twenty years it has been confined to the Angiddy Valley, Tintern at: numerous plants near bank of the Angiddy Brook and adjacent woods, just W of Tintern, ST/519. 003, 1976-1991, limited to 30 m² in 19922003, TGE; near the Angiddy Brook, at foot of Ravensnest Wood, ST/503.999, 1976-1988, with numbers reducing from 30-40 to 3-5 plants, TGE; by the side of the Angiddy Fawr Brook, ST/500.997-8, 1976-2002 in declining numbers, TGE. In Wade there is a record for Llandogo, 1874-1904, AL; the plants present today are the hybrid below. 2 t Figure 10

Stellaria media

Common Chickweed

Subsp. nemorum x subsp. montana a hybrid Wood Stitchwort

This is more like subsp. nemorum in that the reduction in bract size from the lowest pair of the inflorescence to the highest is gradual, but in some plants less so, the seeds vary more in that the cylindrical papillae may be more tubercle-like or may have a rounded apex with imperfect barbs or none at all.

This is a much branched, sprawling annual that can over-winter, with a line of hairs running from node to node up the stem; in shade it can grow up to 50 cm and because its obvious lower leaves which can be borne on quite long petioles it has erroneously 109

Flora of Monmouthshire been named S. nemorum when not flowering. The hairy or glandular-hairy sepals and white petals are roughly the same length, though exceptionally the petals may be absent or minute, the sepals are less than 5.2 mm long, there are usually 3-5 stamens, the seeds are usually less than 8 mm. Stellaria media is the commonest of the chickweeds and grows on cultivated land and bare areas almost anywhere. 390 t

Stellaria holostea

Greater Stitchwort

Stellaria pallida

Lesser Chickweed 19

S. pallida is somewhat similar to S. media, but is more delicate-looking and is a yellowish-green and it may be seen only from late February to early May. Its sepals are usually under 3 mm long, its petals are absent or less than 1 mm, its stamens 1-2. As its main habitat is coastal dunes or gravels, it has always been scarce in the vice-county. Wade (1970) gave: Blaen-y-cwm, *, its presence in the coalfields is possibly due to the use of sea sand in some building project?; Severn banks below Mathern, *; near Black Rock, Portskewett; near Severn Tunnel Junction, prior to 1920, WAS. There has only been one recent record: a puny plant on gritty soil, near top of the spring tide line, E of St. Pierre Pill, ST/526.897, 2000, TGE. 1 t (4 t)

Stellaria neglecta

18 31

Stellaria graminea

Greater Chickweed

19 33

Lesser Stitchwort

S. graminea could be a smaller version of S. holostea but for the following differences: it has bracts that are either wholly or with the margins papery; the flower diameter is 5-12 mm and the petals are notched to more than half way to the base, and are roughly equal to the length of the sepals.

S. holostea is up to 60 cm tall, has an angular stem, bearing paired, sessile lanceolate leaves and leafy bracts, its 2-3 cm diameter flowers are familiar in spring hedgerows and wood margins, their white petals are notched to half way and much longer than the sepals. It is widespread except on the highest land and in urban areas. The ripe capsules were ‘popped’ by light pressure between finger and thumb of local country children. 334 t

S. neglecta is like S. media, but is taller to 80 cm, its glandular-hairy sepals are 5-6.5 mm, its petals are usually absent, it has 10 stamens.

35 18

It is usually found in lowland, damp, shady places. 102 t

110

Flora of Monmouthshire Lesser Stitchworts grow in grassy places and though widespread still, they are becoming less common due to the ‘improvement’ of meadows. 320 t

Stellaria uliginosa

for Snow-in-summer seems to have found many niches on the waste there too. 31 t 23

Bog Stitchwort 22

S. uliginosa is a glabrous perennial with squarish stems and paired, narrowly ovate, sessile leaves; the bracts are scarious with a green mid-rib; the petals are shorter than the sepals.

20 23 19 22 18 21

Cerastium fontanum

18 32

Common Mouse-ear

This hairy perennial is a mixture of procumbent, non-flowering and erect, flowering shoots, that can attain a height of 50 cm. Its hairy, paired leaves gave rise to its common name. Its upper bracts have narrow, scarious margins. Its petals are usually about one and a half times the length of its sepals. It has 5 styles and 10 capsule teeth.

It grows in all sorts of wet places from ditches to stream banks. Its distribution map has some puzzling gaps in the vice-county. 264 t

CERASTIUM Mouse-ears Mouse-ears can be annuals or perennials with 4-5 sepals and petals, sometimes petals are absent, when present they are white and often notched sometimes to half way to the base. The stamens may be 4 5 or 10. The styles may be 3-5. The fruit is a capsule and opens with twice as many teeth as there are styles.

! Cerastium tomentosum

Snow-in-summer

Tomentose means having a dense hairy coat, and C. tomentosum is a vigorous, mat-forming perennial which has a matted coat of white hairs. Its petals are twice as long as its sepals and its ovary has 5 styles. It was introduced to Britain from Italy as a showy rock garden plant, and is inclined to spread rather more than expected and gets introduced to our countryside as a throw-out. The crumbly cliffs at Sudbrook provide an ideal site where wheelbarrow tipping over the edge has introduced it and it has flourished. The coal waste of the Welsh valleys must resemble the weathering lava flows of Etna,

Until recently I have not attempted to split it into its three subspecies, but all those I have examined in 2004 have proved to be C. fontanum subsp. vulgare. It has patent hairs all over the stem and hairs on both sides of the leaves, often the undersides are sparsely hairy and without a good lens or angled to catch the sunlight look glabrous, especially as the hairs are transparent, those on the mid-rib are much more visible.

111

Flora of Monmouthshire Common Mouse-ear is at home in grassland, hedgerows, open spaces and arable land. It is widespread in the vice-county. 395 t

Cerastium glomeratum

entirely leafy. Hairs on the sepals do NOT exceed the sepal tip. There are usually 4 sepals and petals, with the petals about three-quarters as long as the sepals. It usually grows on dry, open sandy places on the coast and sometimes inland. The vice-county has few suitable native sites and provides only one at Sudbrook, the other five could be artificial. Records are: grassy cliffs and stone-age fort embankments, Sudbrook, ST/504.873, before 1920, ESM & WAS, *, 1985-2000, TGE; Troy Station, Monmouth, SO/513.122, 1992, JH; quarry, Risca, ST/236.914, 1997, TGE; turf, near transmitter masts, Blorenge, SO/263.107, 2000, TGE; sea wall, Rumney, ST/2.7, *, Wade (1970); in pavement gaps near Leisure Centre, Willowtown, Ebbw Vale, SO/163.101 & 163.102, 2006, JND. 6 t (1 t)

Sticky Mouse-ear

C. glomeratum is somewhat similar to C. fontanum but it is an annual, which means that all its shoots flower. It has glandular hairs that make it sticky. The bracts are wholly leafy. Long, eglandular hairs protrude beyond the tip of its sepals. The 5 sepals and petals are roughly the same size. The fruits have pedicels shorter than the sepals so present a more clustered head than in Common Mouse-ear. 23

Cerastium semidecandrum Little Mouse-ear This is a low-growing (to 20 cm at most) annual with the highest bracts with at least the top third scarious. Its sepals have no eglandular hairs exceeding their tips. It usually has 5 sepals and petals, with the petals only 2/3 as long as the sepals.

18 23 31

35 22

It grows in rather open grassland and on arable. It is widespread in the vice-county. 292 t

Cerastium diffusum

Sea Mouse-ear 20

23 19

22 18 31

18 32

It grows in dry, open, reasonably stable sites on different substrates, including walls. Some examples: grassy bank and coastal cliff, Sudbrook, ST/50.87, 1957-1995, TGE; walls: at ‘Tyrol’, Ridgeway, ST/29.87, 1985, EJS; on top of old stone wall, Moorcroft Cottage, Penallt, SO/518.092, 1990, JFH; on old rail bridge over R. Wye, near Monmouth, SO/513.121, 1993, BJG; on wall, Upper Gocket, SO/497.078, 1992, JFH; limestone quarry, Risca, ST/233.998, 1993, JFH; roadside, Varteg Road, SO/255.077, 1988, RF; in

This is an annual to only 30 cm, with both glandular and eglandular hairs. The bracts are 112

Flora of Monmouthshire cracks in pavements, Willowtown, Ebbw Vale, SO/162.101-102, 2006, JND. 14 t (6 t)

diameter with white rounded petals twice as long as the sepals. There are 5 sepals and petals; the fruit is a capsule. It grows on damp, open sandy or peaty soil. In the vice-county an estimated 1000-2000 plants were scattered over the emptied, stony basin of disused Scotch Peter’s Reservoir, SO/155.089, 2002, TGE & CT. They were seen again in 2003 in similar quantity. 1 t Site Plate 19

MYOSOTON Water Chickweed These are perennials with 5 sepals and 5 white petals bifid almost to the base; they have 10 stamens; 5 styles and a capsular fruit opening by 5 notched teeth.

Myosoton aquaticum

Water Chickweed Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort

Water Chickweed is a variable, rather straggly plant, very stickily-glandular in its upper parts; its leaves are broadly ovate with a cordate or truncate base; its laxly clustered flowers are up to 15 mm across, the white petals are split almost to the base and nearly twice as long as the sepals.

This is a ground-hugging, mat-forming, hairless perennial with spreading stems that root at the nodes. The leaves have hyaline spine tips. There are usually 4 sepals, minute or no petals, 4 stamens and a capsular fruit. It favours short turf or bare soil and is widespread in the vice-county. 310 t

Sagina apetala 22

18 31

This plant grows in wet places, besides rivers, in ditches and hollows, and its distribution map indicates the lines of some of the main rivers. It may be confused with Stellaria nemorum, but that has only 3 styles. 90 t SAGINA Pearlworts These are annuals or perennials with linear leaves, 4-5 sepals and petals (sometimes petals are absent; when present they are whitish and entire), the number of stamens varies between species, there are 4-5 styles, the capsular fruit opens by 4-5 valves.

Sagina nodosa

Annual Pearlwort

S. apetala is a much branched, erect annual that may attain a height of 15 cm. Its leaves have a short point; it usually has 4 sepals and stamens, but minute or no petals; its capsule is 1.6-2.5 mm. It grows on walls, dry bare soil on heaths and on paths, ashy or otherwise. The 90 tetrads include the records for subsp. apetala and subsp. erecta. It is necessary to observe the plant in fruit and note the position of the sepals, and to collect a minimum of 10 seeds and then to put them under the microscope and measure all ten to find the mean diameter. The split only came to the attention of recorders with CTW’s Excursion Flora of the British Isles, Third Edition in 1981. Then Stace (1997) in his New Flora of the British Isles introduced ‘S. filiformis, more slender, with smaller parts and glandular rather than glabrous pedicels and sepals, may merit equal rank.’ and then added possibly these subspecies should be recognised as 2 or 3 vars. As most records of the common plants (I consider Sagina apetala common) came in when most helpers were accumulating records between 1985 and1990 the subspecies need reassessing. 90 t

Sagina apetala subsp. apetala Annual Pearlwort

Knotted Pearlwort

Subsp. apetala has erect to erecto-patent sepals in fruit and at least the outer subacute; most seeds are greater than 1/3 mm in diameter. Widespread. 74 t

This is a short, tufted perennial with a basal rosette, around which arise flowering stems; the pointed leaves decrease in size as they proceed up the nodes, and there are small, leafy tufts in the axils of the nodal leaves. The tip of the flowering stem usually bears a single flower up to 10 mm in 113

Flora of Monmouthshire Subsp. apetala

sandstone, Sudbrook, ST/503.873, 1977 & 2000, TGE; on railway ballast, Newport Docks, ST/312.862, 1980, TGE; several patches on stony, upper saltmarsh SW of Peterstone Gout, ST/277.805, 2000, TGE. 3 t (3 t)

20 31

35 19

Sagina apetala subsp. erecta Annual Pearlwort

18 31

Subsp. erecta has patent, subobtuse sepals in fruit and most seeds less than 1/3 mm in diameter. 16 t

SCLERANTHUS Knawels The Knawels have varying life-cycles. Their linear leaves are fused at the base in opposite pairs and do NOT have stipules. They have inconspicuous, green flowers, 5 sepals free or joined only at base, 0 petals, usually 5-10 stamens, an ovary with 2 styles and a fruit which is an achene.

Scleranthus annuus

18 31

Sagina maritima

Annual Knawel

S. annuus is usually an annual, which in ideal conditions can reach a height of 20 cm. It always strikes me as being a dense, little, branched plant with everything tightly clustered. Its sepals are sharp-pointed and have a white border half as wide as the green middle part. There may be 210 stamens. It is said to grow on open sandy soil, but my record is on a wall top. It occurs there infrequently, with a gap of ten years recently. This wall top is at Pen-yparc, ST/506.979, recorded in 1985 and 1987 by TGE, UTE and in 1997 by TGE but has been absent for all the years between. Wade (1970) reported that it was common on cultivated ground in the north and west of the vice-county and for the middle of the vice-county gave two sites: between Castleton and Fairwater, *; Llandegfedd, *. This difference in frequency between then and now is an indication of how farming method changes have affected agricultural weeds. 1t (many)

Sea Pearlwort

Sea Pearlwort is a much-branched, erect annual that may attain 15 cm (usually much less in my experience), with obtuse leaves that sometimes have a minute point; it has 4 obtuse, glabrous sepals, that are erecto-patent in fruit; its petals are 0 or minute; it has 4 stamens and capsules 22.8 mm. It grows on barish sandy or gritty soils near the Severn Estuary coast. Wade (1970) recorded it: path of the sea wall and bank of R. Rhymney, near Rumney, ST/2.7 E, *; St. Brides Wentloog, *. It has recently been recorded: on top of Lias 114

Flora of Monmouthshire ILLECEBRUM Coral-necklace Plants of this genus have paired, opposite, sessile leaves with stipules, petals which are much shorter than its sepals, 5 thread-like stamens, 2 short, capitate stigmas and a capsule that opens by 5 valves.

! Illecebrum verticillatum

Coral-necklace

This glabrous annual has lax, often reddish shoots that grow away from the top of the root in many directions along the ground; along these sinuous stems are the paired, round-ended, ovate leaves in the axils of which are the clustered flowers with white, thick, succulent, hooded sepals. Little imagination is needed to see why the plant was named Coral-necklace. It is said to favour damp, open, sandy ground; in the vice-county it was on seasonally damp, ashy, railway ballast in Newport Docks, ST/311.860, 1980-83, TGE. There were numerous patches and it looked as if it had been there for some years before 1980. Unfortunately, the area chosen to unload wooden poles from trucks and spray them with creosote, the Coral-necklace did not survive for long. (1 t)

18 31

SPERGULARIA Sea-spurries Sea-spurries are branched, slightly fleshy plants with opposite leaves with partly scarious stipules; there are 5 sepals, often with scarious edges, 5 white or shades of red, entire petals; 5-10 stamens; 3 styles; a capsule opening by 3 valves. The presence or absence of a wing on the seed is often given as a diagnostic character but is contentious as a species may have all seeds winged, no seeds winged or only some seeds winged but not all, so place little confidence on it as a diagnostic feature.

SPERGULA Spurreys Spurreys are annual herbs with opposite leaves and stipules, but leafy tufts grow in the axils and make it look as if there are whorls at each node, the stipules are membranous and not united around the node. There are 5 entire, white petals that are about the same length as the sepals. There are 5-10 stamens, 5 styles, and a capsular fruit opening by 5 valves.

Spergula arvensis

Spergularia media

Greater Sea-spurrey

S. media is a herbaceous perennial, usually glabrous, any glandular hairs are confined to the inflorescence. Its white flowers are usually 10-12 mm in diameter but seldom less than 8 mm, its sepals are seldom less than 4 mm long, and its capsules mostly greater than 5 mm.

Corn Spurrey

I regard Corn Spurrey as the plant equivalent of the stick insect (to which it could be said to bear a passing resemblance), its branched stems are thin with longish internodes. It is stickily hairy towards the top and with linear leaves, furrowed beneath, clustered at the nodes. The branches seem to be bent downwards to rest on surrounding plants. The white flowers are up to 8 mm across with petals just exceeding the sepals; the pedicels are upright in flower but hang down at an angle in fruit. Its habitat is acidic, sandy soil, particularly that cultivated or disturbed. Because of the herbicides used it is more frequent around edges and bare patches in fields. It is still widespread but usually in smaller numbers than in the 1950s and 1960s. 151 t

18 31

115

Flora of Monmouthshire Spergularia media grows mainly among the saline tolerant plants on the upper muddy reaches of the salt marshes or among vegetation subjected to spray or spring tide flooding. Only concrete seawalling prevents it occurring in suitable spots all along the estuary and up tidal rivers. 32 t

Spergularia marina

Lesser Sea-spurrey

S. marina is similar to S. media but is usually sparsely-glandular hairy in its inflorescence, its dark pink flowers are 5-8 mm in diameter, its sepals mostly less than 4 mm long and its capsule less than 5 mm.

18 31

LYCHNIS Catchflies Catchflies are tallish, erect perennials with paired, opposite, lanceolate leaves, with no stipules or obvious petioles. The calyx is tubular with the teeth shorter than the tube, and has no epicalyx. The 5 medium to large petals are shades of red, though white occurs irregularly, the claws of the petals are long enough for the limb to overtop the calices and each claw has 2 scales at its base; there are 5 styles and the capsular fruit opens by 5 teeth.

18 31

! Lychnis coronaria

It succeeds in similar littoral habitats to Greater Sea-spurrey but often higher up the shore as well. It also occurs on roadsides at the M4/A449 junction, 2005, TCGR, and on the Heads of the Valleys road but so far just inside Brecknock not in vc 35. 30 t

Spergularia rubra

Rose Campion

Rose Campion is an erect, branched perennial distinguished by its dense covering of white woolly hairs, its reddish purple flowers individually on long stalks; the petals are entire or notched. Common in large, old-fashioned gardens. It was found in small numbers on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85 and 30.86, 197577, TGE & CT. 2 t

Sand Spurrey

Sand Spurrey is a low, scrambling annual to biennial, much more stickily-glandular than the other close relatives, made noticeably so by the particles of its substrate which often stick to it. Its flowers are less than 8 mm in diameter, its sepals slightly longer than its dark red petals but less than 4 mm, its capsule less than 5 mm contains wingless seeds. It grows on acidic sands, gravels, gritty ash and coal waste. Its presence in the coal fields is due to the old coal waste tips and the use of this to make paths and tracks. Near the R. Severn the materials used for the construction of the sea wall and tracks at its base afford the well-drained, gritty substrate that it requires. 29 t

Lychnis flos-cuculi

Ragged-robin

Ragged-robin is an erect, glabrous or thinly-hairy perennial to ¾ m tall, its light, purply-red flowers are displayed in an open inflorescence, its petals have 4 narrow lobes giving the ragged appearance implied in the English name. Its haunts are wet meadows, ditches and hollows that are damp for long periods. It was widespread and is still scattered widely, but is less numerous due to the ‘improvement’ and drainage carried out on many farms. 192 t Plate20

116

Flora of Monmouthshire fortnight of discovery), Lydart Hill, SO/499.094, 2006, SJT. 2 t (many)

Lychnis flos-cuculi 23

SILENE Campions and Catchflies They are annual or perennial herbs with paired, opposite leaves, the 5 joined sepals form a tube with 10–30 ribs but without an epicalyx. There are 5 petals with a limb often split, and a claw which sometimes has scales at its base. The young capsule has 3 or 5 styles and later opens with twice as many teeth as styles.

Silene italica 31

! Lychnis chalcedonica

Maltese-cross

This is an erect, slightly hairy, 1 m high perennial with clustered heads of scarlet flowers whose petals are notched to a third of their depth. It is essentially a garden plant. In the vice-county it was seen flowering at the back of tall natural vegetation by the side of a Forestry Commission track in Great Barnets Wood, ST/515.938, 19891993, BG. It appeared after wide clearance at the side of the track and has since probably been overwhelmed by encroachment by the native plants. (1 t)

Silene nutans

Nottingham Catchfly

Similar to S. italica but has little-branched stems; its flowers often droop laxly to one side and have calices 9-12 mm long. It grows in dry habitats, with a preference for calcareous substrates. The only record was for Newport Docks, ST/3.8, 1953, JMa, where it was introduced though it is native elsewhere in Britain. (1 t)

AGROSTEMMA Corncockle This is an annual with opposite leaves, without stipules and a tubular calyx that has no epicalyx, large, purplish petals, with no basal scales, 5 styles and a capsular fruit that opens by 5 teeth.

Arc. Agrostemma githago

Italian Catchfly

This erect, stickily-hairy perennial has branched stems to 60 cm or more; its creamy-white flowers are sometimes greenish or reddish underneath, the petals are deeply cleft; the 14-21 mm calyx is stickily hairy. Its habitats are dry grassy ones, but it is only naturalised in Britain. It was recorded in Newport Docks, ST/3.8, 1953, JMa. (1 t)

Silene vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Bladder Campion

Corncockle

Corncockle is a 1 m tall annual with appressed hairs and fairly narrow, lanceolate leaves. Its dull purple flowers may be up to 50 mm in diameter and have sepals with a terminal lobe that exceeds the petals in length and take an upright position after flowering. It was a weed of cultivated and waste land. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave thirteen sites in all parts of the vice-county. Today there is just one site, the SW corner of the Lion Inn, Trellech, SO/501.055, 2000, GHa. There have been 1-5 plants each year with 3 plants in 2004. The proprietors of the inn state that they did not sow any corncockle seeds and it just appeared in a crack of the paving stones against the corner of the building; 1 plant on road verge (but cut within a

18 31

Bladder Campion is often a glabrous but sometimes hairy perennial; the lower leaves are 117

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows in dry, light, arable soils, on verges and waste ground. In the vice-county there is a big concentration on the limestone in the SE and in the Abergavenny area, elsewhere it is scattered. 99 t

oval and stalked, the upper elliptic and stalkless, the bracts are scarious, the calyx has 20 ribs with cross-ribbing, is much inflated but narrowed at its neck, the flowers are somewhat clustered on the stems, the 16-18 mm, fragrant, white petals are deeply divided and do not overlap. Bladder Campion grows in dry grassy or waste places, particularly over limestone. There is a cluster of sites on the Carboniferous Limestone in the SE corner of the vice-county, and in the coalfield, especially around the edge where the limestone surfaces, and on waste ground around Newport. 51 t Plate 17

Silene x hampeana

a hybrid campion

This cross between S. latifolia and S. dioica has characters that lie between the two parents, the chief diagnostic feature being the pink petals. 23

Silene uniflora

Sea Campion

Sea Campion is similar to Bladder Campion, but has linear to narrowly lanceolate stem-leaves, leafy bracts, an inflated calyx which is not constricted at its neck, the flowers are fewer to the stems and the limbs of the petals, beyond the calyx, form a cup shape. It grows on rocky or shingly shores or cliffs, and in mountains. The two records given by Wade (1970) were: about Newport, before 1868, JHC; Town Dock, Newport, SH (1909). (? 1 or 2 t)

Silene latifolia

18 31

It grows where its parents grow in close proximity, so there is a cluster in the SE and around Abergavenny. 26 t

White Campion

White Campion is an erect, slightly sticky, glandular hairy short-lived perennial, that is either male with a 10-ribbed green calyx, or female with a 20-ribbed, green calyx, the calices are slightly inflated and there are few cross ribs; the leaves are oval to lanceolate, stalked below and sessile towards the top of the plant; there are 5 styles to the ovary and 10 erect capsule teeth.

Silene dioica

Red Campion

Red Campion is similar to White Campion but it has red flowers and a reddish calyx which is not inflated and 10 capsule teeth that are rolled back. 23

23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 31 31

118

Flora of Monmouthshire Red Campion grows in deciduous woodlands and hedgerows particularly in calcareous or base-rich soils. Providing the weather is not too extreme it can be found flowering somewhere in every month. 321 t

! Silene coeli-rosa

SAPONARIA Soapworts Soapworts are perennial herbs with tubular calices with 15-25 ribs, and no epicalyx. The white or pink petals have an entire limb and a claw with 2 scales at its base; there are 10 stamens, an ovary with 2 styles and a capsule opening by 4 teeth.

Rose-of-heaven Arc. Saponaria officinalis

Rose-of-heaven is a glabrous annual that may grow to over 40 cm, has paired linear leaves and few, hermaphrodite flowers, in various shades of pink, per stem. The calyx is club-shaped; the ovary has 5 styles and the capsule opens by 10 teeth and is raised by over 5 mm by its supporting stalk. An alien grown in gardens. In the vice-county it was found on a gravely island in the Afon Llwyd, E of Sebastopol, ST/300.979, 1987, TDP, EDP, det. EJC. (1 t)

Arc. Silene gallica Small-flowered Catchfly

S gallica is a small to medium, erect, little branched, hairy annual; its leaves range from stalked, oblanceolate lower leaves to sessile, linear upper leaves. The erect, white to pink flowers occur singly on short stalks at each node, the 7-10 mm, 10-ribbed calyx ends in long teeth and has a coat of patent, long hairs; the ovary has 3 styles and the capsule opens by 6 teeth. It grows on sandy soil in waste places and on cultivated land. It was last seen on waste ground near newly built houses in an area being developed near the R. Usk, SE of George St. Bridge, Newport, ST/320.878, 1988, TGE, UTE. Previous to that it had been seen: on dumped soil, W of Whitfield Wood, ST/493.961, 1985, TGE, UTE; Kymin Hill, SO/5.1 G, before 1951, SGC; Upper Redbrook, SO/5.1 F, *, before 1951, SGC; nr Pandy Station, SO/33.22, before 1944, JR; Highmoor Hill, ST/4.8, ?P/U, JCE; weed, garden, Usk Priory, SO/3.0 Q, *, RWR; Kilgwrrwg, ST/4.9 ?U, before 1920, WAS; Wye Valley, Monmouth, SO/5.1, SH; Monkswood, SO/34.02, before 1868, JHC. 1 t (10 t)

! Silene dichotoma

Soapwort

Soapwort is a medium-tall, hairless perennial, with stout runners from which more stems arise to give a close colony of plants; the lower leaves are oval and stalked, the upper ones are broadly elliptical and sessile; the flowers are pale pink and are produced in dense branched clusters; the 15-20 mm calyx is glabrous, green or reddish.

18 31

It was commonly grown in old gardens and has escaped to roadsides, waste places and spare grassland. It is widespread in the vice-county, particularly along river banks. 92 t

! Saponaria ocymoides

Rock Soapwort

S. ocymoides is a hairy perennial that can form a low mound of spreading, often red stems with branches arising from between paired, oval leaves to divide again into numerous, short flowering branches bearing small clusters of red flowers. Thus a mound of red flowers formed an excellent rock garden plant, which was imported into British gardens and later found its way on to walls and stony banks. The only record for the vice-county was: the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1978, *, TGE, conf. EJC. (1 t)

Forked Catchfly

This alien is an erect, hispid annual branched above, with lower leaves spathulate becoming lanceolate above, the bracts are small, ovate and scariously-margined; the petals are usually white, the stamens long-exserted; the 7-15 mm calyx is ovoid-oblong and not inflated in fruit. Reported from a field on Kymin Hill, SO/5.1 G, before 1951, SGC. (1 t) 119

Flora of Monmouthshire over 20 mm long and the inner bracteoles of the epicalyx terminate in a short point. It is an alien plant brought into gardens which spread onto walls from which it has escaped. Said by Wade (1970) to be already extinct from the 2 sites: Mathern, 1800, anon.; on ruined walls about Tintern Abbey, before 1868, JHC. (2 t)

VACCARIA Cowherb Cowherb can be recognised as related to the campions by its size, leaves and flowers; there is no epicalyx; the claw of the petal has no scales at its base; the ovary has 2 styles and the capsule opens by 4 teeth.

! Vaccaria hispanica

Cowherb ! Dianthus barbatus

Cowherb is a glaucous, glabrous, erect annual which has pink flowers with sepals fused into a tube and with 5 ribs, modified into wings, that are distinctive. It is imported from S & C Europe in bird seed and then appears on tips. It was reported from rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1980, ALG & ATi. (1 t) PETRORHAGIA Pinks These are annual or perennial plants, that apart from the flowers, look superficially like carnations. Their bracteoles form an epicalyx; there is calyx tube with scarious joints between the lobes; there are no scales at the base of the pink petals; there are 2 styles and the capsule opens by 4 teeth.

! Petrorhagia prolifera

! Dianthus armeria

Deptford Pink

Deptford Pink is a dark green, hairy, stiffly-erect annual to biennial; its bright red flowers are less than 15 mm in diameter and are borne in a tight cluster at the stem apex, the bracts at the base of the cluster are almost as long as the cluster.

Proliferous Pink

P. prolifera is an erect, pubescent annual, with leaves whose leaf-sheaths are up to twice as long as wide, and with flowers in compact heads of 3-11, an epicalyx of several pairs of brown bracts and a cylindrical calyx greater than 8 mm. It is probably native on dry banks in a few places in Bedford and Norfolk. It appeared with grit imported from Norfolk for a Chepstow garden, ST/52.93, 1984 and was on the driveway 1985-86, TGE. (1 t)

DIANTHUS Pinks These are small to medium-sized plants that are usually perennials; they have paired, lanceolate leaves, bracteoles close to the base of the calyx forming an epicalyx; the calyx tube has no scarious joints between the lobes; the petal has no basal scales and the limb is usually a shade of red and divided variously; there are 2 styles and the capsule opens by 4 teeth.

! Dianthus caryophyllus

Sweet-William

Sweet-William is a green, largely glabrous, shortlived perennial with erect stems that forms broad tufts that can grow to 50 cm tall, the toothed and fringed petals are distally red paling to pink, often spotted towards the flower centre to act as nectar guides for insects. The flowers are closely packed to form a flattish dome at the stem apex. This is an alien grown widely in cottage gardens, sometimes surviving in the wild as throw-outs. The only record was established on a bank, Pentre Farm, Abergavenny, SO/28.15, 1986, RF. 1 t

18 31

It is native in a diminishing number of dry, grassy places. In the vice-county: it escaped from a garden to a boundary wall and thence to a chapel wall, Tintern, SO/530.001, 3 plants, 1979-80, TGE; 1500 plants amid rough grass and scattered birch saplings, E side of North Dock, Newport, ST/305.862, 1997, MJ; semi-improved grassland, Ty’n-y-pwll fields, ST/285.918, 2002, NBt; semiimproved grassland, St. Julians Park, ST/338.892, 2002, NBt. 3 t (1 t)

Clove Pink

Clove Pink is an erect, glabrous, glaucous perennial that forms tufts up to 60 cm in height. Its highly fragrant, pink to pale purple flowers with toothed distal edges are over 30 mm in diameter and are borne singly or in loose cymes; the calyx is 120

Flora of Monmouthshire track records: Glyn Wood, Tintern, SO/522.000, 1976-93, TGE; Cefngarw Wood near B4293, ST/48.96, JDRV; 50 m along Chepstow Park Wood, ST/482.982, 1997-2003; large clump on bluff, forestry plantation, Trellech Common, SO/507.062, 1998, BJG. Riverside record: 35 x 3 m R. Usk/footpath edge, Glebelands, Newport, ST/315.902, 2000, TGE. Other records: rough pasture, Upper Mill Farm, Govilon, SO/260.134 & SO/261.135, 1990, JDRV & RF; large patch in waste, S of unfenced road, Pwll du, SO/24.11, 1997, RW; stand by stables, edge of Tranch Wood, SO/272.019, 2001, JBr. 22 t

POLYGONACEAE Knotweed family These are herbaceous annuals to perennials or woody climbers with usually simple, entire, alternate leaves and at the stem nodes there are sheathing, fused, often scarious stipules (ochreae). The flowers are actinomorphic and arranged in simple or branched racemes; they consist of 1-2 whorls of 3-6 green, brown, white or pink tepals that are persistent and often enlarged, in fruit. There are usually 6-9 stamens; the ovary has 2-3 stigmas and forms an achene. PERSICARIA Knotweeds The knotweeds are annuals to perennials with many-flowered terminal and axillary inflorescences; the usually 5 tepals resemble petals, are not winged and do not enlarge in fruit.

Persicaria bistorta

Common Bistort

Creeping rhizomes enable this plant to form colonies with erect stems 80 cm or more. The basal leaves have long, somewhat winged petioles with blades that are oblong to triangular with cordate to truncate bases; the upper leaves are similar in shape but narrower and smaller and lack a petiole. The stems terminate in a single, cylindrical dense mass of pink flowers, with exerted stamens fringing the cylinder at anthesis.

! Persicaria wallichii Himalayan Knotweed This is an erect perennial that tends to form numerous, fairly closely packed, stout shoots over 1 m tall; the leaves are broadly lanceolate, often hairy beneath; the whitish flowers are produced in branched panicles in late summer; the stems, petioles, veins and peduncles often are quite reddish.

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Common Bistort is widespread in the vice-county, in woods, meadows and roadsides, but is nowhere common and is scarce in the few areas where limestone is not far from the surface. Though it is associated with wet habitats, there are very few sites on the Severn levels. 71 t

It occurs along roadsides, woodland tracks and by rivers. Roadside records are: large patch, roadside, Llanishen, SO/47.03, 1984, TGE; Bulley Hole Bottom, ST/460.964, 1979-1996, TGE; Maryland, SO/522.062, 1976, TGE; by Abbey Hotel, Tintern, ST/533.998, 1977-2000; side of road to sewage works, Abergavenny, SO/294.135, 1990, TGE & RF; Little Mill, SO/323.033, 1987, TGE, UTE; Brooklands, ST/459.964, 1985, TGE, UTE; S of Shirenewton, ST/47.93, 1985, TGE; W of Devauden, ST/48.98, 1987, TGE, UTE. Forest

Persicaria amphibia

Amphibious Bistort

This perennial has rhizomes which enable the plant to form loose colonies. In water it is glabrous and its floating, oblong leaves have rounded, cordate bases and tapered points at the distal ends. The land form has upright, slightly hairy stems and 121

Flora of Monmouthshire leaves which are held almost upright. The pink flowers grow in dense, cylindrical heads with rounded apices, but not as long as in P. bistorta.

Persicaria lapathifolia

Pale Persicaria

This plant is similar to Redshank but it usually has greenish-white, cylindrical heads and the peduncles and perianth are dotted with numbers of tiny, shallow saucer-shaped glands on very short stalks (use a lens). There is also a form with cylinders of dark red flowers on slightly larger, more sturdy-looking plants but their peduncles are gland-dotted.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

It grows in rivers, reens, canals and ponds and on their banks. Its presence in the network of reens is well indicated by the distribution map, as is the mainly N/S direction of the vice-county’s rivers and Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. 110 t

Persicaria maculosa

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Redshank

It grows on open, bare, waste and cultivated ground, particularly where it is damp. Widespread but less common on higher ground. 175 t

Redshank is an annual that may have erect stems but often sprawls, its leaves are lanceolate, tapering at both ends and often with a dark blotch near the middle. Its ochrea are brown. The pink flowers are massed in a cylindrical to oval spike, but smaller than in P. bistorta and P. amphibia.

Persicaria hydropiper

Water-pepper

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Water-pepper is an erect to decumbent annual with lanceolate lower leaves becoming narrower towards the top. The inflorescence is a long, narrow, yellow-spotted spike with the leafless apex drooping to one side. The pink flowers are spaced, the lower ones in the axils of leaf-like

It grows on waste, bare and cultivated ground, often near water. It grows in most parts of the vicecounty. 364 t 122

Flora of Monmouthshire bracts. The perianth usually has many sessile glands. The leaves have a hot, peppery taste which is useful to distinguish it from its similar relative P. mitis. Common on river and stream banks, shallow water and wet ditches. 282 t

Persicaria mitis

! Fagopyrum esculentum

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is an erect, little-branched, hollowstemmed annual with arrow-head-shaped leaves, stalked basal stem-leaves becoming shorter higher up; the pink (occasionally greenish-white) flowers are borne in terminal and axillary panicles. The tepals are 2.5-4.0 mm long.

Tasteless Water-pepper

This is very similar to Water-pepper but lacks the hot taste and may have only sparse glands on the perianth. It grows in similar places to Waterpepper.

Introduced from Asia, and cultivated, sometimes for feeding pheasants. It also turned up on rubbish tips. Vice-county records: Kymin Hill, Monmouth, SO/5.1 G, *, 1951, SGC; Pen-y-clawdd, SO/4.0 ?N, *, 1937; Ravensnest Wood, Tintern, ST/50.99, *, WAS (1920); Newport rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.85, 1975, *, TGE; numerous plants with Sinapis alba where maize crop was thin near Stoneycroft Wood, ST/467.935, 1985, TGE; built-up stony bank of River Ebbw, N of Pontymister, ST/23.90, 1986, TGE, UTE; arable field, Hendre, SO/46.12, 1991, TGE, UTE; ‘commercial’ crop, field, N of Pen-yr-rheol, Wentwood, ST/41.86, 1991, JDRV; edge of maize crop, Bayfield, ST/518.934, *, 1992, TGE; 1 plant between paving stones where wild birds were fed, Orchard Cottage, SO/502.012, 2000, AB, det. TGE. 7 t (5 t)

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The only known vice-county sites are: on the eastern end of Penpergwm Pond, SO/326.099, 1985-2000, TGE; near dry arch, E end of Wye bridge, Monmouth, SO/512.126, 1940, SGC, c.1970, AOC; c. 10 plants, mainly white form, 2005, TGE, CT. 2 t (4)

Persicaria x condensata

Hybrid Persicaria

This P. maculosa x P. mitis hybrid has been recorded 3 times, all in the lower Wye Valley. These are: bank of the R. Wye, Hadnock SO/5.1 H, *, SGC; bank of R. Monnow, near Monmouth Cap, SO/39.26 Y, *; between Whitebrook and Penallt, SO/5.0, all recorded by SGC, whose last records were made in or prior to 1951. (3 t)

! Fagopyrum tartaricum

Green Buckwheat

This differs from Buckwheat in its short (c. 2 mm) greenish-white tepals and achenes with wavy margins. Occasionally sown for game birds, it has only one vc 35 record: Ravensnest Wood, Tintern, ST/50.99, *, WAS (1920). (1 t)

FAGOPYRUM Buckwheats Buckwheats are herbaceous annuals or perennials, with flowers in terminal and axillary panicles; there are 5 pink, petal-like tepals, that are not winged nor keeled nor enlarging in fruit; there are 8 stamens; an ovary with 3 long styles and the resulting achene with 3 acute angles protrudes well beyond the enclosing tepals.

POLYGONUM Knotgrasses Knotgrasses are annual or perennial plants with a strong taproot, smallish leaves, with narrowed 123

Flora of Monmouthshire bases and axillary inflorescences of 6 or fewer flowers. There are 5 petal-like tepals, that may be slightly keeled but do not enlarge in fruit, 8 stamens, ovaries with 3 stigmas on negligible styles and achenes with 3 rounded angles.

not form such a mat, and branches which bear smaller leaves, so the plant is clearly heterophyllous. It occurs on open ground on most soils and is common. 343 t

Polygonum arenastrum Equal-leaved Knotgrass

FALLOPIA Knotweeds Fallopia are annuals or vigorous herbaceous or woody perennials, some of whom form invasive colonies, the spread of which is difficult to control. The inflorescences are terminal and axillary and may be anything from simple to forming considerable panicles; the flowers consist of 5 petal-like tepals, the outer of which are 3-keeled and enlarge to enclose the fruit; there are 8 stamens, the ovaries have 3 styles and the achenes have 3 rounded angles.

! Fallopia japonica

This is a mat forming annual, with branched stems bearing equal-sized, oval leaves and silvery ochrea. Its flowers are axillary and single or in fewflowered clusters. 23

Japanese Knotweed

This plant forms dense thickets of erect to arching stems to 2 m with large, heart-shaped leaves with truncate bases up to 12 cm long, and large panicles of creamy-white flowers, produced in late summer. Most of the plants are female.

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35 22

It thrives on open ground, preferably with an open texture. Probably under-recorded in central regions of the vice-county. 131 t

Polygonum aviculare

Knotgrass

Introduced to gardens in 1825 for its impressive size and its sprays of feathery white flowers, but after 1886, when it was first recorded in the wild, its reputation became sullied until today it is regarded as a menace to native plants, especially as it survives in all kinds of substrates and conditions and can be spread by earth movement during road building or maintenance operations, when pieces of rhizome can be moved and take root. The rapidity of its spread in this vice-county, due to road and house building and the hire of large earth moving machinery, probably means that the number of tetrads is already out of date. 282 t

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Knotgrass is somewhat similar to P. arenastrum but has longer internodes on its main stem which bears more spaced out, larger leaves and so does 124

Flora of Monmouthshire Once commonly grown in gardens but its vigorous and rapid growth has led to a decline in its popularity. It spreads outside the garden but those reported as apparently wild prove to be in deserted gardens. The sole record is for Mill St., Abergavenny, SO/301.138, 1986, GH. 1 t

! Fallopia x bohemica a hybrid Japanese Knotweed F. japonica x F. sachalinensis is recognised by its leaves as they are intermediate between its parents. It has been recognised in only one colony N of Michaelstone but S of the R. Rhymney, ST/24.85, 1996, TGE conf. APC. 2 t

Arc. Fallopia convolvulus ! Fallopia sachalinensis

Black-bindweed

Black-bindweed is an annual that may twine its stem around other plants to attain a height of 1.5 m, though usually less. Its leaves are broadly triangular, with varying bases and apices. The flowers are borne on very short pedicels and arranged largely on lax, axillary spikes; the tepals forming the flowers are pinkish or greenish white, the outer ones keeled or narrowly winged.

Giant Knotweed

Giant Knotweed is a larger version of Japanese Knotweed attaining a height of 3 m and over, the leaves are largely oval being longer than broad and usually over 12 cm long and with a base that may be cordate or cordate-truncate. It also has shorter but denser panicles of greenish flowers. 23

23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 31

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Introduced to British gardens in 1869 and first reported in the wild in 1896, it has not yet proved to be so invasive in the vice-county as Japanese Knotweed. It has been noted: on the roadside at Whitebrook, SO/528.070, 1979, TGE but recently elimination measures have been taken and it required keen eyes to see remnants in 2003; in walled garden, St. Pierre, ST/514.904, 1980-87, TGE; roadside, leading into Newport rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, 1982-1994, TGE; 2 m² at entrance to Llangybi Castle Farm, ST/372.974, 1997, GH; 1 large plant near weir, Tredegar Park, Newport, ST/2794.8676, 2003, TGE; at laneside, Bassaleg. ST/2.8 ?T, 1969, AR. 6 t

! Fallopia baldschuanica

The plant is associated with man’s activities, in his gardens, allotments, arable fields and land left bare. In the vice-county it is widely scattered but there are gaps in its distribution which may be due to it being overlooked. 125 t RUMEX Docks Docks are usually herbaceous perennials with tubular ochrea, and with terminal and axillary racemes or panicles making up the inflorescence; the whorled flowers consist of 6 sepal-like tepals, neither keeled nor winged, but they usually enlarge in fruit and often have a bulging tubercle on their surface; they have 6 stamens with basifixed anthers, ovaries with 3 divided styles and achenes with 3 acute angles.

Russian-vine

Russian-vine has twining stems, woody at their base, that can climb many metres and seems to be largely limited by the size of its support. Its leaves are triangular; its flowers are whitish becoming pinkish in fruit when the pedicels can be up to 8 mm long and the outer tepals broadly winged.

Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella Sheep’s Sorrel Sheep’s Sorrel varies in height but is generally short, slender and erect. Its leaves are shaped like 125

Flora of Monmouthshire narrow arrow-heads with prominent narrow basal lobes, the tepals form a loose collar around the round, ripe achene which becomes detached when gently rubbed between finger and thumb. It usually grows in open, acidic, sandy soils. Most common on hilly parts of the vice-county. 279 t

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Rumex hydrolapathum

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! Rumex scutatus

Water Dock

This is a large perennial often forming a clump to 200 cm in height; the basal leaves may be over 100 cm high; they are broadly lanceolate with an entire edge and their bases tapering to the petiole or somewhat cordate, their lateral veins are nearly at right-angles to the midrib, the stem leaves are much narrower; there may be several erect stems bearing leaves below and a panicle of upright branches on which there are whorls of flowers; at fruiting time the inner three 5-8 mm, triangular, relatively smooth-edged tepals enclosing the three-cornered nut, hang downwards under the other 3 tepals, each tepal carries an elongated tubercle over half its length on its outward face.

French Sorrel

This is a tufted, hairless, rather glaucous perennial with broadly hastate leaves with broad, outwardly pointing basal lobes and on long, slender petioles. It grows on a variety of substrates, e.g. on a bridge at Settle, Yorkshire. In vc 35 it was recorded at Tintern, SO/5.0 F, 1856 or before, JWs, with no details of habitat. (1 t)

Rumex acetosa subsp. acetosa Common Sorrel Common Sorrel is an erect, glabrous, littlebranched perennial, which can reach a height of 1 m; its leaves are narrowly triangular with papillaeedged basal lobes pointing backwards and with narrower, stem-clasping upper leaves. The little branched, terminal inflorescence has only small bracts among it. Though mainly a meadow plant it is found in many habitats and is widespread in the vice-county. Monmouthshire children used to chew the leaves for their acid taste and called it ‘Sour Sally’ 375 t

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Though occurring occasionally on the banks of some of the vice-county rivers, the majority of plants grow on the banks of reens with their feet in the water. 50 t 126

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Rumex cristatus

Greek Dock

Greek Dock has a sturdy stem topped by a large panicle, the whole reaching up to 2 m tall; the broadly lanceolate basal leaves with a cordate base are about 30 x 10 cm in size and the lateral veins in the centre of the leaf make an angle of about 45 degrees with the midrib; the large, 4575 cm long panicles have branches packed with flowers, consisting of 3 noticeable, roundishcordate tepals bearing short teeth only on the basal half, one tepal has a large round tubercle the other two may or may not have very small tubercles. This alien from central and southern Europe used to line both banks of the R. Rhymney west of Rumney and again along a loop of the R. Rhymney in the Lamby region near the mouth of the river (this loop was isolated from the rest of the river in a straightening process when raised access roads from Rumney to the Cardiff Docks were constructed). Today, only isolated plants may be found and the rubbish tip and other developments may eliminate it altogether. Records: Rumney, AEW 1970; abundant, railway bank and R. Rhymney loop bank and adjacent rough meadow, Lamby, ST/217.785, 1971, TGE, det. FHP, still frequent, 1988, TGE, UTE; bank of R. Rhymney, W of Rumney, ST/21.79, 1988, TGE, UTE, not as frequent as in the 1970s; a few scattered plants, near sea wall and just inside SE boundary of the rubbish tip, Lamby, ST/22.77, 1995, TGE. ? 3 t

Rumex x lousleyi

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This is the common weed of cultivated land and pastures and may dominate headlands under nature conservation farm management schemes or untended waste land. Widespread. 340 t

Rumex crispus subsp. littoreus Curled Dock Subsp. littoreus is a stouter plant than subsp. crispus has achenes 2.5-3.5 mm, almost equal tubercles to 3.5 mm, inflorescence dense in fruit. It is exclusively a coastal plant. Records are: 3 plants, sea wall, Lamby, ST/228.777, 1995, TGE; 2 plants, sea wall, and upper salt marsh; near Peterstone Gout, ST/276.806, 1996, TGE; 1 plant, near Goldcliff Pill, ST/36.82, 1997, TGE. 3 t

Rumex crispus subsp. uliginosusCurled Dock

hybrid dock

The R. cristatus x R. obtusifolius hybrid has characters lying intermediate between its parents. It occurred only occasionally on the banks of the R. Rhymney at Lamby and to the NW of Rumney in the early 1970s and 1980s. Records were: river bank, Rumney, 1983, GSW; 1-2 plants, SE of rubbish tip, Lamby, on earth bank near reen, ST/22.77, 1988, TGE, UTE. 1 t (3 t)

This subspecies has stems over 1m, a lax inflorescence in fruit and grows on estuarine mud. I have no definite record but I was visited long ago at exam marking time by people who claimed that plants were well known to grow on the R. Wye mud near Tintern and they were going to find them. No report came back to me, and preparation and marking of papers prevented me from following up the case. ?t

Rumex crispus

Rumex x pratensis

Curled dock

Subsp. crispus is a medium-sized perennial with short-stemmed, narrow-lanceolate leaves that have wavy margins; the inflorescence is terminal with branches held at a narrow angle to the upright; there are usually 3 prominent, roundish, heartshaped, entire tepals with varyingly-developed tubercles. The achene is 1.3-2.5 mm, the unequal tubercles less than 2.5 mm.

hybrid Dock

The hybrid R. crispus x R. obtusifolius was recorded; in Chepstow and Portskewett by WAS (1920); near Marshfield, *, 1923, AEW. (3 t)

Rumex conglomeratus

Clustered Dock

This perennial can grow to 50 cm tall and can produce several, flexuous stems; the dull-green basal leaves vary in shape but usually with a petiole as long as or longer than the blade, the blade is roughly lanceolate with a rounded base 127

Flora of Monmouthshire and entire margin (first year, young leaves are sometimes fiddle-shaped and can lead to the young plant being mis-named Fiddle Dock); the panicle is composed of spaced branches held at 30-90 degrees with the main stem, the flowers in whorls of 10-30 are also spaced out and are subtended by a small, lanceolate, leaf-like bract at each node except towards the end of each branch; the nut is enclosed in the 3 inner, entire tepals, each of which are oblong in shape and bear an oblong tubercle over half the length of the tepal.

but only one bears a significant, roundish, lightbrown or red tubercle. 23

19 23 18 22 31 21

It grows in damp, shady woods and hedgerows and by water and is widespread in the vice-county. 312 t

Rumex pulcher

18 31

Fiddle Dock

This perennial dock has oblong, basal leaves with broad, rounded basal lobes and a constricted ‘waist’, giving the leaf a fiddle-shape; the flowers are in branched leafy spikes, the branches, frequently arise from the main stem at nearly a right-angle; the 4-5.5 mm tepals are ovate, usually with broad teeth and with usually 3 tubercles, often warty and of unequal size.

This dock grows in damp conditions, which explains why it was so frequent on the levels by the R. Severn, though with those drying out due to over-drainage it is becoming less common there. The river margins are much drier where land drains have been installed, and Clustered Dock numbers are going down. 184 t

Rumex x muretii

hybrid Dock

The R. conglomeratus x R. pulcher hybrid was recorded in Castle Dell, Chepstow, ST/53.93, 1903, WAS. (1 t)

Rumex sanguineus

Wood Dock

This perennial has few flowering stems and basal leaves with petioles a third to a half as long as the blade, the blade is a bright green and has a margin slightly undulate or crenulate, sometimes a leaf or two looks a bit fiddle-shaped in early rosettes; the panicle branches form a very narrow angle with the main stem and have a whorl of flowers at its base subtended by a bract, the whorls of flowers, spaced at about 1 cm, are free of bracts; the 3 inner tepals have entire margins

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It grows on dry, often calcareous meadows. County records are: on turf near Great Dinham Manor, ST/477.927, 1977-81, TGE, overgrown by brambles etc. by 2003; on grass near fountain, W end of Chepstow Castle Dell, ST/531.939, WAS, 1979-2003, TGE, suffers from frequent mowing; 128

Flora of Monmouthshire rough meadow near Runston Church, 1920-87, WAS, TGE, area so overgrown it may be lost there; Penallt, SO/527.107, 1985, SJT. 4 t (1t)

Rumex obtusifolius

ENe; Undy, 1980, EBH. Recent records: wet ditch and nearby rough grassland, Undy Pool, ST/442.868, 1980, when it was abundant, 8 plants, 1996, 2 plants, 2003, TGE, CT; wet meadow W of Magor Rugby Field (now abandoned), ST/418.867, 1982-83, TGE; ditch, Whitson, ST/36.84, 1987, TGE, UTE; trackside, Caldicot Moor, ST/44.86, 1985, in tracks, Collister Pill, ST/45.86, 1986, TGE; 1 plant growing through split in a ‘sleeper’ laid in gateway of wet field, Barecroft Common, ST/413.864, 1999, TGE; In the ‘Reens Survey’ by NCC between 1982-85 it was recorded in tetrads ST/2.7 I, J and P, but I have no details. 4 t (3 t)

Broad-leaved Dock

This 1 m tall perennial has large, oblong leaves with a cordate base and bluntly pointed apex and margins that are somewhat wavy; the flowering branches are spreading, leafy below and have spaced whorls of flowers that are not subtended by bracts above. The 3-6 mm long tepals are triangular and edged with variable teeth. 23

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Rumex maritimus

It occurs in a wide range of habitats. In the vicecounty very few tetrads lack it, and where they do the absence may simply be an oversight. 388 t

Rumex palustris

Golden Dock

Golden Dock is an erect annual to usually little over 40 cm, turning a golden-yellow as its fruits develop; it is similar to R. palustris but its branches are shorter and straighter and its 2.5-3 mm tepals have longer and finer, flexible teeth. It also grows in marshy fields and in wet ditches. It was recorded on imported soil near an artificial pond, Duffryn, Newport, ST/29.84, 1988, GH, and on N side of Pwll Uffern Reen, Magor Reserve, ST/425.865, 1992, JFH. (2 t)

Marsh Dock

Marsh Dock is a much-branched annual to biennial plant that becomes a yellowish-green in fruit; the basal leaves are narrowly lanceolate, becoming narrower and smaller higher up the stems, the almost-linear, leaf-like bracts subtending the packed whorls of flowers are longer than the internodes between the whorls; the three 3-4 mm tepals have a small number of rather straight, stiff, long teeth on the proximal margins, each tepal thickens to form the valves of the fruit and develops a large tubercle on its outer surface. Marsh Dock grows in wet places such as ditches and marshy meadows. It is irregular in its appearance and can be absent from a site for a varying number of years before re-appearing. Records from Wade (1970) and other old sources are: Blackwall Reen, Magor, 1945, AEW; Undy, *, Causeway Reen, ST/436.867, 1974, MW, CS; reen side, Undy, 1951, AEW; reen side, Magor, 1945,

PLUMBAGINACEAE Thrift family Members of the Thrift family are perennial herbs with all leaves basal, simple, entire and without stipules. The inflorescence is a lax cyme or a tight, hemispherical head, the pink or blue, actinomorphic flowers consist of a calyx of 5 sepals fused in a tube below ending above in free lobes that have, at least, scarious margins and are persistent in fruit, 5 petals fused at their base, the ovary has 5 styles and develops into a dry fruit with a papery wall and is 1-seeded. 129

Flora of Monmouthshire LIMONIUM Sea-lavenders Sea-lavenders are perennials with basal, rather leathery, simple leaves from among which arise the branched stems, that end in blue to mauve flowers in cymes, that often appear as one-sided spikes.

ARMERIA Thrifts Thrifts are perennial herbs, with a basal rosette of numerous, narrow leaves; an unbranched, erect stem terminating in a dense, hemispherical head of pink flowers below which there is a tubular sheath of fused bracts.

Limonium vulgare

Armeria maritima subsp. maritima

Common Sea-lavender

L. vulgare is a glabrous perennial with longstalked, oblanceolate leaves that die down in winter; the flower stems are usually less than 40 cm and branch near the top where the lavenderblue flowers are clustered. 23

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Thrift

The linear leaves of Thrift are less than 2 mm wide, usually 1-veined and with hairs on the margins at least; the flower heads are up to 25 mm wide and the calyx teeth, including the short spine, up to 1 mm.

It often forms large patches in muddy saltmarshes. Records for vice-county: saltmarsh, under concrete sea wall, W side of Magor Pill, ST/438.848, 1967, TGE; 2 m² in saltmarsh, S of Saltmarsh Village, ST/348.823, 1983, PB & CT; 2 m², saltmarsh, S of Farmfield, ST/342.823, 1983-2003, TGE & DU; 3 sites on the saltings, Lamby, ST/221.774, 1988, TGE, UTE, 100s plants mouth of R. Rhymney, Lamby, 2001-6, TGE, GH & CT; saltmarsh, S of Goldcliff, ST/36.82, 1986, TGE, UTE; 2 plants on salt marsh E of sea wall, Peterstone Gout, ST/276.802 and on sea wall, SE of Gout, ST/278. 806, 1994, CT; 1 plant N end of small pill, S of Sluice House Farm, ST/250.787, 1996, TGE; 2 plants, foreshore, upper saltmarsh, just E of lighthouse, Uskmouth, ST/329.828; 100s plants saltmarsh, E of Uskmouth, ST/3398.8235, 2001, TGE; 30 plants, on saltmarsh, W from Peterstone Pill from ST/359.824 to 3581.8234, 2001, TGE. The 2 records in SO/30 must have been garden escapes, or were errors of card marking. 8 t Plate 21

Thrift grows on salt marshes, saline turf, cracks in rocks and on sea cliffs, it also occurs in the mountains. In the vice-county it is: on the upper saltmarsh at Caldicot, ST/47.86, and Undy, ST/45.85, and Magor, ST/43.84, 1950-87, TGE; foreshore, Uskmouth, 1985, SP; SE of Great House, Redwick, ST/42.83,1985, PRG, TGE, UTE; gritty, saline turf, Lamby, ST/23.77, TGE. 6 t CLUSIACEAE St John’s-worts They are usually perennial herbs or small shrubs with simple leaves with almost entire edges, the blade may have coloured or translucent glands (best viewed through a lens and with the light shining through them), the petiole is lacking or very short and there are no stipules; the bisexual, actinomorphic flowers are solitary or in terminal cymes, a flower has 5 free, often glandular sepals and yellow petals, numerous stamens, often slightly fused, in bundles of 3 or 5 the 1-, 3- or 5celled ovary has 3 or 5 styles and may become a capsule or a succulent berry-like fruit. 130

Flora of Monmouthshire HYPERICUM St John’s-wort St John’s-worts are herbs or shrubs with opposite, simple and entire leaves, often with translucent glands and/or black or red dots; the actinomorphic flowers usually have 5 free, yellow petals, twisted in bud, 4-5 sepals, numerous stamens grouped in bundles, an ovary with 3-5 styles and a capsular fruit.

! Hypericum calycinum

Rose-of-Sharon

Rose-of-Sharon is an evergreen, low-growing shrub forming a mass of short, erect shoots from creeping rhizomes; the broadly oval leaves have negligible petioles; the yellow flowers are up to 8 cm in diameter, solitary or grouped in 23s, with shorter sepals and masses of stamens with reddish anthers above asymmetric petals; the fruit is pear-shaped and has 5 styles.

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Tutsan grows mainly in damp woods. In the vicecounty it is widespread, thinning out in the hilly west and coastal levels and absent from the higher land. 141 t

! Hypericum hircinum

Stinking Tutsan

This is an erect, glabrous, much branched shrub to 1.5m tall with 4-ridged stems; the leaves have inconspicuous glands that produce a strong, goatlike smell when bruised; the yellow flowers are up to 4 cm across with shorter sepals and slightly longer stamens; the 3 styles are c.2 x as long as the ovary. Grown in gardens it only rarely escapes into the British countryside. The only record is in a wood, The Coombe, ST/4.9L, WAS (1920) (1 t)

18 31

Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John’s-wort

This alien from SE Europe and Asia Minor is grown widely in gardens where its spread has to be controlled, leading to throw outs which sometimes take root in the countryside. Abandoned gardens sometimes go wild and this persistent plant survives, apparently wild. All the vice-county records are derived from one of these events. 11 t

Hypericum androsaemum

Tutsan

Tutsan is semi-evergreen shrub to 70 cm, the branched stems have 2 raised lines running down them; the oval to oblong leaves are opposite and sessile; the pale yellow flowers are up to 22 mm in diameter, the petals are shorter than the unequal sepals that enlarge and curl back in fruit; the ovary has three styles and forms a roundish, fleshy, berry-like fruit that turns red then black and may be up to 10 mm across.

18 31

131

Flora of Monmouthshire H. perforatum is a glabrous, erect perennial with cylindrical stems bearing 2 vertical, raised lines; the narrow oval, opposite, unstalked leaves have many translucent dots (hold against light); the yellow flowers can be 2 cm in diameter and are arranged in broad panicles in the upper part of the stems, the sepals are narrow and may have black glands, and are much shorter than the petals. It grows in open woodland, unimproved grassland and verges. It is still fairly common, apart from on the highest ground. 327 t

about 50 degrees and bear golden-yellow flowers, c. 2 cm across, in broad panicles, the petals carry black glands as interrupted lines, the sepals may have black glands and have teeth on their upper margins. 23

Hypericum desetangsii

desetangsii nothosubsp. Des Etangs’ St John’s-wort

This H. perforatum x H. maculatum subsp. obtusiusculum hybrid has characters lying between its parents having 2-4 raised lines, few translucent leaf-glands and toothed sepal apex with a short, central point beyond the teeth.

18 31

It is a plant of marginal habitats such as wood edges, road verges, stream banks and unimproved meadows. Though still widespread, woodland management and recent farming practices have reduced the number of good habitats. 279 t

Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John’s-wort

This is an upright, glabrous perennial with fourangled stems with narrow wings running down them; the oval to elliptic leaves have only translucent glands and they half clasp the stems; the flowers to 1 cm are pale yellow and are borne in a spreading panicle, petals and sepals are almost the same length.

18 31

It grows in open woodland and nearby unimproved grassland. Records: trackside, Thicket Wood, ST/44.88, 1989, TGE; Cwmcarvan, SO/48.07, 1991, JFH; Lydart, SO/49.08 Z and SO/50.09 E, 1991, JFH; Risca, SO/22.91 F, 1993, JFH; trackside, Minnetts Wood, ST/45.89, 1997, APC conf. CAS, Dingestow Castle, SO/455.104, 1998, SDSB; scrub near A40, SE of Dingestow Court, SO/456.096, 1998, SDSB. 10 t

Hypericum maculatum subsp. obtusiusculum Imperforate St John’s-wort

Imperforate St John’s-wort is an erect, glabrous perennial with a square stem, the angles of which have raised lines but are not winged; more rooting stems arise from its rhizomes; the leaves are oval, noticeably veined and with few or no translucent glands; the flowering branches arise at

18 31

132

Flora of Monmouthshire Expect to find this species in wet places. In the vice-county, plants grow in wet meadows, open spaces in woods, by streams and ponds. Drainage has had a detrimental effect on numbers. 226 t

Hypericum humifusum Trailing St John’s-wort

This plant consists of a slender, prostrate, glabrous, 2-lined, branching stem that often roots at the nodes, and bears small, opposite, oval to elliptic leaves, while the pale yellow flowers are borne singly on the ends of the branches; the flowers are 8-12 mm in diameter, the petals are just longer or up to almost twice as long as the sepals; black glands appear on the leaves and to some extent on the sepals and petals.

18 31

It grows in dry open woodland, hedge banks and heathland on acid soils. Numbers are down but it is still widespread, except on the Severn Levels, where it has probably always been rare or absent. 192 t

Hypericum hirsutum

Hairy St John’s-wort

This is an erect perennial to 1 m tall with visibly hairy leaves and stems, its stems are cylindrical but have 2 raised lines; the leaves are oblong to elliptical and have only translucent dots; the flowers range from 18 to 22 mm in diameter, the pale yellow petals are twice as long as the narrow sepals; both the sepals and the petals have marginal, stalked, black glands.

18 31

It grows in open spaces in woods, on hedgebanks and on dry heathland mainly on acid soils. It is not found on the Severn Levels and though it is widespread, actual numbers of plants are generally low. It is not often that it appears in the numbers once seen on the sandy banks around the pond on the western side of Trellech Hill, SO/503.070. 126 t

Hypericum pulchrumSlender St John’s-wort

This is a glabrous, erect, smooth, rounded and reddish-stemmed perennial, with dark green, triangular-ovate leaves that appear slightly pinched towards their tips; the bright yellow flowers up to 15 mm across occur in lax, narrow panicles at the end of rather few and slender branches, the petals have a reddish tinge to their undersides; black stalked glands adorn the margins of sepals and petals.

H. hirsutum grows in open spaces in woodland, in unimproved, damp grassland and on river banks. It seems to be more common in the east of the vicecounty and becomes quite scarce on the coalfield and the improved farms of central vc 35. 117 t

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Flora of Monmouthshire

Hypericum montanum

Paths, Wentwood, ST/42.94, 1987, TGE, UTE; Monmouth area, SO/5.1 B, 1987, BJG; Orles Wood, SO/5.1 C, 1987, BJG; on rail track, Lord’s Grove, SO/542.117, 1990, BJG; Stony bank, Dixton, SO/523.138, 1986, BJG; wood edge, Warren Slade, ST/54.92, 1990, TGE; wall of Chepstow Castle, ST/533.941, 1991, RF & JVHS. 9 t (5 t)

Pale St John’s-wort

This is an erect, almost glabrous, unbranched perennial that is usually less than 1 m tall; its leaves with sparse hairs on the underside are in opposite pairs, they are well spaced out up the stem and are oval to broadly lanceolate, they have sessile, black glands dotted around the leaf margin; the fragrant flowers are pale yellow to 15 mm in diameter and arranged in rather dense, flat-topped clusters at the top of the stem; the sepals are edged with black, stalked glands.

Hypericum elodes

Marsh St John’s-wort

H. elodes is a short, hairy perennial with erect flowering stems arising from creeping and rooting stolons; the soft hairs covering the plant makes it look greyish; the leaves are roundish and sessile and half enclose the stem at nodes that are often slightly swollen; the pale yellow flowers do not open as in the rest of the genus but remain bellshaped, and are borne in small clusters at the top of the stems; the upright sepals are much shorter than the petals and have red, stalked glands on their margins.

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It grows in open, deciduous woodland, hedgebanks and rocky slopes usually on calcareous soils. It seems to be confined to the E of the vice-county; described by Wade (1970) as rare and local, it is now close to extinction. There were a few plants on Chepstow Castle walls in 1991 and less than 5 on a stony bank in the railway cutting W of Chepstow station in 1994 but nothing since. Full records in Wade (1970): railway bank opposite Mally Brook (must be Hadnock Road, ST/52.13, TGE); near Highmeadow siding ?SO/54.14; near Hadnock Quarry, *; Kymin Hill, Monmouth, *; near Fiddler’s Elbow; Garth Wood, near Monmouth, *; railway bank opposite Dixton, *; Hadnock Wood, *; Lady Park Wood, *, all SGC; Wyndcliff, 1841, JM and WAS (1920); Chepstow; Mounton; Shirenewton; Llandogo, all WAS (1920); Piercefield Wood (no date), HSR. Recent records: limestone wood, Common-y-coed, Undy, ST/436.888, 1957-82, TGE; open paths in Minnetts Wood and Hardwick Plantation, ST/45.89, 197080, TGE; on stony tracks in wood, Wyndcliff, ST/52.97, 1982, TGE; stony paths, Castle Wood, ST/52.94, 1982, TGE; railway cutting, W of Chepstow station, ST/537.928, 1982-1994, TGE; N of Dan-y-graig, SO/38.21, 1987, IR; near Five

18 31

It grows on bogs, streamsides and pond sides, usually where the substrate is acid. In the vicecounty, its sites in Wade (1970) were: near Pontnewydd, 1830s, CC; Blaenavon; Pontypool, 1868, JHC; behind Puzzle House, Bargoed; Pen-yfan Pond, 1922-23, AM; near Foxwood, SH (1909); Mynydd Dimlaith, *; Trellech Bog, *, 1874-1904, AL, SH, SGC; Pen-y-fan, near Whitebrook, SGC; by the Virtuous Well, Trellech. Recent records: wet area, Ebbw Vale National Garden site SO/16.07, 1987, A & EW; Nant Ffrwd, The British, SO/250.045, 1986, RH; wet hollow, Pant y Gollen, SO/287.028, 1988, RF; 30-40 plants, boggy ground, where maturing conifers are causing a decline in numbers, N of Trellech Hill, SO/503.075, 1985, EW; roadside ditch and 134

Flora of Monmouthshire These trees are native on base-rich soils, particularly on the two Carboniferous Limestone areas of the Wye Valley, viz. Chepstow-Tintern and the Highmeadow and Lady Park woods. The sites outside these areas are for single or small groups of planted trees. The best county site is St Pierre Great Woods, ST/503.930, GP, where there are about 20 substantial trees most of which seem to have grown from stools of previous trees and some multi-trunked trees that were coppiced when young. 18 t

adjacent bog, S of Mountain Air public house, SO/141.063, 1988-2003, TGE; mossy flush, Balbach SO/275.262, 1986, M & CK; acid flush, Coed Waun-Bleiddian SO/167.045, 1990, SK; 80 m² in flush, W of Acorn Garage, S of Tredegar, SO/150.069, 1990 & 1995, TGE; less than 10 plants in flush, SW of Crumlin Old Farm, ST/203.990, 1992, TGE, UTE; boggy pond in wooded area, Pen-y-fan, SO/527.052, 2002, SJT; 30 m spread along plant-clogged stream, Pen-yfan, SO/5279.0523, 2002, TGE. 10 t (1 t)

Tilia x europaea TILIACEAE Lime family Limes are deciduous trees, with alternate, simple, heart-shaped, petiolate leaves that have serrated edges and early-falling stipules. The 2-25 fragrant flowers are in cymes the stalk of which is fused to a large, papery, narrowly-oblong bracteole that provides the wing to carry the fruits away from the parent, the flowers are actinomorphic and hermaphrodite, there are 5 free sepals and 5 free, yellowish petals, numerous stamens arranged in 5 bundles, there is a 1 styled ovary that is 5-celled with each cell containing 2 ovules.

Lime

This T. platyphyllos x T. cordata hybrid can grow to over 40 m in height; its young twigs soon become glabrous; its leaves (to 6 cm) have white hairs in tufts between main vein angles only, the petioles may or may not be pubescent, there are prominent tertiary veins on the upper side; the cymes of 6-10 flowers are pendulous among the leaves; the fruits are slightly ribbed. 23

Tilia platyphyllos

Large-leaved Lime

This lime can grow to over 30 m though some were coppiced and have many trunks growing from the stool, the young twigs are hairy, the large leaves (to 12 cm) are sparsely hairy on the underside, more so on the veins and have hairy petioles, the flowers are in cymes of mainly 2-4 that hang down among the leaves, the fruits are strongly ribbed.

18 31

A widely planted tree on large estates, occasionally naturalized. Natural hybrids may occur in the Wye Valley where the parents grow together. 102 t

Tilia cordata 21

18 31

Small-leaved Lime

This tree can reach a height of over 35 m. Its young twigs soon lose their hairs, its leaves are more rounded, have glabrous petioles and reddish-brown tufts of hairs in the main vein angles only; the cymes of mainly 4-10 flowers are held obliquely above the leaves; the fruits are scarcely ribbed. Tilia cordata is certainly native in the Wye Valley and probably elsewhere because, though it is at home on calcareous soils it is not confined to them. It is absent from the coalfield and the Severn Levels. 102 t

135

Flora of Monmouthshire Tilia cordata

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Malva sylvestris

Common Mallow

Common Mallow varies from being erect to 1 m or sprawling, and is a hairy, short-lived perennial; the roundish shallowly-lobed leaves have palmate main veins; the flowers are up to a diameter of 5 cm, pinkish-purple, and look darker due to the dark honey lines converging at the claw; the petals are narrowly triangular, so leaving spaces between them; the nutlets are net-marked and angular.

MALVACEAE Mallow family The Mallow family is composed mainly of herbs, though occasionally there are shrubs; the leaves are usually palmately veined, often lobed or both, they have petioles and stipules; the flowers are actinomorphic and hermaphrodite, they have 5 usually free sepals and petals, the latter mainly pink to purple, there is often an epicalyx; there are numerous stamens, whose filaments are fused to form a tube around the ovary and styles; the fruit is like a miniature pumpkin that breaks up into segments containing 1-many seeds.

MALVA Mallows Mallows are herbs with an epicalyx of 3 free segments; the notched petals may be shades of red, occasionally white; the fruit breaks into many 1seeded nutlets.

Malva moschata

Musk-mallow

M. moschata is a perennial to 80 cm tall with upper leaves finely divided along the 5 main veins into narrow lobes, the basal ones are often simple with a shallowly-lobed margin and only the main veins palmately arranged; the bright pink or white petals are roughly triangular, attached by a narrow claw, and widely notched; the numerous nutlets have rounded margins and longish, white hairs protruding from their surface. Its natural habitat is probably natural grassland but with so much ‘improved’ grassland on farms in the vice-county, it is relatively much more common on grassy verges or on the reducing numbers of waste patches of grassland or field margins. It is not common on hilly pastures or in woodland. 159 t Plate 22

18 31

This plant seems to take advantage of any unused ground, so occurs on waste ground, verges of roads and rail and woods. There are very few tetrads where it is not to be found. 331 t Plate 23

Malva neglecta

Dwarf Mallow

This is a sprawling, hairy annual with rather roundish, shallowly-lobed leaves; the pale lilac to whitish flowers are 15-25 mm in diameter, the petals have whiskery claws and are twice as long as the sepals; the linear to oval epicalyx segments 136

Flora of Monmouthshire are shorter than the sepals; the nutlets are smoothish, hairy and slightly angular.

1970-2006, TGE; top of the rocky island, The Denny, ST/459.810, 1976, TGE, 1993, M & CK, 2001, CT; cliffs, Blackrock, ST/513.881, 1990, JRDV, 3 plants, 1995, TGE; low cliffs, Uskmouth, 1986, ShP. 7 t (1 t) Plate 24

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35 18

Dwarf Mallow occupies verges, the narrow strip of ground at the foot of walls, roadsides and other dry places. In this county, it was familiar at entrances to farms at the foot of their walls or those of neighbouring cottages. Because of the pressures for more hygiene, entrances and farm yards were concreted over and the plant declined in numbers. The village tidiness phobia means that any wild plant appearing anywhere along the village street is regarded as a blot on the landscape and must be zapped, so the decline proceeds. The best area for the plant seems to be on the slightly lighter soils of area enclosed by the Caldicot to Magor to Penhow to Caerwent rectangle. 17 t

! Lavatera thuringiaca Garden Tree-mallow This SE European plant grows to over 2 m, forming a woody, branching shrub, with young stems densely covered with stellate hairs; the hairy, 3 to 5-lobed leaves have a central lobe longer than the others; the pale pink to purple flowers may be more than 8 cm across. In gardens, it makes a showy display from mid summer for more than 2 months; it is a garden throw-out or may be planted on roadside banks. In the vice-county it was: on an A465 roadside bank, W of Maindiff Court Hospital, SO/31.15, 1987, RF; E side of the entrance to Ifton Great Wood/Hardwick Plantation, ST/460.895, 1994, TGE, but though apparently well established had disappeared by 1995. 2 t

LAVATERA Tree Mallows Tree Mallows are somewhat similar to Malva but more woody and the 3 epicalyx segments are fused together at the base - in bud this is quite noticeable.

Lavatera arborea

Tree Mallow

L. arborea is a biennial that grows to 3 m tall. The young parts are closely covered with stellate hairs; the leaves are shallowly 5-7 lobed at the end of the palmately-arranged, main veins; the dark, pinkish-purple flowers have a diameter of up to 5 cm and are made darker-looking by the black honey lines converging to the eye of the flower; the nutlets have the shape of miniature, fossilised sea urchins. This is a plant of coasts, particularly of the west of Britain, facing the Atlantic or Irish Sea. The vicecounty inland plants are garden escapes, as in cultivated soil their seeds do very well. The coastal sites are: on the Lias cliffs, Sudbrook, ST/506.873,

ALTHAEA Marsh-mallows These herbs have an epicalyx of 6-10 segments fused below; flowers pale pink to purple; the tube formed by the fused filaments of the stamens is smooth but hairy; the fruit breaks into numerous 1seeded nutlets.

Althaea officinalis

Marsh-mallow

The tightly-packed, white stellate hairs give the plant a white-woolly look, the many erect stems produce quite a bushy plant to 1.5 m; the roundedtriangular leaves are shallowly 3-5 lobed; the flowers to 4 cm in diameter are pale pink with 137

Flora of Monmouthshire triangular petals that leave gaps between near the claws. The anthers are a darker colour than the petals.

ABUTILON Velvetleaf Velvetleaf is an annual herb, there is no epicalyx, the petals are yellow, the fruit is made up of 5 several-seeded nutlets.

! Abutilon theophrasti

18 31

Velvetleaf

A. theophrasti is an erect, hairy annual to 1 m; it has simple and stellate-hairy, heart-shaped leaves; the yellow flowers are in small clusters near the top of the plant, there is no epicalyx; the nutlets, with outward pointing beaks, are black and hairy. It is an alien casual that turns up in waste places such as on tips, and where birdseed, oilseed and wool shoddy is used. In the vice-county it usually appears as a single plant in crops or among weeds. Records are: 1 plant, roadside, Crossway Green, SW of Shirenewton, ST/468.928, 1975, TGE, det. EJC; 1 plant standing above a field of swedes, Twyn Farm, SO/375.079, 1989, TGE; 1 plant close to Lactuca serriola in a weedy field, Rogiet Rifle Range, ST/465.867, 1995, TGE. (3 t)

Marsh-mallows are plants of upper saltmarshes, brackish meadows and reen banks near the sea. In vc 35 they are never far from the R. Severn. Records: several large clumps, along the moor road, Peterstone, Wentlooge, ST/251.791, 1972, TGE, tethered horses and goats and other human activities have long since cleared the verges; bank of sea wall and adjacent field, Noah’s Ark, Undy, ST/446.886, 1974-84, BT, TGE, ‘improvements’ in mid 1980s have cleared the area of the plants; reenside, Peterstone, ST/286.806, 1974, TGE, change of land management has now eliminated it there; 3-4 m² upper saltmarsh, Goldcliff, ST/348.823, 1983, CT, 1986-93, TGE, UTE, DU; 43 plants shared between both sides of New Quay Gout, ST/277.806 to 279.805, 1985-2003, TGE, numbers have increased there; 1 plant, R. Usk bank E end of Transporter Bridge. Newport, ST/319.861, 1988, TGE; several plants, upper saltmarsh, W of Caldicot Pill, ST/48.87, 1985, TGE; 3 plants, S side of minor road, Undy, ST/442.863, 1996, TGE; 300+ plants along the sides of Goldcliff Pill, ST/362-6.826-7, 1996, TGE, MJ; 27 plants appeared on upper saltmarsh, E of Caldicot Pill, and S of the sea wall following disturbance by vehicles used in constructing the causeway bringing the second Severn crossing roadway ashore, there were no plants there for years before, ST/495.873, 1996, TGE, DU; 1 plant among rocks on upper saltmarsh, Lamby, ST/222.776 and 1 more ST/232.777, 2001, TGE, GH, CT. 10 t (1 t) Plate25

HIBISCUS Bladder Ketmia Hibiscus is an annual herb with an epicalyx of 1013 segments almost free to the base; petals pale yellow with a violet patch at their base; fruit a dehiscent capsule with 5 many-seeded cells.

! Hibiscus trionum

Bladder Ketmia

H. trionum is a rather bristly annual to a little over 30 cm; its leaves are deeply divided into 3 pinnately-lobed segments; the flowers are c. 5 cm in diameter and pale yellow with a dark violet blotch in the centre; the petals are spirally arranged and have one side-edge tinged violet; the calyx enlarges and conceals the capsular fruit. It is a native of SE Europe, Asia and Africa and its seeds are imported for gardeners, and come in birdseed, oilseed and wool waste. There is only one record for vc 35: on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/307.856, 1980, E & BB, TGE. (1 t) Figure 11 DROSERACEAE Sundew family Members of the family are herbaceous perennials with a reddish, basal rosette of leaves, covered with sticky, glandular hairs for trapping small insects, the leaves have petioles and stipules; the white, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in a simple cyme on fine stems, there are 5-8 sepals, petals and stamens; the 1-celled ovary contains many ovules and has 2-6 styles; the fruit is a capsule. 138

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 11

Hibiscus trionum 139

Bladder Ketmia

Flora of Monmouthshire

Drosera rotundifolia Round-leaved Sundew

The leaves consist of an orbicular blade, not more than 1 cm in diameter, the upper surface of which has the entrapping sticky hairs, and a tapering, pubescent petiole, both together not exceeding 5 cm in length; the flower bearing peduncle arises from the centre of the rosette.

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18 32

It grows on base-rich grassland. In the vice-county it is found mainly on the Carboniferous Limestone of the SE and NE corners. Localised records are: Caerwent Quarry, ST/472.895, 1974, CT, TGE; defensive bank of Iron Age Fort, Sudbrook, ST/503.873, 1981-2004, TGE; Carrow Hill, ST/43.89, 1973, TGE, CT & E of, ST/44.90, 1996, JDRV; Cuhere Wood, Llanvair Discoed, ST/45.92, 1987, TGE, UTE; bank above and to N of Broadwell Farm, ST/496.913, 1985-95, TGE; rough pasture, Newton Court, SO/520.153, 1986-7, BJG; 100s meadow N of Old Cwm Mill, ST/459.932, 1991, CM, JPW; many patches, E end of MOD, Caerwent, ST/492.914, 1980-2003, TGE, CT. Wade (1970) gives these extra sites: Wyndcliff, Mounton, Shirenewton, Runston, The Minnetts, near Caldicot, Portskewett, Ifton, Highmoor Hill; all in the SE corner. The loss of hay meadows and other changes of land management have caused a deterioration of the above sites. 9 t

It grows in wet heaths and acid peaty bogs. In the vice-county, apart from Narth Bog, Cleddon Bog and Pen y van Bog, all sites are in the wet, hilly west. 20 t (1 t) CISTACEAE Rock-rose family Members of Cistaceae are annuals or low-growing, evergreen shrubs with simple, entire, sessile or with short-petioled leaves, which usually have stipules; the actinomorphic, hermaphrodite flowers are arranged in simple, terminal cymes; they have 5 free sepals, the 2 outer ones smaller than the other 3 and 5 free, usually yellow or white, petals.

VIOLACEAE Violet family Violaceae are small herbs with alternate leaves that are simple, toothed and mainly basal and have petioles and stipules; the zygomorphic, hermaphrodite flowers are solitary, axillary or arise from the basal rosette; there are 5 sepals that extend backwards beyond their attachment to form small appendages; there are 5 separate petals, the lowest of which forms a lip in front and a spur behind, the 5 stamens are held in a close ring around the ovary.

HELIANTHEMUM Rock-roses They are low-growing woody perennials; they have 1-veined leaves and an ovary with a style as long as itself.

Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock-rose Common Rock-rose is usually a low-spreading subshrub to 30 cm or more; it has paired, elliptic to oblong leaves, sparsely hairy above but densely whitish-hairy underneath; the usually, golden yellow flowers are 20-25 mm across and borne in cymes of 1-12.

Viola odorata

Sweet Violet

This perennial has a covering of quite short hairs, reflexed or appressed on the petioles; it spreads by rooting runners; its leaves are broadly heart140

Flora of Monmouthshire It is only common on calcareous soils, hence the frequency of records in the SE of the vice-county. It is found only where the meadows have not been improved e.g. in MOD, Caerwent, ST/4.9 Q & V, or built over, or had trees planted over them. 25 t

shaped and they enlarge as the season progresses; the flowers are violet or white, with a violet or purple spur, the sepals are comparatively broad. The sweet scent is not so noticeable as fifty years ago or has age dulled my senses?

Viola x scabra

a hybrid Violet

This V. odorata x. V hirta hybrid is intermediate between its parents, especially in runner development, flower scent and partial fertility. Wade (1970) gave records at: Trap Hill, Mounton; Wyndcliff; Thornwell, Chepstow; and Portskewett, all attributed to WAS. (4 t)

Viola riviniana

18 31

Common Dog-violet

This Dog-violet has broadly heart-shaped, almost glabrous or shortly hairy leaves rising from a small tuft, the flowers are variable in colour from pale blue to deep bluish-violet and a stout spur that is cleft and maybe upturned at its tip, and it is always a paler colour than the petals; the sepals are narrow and taper to a point and their appendages are more than 1.5 mm long.

It lives in hedgerows, woods and scrub. In the vicecounty, in the last forty years it has become much more difficult to find; the control of verges in the 1960s by the use of herbicides, and the run off of nitrates etc that has favoured coarser plants have reduced it from common to scattered plants, and have made white-flowered plants commoner than violet ones. Much of the western hills and the Severn Levels are devoid of the species. 199 t

Viola hirta

Hairy Violet

This is a hairy, more densely tufted perennial with longer hairs on the leaves and spreading on the petioles, and it produces no runners; the leaves are longer than broad and also enlarge with time; the unscented flowers are a more bluish-violet.

18 31

It grows mainly in woods of all kinds but can be found in grasslands and hedges. It is widespread in the vice-county apart from the Severn Levels. 338 t

Viola reichenbachiana

18 31

Early Dog-violet

This is similar to V. riviniana but differs in that its sepal appendages are less than1.5 mm long and the shorter spur, that tapers to a rounded point, is a darker, violet colour than the petals; it also tends to start and end flowering first. It grows in woods and other shady places, especially on more calcareous soils. It does not survive in Douglas Fir plantations. 150 t

141

Flora of Monmouthshire spite of wandering over much of the vice-county I have never seen it in Monmouthshire. Wade (1970) said it was very rare and gave one record made by WAS for wood near Tintern; there are no specimens in NMW from this county and I suspect that one of the variants of V. riviniana with a very white spur is the cause of mis-identifications. (? 7 t)

Viola reichenbachiana 23

Viola lactea

18 31

Viola x bavarica

Pale Dog-violet

V. lactea is an almost hairless perennial, with all its lanceolate or narrowly ovate leaves on its ascending 1-2 stems; the base of the leaves is rounded or cuneate; its 15-20 mm long flowers are pale bluish-white or greyish-violet with a short yellowish or greenish spur; it has toothed, lanceolate stipules. It lives on dry heaths. The only record is: by Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/4.8 ?P or U, 1942, *, JCE. (1 t)

a hybrid Dog-violet

This V. riviniana x V. reichenbachiana hybrid is intermediate between its parents in its sepal appendages length, but it has a dark spur and it is almost wholly sterile.

Viola palustris

Marsh Violet

The leaves and flowers arise from creeping rhizomes or stolons, the roundish, hairless leaves have a deep cordate base, the flowers, with a blunt very short spur, are pale bluish-lilac with darker veins; the lack of an aerial stem is diagnostic.

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It grows where its parents grow together but I doubt whether it occurs in as many as 10 tetrads because the latter is less common, the overlap when both are in flower at the same time is not long and the sterility may not be solely due to hybrid origin. ESM and WAS also quote Wyndcliff as a site. ? 10 t

Viola canina

18 31

It grows in very wet places from acid bogs to woodland flushes. In the vice-county its main headquarters are the wet uplands in the west. The drainage of farmland and the planting of trees in marshy areas has reduced the occurrence in the centre and the north. 69 t

Heath Dog-violet

V. canina is a short, almost hairless perennial with no basal rosette of leaves; the leaves are ovate with a truncate or cordate base, the non-scented petals are a clear blue, the spur whitish or yellowish. It grows in open woods, grassy or sandy heaths, fens or dunes; the substrate is frequently acid. In 142

Flora of Monmouthshire

Viola palustris subsp. juressi

Marsh Violet

terminal lobe of the stipule is distinctly wider than the rest and often the margin is somewhat crenate.

Similar to subsp. palustris but leaves obtuse to subacute (some leaves of subsp. palustris have this character) and have some hairs on the petioles. The position of the bracteoles on the pedicels (below the middle in subsp. palustris, near middle in subsp. juressi) I find unreliable. Thus hairs on the pedicels, if the only criterion, makes the claim for subspecies status rather tenuous.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

18 32

It grows in the same conditions as subsp. palustris, sometimes in the same marsh. Vc 35 records: wet, open woodland, Cwm Merddog, SO/187.064, 1991, TGE; 3-4 m² wet heath, N of Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/1937.0057, 1994-2001, PAS, TGE; marshy area, Coed Llifos, ST/454.970, 1995, TGE; large patches, wet heath, Pontllanfraith, ST/165.963, 1995, TGE; wet heath, E of Aberbargoed, ST/162.986, 1995, TGE; marsh, near Castroggy Brook, ST/443.947, 1996, TGE. 5 t

Viola lutea

! Viola x wittrockiana

Garden Pansy

This V. tricolor x V. arvensis hybrid can be recognised from the other pansies by its flowers that are 3.5-10 cm across and have overlapping petals. Planted in gardens, town beds and parks, it sometimes escapes onto neighbouring land. There are two county records: rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1980, TGE; waste ground, NE side of minor road from Marshfield, ST/268.816, 1994, GH. (2 t)

Mountain Pansy

This is a perennial with aerial stems rising from a slender rhizome to 20 cm and oval to lanceolate, bluntly toothed leaves; the large stipules are narrowly pinnately-lobed almost to the mibrib and are terminated in a slightly larger, entire, oval lobe; the 2-3.5 mm across flowers are yellow or blue or mixture of blue and yellow with a 3-6 mm spur. A plant of upland areas, often base-rich, or soils containing heavy metals. No current county records in spite of searches. Wade (1970) cited the following: Honddu and Grwyne Fawr Valleys, AL; Hatterall Hill, 1881, DB; Blaenavon, JHC. (4 t)

Viola tricolor subsp. tricolor

A plant of waste or cultivated land. Because of the widespread use of herbicides on farms I had not seen it for years, until 2004 when 20+ plants were flowering on bulldozed Avondale Children’s Play area, Blaenavon, SO/253.085; I doubt if any of the other 24 sites have it today. 25 t (1 t)

Viola arvensis

Field Pansy

A slender annual often supported by surrounding plants to reach a height of 40 cm; the bluntlytoothed leaves are oblong-obovate; the stipules are pinnately-lobed with a large end lobe; the flower varies in size from 8 to 20 mm across and is most often white with a yellow blotch on the claw-end of lip petal, but some have violet blotches or suffusion on upper petals. A common weed of arable land, though too often only on margins of crops. In the vice-county, it can still be found widely mainly on the edges of crop fields and on waste ground but in much smaller numbers than in the past. 172 t

Wild Pansy

This is very similar to Mountain Pansy differing in that it has flowers less than 2 cm across, the 143

Flora of Monmouthshire Viola arvensis

23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18

31 31

CUCURBITACEAE White Bryony family These are annuals or herbaceous perennials, using tendrils or other climbing devices to scramble over other plants to take advantage of the sun; they have simple, alternate leaves which are often palmately lobed; the actinomorphic, unisexual flowers are borne in axillary racemes or in irregular groups; they have a hypanthium bearing 5 free sepals, 5 petals joined at the base, at least 3 stamens, 2 with 2 pollen sacs and the other with 1 (5 stamens occur rarely); the ovary is 1-celled, but intrusions of the inner wall makes it look more; the indehiscent fruit is succulent and either berry-like or cucumber-like.

CUCUMIS Cucumbers These are annuals, with separate male and female flowers on the same plant, with fibrous roots only; they climb using simple tendrils; their flowers are grouped in small numbers, the yellow corolla is divided to less than half way; the fruit is ellipsoid to cylindrical, with green to yellow variable surface.

! Cucumis melo

Melon

This plant scrambles over others using simple tendrils, the stems are hairy and the leaves are shallowly toothed or shallowly palmately-lobed; male flowers are grouped, female are solitary; the green to yellow, rugby-ball-shaped fruit, hairy at first, can grow to over 30 cm long. It grows on rubbish tips, where the heat produced by decomposing organic material aids germination of seeds, or at sewage works, where the decomposition of the filtered solids performs the same function. Melon plants were frequent on the rubbish tip on the Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85 in the 1970s and early 1980s. One specimen collected in October, 1978 by TGE was det. by EJC. (1 t)

BRYONIA White Bryony Bryonia are perennials with male and female flowers on different plants; they have sizeable tuberous roots; simple tendrils enable them to climb over other plants; their leaves are palmately lobed; the flowers, grouped in small numbers, are greenish-white; the fruit is a red, ±hairless berry.

Bryonia dioica

White Bryony

The plant can climb to 4 m; its hairy leaves are deeply divided into rather obtuse lobes; the actinomorphic flowers, with broadly oval petals, are 5-12 mm in diameter; the red fruit is 5-9 mm across. It is scarcer on high ground and the peaty levels. 151 t

CITRULLUS Water Melon These are annuals with separate, solitary male and female flowers on the same plant; their roots are fibrous only; they climb using their simple or branched tendrils, their yellow corolla is divided to more than half way; their green to yellow swollen fruit is smooth and hairless.

! Citrullus lanatus

Water Melon

The sprawling stems of this plant are very hairy when young and bristly as they mature; the main 144

Flora of Monmouthshire

White Poplar

Populus alba

veins of the leaves are pinnate and the leaf lobes are formed around them, with the opposite, basal pair the longest; the corolla can be as big as 18 mm in diameter and the globular fruit can exceed 30 cm. It grows on tips and near sewage works. The rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85 had numerous plants through the 1970s flourishing in the heat generated by decomposition. One plant collected in 1975 by TGE, det. EJC. (1 t)

This tree can grow to over 20 m. It has smooth, grey bark, and is often surrounded by suckers; its crown is broad; its leaves are palmately lobed often with a much longer central lobe, and they are all densely, white-tomentose beneath; male trees are said to be rare. 23

CUCURBITA Marrows As with Melons and Water Melons, Marrows are monoecious annuals with fibrous roots only, and climbing by branched tendrils, and their flowers are solitary, but their yellow corollas are divided to less than half way; their green to yellow fruit is globose to cylindrical.

! Cucurbita pepo

Marrow

Marrows are sprawling plants with hairy stems that spread over 2 m; their leaves are palmately lobed to different depths; the corolla can be well over 100 mm; its fruit can be huge attached to a ridged, swollen-ended stalk. It grows on tips and near sewage works. It appeared in several years in the 1970s on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, ST/30.85. One plant collected in 1978, TGE was det. EJC. (1 t)

18 31

Originally introduced and planted as ornamental trees, there has been some naturalization by suckers. In the vice-county they are fairly widespread as planted trees. 57t

Populus x canescens

Grey Poplar

This P. alba x P. tremula hybrid is intermediate between its parents; its general form is similar to P. alba but it is bigger rising to over 40 m; its leaves do not have such a dominant terminal lobe and all lobes are reduced to large blunt teeth, they quickly lose the young, densely tomentose under surface to become greeny-grey to subglabrous; the rather rare female is partially fertile.

SALICACEAE Willow family Members of this family are deciduous trees or shrubs, mostly dioecious, with simple, petiolate, mostly alternate, serrate leaves; there are stipules at the base of the petioles; the flowers, each in the axil of a bract in racemose catkins, are reduced to a cup-like perianth or 1-2 basal nectaries; in the male flowers there are varying numbers of stamens; in the female flowers there is a 1-celled ovary with 2 often large, bifid stigmas on insignificant styles and containing numerous ovules; seeds with their basal plume of hairs are dispersed on the breeze.

POPULUS Poplars Poplars are trees whose winter buds have outer scales; pendulous catkins, made up of toothed or deeply divided bracts and flowers with a cup-like perianth, appear before the leaves; there are a varying number of stamens but no nectaries because they are wind-pollinated; all the poplars have rather long, flexuous petioles so the leaves flutter noticeably when it is breezy.

18 31

145

Flora of Monmouthshire Grey Poplar is probably planted throughout the vice-county, usually as a single tree or in small groups in woods, hedgerows and meadows, but c. 50 were reported in Monmouth, SO/507.130, 19923, BJG. 31 t

Populus tremula

where the petiole and blade meet. The leaves and stems are sparsely hairy when young. 23

Aspen

A tree, similar to P. alba and reaching the same height of over 20 m, but is rather more graceful; its leaves, however, are almost circular with a sinuous edge of blunt teeth, with no teeth reaching lobe size, they are glabrous or almost so at maturity, its leaves flutter noisily in breezy weather.

18 31

All the vice-county subsp. betulifolia are male and are believed to have originated as a clone sold by nurseries 150-200 years ago. They are all old, many have been damaged by gales and some have been cut down when they became considered dangerous. Site list: N side of road to Wern Gethin Farm, ST/240.807, 1986, GH; 4 trees on field near farm lane, Tyrewen, SO/274.157, 1989, RF; 1 tree field/road edge, S of Llanwenarth Church, SO/275.148, 1989, RF; 2 trees in R. Usk bend, The Bryn, SO/33.09, 1989, CT; 2 (formerly 3) trees, field/rail bridge edge, Penpergwm Station, SO/322.101, 1985-2001, TGE; 1 tree (top blown off by 2001, revealing a clump of mistletoe hanging from a remaining branch), field W of R. Usk, Llanllowell, ST/388.988, 1989, CT; 3 trees (gales have reduced to 1 damaged one, 2003), New House, St Brides, Wentlooge, ST/301.830, 1989, TGE et al.; 2 felled trees, meadow, W of B4598, S of Pant-y-goitre Bridge, SO/349.087, 1986, EMR, TGE, UTE; 1 pollarded tree, N side A40 road, opposite Pysgodlyn Farm, SO/265.156, 1989, RF, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; 1 tree, Lamb and Flag Inn, SO/282.153, 1989, RF, TGE, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; 1 tree, S of and in grounds of Nevill Hall Hospital, 1991, RF and 1996 DrJS; 1 tree, R. Usk meadow, Pencarreg Farm, ST/386.988, 1991, RF; 10 stunted trees (3 now dead, 7 dying, 2001), peaty level, W of Magor Reserve, ST/420.862, 1993, TGE; 1 tree, meadow, S of Undy Chapel (converted to house), ST/428.871, 1994, ML; 1 tree (2 felled), laneside, Llandevenny, ST/407.869, 1997, CT, TGE; 1 tree, SE of pumping station, W bank R. Usk, Shaftesbury Park, Newport, ST/315.893, 1994,

18 31

It grow in woods and hedgerows and is probably native but is also planted in strips on field boundaries. Some vegetative spread by suckering takes place. 92 t

Populus nigra

Black Poplar

These are a group of trees of various habit, leaves varying in shape from diamond-shaped to triangular with a truncate or cuneate base. Because they are often planted and not readily accessible and the cultivars have only comparatively recently been described for the general botanist, much work has yet to be done to name all the Poplars planted around the vice-county.

Populus nigra subsp. betulifoliaBlack Poplar This tree to over 30 m is now well known as a result of its profile being raised for conservation. It has a massive trunk adorned in the lower part with many large bosses; its branches arch over and down and the ends then sweep up a little; its small-toothed leaves are roughly triangular with a cuneate or truncate base, and have no glands 146

Flora of Monmouthshire GH; 1 pollarded, hollow tree, SSE of Duffryn Farm, SO/2695.1491, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; 1 tree near R. Usk, S of Mardy Farm, SO/262.150, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; ? 3 trees, NE of Lower House, SO/27.15, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; 13 multistemmed maidens (male), part of hedge line N of Great Manson Farm, SO/499.156, 2006, DEG. 11 t (1 t) Plate 27

Populus x canadensis

hybrid Black-poplar

This P. nigra x P. deltoides hybrid also has many cultivars. It can grow to more than 40 m, can take different forms from ones with spreading crowns to narrower ones with largely upswept, lower branches; its leaves usually have a pair of sessile glands at the junction between petiole and blade.

Populus nigra ‘Italica’/’Plantierensis’

Both cultivars have tall, columnar trees narrow, a cylindrical or spire-like form, with upright branch growth, that is supposed to be unsuitable for nest building (however, a pair of magpies have successfully reared their brood, in two separate years, in nests near the top of a tall tree in my neighbour’s garden, though the nest, in each case, was dislodged in following winter gales). Both cultivars have non-burred trunks and both are male.

18 23 31 22

The cultivar introductions are planted for ornamental purposes, screening and as they are quick growing, for forestry purposes. A special effort is needed to sort the many cultivars used in the vice-county. It is not going to be easy as many of the trees are on private land and many have twigs and leaves out of reach. 134 t

! Populus trichocarpaWestern Balsam-poplar

18 31

This tree when mature can be over 30 m high with a narrowish silhouette, though its lower branches are quite spreading; suckers are rare; its leaves are ovate, tapering gradually to a pointed apex and with a truncate or near cordate base, the petioles are variably hairy; the trees are mostly male and quite aromatic on a warm spring day. An introduction with an increasing number of cultivars being planted for ornament or for timber, as the growth rate is fast. The number of tetrads is probably out of date, as planting is increasing. Some sites: planted on trackway, Abergavenny, SO/301.138, 1996, GH; meadow, MOD, Caerwent, ST/47.91, 1995-2004, TGE conf. RDM; line along W bank, R. Usk, Shaftesbury Park, Newport, ST/315.893, 1994, GH; planted along right bank of R. Usk, at The Island, Usk, SO/373.010, 19952003, TGE. 9 t

Tall columnar poplars are widely recorded as ‘Lombardy Poplars’ only but there are two similar cultivars ‘Italica’, known as Lombardy Poplar, has glabrous young shoots. ‘Plantierensis’ has pubescent young shoots and is less narrowly fastigiate (upright growing). I have looked at 34 of these columnar trees and all had hairy young twigs. Have ALL trees a common source (such as a nursery)? Will they ALL have hairy young twigs? Do we have any Lombardy Poplars in the vicecounty? Does the cultivar ‘Gigantea’ occur in the vice-county? It is like ‘Italica’ but is female and broader. Both trees are grown either as a single specimen tree or as a line or lines to act as a windbreak or for screening. 45 t 147

Flora of Monmouthshire SO/13.10, 1988, TGE, JK; near Information Centre, Wentwood Forestry Commission, ST/425.943, 1995, TGE. 2 t

Populus trichocarpa 23

Arc. Salix fragilis

Crack-willow

Crack-willow is a spreading tree to 25 m, its greenish twigs are hairy at first but soon become glabrous. If the twigs or small branches are bent backwards they snap easily and cleanly away from the major branch, which explains its English name. Its toothed leaves are lanceolate tapering to a point, and are shiny green above but greyish beneath; the stipules soon fall; the male flowers have 2 stamens and are borne in yellow, drooping catkins.

18 31

35 23

Populus ‘Balsam Spire’ hybrid Balsam-poplar

This is a tree to over 30 m with a very narrow outline and no suckers; its leaves are broadly ovate, abruptly brought to a point at its apex, and with a rounded base. It is used for screening and as a windbreak. I have no detail of its position except it is W of Tintern. 1t

SALIX Willows Willows are deciduous trees or dwarf to tall shrubs, their winter buds have only 1 outer scale; the flowers appear before or after its leaves and have entire bracts, 1-2 nectaries and usually 1-5 stamens. Hybrids occur frequently to muddy the waters. The use of R. D. Meikle’s BSBI Handbook No 4 on Willows and Poplars is advisable. Catkins, and juvenile and mature leaves are required for identification. Avoid leaves from vigorous young trees and suckers. Hybrids are under-recorded. Many trees along fishing rivers have disappeared since Wade (1970), presumably to give clear stretches for anglers.

Salix pentandra

It grows beside water, in wet meadows and woodlands. Missing from much of the uplands, otherwise quite common in vc 35. 273 t

Salix x rubens

hybrid Crack-willow

This S. alba x S. fragilis hybrid can reach a height of 30 m but quite often is a hedgerow plant and a victim to hedge cutting. Its appearance lies between that of its parents, with great variations. Lowland damp meadows, in hedges and by streams. Three sites in vc 35: near Sor Brook, Llandegveth, ST/33.95, 1987, TGE, ELB & LBB; near Sor Brook, Lan Sor, ST/34.94; several large old trees, apparently this hybrid, on moors below Magor, WAS. 3 t

Bay Willow

Bay Willow is a shrub or small tree usually to less than 10 m with coarse, fissured bark; the glossy, red-brown twigs are glabrous; the elliptical, leaves, c. 6 x 2 cm with insignificant petiole, are a glossy dark green, with some basal glands; the male catkins are bright yellow and each flower has usually 5-8 stamens, female catkins are greenish. It is found usually in wet habitats. Native in parts of Britain but not in this vice-county. It was planted in both cases: on A4048 bank, Tredegar,

Salix alba

White Willow

This tree, because of a generous covering of white hairs, makes a spreading tree of around 30 m look silvery-grey; its toothed, lanceolate leaves taper gradually to a point, are silky, like the shoots, when young and remain so underneath when mature; the yellow male catkins contain male flowers with 2 148

Flora of Monmouthshire stamens, the slender female catkins are green, and both appear with the leaves.

ST/434.854, 1994; Old Kemeys, ST/388.932, 1994; Wern Panna House, Gwernesney, SO/419.010, 1994; Monachty, SO/309.022, 1994; on R. Wye bank, SE of old road bridge, Chepstow, ST/536.943, 1997-2003. 8 t

Arc. Salix triandra

Almond Willow

Almond Willow is a small tree or shrub to 10 m with smooth, brown bark that tends to flake off; its ridged twigs are a glossy brown; its glabrous, tinytoothed, dark shiny green, 7.5-9.5 x 1.3-2.0 cm leaves, paler underneath, are lanceolate to elliptical, with 1-1.5 cm petioles; the male catkins contain flowers with 3 stamens each.

18 23 31

35 22

White willow is a lowland tree of wet areas. Scattered in lowland fields in vc 35 with more on the Severn Levels and in the Usk Vale than elsewhere. 129 t

Salix x sepulcralis

Weeping Willow

This S. alba x S. babylonica hybrid has a distinctive weeping habit with long, pale green slender shoots; its narrowly-lanceolate, finelytoothed leaves are silky when young but mature to a bright green above and grey below; the often curved catkins open up with the leaves in April.

18 31

Almond Willow grows in wet places, particularly by rivers and ponds. County sites: Silted up pool, by the side of R. Usk, Abergavenny, SO/283.141, 1989-91, RF; bank of R. Wye, S and E of Llandogo, SO/53.04, 1990-1, TGE; left bank of R. Wye, SE of Monmouth, SO/513.122, 1987, BJG, 1991, TGE; meadow, Mounton, ST/509.934, 1991, TGE; right, sandy bank, R. Usk, Llanllowell, ST/387.983, 1991, TGE; left bank R. Usk, near Trostrey Lodge, SO/357.077, 1991, RF; brookside, Hendre Farm, Llangattock-vibon-avel, SO/45.14, 1946, SGC; N and S side of road, Llandevenny, ST/405.864-5, 1999, CT. 6 t

18 31

! Salix x mollissima Sharp-stipuled Willow

This S. triandra x S. viminalis hybrid has varying characters of its parents; its leaves are as long as 11 cm and as wide as 1.5 cm. It is found along the banks of rivers and ponds, and in hedges near its parents. The 4 sites of the vicecounty are: a rather sandy right bank of the R. Usk, Llanllowell, ST/387.983, 1991, TGE; right bank of R. Usk, Llanfair Kilgeddin, SO/354.092, 1991,

Weeping Willows are planted in gardens, particularly large ones with ponds, for their ornamental value. Much under-recorded in vc 35 but probably not naturalised, those recorded are hosts of mistletoe by TGE. E.g. Llancayo, SO/374.032, 1973-95; W of Northgate Inn, Caerwent, ST/468.907, 1994; Pill Farm, Caldicot, 149

Flora of Monmouthshire TGE, both det. RDM; left bank, R. Rhymney and pond edge nearby, Bedwas, ST/18.88, 1993, TGE, conf. RDM; hedgerow, between Chapel Tump and Undy, ST/4.8 I, 1895, WAS, re-det. 1993, RDM. 3 t (1 t)

Salix purpurea

It grows in wet places. Our one record was from between Brockweir and Bigsweir, WAS, but there appears to be no specimen in NMW. (1 t)

Salix daphnoides

European Violet-willow

This is a tall shrub or slender tree to over 10 m; it has glabrous, violet-brown, glossy, upright twigs with a dense, whitish, waxy bloom; its oblong, finely toothed leaves are soon glabrous, then shiny dark green above and greyish beneath; it has large, heart-shaped stipules; its 3-4 cm catkins appear before its leaves. It grows on river and lake margins. The vicecounty record is in SO/2.2 S for a planted tree. 1 t

Purple Willow

Purple Willow is a shrub to 5 m but frequently less; its twigs are shiny, straightish, glabrous, yellowish or purple when young; its scarcely-toothed leaves are lanceolate-oblong to oblanceolate, somewhat glaucous, more so beneath, averaging 7.5 x 1.5 cm, with petioles to 1 cm and frequently opposite or nearly so; flowers have 1 purple stamen each.

Arc. Salix viminalis

Osier

Osier is a shrub or small tree to c. 5 m; its shoots are long and flexible and grey-downy becoming glabrous and a yellowish brown to a dull brown as they mature; the narrowly elongated, lanceolate leaves are usually up to c. 15 x 1.5 cm, the downturned margin lacks teeth, the upper side is green and the lower side silvery with silky hairs; appearing before the leaves, the narrow catkins are crowded at the shoot ends.

18 31

It grows in damp places, often by rivers, and recently it has been planted in landscaping projects. Vice-county sites: sandy, right bank of R. Usk, Llanllowell, ST/387.832, 1991, TGE, DL, conf. RDM; right bank, R. Usk, Llanfair Kilgeddin, SO/358.088, 1991, TGE; planted along top of the raised right bank of River Ebbw, E of large works, Ebbw Vale, SO/172.091, 2001, TGE; several planted along Lamby Way, ST/221.785, 2001, TGE, GH, CT; planted, near Nash, ST/34.83, 1991, TGE; near Llanfoist, SO/2.1 W, C & GT; planted near Caldicot Castle, ST/48.88, 2002, TGE. Additional records from Wade (1970): near Pont-yspig, SO/2.2 V, AL; Bassaleg, *; Portskewett, WAS; pond, near Bulwark, 1922, MCo. 8 t (4 t)

Salix x rubra

18 31

It is commonly found by the side of water. It was common along the banks of the R. Wye, R. Usk and other rivers, the reens, and around pools, but drainage and actions of the river authorities in favour of anglers has reduced numbers considerably. 149 t

a hybrid Willow

This S. purpurea x S. viminalis hybrid can grow as a shrub or a tree to 7 m; its twigs are yellowishbrown, glabrous and somewhat glossy when mature; its entire to remotely serrate leaves are 412 x 0.8-1 cm or more, densely hairy, sometimes becoming glabrous; its stamens are free or partly united.

! Salix udensis

Sachalin Willow

This is a shrub or small tree; it has shiny, glabrous, reddish to yellowish-brown twigs; its leaves to 15 x 3 cm have crenate-serrate margins and still have some hairs underneath at maturity; its male catkins 150

Flora of Monmouthshire have flowers with stamens either free or fused at the base. The male clone ‘Sekka’, which has stems that are fused together in flattened and abnormally twisted shapes, is the only form available in Britain and is grown in gardens and naturalised here. It occurs on a pond margin, at Newcastle, SO/454.186, RCP. It is so obviously a garden plant that it could be elsewhere but not recorded. 1 t

Salix x sericans

det. RL conf. RDM; NE corner Cleppa Park, Newport, ST/278.848, 1994, GH. 14 t

Salix x calodendron

Broad-leaved Osier

This S. viminalis x S. caprea hybrid is a robust bush or small spreading tree that can grow to 9 m tall; the hairs on the twigs make them ashy-white, but they are soon discarded to expose a shiny, yellowish or reddish bark which if peeled disclose no ridges underneath; the leaves are rather ovatelanceolate to broadly lanceolate, to 12 x 3 cm, gradually tapering to a point at the apex and gently rounded or broadly cuneate at their base, dull green and hairless on top and densely grey hairy below, their margins are remotely toothed, slightly wavy and narrowly turned down; the catkins appear in March well before the leaves. 23

Salix x smithiana 22

18 32

Silky-leaved Osier

This S. viminalis x S. cinerea hybrid is a robust shrub or small tree to 9 m with spreading branches; the twigs are densely pubescent usually to the second year when the hairs are lost and reveal the dark reddish-brown bark, under which the wood has a few ridges; the leaves are narrowly lanceolate becoming rather suddenly acuminate at the apex, the upper surface is almost hairless and dull green, the lower one grey with short hairs; the persistent stipules are moon or ear-shaped, sometimes with small, basal appendages; the catkins appear in numbers at the end of shoots before the leaves, in April. This hybrid is not uncommon on the edges of water, but under-recorded in the vice-county. Wade (1970) gave 5 sites: between Pandy and Oldcastle, Abergavenny, Llanddewi Fach and near Magor (all specimens in NMW); Undy, WAS. How many of the sites are still extant is unknown. I have had only one recent site: near lake, Bryn Bach Park, SO/12.10, 1988, TGE, JK. 7 t

Holme Willow

This could be a hybrid between S. caprea and S. cinerea but its origins are uncertain. It forms a tall, erect shrub or small tree, usually less than 10 m high, and resembles S. viminalis but it has twigs densely ashy-hairy or woolly until the second year before it loses its hairs to reveal its brown bark, which when peeled exposes the longitudinal ridges along the wood; the leaves are oblong-elliptic, c. 10 x 3 cm, dull green above with scattered hairs, ashy-grey below with a good covering of longer hairs where the often red midrib and lateral nerves are prominent, the margins are narrowly incurved and may have a few teeth or glands, the petioles are stout and rigid; the stipules are ear-shaped and obvious. It grows in wet places, often planted for biomass production. It is under-recorded. Only 2 sites have been reported: hedge near Pant-y-goitre Bridge, SO/348.091, 1991, RF conf. RDM; rear of main driveway, Cleppa Park, Newport, ST/279.848, 1994-95, GH, who reports it as the cultivar ‘Aquatica gigantea’. 14 t

It grows in wet places but was formerly planted. Some vice-county records: old coal waste, Bran Bach Park, Tredegar, SO/11.10 F, 1988, TGE, JK; Garn-yr-erw, SO/2.1 F, 1987, TGE, RF; Llanwenarth Valley, SO/2.1 T, 1989, TGE, UTE; W of Abergavenny, SO/28.13 & 14, W & X; E of Ysgyryd Fawr, SO/31 I, 1987, TGE, UTE; R. Wye bank, Monmouth, SO/515.131, 1991, TGE; on ballast, old shunting yards, Severn Tunnel Junction, ST/444.874, 1991, TGE; National Trust car park, SO/35.08, 1991, RF; edge of Priory Grove Wood, near Monmouth, SO/526.137, 1946,

Salix caprea

Goat Willow

Goat Willow is a tall shrub or small spreading tree with a rather open top; its twigs are robust 151

Flora of Monmouthshire This S. caprea x S. cinerea hybrid is extremely common and ranges in characters from the one parent to the other, and those closest to S. caprea could easily be boosting the numbers of Goat Willow through mis-identification. Seven records are an under-representation of the true picture. Wade (1970) gave: Pwll Diwaelog, Castleton, * and Blackcliff Wood, Tintern. 7 t (2 t)

displaying yellowish or grey-brown bark when the sparse hairs have gone, the wood under the bark has no ridges; the leaves are broadly obovate, sometimes almost round but narrowing abruptly to an acute apex and rounded at the base, the upper surface is a dull green with sparse hairs, the lower is ashy-grey with hairs that give the surface a soft feel, the network of veins is prominent on the lower surface, the margins are unevenly wavy and toothed, the teeth are shortly gland-tipped; the shortly cylindrical, sessile catkins, particularly the golden-yellow males, crowded at the top of the shoots in March corroborate the Hazel catkins’ evidence that spring is on the way.

Salix x capreola

a hybrid Goat Willow

A S. caprea x S. aurita hybrid mentioned in Stace (1997) but not in Meikle (1984). The site, for what was believed to be it, was Cwm Merddog, SO/18.06, 1988, TGE. 1 t

Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia

18 31

Grey Willow

This is a shrub or small tree to 15 m high; twigs soon lose pubescence and become dark reddishbrown, with bark peeled back only faint striations can be observed; the leaves are oblanceolate to oblong, with entire or vaguely wavy or toothed margins, the upper surface is shiny, dark green and the lower surface an ashy-grey, with a sparse covering of short, bristly, rust-coloured hairs, more noticeable towards the end of the shoots and in late summer; the catkins, borne upright towards the end of the shoots, are sessile or very short stalked appear before the leaves in March or April, the male flowers bear 2 free stamens.

It grows in various habitats and is more tolerant of drier conditions than its relatives and is even at home on a calcareous substrate. It is the most frequently recorded willow in the vice-county, but is it too often mistaken for S. x reichardtii? 366 t

Salix x reichardtii

a hybrid Goat Willow 21

23 20 22 19 21 18 31

18 32

It grows in wet places, particularly on margins of woods or in hedgerows or in stream valleys. In vc 35 very few tetrads do not have it somewhere, though drainage has reduced the number of past sites. 353 t

152

Flora of Monmouthshire

Salix x multinervis

a hybrid Grey Willow

This S. cinerea x S. aurita hybrid is a muchbranched shrub or small tree to less than 5 m; its twigs start very greyish-hairy but this coat is lost to reveal the dark reddish-brown bark which, if peeled back, discloses noticeable ridges on the wood; the short, oblong or obovate leaves seldom exceed 2 x 2.5 cm and are a dark, dull green above and ashy-grey or rusty below, softly hairy becoming almost hairless with age though the underside often remains softly hairy; the leaf apex is obtuse or shortly acute, often obliquely twisted; the margins are clearly wavy and toothed, the main and lateral veins are proud on the under surface; the petiole is short; the persistent stipules are earshaped, hairy and have a wrinkled surface; the catkins appear before the leaves in April. Expect to find it where the parents grow together. Wade (1970) gave: boggy ground, below Chepstow Park, WAS (1920) and Trellech (Cleddon) Bog, both, *. Recent records: on old coal waste, near bridge over A465(T) Llechryd, SO/118.102, 1988, TGE det. RDM; near cycle track, Coed Avon, SO/258.079, 2004, TGE, CT; Holly Bush, SO/166.033, 1988, TGE; near Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/19.00, 1996, Recording Group; wet heath, Cwm Celyn, SO/205.088, 1990, TGE, JWo. 4 t

Salix aurita

18 31

Salix repens

Creeping Willow

Creeping Willow is a very variable, dwarf shrub, with stems from prostrate to erect, twigs from slender to sturdy, glabrous to densely covered with silky hairs and coloured variously; the leaves vary from lanceolate to ovate-oblong and are up to 3.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide and with an indumentum varying from glabrous to silky hairy, both sides to one side only; the leaf margins are sharply recurved, entire or obscurely toothed; the veins are hardly noticeable, the stipules may or may not be present; the sessile, erect, small catkins open with or before the leaves.

Eared Willow

Eared Willow seldom exceeds 2.5 m in height; it is a much-branched shrub with a tangle of crossing branches, with slender, dark reddish-brown twigs that soon lose the covering of short hairs, the wood beneath the bark has numerous, noticeable ridges; its wrinkled leaves are obovate to oblong-obovate to 6 cm x 3 cm, dullish green above and ashy-grey below, usually softly hairy and with prominent veins, the apex is rounded or shortly acute and often obliquely twisted and the base cuneate on a short upright petiole; the leaf margins vary from entire to wavy and irregularly toothed; the conspicuous, persistent stipules are ear-shaped and also have wavy, toothed margins; the short, erect catkins open in April before the leaves. Eared Willow prefers acid heaths, moors and woodland. In vc 35 there is a concentration in the hilly west and the Wye Valley north of the limestone gorge, S of Tintern. The flat land of the Usk Vale has a scattering of records, though drainage has rather reduced its numbers there. 96 t

18 31

This is a plant of, at least, a seasonally wet habitat, found on moors and heaths. Wade (1970) gave boggy heath below Coed Cae (Coetgae, ST/47.95 TGE), *, WAS. Recent records: wet area, N of Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/19.00, 1985-2002, TGE, PSJ; wet area, Big Pit, SO/23.09, 1987, TGE, RF; carr, Uskmouth Power Station ST/33.83, 1985-87, SP; wet area, Llanwern, ST/3.8 U, ME; Cleddon Bog, SO/508.039 and 508.041, 1986-87, EW; wet heath, 153

Flora of Monmouthshire Cwm Celyn, SO/205.088, TGE, RF, JWo; damp field, Pen-twyn, SO/258.274, 1991, JWd; wet heath, The British, SO/255.043, TGE, SW, JSW; wet grassland, Pentwyn, Grwyne Fawr, SO/260.257, 1991, JWo. 11 t (1 t)

SGC; Rhymney Bridge, *; Caerleon; Redbrook, SGC. It is now becoming scarcer: 5-10 plants, waste ground, Alpha Steel Works, Newport, ST/33.84, 1979-94, TGE, MJ, CT; 1 plant foot of wall, Post Office Row, Sudbrook, ST/503.876, 1982, TGE; a plant on waste ground in S part of Abergavenny, SO/30.13, 1988, RF; 1 plant, Cogent-Orb Electrical Steels, ST/325.863, 2006, JBr. 3 t (7 t)

BRASSICACEAE Cabbage family The cabbage family consists mainly of herbs with inflorescences that usually elongate after flowering; the simple leaves lack stipules; the flowers have 4 free, sepals and petals; usually 6 stamens (2 shorter outer and 4 longer inner); the ovary is usually 2-celled, has 1 style, 2 stigmas and a dry fruit that opens from below by 2 valves or is indehiscent. The BSBI Crucifer handbook is very helpful for identification, aided by some excellent drawings!

Arc. Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard Hedge Mustard has deeply lobed leaves and 1-2 cm erect fruits, in numbers, closely appressed to terminal and axillary stems. 23

SISYMBRIUM Rockets Rockets have simple, entire to deeply lobed leaves, unbranched hairs, yellow or white petals, a beakless fruit, which is more than 3x as long as wide, has convex valves, with 1 row of seeds under each valve.

! Sisymbrium irio

London Rocket

London Rocket is a tall, erect, much-branched annual to 60 mm with triangular, deeply cut leaves, the triangular end lobe the largest. The erect fruit is only to 6 mm. It is found mainly on walls, roadsides and waste places in towns and where wool shoddy was used as a fertilizer. The record for this casual was Monmouth, SO/5.1, 1934, SGC. (1 t)

! Sisymbrium altissimum

18 31

A common weed of waste places, roadsides and cultivated ground. 349 t DESCURAINIA Flixweed A medium to tall herb with basal leaves 2-3 pinnately branched with patent simple and branched hairs; the petals are pale yellow; the beakless fruit is more than 3 x as long as broad, with 1 row of seeds under each valve.

Tall Rocket

This is an erect annual to 1 m with deeply divided leaves, the pinnate upper ones have linear lobes; the slim, straight, cylindrical fruit to over 10 cm is held at a 45 degree angle. Tall Rocket is an alien of waste places. Wade (1970) gave 4 sites: Monmouth, *; Llanfoist, *; Caerleon and Redbrook, SGC. There is only one recent record from the ballast of disused railway sidings, Newport Docks, ST/30.86, *, 1987, TGE, det. TCGR, 1997, MJ. 1 t (5 t)

! Sisymbrium orientale

! Descurainia sophia

Flixweed

This grey-green annual has leaves so finely lobed that the plant has a delicate ferny look and is topped off with a many, tiny, pale yellow-flowered raceme that produces many, linear siliquas. In the E of England it grows on sandy soil in open forests, on tracks and waste land, elsewhere it is probably a casual. In vc 35 it was reported: on the Kymin, SO/52.12, pre-1951, *, SGC; at Tintern, 1908, GCD; it must have been intro-duced with some gritty sand from Thetford Forest into my garden, ST/52.93 in 1980 and has re-appeared every year, in numbers, ever since. 1 t (2 t)

Eastern Rocket

Somewhat similar to Tall Rocket but its upper leaves usually have 2 basal lobes or less and the fruit is curved to 12 cm. An alien of waste places. Wade (1970) gave six sites: Abergavenny, Monmouth, *; Hadnock Farm, 154

Flora of Monmouthshire ALLIARIA Garlic Mustard This is a tall biennial with simple, toothed basal leaves, unbranched hairs, white petals, a beakless fruit, over 3 x as long as broad and seeds in a single row under each valve.

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic Mustard

The only tall, white-flowered, long, narrow-fruited crucifer that smells of garlic. It has broad, triangular-ovate leaves.

18 31

ERYSIMUM Wallflowers Wallflowers are plants with sessile, appressed, 2-3 branched hairs, petals of yellow to purple, and fruits which are siliquas with usually 1 row of seeds under each valve.

Arc. Erysimum cheiranthoides Treacle-mustard

18 31

An erect annual with simple, elliptic to lanceolate leaves covered with appressed, centrally-fixed (use a lens) hairs, giving a rough feeling, and tiny, yellow flowers.

Garlic Mustard is a common marginal plant of hedgerows, roadsides, river banks and woods. Only on the coalfield hills does it become sparse or absent. 323 t

ARABIDOPSIS Thale Cress An annual with simple basal leaves, branched and unbranched hairs, white petals and a beakless fruit over 3 x as long as broad, with a single row of seeds under each valve.

Arabidopsis thaliana

Thale Cress

A small, delicate plant with a basal rosette of simple leaves, topped by fine, branched stems, that make the rosette look even more puny, and tiny, white flowers with yellowing sepals, and which produce linear fruits. It is widespread, but sparse, in well-drained, open habitats e.g. rocks, walls, dunes, gritty paths and ballast. In the vice-county, it occurs particularly on walls, back of pavements, unsprayed rail ballast and paths. 214 t

18 31

This grows where ground is tilled, on waste areas, river banks, footpaths and where seed is scattered. Wade (1970) gave one site: near Tintern Abbey, SO/53.00, 1986-88, HWM. More recent records are: rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.86, 1975, TGE; Chepstow garden, ST/52.93, 1980-90, TGE; waste ground, Cwm Celyn, SO/20.08, 1985, TGE; waste ground, Rogerstone, ST/2.8 T, 1989, EJS; footpath, Fourteen Locks, Newport, ST/287.884, 1985, EJS; arable land, 155

Flora of Monmouthshire Brook House, Goetre, SO/315.056, 1989, RF; Clytha Hill, SO/3.0 T, 1990, DEL; 1 plant, R. Wye bank, Tintern, SO/538.011, 1985, EW; chicken run, Glin Milwr, Blaina, SO/207.080, 1989, RF; roadside, Cross Ash, SO/39.19, 1986, RF. 5 t (5 t)

Arc. Erysimum cheiri

Wallflower

This familiar perennial with its branched, woody stem, narrow, almost sessile, narrowly elliptic leaves, a covering of appressed, branched hairs, and its usually yellow to orangey-brownish flowers, as large as 6 cm across, prevents confusion with other wild plants.

18 31

It is a marginal plant frequenting field boundaries, hedgerows, road verges and beside water, seldom far from human habitations. There seems to be a strange distribution in the vice-county that does not seem to be related to anything in particular. 50 t

BARBAREA Winter-cresses Winter-cresses complete their life-cycles in more than one year; they have pinnate basal leaves, any hairs present are simple; their petals are yellow; their siliquas are more than 3 x as long as broad, their angled valves have a single row of seeds beneath each.

18 31

It grows on walls (castles afford a large expanse), natural rock surfaces and waste areas. In the vicecounty affluence and subsidies have had a detrimental effect on the number of tetrad sites shown above, as old walls have been spruced up and castle walls have been cleaned off and joints repointed. 35 t

Barbarea vulgaris

Winter-cress

HESPERIS Dame’s-violet This can be a biennial or short-lived perennial, hairs if present are a mixture of simple and branched, petals are white or pink to purple, the erect fruit is long, cylindrical and constricted between the seeds, which form a single row beneath each valve.

! Hesperis matronalis

Dame’s-violet

This is a dark green, erect, short-lived perennial with hairs, if there are any, simple, branched and glandular; rosette and lower stem leaves are simple, toothed, stalked and lanceolate, grading into smaller and smaller almost sessile leaves; the large, white to purple flowers are to 20 mm in diameter produce up-curving fruits to over 10 cm.

This species, which can grow to 90 cm or more, has dark green, shiny leaves, pinnately-lobed on the lower stem, with usually 4 pairs of side lobes and a larger terminal one, the uppermost leaf or bract is almost simple but may have a pair of tiny near-basal lobes; the inflorescence is branched and 156

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 12

Barbarea vulgaris

157

Winter-cress

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 13

Barbarea verna 158

American Winter-cress

Flora of Monmouthshire crowded with flowers of up to 3 mm across, with petals twice the length of the sepals; it has a longer and thinner style to 3.5 mm than the other species. Mean size of 10 seeds is 1.6 mm. It occurs on road verges, river banks, waste ground, woodland tracksides, etc. 197 t Figure 12

! Barbarea intermedia Medium-flowered Winter-cress

Similar to B. vulgaris but differs in that it usually grows to only 60 cm, has 3 pairs of side lobes to the lower leaves and the terminal lobe is narrower, and the upper leaves have 2 pairs of deep lobes, the flowers are 2 mm across, fruits are up to 35 mm long and the mean size of 10 seeds is 2.1 mm.

18 31

This is a casual found on waste or disturbed ground, by waysides and riversides. Local records are: soil/ash pile, Newport Dock, ST/30.86, 197582, TGE, CT; roadside, Lower Machen, ST/22.88, 1989, TGE; 1 plant, R. Usk bank, SO/3.0, 1984, TGE, UTE; roadside, Cwm Tillery Lakes, SO/222.072, 1987, EW; 2-3 plants, roadside, opposite Dingestow Court, SO/448.098, 1987, EGW; Gateway, Cefn Garw Wood, ST/48.96, 1989, TGE, UTE; roadside, Trellech, SO/507.056, 1989, EGW; Monmouth, SO/5.1 B, 1987, BJG. 16 t (1 t) Fig 13

18 31

RORIPPA Water-cresses These are herbs with simple hairs (if any), simple or pinnately-lobed leaves, white or more commonly yellow flowers and fruits that may be siliquas or siliculas.

It grows on arable land, riversides, waste land and waysides. County records: roadside, near rail bridge, E of Bishton, ST/395.872, 1980, TGE; waste ground, Ebbw Vale Festival Site (destroyed 1990), SO/17.06, 1987, A & EGW; waste ground, W of Police Station, Blackwood, ST/171.964, 1990, RF; less than 10 plants, R. Monnow bank, near Oldcastle, SO/332.247, 1987, MGR, SAR; bank of Llandegfedd Reservoir, ST/32.98, 1987, TGE et al.; 1 plant road verge, near Crumland Plantation, SO/475.019, 1989, EGW; garden weed, The Nurtons, ST/53.01, 1987, EGW; 6 plants old rail track, below Cathays Court, SO/530.025, 1989, EGW; waste ground, Malpas, ST/3.9 A, 1987, Recorder Group. 15 t

! Barbarea verna

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Water-cress 23

American Winter-cress 18

This plant is similar to B. intermedia but grows to 90 cm or more, has all leaves much longer than their equivalents with many more paired lobes, its flowers are 6 mm across and its fruits more than 4 cm long. Mean size of 10 seeds is 2.1 mm.

This has pinnately-lobed leaves with a larger end lobe; white flowers, borne terminally in racemes, 159

Flora of Monmouthshire and producing siliquas that have 2 rows of seeds under each valve, seeds have 7-12 depressions across the seed (use a microscope or x 20 lens). It is found in water in streams, ditches and marshes. With the increased abundance of sheep on farms in the vice-county, beds of watercress are less common today. 100 t

Rorippa x sterilis

Similar to Water-cress but has long, thin fruits with a single row of seeds under each valve, though the zigzag line at the bottom of the row might mislead, there are 12-18 depressions across the seeds, obviously more, when compared to the other two. In the same watery conditions as Water-cress, but much less frequent except on the Levels. 19 t

hybrid Water-cress

Similar to Water-cress but its fruits are misshapen with no or few seeds, the seeds have 10-14 depressions across the diameter.

Rorippa palustris

Marsh Yellow-cress

This is an erect annual to 60 cm, with pinnatelylobed lower leaves (pinnatisect above) and branches terminated by tiny, yellow flowers in racemes. It is recognised by its tiny flowers with petals only 1.7-2.7 x 0.5-1.1 mm more or less equal to the sepals and a fruit once to twice as long as the pedicel. A microscope is needed for testa ornamentation to distinguish it from the rarer R. islandica s.s. which is currently spreading rapidly in Britain including South Wales (see BSBI Crucifer Handbook).

19 23 18 22 31

35 21

It is found in the same wet conditions as Watercress. Not all plants have had their seed coat examined by our recorders and because of the irregularity of seed production in the parents 21 tetrad records could be on the high side. 21 t

Rorippa microphylla Narrow-fruited Water-cress

18 31

This is native in damp locations such as river, lake and pond margins, but also grows on waste ground etc. It avoids uplands in the vice-county, otherwise it is frequent. 83 t

Rorippa sylvestris

18 31

Creeping Yellow-cress

R. sylvestris is similar to R. palustris but is a perennial forming creeping patches with larger yellow flowers with petals 2.8-5.5 x 1.7-2.5 mm and fruits 2-4 x as long as their pedicels. It grows on the margins of rivers, lakes and ponds as well as damp, bare, open waste ground, arable land, etc. In the vice-county it is frequent on river shingle. 76 t

160

Flora of Monmouthshire Rorippa sylvestris

ARMORACIA Horse-radish Large herbs growing from deep, strong roots, from which sprout simple, practically glabrous, petiolate leaves and an inflorescence of small, long-stalked, white flowers, which develop short fruits with 2 incomplete rows of seeds under each valve.

Arc. Armoracia rusticana

18 31

Rorippa amphibia

Horse-radish

A large perennial to 150 cm or more which has large, simple, shiny green, long-petioled, serrated, broadly lanceolate leaves, above which a stoutish stem branches into thinner ones ending in racemes of crowded small, white flowers, that set few seeds. The leaves and bracts of the inflorescence are very narrow.

Yellow-cress

This is a larger plant, forming quite dense vegetation compared with the other Yellowcresses, with larger, simple, lanceolate, pinnatisect to pinnatifid stem leaves (though the lower leaves tend to die off in the summer), and shortish, ovoid fruits, that contain 2 rows of seeds under each valve.

18 31

A plant grown for its roots used in making a sauce to accompany beef. It is found close to human habitations and grows along roadsides and rivers linking such homes. It is much less common in hills and where homes are wider spread. 152 t

CARDAMINE Bitter-cresses Bitter-cresses have pinnate or ternate basal leaves; hairs, where present, are simple; 4 petals, where present, may be white, pink or purple; fruits that are more than 3 x as long as wide, with valves that burst open to disperse the single row of seeds under each valve.

18 31

A marginal plant of rivers, canals, ponds and lakes and of ditches and marshes. In the vice-county it is being adversely affected by reen management and drainage. A very long colony in Moor Reen, Noah’s Ark, Undy was recently cleaned out when the ditch was deepened. How long will the colonies along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal at Malpas, ST/30.90 survive, if plans to open up the full length of the canal to boating are successful? 15 t

! Cardamine raphanifolia Greater Cuckooflower This is similar to Cuckooflower but all its leaves are large with an end lobe much larger than the lateral ones and flowers that are a deeper pinkishpurple. 161

Flora of Monmouthshire It is very similar to other erect crucifers but it has many toothed leaflets to its leaves which also have acute, clasping auricles at the base of the petiole. The tiny or absent petals on a plant, that can grow to 80 cm, is also an aid to identification. It grows in shady, damp woodlands, particularly in the Wye Valley, where some colonies of 100s of plants can be found on tracksides. 21 t

This splendid alien crucifer stretches 300-400 m down the Whitebrook Valley, SO/52.07 growing close to the brook. 2 t Plate 26

Cardamine pratensis

Cuckooflower

This perennial herb has dark green, petioled, pinnate, rosette leaves with roundish but irregularly lobed leaflets, the pinnate upper stem leaves have very narrow stalked leaflets and pale to deep pink flowers (occasionally ‘double’), that give rise to siliquas.

Cardamine flexuosa

Wavy Bitter-cress

This is a herb with a flexuous stem and usually with a coating of simple hairs, a basal rosette of pinnate leaves, 4-10, pinnate stem leaves and tiny, white flowers usually with 6 stamens.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

35 18

Cuckooflower or Lady’s Smock grows in a wide range of habitats, more often wet ones. The large number of tetrads gives a slightly rosy picture as it has declined in numbers with the loss of marshy ground in the vice-county. 360 t

It is usually associated with flushes and streams often with its roots in water, but it is found in many other places as is shown by the wide distribution. 346 t

Cardamine impatiens Narrow-leaved Bitter-cress

Cardamine hirsuta

Hairy Bittercress

18 31

162

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 14 Cardamine corymbosa New Zealand Bitter-cress

Figure 15

Arabis caucasica Garden Arabis

163

Flora of Monmouthshire Cardamine hirsuta is similar to C. flexuosa but is usually a smaller plant, with a glabrous, almost straight stem, usually 1-4 stem leaves and tiny, white flowers usually with 4 stamens. It grows on a wide range of habitats, usually of a drier nature than C. flexuosa. In vc 35, weeding gardeners are likely to have eyes full of seeds from this plant as grasping fingers set off the ‘explosive’ fruits to unpleasant effect. 322 t

ARABIS Rock-cresses Rock-cresses have rosette leaves that are usually simple, with toothed or lobed or wavy edges, the stem leaves are usually similar but gradually decrease in size as they progress up the stem; at least some of the hairs are stellate, petals are white, pale yellow or pinkish-purple; the fruits are somewhat flattened, linear siliquas.

Arabis glabra ! Cardamine corymbosa New Zealand Bitter-cress This is similar to C. hirsuta but is a decumbent to ascending annual with sparsely hairy, pinnate leaves with 2-3 pairs of side lobes that gradually increase in size to the terminal lobe that is bigger still. The small, white flowers, in 4s or 5s, appear on the end of slender stalks, and like the leaves, radiate out from the apex of the tap root close to the soil before ascending, the fruits are linear siliquas that spread out from nearly the same region at the end of the peduncle. This alien is a prolific seed-producing weed with no redeeming features, and it arrived uninvited with plants for sale at the Waterwheel Nursery, near Chepstow in 1999. The proprietor assured me that three other nurseries had also been victims, hence the question mark before the number of tetrads. ? 1 t Figure 14

! Cardamine quinquefolia

Tower Cress

This is usually an unbranched, tall (to over 1 m) biennial, which has stellate hairy first year rosette leaves, its basal leaves range from entire to lobed in the basal half and have stellate-hairs; the sessile, lanceolate stem leaves clasp the stem; the cream to pale yellow flowers produce almost straight siliquas with 2 rows of seeds to a valve. This grows on dry banks, sandy heaths etc. In vc 35 it is only a casual, so casual that there has been only 1 record: near Alexandra Dock, Newport, ST/31.85, Hamilton (1909). (1 t)

! Arabis caucasica

Garden Arabis

Garden Arabis is a mat-forming perennial with thin, brown stolons giving rise to new rosettes. The plant is covered with stellate, forked and simple hairs, which give it a grey-green look. The rosette leaves have a broad, cuneate petiole widening further to form a club shape with widely spaced, rounded teeth. The white flowers are over 15 mm across and the fruits over 50 mm long. A common rock-garden plant that finds its way on to walls and rubbish tips. Local records: old wall, Dan-y-graig, SO/38.20, 1987, TGE, UTE; rubbish tip, Pengam Farm, SW of Peterstone Wentlooge, ST/265.798, 1994, GH; S Abertillery, SO/22.03, 1988, RF; Llanover, SO/31.08, 1989, RF. 4 t Figure 15

Coralroot

This is an upright plant growing from a white, branching rhizome that tapers abruptly near its end, and bears triangular, appressed scales 3 mm long; it has a single whorl of 3 pinnate leaves on its stem; each leaf has 7 doubly-toothed leaflets glabrous above and sparsely covered on the underside with simple, appressed hairs; the terminal inflorescence is a raceme of purple flowers each c. 15 mm long; the corolla is twice as long as the calyx, the anthers are borne just above the base of the corolla. It is native in shady places in E Europe. Now grown in British gardens. Seven flowering stems and at least 3 non-flowering ones are growing among brambles and saplings (e.g. Ash) in a square metre on a steep bank of a ditch carrying surface water off Castle Meadows into the R. Usk, near the road bridge, Abergavenny, SO/2918.1398, 12 March 2005, J SR, det. TGE. 1 t Plate 28

Arabis hirsuta

Hairy Rock-cress

An erect plant with a dark green, basal rosette of oval, hairy leaves from the middle of which a straight, hairy stem arises bearing spirally arranged leaves that start off like the rosette leaves getting smaller up the stem; the hairs are stellate, forked and simple, and the margins of all but the uppermost stem-leaves have a few teeth. The white flowers are tiny and erect and produce linear siliquas to over 45 mm with a single row of seeds under each valve.

164

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 16 Arabis hirsuta Hairy Rock-cress

165

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows on verges, generally near human habitation. It is a wonder there are not more sites than indicated above when there are misguided people (like the couple of the County Wildlife Trust) that toured the county scattering its seeds because they thought they were beautifying the countryside. 64 t

BERTEROA Hoary Alison A grey-green herb due to a covering of mainly stellate hairs, though forked and simple ones also occur; it has almost entire, simple leaves, white petals, bifid almost to half way, and a fruit with a small number of seeds in 2 rows under each valve.

18 31

! Berteroa incana

Arabis hirsuta is a calcicole of limestone rocks, walls and barish soil. It has suffered in the vicecounty because of the building of houses, roads, schools and associated needs of an urbanised countryside in SE vc 35, where the main limestone lies close to the surface. The infilling of woodland to increase timber production has also had its detrimental effect on the well-being of the plant and it is much more difficult to find this plant now than in the 1950s. 15 t (1 t) Figure 16 LUNARIA Honesty These biennials have simple, long-stalked basal leaves, simple hairs, white to more usual purplish flowers; a distinctive, flat fruit c. twice as long as broad, with 2 rows of seeds under each valve.

! Lunaria annua

LOBULARIA Sweet Alison These are short, hairy, greyish herbs that branch from the base, the hairs fork near their bases; their leaves are simple and entire; their small flowers are white; the fruits are ovoid and contain 1 seed under each valve.

Honesty

Honesty can attain a height of 150 cm. It has large, long-stalked, heart-shaped basal leaves with stem leaves similar though decreasing in size and petiole length the higher they are on the stem. The purple (occasionally white) flowers are over 2.5 cm across and produce distinctive, broadly oval, flat fruits.

! Lobularia maritima

18 31

18 32

Sweet Alison

Hoary Alison

It is an upright plant to c. 70 cm with petiolate, early-shed, oblanceolate, rosette leaves, and stem leaves that gradually become smaller, sessile and more elliptic higher up the stem. The inflorescence is sparsely branched but densely crowded with small, white flowers with bifid petals and slenderstalked, somewhat compressed, ovoid fruits with persistent styles. It is a casual weed of disturbed ground. There is only one record as a garden weed, New Tredegar, 1933, JWT. (1 t)

166

Flora of Monmouthshire It occurs on exposed surfaces, especially calcareous ones. On many of the vice-county sites conditions change and the plant puts in irregular appearances, where conditions are stable it reappears yearly. The 44 t is inclusive of all Erophila records. 44 t

Sweet Alison is usually an annual in this country; its small, white flowers are crowded at the apex of the branches, but the stem elongates to spread them out at fruiting; the fruits are ovoid and turned up on horizontal pedicels. It is usually a casual found on waste ground, pavements or roadsides, particularly near gardens in towns, and by the sea. In vc 35 it used to be common on rubbish tips, where garden rubbish ended up, and it is still to be found in cracks in pavements in towns. As long as it is used as a filler in borders its abundance of seeds will ensure that some will find their way outside the garden boundaries. 28 t

Erophila glabrescens Glabrous Whitlowgrass This differs from E. verna in that its petioles are 1.5-2.5 x as long as the blades and the petals are bifid to half way or less and the plant is nearly glabrous, but it can be difficult to separate. 23

EROPHILA Whitlowgrasses Whitlowgrasses are spring-flowering ephemerals with simple, forked and stellate hairs, which, if dense, can make green plants look greyish; there is a basal rosette of oblanceolate leaves that have a few, blunt teeth, and leafless stems topped by racemes of small, white flowers with bifid petals and flattened, elliptic to roundish fruits with 2 rows of seeds under each valve.

Erophila majuscula

Hairy Whitlowgrass

This species is grey due to hairs on leaves, stems and lowest pedicel; petioles up to half as long as blades; seeds up to 0.5 mm. It grows on unimproved, dry, calcareous and acid soils. The only record was from a bank, near Tintern, ?SO/5.0 F,1894, WAS. (1 t)

Erophila verna

18 31

It grows in similar places but is less common. It has been confirmed by TCGR at: on ash and moss at Sudbrook, ST/50.87, 1998, TGE; on disused rail platform, near Hadnock Court, SO/529.148, 1983, FJR; on a hard surface, Abernant Depot, vc 35 CC, ST/375.920, Kemeys Inferior, ST/484.904, and on track taking vehicles from Big Pit to the Railway Museum, Blaenavon, SO/22.10, 2000, TGE. 9 t

Common Whitlowgrass

The hairs on this species are not dense enough to hide the green colour, the petioles are half (or more) as long as the blades, the petals are bifid to half way or more.

COCHLEARIA Scurvygrasses They have a range of life-cycles but are mostly biennial; they have simple, long-stalked basal leaves, are glabrous or have unbranched hairs, their petals are white or mauve and a fruit that is c. twice as long as wide, partitioned at right angles to the plane of compression and with seeds in 2 rows under each valve.

Cochlearia anglica 19

18 31

English Scurvygrass

Its basal and lower stem-leaves have cuneate to rounded bases. It grows on muddy shores. It is the common scurvygrass of the Severn Estuary, often turning large patches of the saltmarshes white in May. 34 t

167

Flora of Monmouthshire A coastal plant that has invaded inland along salted motorways. Once found only at Sudbrook on marl sandstone and on rocky Denny Island, it is now found on the central reservation of motorways and dual carriageways as the linear traces on the map show. It is less frequent on outer verges and occurs on other roads near where they pass over or under the dual carriageways. 46 t

Cochlearia anglica 23

CAMELINA Gold-of-pleasures These are annual or biennial, erect herbs with a range of hair types, but mostly forked or stellate, though often sparse, yellow petals and a fruit with a septum in parallel with the plane of compression.

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! Camelina sativa Cochlearia officinalis Common Scurvygrass Its basal and lower stem leaves are mostly cordate, its flowers are up to 15 mm across, the blades of the rosette leaves more than 20 mm long and its fruits globose to ovoid and strongly veined. It is found on road verges or near the coast. In vc 35 it is a rare casual. Records: soil heap, Newport Docks, ST/310.854, 1973, TGE, CT; 1 plant in layby, W of Mitchell Troy, SO/48.10, 1989, HVC, this casual did not re-appear in 1990; the record in ST/3.8E could have been a mistaken identification. (3 t)

Cochlearia danica

Gold-of-pleasure

This herb rarely exceeds 100 cm tall in this country. Its short-lived rosette leaves are stalked and spathulate, its stem leaves are somewhat arrow-shaped and sessile; the yellow flowers are 34 mm in diameter, with petals twice as long as sepals and produce 7-9 mm fruits, wider above middle, and terminating in a fine, erect stigma. Formerly it was a casual of arable fields or waste ground. Vc 35 had it on: waste ground in Newport docks, ST/309.860, 1973, TGE; on Kymin Hill, Monmouth, SO/52.12, *, SGC; Cefnila, before 1868, JHC. (3 t) CAPSELLA Shepherd’s-purses These annual or biennial herbs have a basal rosette of simple, entire or deeply pinnately-lobed leaves, the branched stems are erect and bear stem leaves that clasp the stem; hairs may be simple or branched or mixed; petals are white or reddish; the fruit is triangular with the seeds in 2 rows either side of the septum at right angles to the plane of compression.

Danish Scurvygrass

This is an annual with small leaves, the rosette ones petiolate with a blade to 1 cm, petioles get shorter up the stems to upper stalkless ones, the blades vary from entire to lobed with a cordate base and a blunt apex; the petals seldom reach a length of 5 mm; the fruit is ovoid but tapers above and has 2 rows of seeds either side of the septum.

Arc. Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s-purse

This species is a sparsely hairy, erect, whiteflowered plant to usually c. 30 cm; its fruit is usually a straight to slightly convex sided triangle, on patent pedicels. It is a weed of gardens, cultivated land and a range of waste land. It is widespread in the vice-county. 377 t

18 31

168

Flora of Monmouthshire stem leaves with wavy edges and acute, clasping bases. Its fruits are oval with a surrounding wing that make them roundish and which have a notch at the top that houses the stigma. It is an arable weed that is met with less often and in smaller numbers today than in the past. Wade (1970) described it as locally frequent. 27t (1 t) Figure 17

Capsella burs-pastoris 23

IBERIS Candytufts These herbs have entire or deeply lobed leaves; the hairs, if any, are simple; its flower stalks are of different lengths to bring all flowers to form a flat head; the outer two, white, mauve or purple petals are longer than the inner two so with all the other flowers making up the head it appears as a larger compound flower with small ones contributing to the centre, surrounded by a ring of large petals; the flattened, ovate fruit has a wing which is pronounced at the top with a notch in it, containing the stigma and internally a septum at right angles to the plane of compression.

18 31

! Capsella rubella

Pink Shepherd’s-purse

This is similar to C. bursa-pastoris but has slightly smaller, pink flowers that hardly exceed the sepals and a more elongated fruit with concave sides that taper more to the pedicel. A casual of waste or cultivated ground. One record on the rubbish tip, on the Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1978, TGE conf. EJC. (1 t)

! Iberis umbellata

THLASPI Penny-cresses These herbs have white flowers, clasping stem leaves, flattened, winged fruits with the septum at right angles to the plane of compression with 2many seeds either side of the septum.

Arc. Thlaspi arvense

Garden Candytuft

Usually, this is a dark green, glabrous, muchbranched herb to 50 cm or more, with simple, entire leaves; the outer flowers in the head are larger than the inner ones and have petals ranging from white to purple; the sepals are much shorter than the petals; the fruits are ovate with a wing elongated at the top with a v-shaped notch, in which the style holds the stigma above the top. This familiar garden plant occasionally turns up on rubbish tips and other waste places. It has been recorded in 3 sites in vc 35 though I suspect many garden escapes have gone unreported: Croesyceiliog, Pontnewydd, ?ST/30.96, *; Tintern, SO/52.00, *, WAS (1920); on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1974, TGE, CT. (3 t)

Field Penny-cress

LEPIDIUM Pepperworts Pepperworts are usually well-branched herbs, often with simple leaves up the stems and simple or pinnate leaves towards the base; hairs, if present are simple; the white or less often reddish or yellow flowers are often in dense racemes towards the top of the branches; the fruits are somewhat flattened and the dividing septum is at right angles to the plane of compression.

18 31

This annual, often to 50 cm or more tall, is green or glaucous and glabrous and has an unpleasant smell when bruised. It has short-lived, petiolate, oblanceolate rosette leaves, and numerous sessile 169

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 17

Thlaspi arvense

170

Field Penny-cress

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Lepidium sativum

site records: 2 plants, limestone woodland, Wyndcliff, ST/532.979, 1971, TGE, det. FHP; disturbed ground, rubbish tip/docks Newport, ST/30.85, 1985, TGE, ME; Abergavenny, ?SO/2.1 or 3.1, Llanthony, SO/2.2 Y, SH (1909); Hadnock, SO/5.1 ?H, SGC; Pontnewydd, ST/2.9 Y, *, CC (1830-37); near Raglan, SO/4.0, *, 1891, GHB; Wye Valley, SH; Shorncliff Woods, Mounton, ST/5.9 B, Dinham, ST/4.9, near Tintern, SO/5.0 F, *, WAS (1920); Newport Docks, ST/3.8, SH. 6 t (12 t)

Garden Cress

Most leaves of this often glaucous plant tend to be pinnate, though the bracts in the inflorescence are simple, the upper leaves lack clasping auricles and the ovate to elliptic fruits have a notched and broadly winged apex. Garden Cress is found on tips and waste areas. It has been found: on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, SO/30.86 and 30.85, 1975 & 1985 respectively, TGE, CT; on waste ground, at edge of Cwmbran, SO/28.94, 1986, TGE, UTE. (3 t)

Lepidium heterophyllumSmith’s Pepperwort Arc. Lepidium campestre Field Pepperwort

This is very similar to L campestre, but differs in that it is biennial or perennial branched from the base, its undehisced anthers are red or purple and its style projects well beyond the winged apex, at least by 0.8 mm.

This grey-green annual has a longish, erect, leafy stem branched mainly towards the top, its lowest leaves are narrowly lanceolate and stalked, the stem leaves are shortly stalked to sessile up the stem and clasp it with pointed auricles; the clawed petals are white and the undehisced anthers are yellow, the fruit is roundish, densely covered with tubercles and has a notched, broadly winged apex with a stigma within the notch or protruding to c. 0.5 mm. Stems, leaves and pedicels are hairy but as the hairs are very pale they are not obviously so.

18 31

It is found on gritty or sandy substrates and other sites associated with man’s activities. Vc 35 sites: more than 10 plants, track, W of Fedw Pond, ST/511.989, *, WAS (1920), 1976-80, TGE; on coal waste, S of Wyllie, ST/177.930-4, 1988-94, TGE, UTE; c. 15 plants, trackside, E of River Sirhowy, The Rock, ST/182.989, 2001-4, TGE, conf. TCGR; 1-5 plants, roadside, between huts 316 & 317, MOD, Caerwent, ST/479.921, 2004, TGE; garden weed, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/52.93, 2004, TGE. 6 t (1 t)

18 31

This is a native plant of gritty or sandy substrates often associated with man’s activities. The 6 post1987 sites are: waste ground N Rhymney, SO/10.08, 1988, TGE, RF; around a flat gravestone, cemetery, Gwrhay, ST/184.996, 1990, RF; waste ground/road verge, Rogerstone bus terminal, ST/27.87, 1989, EJS; meadow, N of Shirefield Cottage, ST/465.897, 1995-2004, TGE; 1 plant, on verge of B4293, Sandyway, ST/512.947, 1997, TGE; 10-20 plants, that appeared with builders rubble, on wet heath, Pontllanfraith, ST/168.963, 1988-2004, TGE; other

! Lepidium virginicum

Least Pepperwort

This is more slender than L. campestre and has pinnately-lobed lower stem leaves with a larger terminal lobe and non-clasping upper stem leaves and almost circular, smooth fruits due to the notched apical wings being much shorter. 171

Flora of Monmouthshire Lepidium virginicum is an infrequent casual associated with bird seed and use of wool shoddy. The 5 vc 35 records are: Bulwark, ST/53.92, 1922, ABC; Alexandra Dock, Newport, ST/31.85, ?1953, *, JMa; Dixton, *; Kymin Hill, Monmouth, and Redbrook, both, *, SGC; near the R. Wye, Chepstow, CES. (2 t)

coast to Cardiff. There are particularly large colonies on the Wetlands Reserve at Uskmouth, on the R. Usk banks in Newport and in the mouth of the R. Rhymney. 14 t (1 t)

! Lepidium draba subsp. draba Hoary Cress A greyish-green perennial to 60 cm but usually less, arising from creeping rhizomes to form crowded colonies, the variable leaves are crowded up the stem, the rosette and basal leaves are elliptical with some toothing and on short petioles, the upper ones are sessile and narrowly lanceolate; the stems terminate in a branched, crowded inflorescence with white petals almost twice as long as sepals, surrounding an ovary with a prominent style topped by a capitate stigma and these persist on top of an inverted heart-shaped fruit with margins keeled rather than winged.

Arc. Lepidium ruderale Narrow-leaved Pepperwort This is similar to L. campestre but is branched from low down to form a bushy plant with petals smaller than sepals or insignificant or absent, unwinged, elliptical fruits up to 2 mm wide with the stigma filling the notch but not exceeding it. This is a casual of roadsides, where it is tolerant of the de-icing salt, and waste land. In vc 35 it seems to be decreasing. Some localized records: wasteland, Newport Docks, ST/30.86, 1973, TGE; disturbed roadside, Griffithstown, ST/295.993, 1990, RF; roadside A40, Monmouth, SO/527.148, 1991, TGE, 1993, BJG; and from Wade (1970): Chepstow, FAL, JHC, WAS; Devauden, *, WAS; Newport Docks, 1909, SH, RLS; Rumney, *. (8 t)

Lepidium latifolium

Dittander

This glaucous perennial is large, reaching well over 100 cm in height and forming colonies of erect stems arising from spreading rhizomes. Its basal leaves may be as long as 30 cm and have varied blade shapes with simple or toothed edges, its flowers are white and form dense masses at the ends of its branches, the non-winged, hairy fruits are broadly elliptical with the stigma sitting proud of the minimal notch.

18 31

An increasing weed of roadsides, docks, tracks near the sea wall, river banks and arable fields. In vc 35 it occurs on verges but does not seem to survive the cutting regimes. 13 t

CORONOPUS Swine-cresses These short-lived herbs branch radially from the top of the tap root, have leaf-opposed inflorescences, leaves all deeply pinnately-lobed; hairs if present are simple; petals if present are white; the fruit is a silicula about twice as long as wide with the dividing septum at right angles to the plane of compression.

18 31

! Coronopus squamatus

Swine-cress

Distinctive in its fruit which is a somewhat flattened, ridged, inverted heart shape, slightly constricted at the septum which divides the chamber at right angles to the plane of

It grows on damp sand, river banks, disturbed land just inland from the coast and saltmarshes. In vc 35 it is concentrated around Newport and down the 172

Flora of Monmouthshire compression; the conical style with capitate stigma tops the fruit.

DIPLOTAXIS Wall-rockets These are herbs with usually deeply lobed leaves, with a strong smell when bruised; petals are usually yellow, the fruit is a siliqua ending in a persistent style but no beak; there are 2 rows of seeds under each valve separated by a septum which is exposed when the fruit splits longitudinally.

Arc. Diplotaxis tenuifolia Perennial Wall-rocket

This is a tallish (to 80 cm), glabrous, glaucousgreen perennial with a strong smell. Its stems are erect and the elongated racemes are found on the branches that start in the upper part of the plant; the yellowish petals are 8-15 mm, the pedicels come off at an acute angle and the stiped fruits are held upright, the stipe (the stalk between the receptacle and the fruit) is 0.5-6.5 mm.

18 31

It grows on bare patches of soil usually created by constant trampling by feet of various kinds. In vc 35 it should be sought near pasture gateways, where animals congregate, or paths. Widespread but numbers small, the number of sites is falling due to the reduction of milking herds and the increase in maize and rape crops. 114 t

! Coronopus didymus

Lesser Swine-cress

The leaves are smaller with finer pinnate divisions than for C. squamatus, and its fruit is smooth, notched at its apex and more constricted at the septum to give two kidney-shaped lobes with an insignificant style and stigma.

18 31

18 32

It grows in docks, on old walls and on waste ground. Some vc 35 sites: walls and stony ground of cliffs, near pumping station, Sudbrook, ST/507.873, 1979-2006, TGE; stony ground and dock walls, Newport Docks, ST/30.85, 1973-1994, TGE, CT; near gate, Bassaleg School, ST/276.868, 1988, EJS; near R. Usk, Crindau, ST/39.87, 1988, TGE, UTE; near St Julian’s Gout, Uskmouth Power Station, ST/33.84, 1986-87, SP, TGE; wall over reen, Bishton, ST/39.87, 1986-87, TGE, UTE; ballast, E of Severn Tunnel Junction, 1996, TGE; W of Abergavenny, SO/28.14, 1986-87, RF; Monmouth, SO/50.12, 1987, BJG. 13 t

It is a weed of various and numerous habitats often appearing quite quickly at newly disturbed soil. Widespread in vc 35. 221 t

! Diplotaxis muralis

Annual Wall-rocket

This is a shorter (to 60 cm), green annual, with a few simple hairs; its stems are branched mainly near the rosette leaves; the racemes are shorter and 173

Flora of Monmouthshire have less flowers, with yellow petals 4-8 mm and fruits which lack a stipe.

the R. Usk near Newport, first by JHC and since by many others. A few, obvious, casual, nonpersistent garden escapes have been reported elsewhere. 3 t Site Plate 30

! Brassica napus subsp. oleifera Oil-seed Rape

This annual Rape does not have many, thin basal leaves nor leaf scars pitting the stem, the lower leaves are glaucous, the petals are 13-18 mm and the buds overtop or at least equal the open flowers.

19 23 18 31

This is a casual of open waste ground in dockland, roadsides, tips, sandy fields and cultivated ground. In vc 35 it seldom recurs in the same spot, though in the 1970s it regularly appeared on Newport rubbish tip and on waste ground in Newport, ST/30.85 and ST/33.84 respectively, TGE, CT; c. 50 plants in unkempt border, near hut of 2nd Caldicot Scouts, Caldicot, ST/4797.8842, 2006, CT, det. TGE. 18 t (2 t)

18 31

BRASSICA Cabbages Cabbages are herbs with lower leaves with scalloped to deeply pinnately-lobed leaves, yellow petals, beaked or beakless siliquas and containing seeds in a single row under each valve, the septum is at right angles to the plane of compression.

With the increasing use of Rape as a cash crop, seed dropped along roadsides, in docks, on river banks or wherever the crop is moved germinates and bedecks the countryside the following year. In vc 35 it is increasing, but still mainly a casual. 58 t Plate 29

Brassica oleracea subsp. oleracea

Arc. Brassica rapa

Cabbage

The perennial Wild Cabbage has a many-leaved rosette of glabrous, grey-green, fleshy leaves with broad petioles with auricles that clasp the woody stem, on falling the leaves leave a stem covered with scars, the upper leaves are sessile, simple, lanceolate and partially clasp the stem; the inflorescence is tall and branched from near half way, the petals are usually 18-30 mm; the valves of the fruit have a central vein and a terminal segment usually containing a seed. It grows on calcareous rocks by the sea, but also on other substrates as well. In vc 35 it has a long history on the walls and cliffs of Chepstow Castle where it was recorded in 1773 by John Lightfoot. It can be viewed from the most westerly bailey on the walls and on the cliffs that drop to the R. Wye below. It has also been recorded on the banks of

Wild Turnip

18 31

174

Flora of Monmouthshire Brassica rapa is similar to B. napus but differs in that the lower leaves are green and like the stem are clothed thinly with rather coarse hairs; the petals are often 6-13 mm and the open flowers overtop or at least equal the buds. A weed of roadsides, river banks, tips arable fields and waste ground. As it is a longer established weed, it also occurs more widely than Rape but cleaner seed and herbicides are causing a decline in all arable weeds. 98 t

Brassica nigra

Arc. Sinapis arvensis

Charlock

Charlock is a dark green to purplish annual with down-turned, bristly hairs of varying density; it is branched variously; its lower leaves range from simple to pinnate (with large end lobe) and have variously toothed margins, its upper leaves are smaller versions, tending to become simple, sessile, with small, acute, basal lobes; its inrolled, thus narrow-looking, sepals are patent to deflexed in the open flower; the conical-beaked fruits are held upright on short pedicels.

Black Mustard

This Brassica is different from the other common members in that its upper leaves are petiolate and not clasping the stem, the stem has a few coarse hairs below and it and the lower leaves may be glaucous; the petals are c. 9-13 mm; the fruits are narrowly cylindrical, slightly compressed between the seeds and are topped with a persistent beak, both fruits and pedicels are tightly appressed to the stems and overlapping each other.

19 23 18 22 31 21

Charlock is still to be found as a weed in a variety of habitats, but particularly in cultivated fields and waysides. In vc 35 only small numbers are now scattered over the countryside whereas in the 1950s fields would have been yellow with them. 194 t

Arc. Sinapis alba subsp. alba White Mustard

18 31

35 23

It used to be far commoner on river banks, roadsides and on tracks through arable fields. The advent of the spread of Impatiens glandulifera, Indian Balsam along the banks of the R. Wye and Heracleum mantegazzianum Giant Hogweed along the R. Usk has reduced the space for Black Mustard. 72 t

SINAPIS Mustards Mustards are annuals with leaves with scalloped or deeply lobed edges, stems and lower leaves often coarsely haired; the sepals are distinctly patent to reflexed at maturity, the petals are yellow; the fruit is a siliqua with a beak over 1/3 as long as the valves, the seeds lie in a single row under each valve, which have at least 3 strong veins.

18 31

This is distinct from Charlock in that its upper stem leaves are pinnatisect to pinnately-lobed 175

Flora of Monmouthshire few plants on a SWEB sub-station, Began, ST/228.829, 1986, GH; 3 plants, with Hirschfeldia, waste ground, Rogerstone, ST/2731.8790, 1990, PAS; 1 plant, disturbed road verge, S side Spitty Rd., Newport, ST/334.866, 1990, GH; 2 plants, rough grassy ground, Cefn, Rogerstone, ST/2728.8859, 1990, PAS; c. 100 plants, amid sludge beds, Alpha Steel Works, ST/33.84, 19791994, TGE, MJ. 7 t

and its fruit has a longer, flat beak, which may have a seed in its base and a resulting lump. It has been grown as fodder or green manure to be ploughed in, and for mustard seed. In vc 35 it has been used less often in the last 15 years by local farmers and its casual appearance on waste ground and tips has decreased likewise. The last records are: in the Oldcastle area, SO/32.24, 1989, MGR, SAR; casual, Glasllwch, Newport, ST/29.87, 1988, EJS; Lower Machen, ST/22.88, 1987, PB; casual, Bassaleg, ST/27.86, 1986, EJS; on waste land, edge of new road, Cwmbran, ST/29.95, 1986, TGE, UTE; casual, Ridgeway, ST/29.88, 1985, EJS; spread throughout corner of field, made by Stoneycroft Wood, ST/467.934, TGE; rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.86, 1975-78, TGE, CT. 16 t

HIRSCHFELDIA Hoary Mustard These are annual to perennial herbs with pinnatelylobed leaves, pale yellow flowers with erect sepals, fruit are siliquas with a beak, often containing a seed, and half as long as the valves, each of which hides 1 row of seeds.

! Hirschfeldia incana COINCYA Cabbages Coincya have pinnately-lobed to pinnate leaves, erect sepals, yellow petals, the fruits are siliquas, splitting longitudinally, with a beak to a third as long containing seeds, the seeds in 1 row under each valve each of which has 3 strong veins.

Hoary Mustard

This is a large (to over 130 cm), branched, shortlived perennial, that is densely covered with simple hairs to give it a grey-green look in its lower parts, its leaves are pinnately-lobed with a large end lobe, the branched terminal inflorescence is crowded with short-stalked, pale yellow flowers that give rise to appressed siliquas that frequently have a beak, containing a seed, to resemble a small minaret which is diagnostic.

! Coincya monensis subsp. cheiranthos Wallflower Cabbage A somewhat glaucous, erect annual with simple hairs on lower parts, its lower leaves have up to 6 pairs of lobes with a terminal lobe little bigger than the side ones; the petals have yellow, rounded blades with darker veins and a linear claw and are twice as long as the upright sepals; seeds 1.2-1.6 mm.

18 31

Hoary Mustard is a weed of waste land in docks, along roadsides and riversides, on tips and in untended industrial areas. First recorded in the vice-county in 1942 and for some years only a rare casual, it is now naturalised in much of the south and west of the vice-county and still spreading. 88 t

18 31

RAPISTRUM Bastard Cabbages These are annual to perennial herbs, with quite large, toothed to deeply lobed rosette leaves, that

A casual found in docks, industrial waste areas, ballast and waysides. Vc 35 records: rail ballast, Newport Docks, ST/30.86, 1977-88, TGE, CT; a 176

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 18

Rapistrum rugosum 177

Bastard Cabbage

Flora of Monmouthshire are usually dried up by time the fruits are and the produced. The sepals are erect, the petals yellow end segment of the fruit larger than proximal end and splitting off from it when ripe.

! Rapistrum rugosum

leaves are smaller copies; the sepals are erect, the petals are white, yellow or mauve; the erect fruits are usually long and narrow (the mean width of 5 fresh fruits is 3.5-4.5 mm) and they are only shallowly constricted between the seeds. This is a weed of farmland and waste land. Forty years ago it was a frequent casual in vc 35, today due to changes in seed selection, the use of herbicides and farming emphasis it is less common, and occurs in scattered populations and as isolated plants. 81 t (23 t)

Bastard Cabbage

The large rosette leaves are composed of nearly all end lobe but there is a pair of basal lobes, the stem leaves are small and simple and tend to make the tall, branched upper structure look all stems. The branches tend to spread widely and the pale yellow flowers occur towards their ends where the branch-appressed fruits form with a roundish end segment topped by a linear style, the lower segment is often free of seeds. Bastard Cabbage is usually a casual of waste ground, arable fields, tips, docks, etc. Vice-county records are: pathside, in Minnetts Wood, ST/448.896, 1971, TGE; waste land, near R. Usk, ST/314.897, 1985, GB; naturalised and increasing to c. 50 m on cliff and cliff top, Sudbrook Camp, ST/507.873, 1968-2006, TGE. 1 t (2 t) Fig.18

Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. maritimus Sea Radish Sea Radish is similar to Wild Radish but differs in that it has longer leaves, 5-10 pairs of lobes, the petals are shades of yellow, rarely white, the fruits have deep to shallow constrictions between the seeds and the mean width of 5 fresh fruits is 6-9 mm. 23

RAPHANUS Radishes Bruised plants smell like radishes. Their leaves are pinnate or pinnately-lobed. The flowers have erect sepals, white, yellow or mauve petals, usually with darker veins. The fruits are indehiscent or split transversely into 1-seeded portions, they are terminated with a persistent, narrow beak.

Arc. Raphanus raphanistrum

Wild Radish 18 31

Sea Radish grows on various coastal habitats. In vc 35 it grows mainly on the sea wall or among rocks deposited along the upper shore to halt erosion. Wade (1970) makes no mention of it. My experience is that from a few scattered plants it has increased to be quite numerous, especially so in a good year. Changes in grazing practice can affect quantity, it has increased where grazing has been prevented. The coast off Sudbrook and the pulp mill is a good place to see it. 19 t

18 31

RESEDACEAE Mignonette family This family contains annual to perennial members, leaves varying from simple to pinnate, bracts are present but obvious stipules are not, the hermaphrodite, zygomorphic flowers are borne in racemes, the 4-8, free sepals and petals, the upper

Wild Radish is an erect, little-branched annual to 100 cm but usually less; simple hairs occur on all lower parts; its rosette leaves have a larger terminal lobe and usually 3-4 pairs of lateral ones, the stem 178

Flora of Monmouthshire filaments falling before fruits are ripe and it has smooth seeds.

petals are largest and often deeply divided, the fruit is usually a capsule open at the top. RESEDA Mignonettes These have 7-40 stamens crowded at the front of the flower, 3-6 carpels joined below and a 1-celled fruit.

Arc. Reseda luteola

Weld

Weld is a stiffly erect biennial to over 1 m, with entire, narrowly lanceolate, wavy-edged leaves, there are 4 sepals and yellowish petals, the 3-6 mm, shortly-stalked fruits are held erect and closely packed near to the stem, and contain smooth seeds.

18 23 31 22

18 32

White Mignonette

This branched perennial has pinnately-lobed leaves, with narrow lobes, the 8-9 mm, white flowers have 5-6 sepals and petals and 8-15 mm, filaments persisting until fruits are ripe, elliptic fruits with tuberculate seeds. A plant of docks and waste land near the sea. It has been present in Newport Docks since 1968, AEW. I last saw it there 1996 before entry to the docks became so restricted. Records in vc 35: 5 plants, Newport Docks, ST/312.845, 1997, MJ; 1 plant on raised sea wall, E of Lower Newton Farm, ST/2454.7851, 2002, TGE. 2 t

Reseda lutea

EMPETRACEAE Crowberry family Members are dwarf, mat-forming heather-like, evergreen shrubs with whorled to spirally arranged simple, entire, stipuleless leaves, insignificant, pinkish, axillary flowers in small clusters, and fruits that ripen black are round but flattened and contain more seeds than flesh.

A not infrequent weed of waste land, particularly if disturbed or open. The Old Red Sandstone is probably a little too acid for it hence the broad gap on the map. 140 t

! Reseda alba

Reseda lutea grows on disturbed, barish soil, particularly if calcareous. Wade named 10 sites, 4 attributed to Hamilton. Of eight tetrad records, the following are more detailed: c. 10 plants, stony ground, edge of Caerwent Quarry, ST/47.89, 1971, TGE, CT; c. 20 plants, Newport Docks, ST/31.85, 1980-1996, TGE, CT; c. 10 plants, rail embankment, Aberbeeg, SO/210.013, 1987, RF; rail ballast, disused shunting area, E of Undy, 1992-2003, TGE; rail ballast, Llanfiangel Rogiet, 1999-2003, TGE, CT. 28 t

Empetrum nigrum subsp. nigrum Crowberry It has glandular stems and, when young, the leaf margins are rolled under, giving them a narrow parallel-sided appearance. The flowers are mostly dioecious. An upland plant of peaty moors and hilltops. In vc 35, the moors and hill tops of the western uplands provide the main populations with smaller assemblies in the Trellech Beacon area. The locality near Usk could have been destroyed as there are no suitable habitats remaining in the area now. 44 t

Wild Mignonette

This branched perennial has deeply pinnately-lobed leaves, yellowish flowers with 6 sepals and petals, 179

Flora of Monmouthshire It is a seeding and suckering weed that tends to overwhelm native plants on sandy or peaty soils, largely on hillsides. It is widespread in vc 35. 65 t

Empetrum nigrum 23

GAULTHERIA Aromatic Wintergreens These evergreen shrubs have alternate leaves and 5 fused petals forming tubular flowers with constricted necks ending in short lobes, there are 10 stamens with anthers that have 4 short terminal appendages; the fruit is a capsule or a juicy berry.

! Gaultheria shallon

18 31

ERICACEAE Heather family The heathers may be deciduous or evergreen, trees or dwarf shrubs with simple, stipuleless leaves, that may or not have petioles. The flowers are variously arranged and varied in other ways, the petals are usually fused, the stamens are borne on the receptacle, the anthers open by pores and release pollen in groups of 4.

ARBUTUS Strawberry-tree These are small, evergreen trees to 8 m with alternate leaves and terminal panicles of bulbous flowers with constricted necks exceeded by the short lobes of the 5 fused petals; it has 10 stamens with anthers with 2 long terminal appendages; the fruit is a globose, rough-warty berry.

RHODODENDRON Rhododendrons These are deciduous or evergreen shrubs with alternate leaves. Their flowers occur in dense terminal racemes and have 5 petals forming a bellshaped, lobed corolla containing 5 or 10 stamens, with anthers lacking appendages, and they form capsular fruits.

! Rhododendron ponticum

! Arbutus unedo

Rhododendron

CALLUNA Heather Heather is a low evergreen shrub with narrow, sessile leaves with margins inrolled and appressed to the shoots so that it is not obvious how they are arranged on them (actually in alternate, opposite pairs); the flowers are in terminal racemes or panicles, with the 4 petals fused only for the lower

18 32

Strawberry-tree

This is a shrubby tree to over 5 m with reddishbrown bark that peels in small flakes and elliptical, toothed leaves to 11 cm long and white to pinkish flowers in drooping panicles beside red fruits to 2 cm across from the previous year. It grows in rocky scrub and woodland but is usually planted as an ornamental novelty in Wales. Though grown in many bigger gardens, in vc 35 the long-standing record is one mature tree naturalised on the edge of the railway at the top of a bank of the R. Wye, at the NE end of the cutting in the cliffs, S of Chepstow, ST/537.931, 19782000, TGE. 1 t

This densely branched shrub suckers freely. Its oblong to elliptical, evergreen leaves are glabrous and up to 20 cm long. Its flowers are dull bluishred.

Shallon

Shallon has leaves over 2 cm long with rounded or cordate bases and minutely serrated edges; its flowers are borne in terminal racemes and produce purplish-black fruits. This shrub is introduced into vc 35 on Old Red Sandstone to form cover and food for game birds or wildfowl, often near ponds created to attract the birds. The 1 known record is in a hedge on Atkins Hill, Trellech, SO/498.075, 1983, TGE. It is probably in other places than so far recorded. 1 t

180

Flora of Monmouthshire quarter; there are 8 stamens, having anthers with 2 basal appendages; the fruit is a capsule with the carpels separating with a pop to release the seeds.

Calluna vulgaris

Heather

Heather is a carpeting shrub with scale-like, usually glabrous leaves closely appressed to the shoot; the 3-4 mm flowers are a purply-pink and clothe the upper part of the branches in slender racemes, the petaloid sepals are longer than the petals and enclose the anthers.

18 23 31 22

E. tetralix grows in wet conditions on bogs, wet heaths and moors. In vc 35 it is not as common as heather because the wet hollows are not as frequent, especially as many ditches have been cut across the hills to drain off the water for afforestation. 55 t

Erica cinerea

18 31

Bell Heather

This is also a straggly shrub that forms patches up to 60 cm in height, its glabrous leaves are in whorls of 3 and are no more than 7 mm long, its flowers are in quite dense terminal clusters of deep purplish-red.

It grows mainly on heaths, moors, bogs and open woodland. In vc 35 it tends to clothe the hills but has suffered badly from afforestation, particularly where such trees as Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii has been planted. 161 t Var. hirsuta S.F.Gray: greyish hairy plants were scattered over heath, NW of Blaenavon, SO/24.09, 1988, RF, 1st vice-county record for the variety.

ERICA Heaths Heaths are dwarf, evergreen shrubs with shortlypetiolate leaves in whorls of usually 3-4; the flowers are in terminal or axillary clusters, the 4 petals are fused for at least the lower half; there are 8 stamens with anthers that may have 2 basal appendages; the capsular fruit has seeds dispersed when the carpels burst apart.

Erica tetralix

18 31

Cross-leaved Heath

It favours dry heaths and moors. In vc 35 it is often on the lower edge of Calluna heaths in the western hills and it is scattered on the edge of forestry tracks in the Wentwood Region and the TrellechCatbrook-The Narth-Tintern Parva area. 28 t

This is a greyish, straggly shrub to 70 cm, young shoots, with linear-lanceolate leaves in whorls of 4 hairy, often glandular, and pale pink flowers in tight clusters on the ends of the shoots bending the tips over with their weight, the anthers are concealed and the fruit is downy. 181

Flora of Monmouthshire 1986, MARK, CK; top of ridge above 600 m, Bal Mawr to Chwarel-y-fan, SO/263.285, 1989-91, SAR; many m², S of Carn-y-gorfydd, SO/272.107, 1997, TGE, CT; among heath, N of Varteg, SO/264.065, 2004, AW. 7 t

VACCINIUM Bilberries Bilberries are low, deciduous or evergreen shrubs with alternate leaves, flowers that may be solitary or clustered, terminal or axillary, with 4-5 basally fused petals that usually form globular or bellshaped corollas and fruits that are berries with persistent calyx-lobes at their apices.

Vaccinium oxycoccos

Vaccinium myrtillus

Cranberry

Cranberry consists of reddish, creeping stems that root at the nodes, with alternate shiny, dark green, entire, oval leaves with a whitish underside and pinkish-red flowers that droop from the apex of erect, long, thin pedicels, the petal lobes curl up in the manner of cyclamen; the red, roundish fruits are seldom produced in vc 35. It grows on bogs or very wet heaths, often creeping over Sphagnum moss. Only 1 extant site: Cleddon Bog, SO/509.040, *, c. 1900, AL, 1909, SH, 1920, WAS, 1950, SGC to 2001, TGE. Wade (1970) also gave: above Varteg, *, 1830s, CC; Blaenavon, 1860s, JHC; Rhymney Valley, 1909, SH. 1 t (3 t)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Bilberry

Bilberry is a hairless, deciduous, bushy shrub to 60 cm with ovate, serrated leaves; its mainly solitary flowers are pale green, tinged pink, and hang down and with their globose shape resemble miniature Chinese lanterns; the slightly flattened, globose fruits ripen to a blue-black bloomed appearance. 23

Cowberry

Cowberry is a somewhat prostrate, creeping evergreen subshrub with minutely pubescent young stems and elliptical, shiny, alternate, leathery leaves; the bell-shaped flowers have white to pink petals fused to half way; the sour, globose berry is red.

18 31

It grows on heaths, moors and open woods. It covers the tops of the hills of western vc 35 and is struggling among the trees of Wentwood and on the ridge that runs N-S near Trellech. 158 t

PYROLACEAE Wintergreen family Wintergreens are small perennial herbs with leaves mostly at the base of the stem; flowers are in terminal racemes and usually droop, the sepals and petals are in 4s or 5s with stamens twice as many, anthers shed pollen-grains in tetrads through pores.

Pyrola minor

18 31

Common Wintergreen

This has a globular, white or pale pink flower with a straight, 1-2 mm style that remains hidden in the drooping flower. It grows most frequently on leaf mould in woods or on rocky surfaces. Wade (1970) gave thirteen sites: below the Coleford Road between the War Fields and the ‘Duke Of York’; near Martin’s Pool, Monmouth; Beaulieu Wood, *, SGC; Blorenge, SH; Wentwood, JHC; Llandogo Glen, AL; Piercefield Woods; between Pen-y-parc and Devauden, WAS; The Barnetts, FWSW-B; Pen-y-

It grows on acid heaths on the tops of hills. In vc 35 its sites are: moorland on Mynydd-y-garn-fawr, SO/265.095, 1986, RF; slopes to S of masts, Blorenge, SO/26.10, 1986-1996, TGE, UTE; among springs, Bal Mawr, SO/266.266, near springs and footpath, Bwlch Isaf, SO/270.270, both 182

Flora of Monmouthshire cae-mawr, Wentwood, *; Chepstow Park Wood, ?R; wood by Trellech Bog, SGC; Penallt, Mrs L. There are now only two extant sites: c. 60 plants on leaf mould, under beech, near base of 365 steps, Wyndcliff, ST/527.973, AL, WAS, AEW, 19712003, TGE; c. 20 plants, forest track side, Glyn Wood, Tintern, SO/522.001, 1976, RSW, 1977-79 but not seen since, TGE; a 4 x 1 m colony on leaf mould, open beech wood, Lower Wyndcliff Wood, ST/528.972, 1994-2004, TGE. 1 t (15 t)

PRIMULACEAE Primrose family The observable characters of this family are very variable, but it is best recognised by the following features: members are herbaceous, the petals are fused to form at least a basal tube, the ovary is 1celled, with the ovules arising from free-central placentation. PRIMULA Primroses These perennials have simple, basal leaves only, the flowers are solitary or on long-stalked umbels, the calyx is narrowly bell-shaped, with the lobes shorter than the tube, the corolla has a tube that just clears the top of the calyx and divides into 5 notched, petal-lobes, frequently members are pineyed i.e. the stigma appears in the ‘eye’ of the corolla because the style is long and the corollaborne stamens hold the anthers half way up the tube, or thrum-eyed i.e. the stamens are borne around the rim of the corolla tube and the stigma is held half way up the corolla tube on a short style (this arrangement promotes cross-pollination by a non-retractable long-tongued insect); the capsule releases it seeds by 5 teeth or valves.

Pyrola rotundifolia ssp maritima L. Round-leaved Wintergreen Two patches of c. 30 plants (50 flowering spikes 2004, TGE), on periphery of disused, limestone quarry, W of Freehold Wood, S of Lasgarn Wood, SO/272.031, 1999, SW, det. FJR; 2000-04, TGE, CT. 1 t Plate 31 ORTHILIA Serrated Wintergreen All the flowers in a terminal raceme turned to one side; anthers release pollen-grains singly from pores.

Orthilia secunda

Serrated Wintergreen

Primrose

Primula vulgaris

All leaves are near the base of the erect stem with the globular, greenish-white flowers exceeded by the straight style This is found in woods and on damp rock ledges. The one localized record was near the Wyndcliff, 1st vice-county record, 1845, SHB, 1876, AL. (1 t)

The hairy, rugose rosette leaves are bright green above, paler below, they taper gradually from a broad, rounded blade to the stalk; the pale yellow, fragrant flowers have orange markings near the eye and may be up to 4 cm across and are supported singly on long stalks.

MONOTROPACEAE Bird’s-nest family Members of this herbaceous family lack chlorophyll and are saprophytic, obtaining their nutrients from decaying leaves; their alternate leaves are scale-like; their actinomorphic flowers are in a short, terminal raceme, there are 4-5, free sepals and petals, which are pale brownish-yellow; there are 8 or 10 stamens, with anthers opening by slits.

Monotropa hypopitys subsp. hypophegea Yellow Bird’s-nest

The apex of the stem droops in flower but adopts an erect position in fruit; there are less than 9 flowers, the petals do not exceed 10 mm and the ovary is glabrous and its style is not longer than it. It grows on leaf litter. In vc 35 only known from under beeches, near Blackcliff, ST/534.985, *, WAS (1920), 1978, EGW, 1984-2003 (14 spikes counted in 2003), TGE. 1 t Plate 32

18 31

Primroses favour damp, shady habitats such as woods, hedgerows, unimproved banks and scrub and on heavy soils in particular. Widespread in vc 35, but badly affected by forestry and farming practices since the 1939-45 war and by councils 183

Flora of Monmouthshire verge spraying particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the records in the western hills and on the Severn Levels can be traced to human intervention, mostly introduced plants. 284 t

Primula x polyantha

a pendulous umbel of as many as 15 or more clustered at the apex of a tall stalk. Cowslips favour grassland, open woods, hedge banks and scrub over calcareous soils. The ‘improvement’ of meadows to increase grass yields has left only small, isolated remnants of former extensive colonies in vc 35. Most of the records are for hedge banks, field margins and road verges. They are much more common on roadside banks, particularly those of motorways, than in meadows. 190 t

False Oxlip

This P. vulgaris x P. veris hybrid looks like a cowslip with flowers half way between a Primrose and a Cowslip in size. Most flowers are yellow, in the wild, but if Cowslips grow near gardens with Polyanthas in them, pink or red flowers can appear. They are sporadic in appearance, and do not seem to be as persistent as either parent in the wild.

CYCLAMEN Sowbreads Cyclamens are perennials arising from corms lying just below ground level; the simple leaves with long petioles, like the flowers, come from the middle of the corm; the calyx has a short tube and long lobes, the corolla also has a short tube with the 5 lobes reflexed, the flowers are on long peduncles that curl over to hold the flower upside down; the capsule that opens by 5 valves is held on a spiralling peduncle.

! Cyclamen hederifolium

18 31

This hybrid may be found where both parents grow close together. 19 t

Primula veris

Sowbread

The patterned leaves to 10 cm are heart-shaped but have large teeth interspersed with smaller ones around the margin; the corolla lobes are pale pink (white sometimes) and dark red at their base. They are introduced and naturalised in woods and hedgerows. The two vice-county records are: 10 plants in roadside hedgerow, Hendy Farm, SO/389.098, 1973, BMF; 3 patches, planted on roadside/woodland bank, Caerllan Field Centre, SO/492.084, 1994, TGE. 2 t

Cowslip

LYSIMACHIA Loosestrifes These have simple, opposite or whorled leaves; the calyx has pointed lobes, divided nearly to the base, the corolla has 5-7, spreading or erect, yellow lobes joined at their base to form a short tube; the capsule opens by 5 valves.

Lysimachia nemorum

18 31

Yellow Pimpernel

This is a low, spreading, glabrous perennial; the opposite, pale green leaves to 3 cm are ovate, and the solitary, yellow, 5 narrow-lobed flowers to 15 mm are borne on long stalks in the axils of the leaves. It grows in damp woodlands throughout Monmouthshire. Only the Severn Levels have very few records. 285 t

Cowslips have hairy, rugose leaves that abruptly narrow to the stalk from a rounded, oblong blade; the deep yellow, sweetly fragrant flowers have orange honey-guides near their ‘eyes’ and occur in 184

Flora of Monmouthshire Lysimachia nemorum

terminal, pyramidal panicles, the corolla lobes lack glandular hairs and the sepals have orange margins.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

Lysimachia nummularia

35 18

Creeping-jenny

This is an extensively creeping, glabrous perennial with short-stalked, paired, rounded, gland-dotted leaves with a cordate base; its yellow, broadly-lobed, solitary flowers to 18 mm are borne on long stalks from leaf axils, the petals have tiny black glands.

This requires neutral or calcareous soils found on river and lake margins, marshes and fens. In vc 35 it hugs river banks, and was once much commoner on the Severn Levels but again the lowering of the water table and the laying of drainage pipes in wet fields has devastated the number of plants in the last 40 years. 72 t

! Lysimachia punctata

This is similar to Yellow Loosestrife but L. punctata has corolla lobes that are glandularpubescent and the calyx teeth are green only.

Dotted Loosestrife

20 23 19 22 18 31

This plant grows in damp conditions, particularly where there is shade. In vc 35, drainage of the Severn Levels and wet fields elsewhere has reduced the number of sites where it can be found. The wetter woods of the Wye Valley and near the Monnow still have good colonies. 81 t

18 31

Lysimachia vulgaris

Yellow Loosestrife This plant is naturalised in rough ground and in damp situations. In vc 35 it is on the increase, probably because it spreads in gardens and is then thinned out with the spare rhizomes dumped in the countryside, so verges of minor roads and lanes and waste ground sprout new colonies. 28 t

This is a softly-hairy perennial with erect stems to 1.5 m forming loose patches with stems arising from nodes of rhizomes or stolons; the ovate to lanceolate leaves are opposite or in whorls of 3-4 and are dotted with black or orange glands; the yellow flowers to 20 mm across occur in leafy, 185

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 19

Anagallis tenella

Figure 20

Wahlenbergia hederacea

186

Bog Pimpernel

Ivy-leaved Bellflower

Flora of Monmouthshire The shoots of this annual do not root at the nodes, the elliptic leaves can be more than 1 cm long; the flowers may be red, blue or pink (very occasionally white) with minute stalked glands on the rounded apex of the petals. Under x50 microscope the 3celled glandular hair consists of a basal cell, a tubular middle cell and a globose end cell (subsp foemina is blue flowered but has 2 middle cells making the hair 4-celled). Scarlet Pimpernel grows on arable and waste land. The red form is widespread in vc 35, but once north of the A40 in the eastern half, the blue form occurs in at least equal proportions. The pink form is the least common; it was quite frequent around a maize crop on a field of Cilwrgi Farm, Coed-yPaen, ST/34.98-99, 2003, TGE; it was a weed of the Raglan garden centre, SO/38.08, 1990, TGE, UTE. 278 t

ANAGALLIS Pimpernels These are glabrous herbs with simple, opposite or alternate leaves; the 5 sepals are nearly free and the 5 petals are joined to near the middle; the capsule releases its seeds when its top half lifts free.

Anagallis tenella

Bog Pimpernel

This perennial sends creeping stems, which root at the nodes, across the surface of the substrate; its less than 1 cm long, short-stalked, rounded to elliptical, paired leaves are arranged at short intervals; the pink petals have slightly darker veins running from apex to base and the flowers are carried on long, slender stalks. 23

GLAUX Sea-milkwort These perennials are glabrous, glaucous, rather fleshy herbs rooting occasionally at stem nodes and bearing simple, sessile, opposite leaves; they have petaloid sepals divided half way into 5 pale pink or purplish or sometimes white lobes; the capsule opens by 5 valves.

Glaux maritima

18 31

Sea-milkwort

The leaves are elliptical up to 12 mm long; the pink or white, sessile flowers to 5 mm are solitary in the leaf axils.

It creeps over bogs, damp peat or sandy soils. It is more frequent in the wetter, hilly west of the vicecounty but can be found near streams or on boggy patches in the east as well. 74 t Figure 19

Anagallis arvensis subsp. arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel

18 31

A coastal plant of saline sands, muds or grassland. In vc 35 it grows in every coastal tetrad that does not have only a concrete sea wall with only deep, bare mud beyond. It also extends up suitable tidalriver banks. 36 t

18 31

187

Flora of Monmouthshire plants in flush below A466 and ESE of Redding’s Farm, ST/536.992, TGE; c. 50 plants, reen side, Wentlooge Level, ST/266.810 to 267.809, 1996, TGE; c. 20 plants reen bank, near water, near sea wall, Passage Wharf, ST/516.887, 1995, TGE; 2 plants, cow trodden reen margin, Sea Wall Reen, ST/384.824, 1991, TGE, UTE, ST/385.824, TDP; c. 40-50 plants in wet area in Church Wood, Cwmbran, ST/287.959, 2006, AW, EGW. 8 t (1 t)

SAMOLUS Brookweed The simple leaves of this glabrous perennial form a basal rosette and alternate up the erect stem; the 24 mm flowers have 5 calyx lobes attached to the rim of the ovary, 5 white corolla lobes surround a capsule that opens by 5 teeth.

Samolus valerandi

Brookweed

The erect stems can reach to over 40 cm; the obovate to elliptic leaves are up to 8 cm long, the 2-4 mm, white flowers are borne in lax, terminal and axillary racemes and tiny bracteoles occur half way up their pedicels.

GROSSULARIACEAE Gooseberry family These are shrubs with simple, often lobed leaves with petioles but without stipules, and arranged alternately on the twigs; the actinomorphic flowers have an hypanthium bearing 5 sepals, there are 5 free petals and 5 stamens; they have an inferior 1celled ovary with 2 parietal placentas.

RIBES Gooseberries These have palmately lobed, deciduous, serrate leaves; flowers, borne on short side branches, may be solitary or in racemes, and have sepals longer than petals; the fruit is a berry.

Ribes rubrum

18 31

Red Currant

The leaves, when crushed, give off little smell, there are no prickles, the yellowish-green, bisexual flowers, in dangling racemes, have a saucer-shaped hypanthium, the anther lobes are clearly divided; the berry is red or uncommonly whitish.

Brookweed grows in wet places, by streams, on reen margins, in flushes, usually near the sea or tidal parts of rivers. In vc 35, because of the regime of reen management, steep sides and greater depth, the lowering of the water table and the increasing grazing of the foreshore, the only likely extant home is in the Wetland Reserve at Uskmouth. Wade (1970) cited Bunjup’s Brook, Redbrook, SGC; St Pierre, JHC, WAS; near Mathern, *, WAS; Marshfield, SH, Peterstone Wentlooge, *. Some other records are: Sea Wall Reen, SE of Undy Pool, ST/44.80, 1974, a few plants; E of Goldcliff Point, ST/376.823, 1979-80; reen edges and marsh, near Pill Cottage, St. Pierre, ST/520.902, 1975; reen near sea wall, Undy, ST/446.866, 1974; 10-20 plants, marshy margin to R. Wye, ST/535.986, 1974, dozens of plants, marsh, Newport Docks, ST/312.854, 1973-74, TGE. Recent records: 2 plants, E end of lagoon, vc 35 Wetlands Reserve, ST/3334.8280, 2003, LM; 15 plants, bare soil, Wetlands Reserve, Uskmouth, ST/3280.8340, 2003, TGE; 200-300 plants, 2006, TGE, CT; 25-30 plants on track with wet ruts, Alpha Steelworks, ST/334.846, 2000, TGE; 2

18 31

It can be found in woods, hedges and scrub. In vc 35 it is very common in woods and hedgerows, particularly near dwellings, mainly due to birds roosting in them after raids in gardens. Whitish fruiting bushes have been observed on the S side of the road from Botany Bay to Catbrook, SO/52.02. 173 t 188

Flora of Monmouthshire

Ribes nigrum

! Ribes alpinum

Black Currant

Crushed leaves smell quite strongly due to sessile, orange glands on their undersides; the hypanthium is deeply cup-shaped and the fruit black.

Mountain Currant

Its sparsely pubescent leaves emit little smell when crushed, shrubs are male or female and the flowers in shortish, somewhat erect racemes form red berries. It grows in limestone woods, often on rock faces. Introduced in vc 35. It formed part of a hedge, near Glebe Farm, Pen-y-cae-mawr, ST/411.950, 198793, TGE, but was taken out when a new wider gate was put in. 1 t

Ribes uva-crispa

Gooseberry

Gooseberry is distinct because it has spines on its twigs; its greenish-yellow or red-tinged flowers are in short, stiff racemes and give rise to greenish or reddish, pubescent berries 10-20 mm across.

18 23 31

35 22

It grows in woods and hedgerows but is much less common than Red Currant. I am surprised there are as many as 53 tetrads where it has escaped from gardens. 53 t

! Ribes sanguineum

Flowering Currant

Its pubescent leaves are fragrant when crushed; its flowers, in pendent racemes, are pink to bright red; its 6-10 mm berry, when formed, is purplish-black with whitish bloom.

18 31

It is common in woods and hedges. Like Red Currants, many Gooseberries are borne in birds’ guts from gardens to their roosts in hedges or woods, where the gut enzymes stratify the seeds, hence the frequency in vc 35 woods and hedges. 205 t

CRASSULACEAE Stonecrop family Members are very variable in characters; they are mostly herbs, often with succulent, simple leaves, often spirally or alternately arranged and lacking in stipules; the actinomorphic, often hermaphrodite flowers with frequently 5 sepals and petals and the same number to twice as many stamens; the fruit is a group of follicles.

18 31

This is an introduction to gardens. Almost all records are confined to the valleys of vc 35: some are relics of former plots, some on coal waste, one on railway sidings, Big Pit, and one plant on Penallt Common. 14 t

! Crassula helmsii New Zealand Pigmyweed This recently arrived alien has weak, trailing stems in water and on nearby mud; the stems bear paired, narrow leaves joined around the stem, well-spaced 189

Flora of Monmouthshire from adjacent pairs; its tiny, 4-petalled flowers are borne singly on slender pedicels up to 8 mm long.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

18 31

SEMPERVIVUM House-leeks These are glandular-hairy perennials; there is a dense, open rosette of lanceolate, pointed leaves, with more leaves alternating up the stem; the flowering stems arise from the centre of mature rosettes and bear a cyme of fairly numerous pink to purplish flowers on top, the free numerous petals surround twice as many sepals.

Intended for aquaria or garden ponds, its rapid growth and spread has resulted in it being pulled out and thrown into nearby waterways or still water, where it has taken over to the detriment of native plants. In the vice-county it has sites at: Borrow Pit, Monmouth, SO/503.127, 1992, JH (unwisely planted when it became a local nature reserve and still on the margin in 2003); many metres, edge of stream, Trethomas, ST/187.886, 1992, JSW; small pond, edge of loop road, Craigy-dorth, SO/483.086, 1994, TGE (it had been removed by 2003); massed around NE side of large pond, Caldicot Castle, ST/487.885, 1999, TGE; Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Malpas, ST/301.902, 2003, TGE, CT. 5 t

! Sempervivum tectorum

House-leek

The rounded, open rosette is 3-8 cm across, the pointed lanceolate leaves are bluish-green with purplish tips and have bristly margins; the dull pinkish-purple flowers are 2-3 cm across and crown a stout, erect stem. These are to be seen on wall tops and roofs. The rosettes do not persist in vc 35 despite their perennial nature and I suspect that property owners now clean them off more frequently, especially as property prices spiral upwards and it pays to maintain existing buildings. 11 t

UMBILICUS Navelwort These are hairless perennials, with succulent, crenate leaves that are alternate and peltate; the flowers, in excess of 5 mm across, have 5 sepals and petals with twice as many stamens, the petals are joined to at least half way, and the stamens arise from the corolla tube.

Umbilicus rupestris

Navelwort

The English name derives from the central hollow of the roughly circular, long-stalked leaves; the pendent, narrow bell-shaped, greenish-white flowers are clustered on a tall, tapering spire-like inflorescence. It can be found on rocks, walls and dry, stony banks. Apart from the coalfield area and the Levels it is quite common in the vice-county. 172 t

18 31

190

Flora of Monmouthshire decumbent, spreading along the substrate and the petals are mostly more than 8 mm long; the leaves are noticeably papillose-margined. A popular garden plant, which survives when the garden is abandoned. It spreads and needs curbing and the habit of some folk of depositing garden waste on to nearby waste ground leads to it becoming naturalised. The surprising number of occurrences in vc 35 suggests both causes are responsible. 34 t

SEDUM Stonecrops These succulent plants usually have alternate leaves and flower parts usually in 5s except for stamens that are twice as many.

Sedum telephium

Orpine

The plant perennates from tuberous roots with an erect stem to 60 cm with an umbel-shaped panicle, its flattened, succulent leaves are bluntly toothed; its flowers are pinkish-purple with 3-5 mm petals. The stamens are up to as long as the petals.

! Sedum rupestre

Reflexed Stonecrop

This glabrous, somewhat greyish, evergreen perennial has creeping, rooting stems, with short, erect shoots bearing a cylindrical cluster of leaves throughout the winter; some stems, which elongate in spring with spaced out linear, cylindrical, pointed leaves that tend to arc out from the stem, produce an apical, rounded panicle of drooping buds that open into yellow flowers 14-15 mm across.

22 31

35 21

Hedgerows seem to be its main habitat. This has caused our botanists a problem because by the time the fruits should have formed the hedgerow bottoms have been cut and fruits are unavailable, so it has not been split into its 2 subspecies. 53 t

! Sedum spurium

Caucasian-stonecrop

31 23

These grow in rocky places, including stony tracks, cliffs and walls. Widely grown on garden walls in the vice-county it occasionally escapes to other walls or nearby dry banks. 55 t

Sedum forsterianum 20

18 31

Rock Stonecrop

This Stonecrop is like S. rupestre but the overwintering shoots have leaves tightly packed into a globular shape and the flowers are 11-12 mm across. It grows in rocky places including screes, rock faces, rocky woodland. In vc 35 it is confined to garden walls from which it sometimes escapes to neighbouring walls and dry banks. It is probably under-recorded, because it is widely naturalized in old gardens. 16 t

Like Orpine this also has flattened, succulent, glabrous leaves and pinkish-purple flowers with stamens as long as the petals but stems are 191

Flora of Monmouthshire Sedum forsterianum

23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18

31 31

Sedum acre

It occurs in rocky habitats, though in vc 35 it is usually on walls or dry banks. 46 t

Biting Stonecrop

This low-growing, glabrous perennial has creeping stems that root at the nodes and send up erect stems to 10 cm but often much shorter; the stems bear close, smooth, ovoid, 3-5 mm leaves, which are widest at their base, and have a peppery taste when chewed, and 5 yellow, just over 1 cm across, flowers in small clusters.

Sedum anglicum

English Stonecrop

S. anglicum has rooting stems that form mats that are more compact than in White Stonecrop and alternate, blue-green, tinged pink, 3-5 mm cylindrically-oval, glabrous leaves; the 9-12 mm flowers are borne on much shorter upright stems that branch only 2-3 times with each branch bearing no more than 3-6 flowers, which have petals, white above and pink below.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

35 18

This grows on most well-drained gritty, sandy or stony surfaces. In vc 35 it is widespread from paths to coal waste mounds. 164 t

Arc. Sedum album

It grows in rocky habitats, dry banks and grassland. In vc 35 it seems to occur near human habitations, but is infrequent. 10 t

White Stonecrop

S. album has creeping stems, rooting at the nodes, giving rise to erect stems bearing alternately arranged, bright green but tinged red, oval leaves rounded on the underside and somewhat flattened on upperside and a much branched, flattish topped inflorescence of more than 20 white flowers 6-9 mm across. 192

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 21

Saxifraga cymbalaria 193

Celandine Saxifrage

Flora of Monmouthshire petioles, the blades are kidney-shaped with more than 7 blunt lobes, stem leaves are few; the inflorescence is near the top of a stem to 15 cm, the 2-3 cm, white flowers occur in small numbers on the few branches.

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifrage family These herbs are rarely woody at the base, the flowers are usually actinomorphic but can be zygomorphic, in fact the members are so variable in both vegetative and floral characters that it is best to learn the characters of the few that occur in the wild in vc 35. The other ten can be seen in gardens.

SAXIFRAGA Saxifrages These are usually perennial herbs with flowers in branched cymes, though sometimes solitary or in racemes; there are 5 sepals and 5 petals, 10 stamens, 2 carpels fused at base to form a 2-celled ovary containing many seeds.

! Saxifraga cymbalaria Celandine Saxifrage

This glandular annual has leaves twice as wide as long, shallowly lobed apex and abruptly contracted into a stalk; the flowers, usually solitary, have 5 yellow, shiny petals (the basal 2/3 in some plants are a matt, darker yellow, as shown in my drawing); the 2-horned fruit sits in a ‘palisade’ of linear, pointed projections from the base of the sepals. It was probably introduced with plants from the E Mediterranean and distributed to gardens. It appeared in my rock garden, ST/52.93 in 1978 and spread to all parts where the soil had been cleared of other plants and persisted until at least 1999. Peter and Joan Hall found it on disturbed soil at Vine House, St Maughans, SO/47.16, when they moved there from Sussex and reported it in 1980. 2t Figure 21

! Saxifraga x urbium

18 31

It grows on neutral or base-rich, grassy banks of streams. In vc 35 it grows mainly near the R. Usk or its tributary streams. 21 t Plate 36

Saxifraga hypnoides

Mossy Saxifrage

The prostrate stolons form a mat of foliage with linear-lobed, very pointed leaves on the spreading stems, which have leaf clusters at their growth points, but become simple, linear leaves up the erect flowering stems; the nodding buds open to white flowers 1.5-2 cm across. It can be found in upland regions in damp conditions, often on rocks, margins of streams etc. Wade (1970) gave five sites: about Llanthony Abbey, SO/28.27, JB, SH, SGC; Tarens skirting the Ffwddog, AL, Chwarel y fan, SO/25.29, and Tarren yr Esgob, SGC, *; Wyndcliff, ST/52.97, AL, WAS, *; today I have only records for Tarren yr Esgob, the most recent being many large patches over rocks in trickling water and on grass at the edge of the water, SO/25.30, 2002, TGE, GH, CT. ? 1 t (4 t)

London Pride

This has leaves with the pubescent petiole as long as or slightly longer than the glabrous blade, the blade is longer than wide and has 19-25 lobes, bluntly pointed and a very narrow translucent border; the stems and flower stalks tend to be pink, its white petals are 4-5 mm long. This was grown more in gardens in the past, and any apparent wild plants probably owe their existence to that origin. The only vc 35 record is some plants on the top of a derelict, low wall of an abandoned garden (the house has disappeared as well) opposite the SW corner of Cleddon Bog SO/506.038, 1957 – 2000 at least, TGE. 1 t

Saxifraga granulata

Saxifraga tridactylites Rue-leaved Saxifrage This is usually a slender, stickily-hairy annual to 10 cm often becoming reddish, its spathulate basal leaves wither by flowering time, other leaves may have 3-5, narrow finger-like lobes; the 4-6 mm flowers have 5 white petals. It grows on open, dry, preferably, calcareous surfaces. Most vc 35 records are on walls or dry banks. 30 t

Meadow Saxifrage

This is a hairy perennial with a basal rosette of leaves, which have bulbils at the base of their 194

Flora of Monmouthshire Saxifraga tridactylites

CHRYSOSPLENIUM Golden-saxifrages These are somewhat fleshy perennials with creeping and erect stems, there are basal, stalked, orbicular, lobed leaves, greeny-yellow, 4-sepalled flowers sitting in flat-topped clusters closely above similarly orientated bracts, there are no petals, there are 8 stamens.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

This herb has squarish, creeping stems to 15 cm, rooting at the nodes; its sparsely hairy, blunttoothed leaves are rounded with cuneate or rounded bases in opposite pairs on the stems and are usually less than 2 cm; the 3-4 mm, greenish flowers are surrounded by yellowish leafy bracts, the anthers are bright yellow.

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TOLMIEA Pick-a-back-plant These are hairy perennials with mainly basal, palmately lobed, serrate leaves, in damp conditions they produce small plants at the base of the petioles; the inflorescence is a simple raceme borne at the top of a leafy stem; the zygomorphic flowers have a tubular base and has 5 sepals, 4-5 filiform petals and 3 stamens; there is a 1-celled ovary of 2 fused carpels.

! Tolmeia menziesii

Pick-a-back-plant

It has long petioled leaves of variable shape, but shallowly palmately lobed with a cordate base; its flowers are brown with filiform petals to 15 mm. A pot plant sometimes naturalised in damp shady places or on tips or untended soil. The single vc 35 record is of it naturalised in wild garden, Caerllan Field Centre, SO/49.08, 1971-82 at least, PC. 1 t

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This grows in damp and shady places. In vc 35 it is often common by streams or in wet woods. 286 t

TELLIMA Fringecups These are hairy perennials with mainly basal, palmately lobed, serrate, orbicular leaves; the inflorescence is a simple raceme topping a leafy stem; the flowers have a bell-shaped base, 5 sepals, 5 broad petals fringed with filiform lobes, 10 stamens and a 1-celled ovary of 2 fused carpels.

Chrysosplenium alternifolium Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage 23

! Tellima grandiflora

Fringecups

It has long-petioled, orbicular leaves with a cordate base, its flowers are green with reddish edges to 15 mm across, and each of the petals ends in a distinctive fringe of thread-like lobes. This introduction to gardens has spread to and naturalised in damp woods and hedgerows. The one vc 35 record is from a track by overgrown garden, Angiddy Valley, Tintern, SO/512.004, 1998, BJG. 1 t

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195

Flora of Monmouthshire lanceolate leaves, sharply serrate, except at extreme proximal end of S. salicifolia and the oblong, sharply serrate in the distal half leaves of S. douglasii. It has sub-cylindrical panicles and pink petals. A hybrid developed for gardens which has become naturalised in hedges and verge banks. In vc 35 the 3 sites are: railway bank, Caldicot Pill, ST/494.876, 1985; verge bank, Tredegar, SO/13.08, 1986; waste ground, railside, Cwmcarn, ST/21.93, 1991, all TGE. 3 t

This herb has triangular creeping and rooting stems; its mainly basal leaves are alternate, round or kidney-shaped, lobed to give a crenate margin and have a cordate base, the largest are over 2 cm; its 2-3 mm flowers are yellowish, and are surrounded by yellowish, leafy bracts. This grows frequently in damp, shady places. In vc 35 it grows scattered by the sides of streams and in damp woods. 30 t ROSACEAE Rose family The Rose family has a range of trees, shrubs or herbs; the leaves are alternate, usually both petiolate and stipulate; the actinomorphic flowers occur in various arrangements, there is usually a hypanthium, the commonly 5 free sepals are borne on the hypanthium, the frequently present epicalyx is outside the calyx, there are often 5 free petals, the fruit may be achenes, drupes, follicles, rarely capsules or may be a false fruit as in apples, pears and strawberries. Because of the many exceptions it is better to use a flora to acquaint yourself with the family members.

! Spiraea x billardii

SPIRAEA Brideworts These are deciduous shrubs with simple leaves lacking stipules; the flowers are in fairly dense to dense clusters or sprays, the petals range from white to pale purple; there are 5 carpels that ripen to a follicle that releases its many seeds by splitting down one side.

! Spiraea salicifolia

Billard’s Bridewort

This S. alba x S. douglasii hybrid is intermediate between the conical panicle, glabrous leaves, widest above midway and usually white petals of S. alba and the cylindrical panicle, white to pale grey, tomentose, oblong leaves and pink petals of S. douglasii. An improved hybrid developed for gardens, and naturalised in hedges and on verge banks. The one site in vc 35 is: roadside bank, St Bride’s, Netherwent, ST/42.89, 1993, TGE. 1 t

! Spiraea douglasii

Steeple Bush

This bush suckers freely, and has erect stems to 2 m; its 4-8 cm long oblong leaves are sharply serrate in their distal halves and almost entire along the rest of the leaf; it has cylindrical panicles of pink flowers. Introduced into gardens from the west of N America and naturalised in hedges and on verge banks. In vc 35 the 3 records are: below Rock, near River Sirhowy, ST/18.98, 1988, 1997; upland roadside, Greenmeadow, ST/27.95, 1989, both TGE; Waun-y-Pound, SO/15.10, 1987, RF. 3 t

Bridewort

This shrub forms suckers freely with lanceolate leaves, sharply serrate except at the extreme end near the petiole, and widest below mid-way; the cylindrical inflorescence branches are pubescent; the sepals are erect in fruit; the petals are bright pink and shorter than the stamens. Introduced from C. Europe into gardens and naturalised in hedges and on waste ground. Now rare in Britain and superseded by improved horticultural hybrids. Wade (1970) described it as a rare denizen and gave these records: Whitebrook, SO/53.06, 1895, AL; well established about Tintern, SO/52.00, 1945, JAW; near Lady Mill, Mounton, ST/51.93, *. (3 t)

FILIPENDULA Meadowsweets These herbaceous perennials have pinnate leaves; the flowers are in terminal, flattish clusters with flower parts in 5s or many, there is no epicalyx, the hypanthium is flattish or shallowly saucer-shaped, the stamens are numerous; the fruit is a head of achenes each with 1-2 seeds.

Filipendula vulgaris

Dropwort

It has an over-wintering rosette of pinnate and finely divided leaves with more on the 50-100 cm tall, erect stem. The leaf has 8-30 pairs of main leaflets with smaller ones between, the leaflets vary between 0.5 and 2 cm long; the 8-15 mm across, cream flowers, which have 6 petals, with

! Spiraea x pseudosalicifolia Confused Bridewort This S. salicifolia x S. douglasii hybrid is intermediate between the elliptic-oblong to 196

Flora of Monmouthshire side of roadside hedge and junction with stream, S of Holly House, ST/278.847, 1990, GH; near Michaelstone bridge, ST/24.85, 1991, PAS; base of planted flowering cherry, Cleppa Park, ST/278.847, 1994, GH; Gwehelog, SO/38.04, 1994, DEL; roadside edge of Buckholt Wood, SO/50.16, 1995, BJG. 4 t

purplish undersides, and are borne in fairly dense, flattish clusters. Normally it is found on calcareous grassland. In the vice-county it is known only from the churchyard of Penallt Old Church, SO/522.108 and was last seen there in 1992 by BJG. Wade (1970) gave 3 sites: nr. Chepstow, ST/5.9, JHC; nr. Monmouth, SO/5.1, SH (1909); Minnett’s Lane, Rogiet, ST/4.8P, 1942, JCE. 1 t (3 t)

Filipendula ulmaria

RUBUS Brambles Brambles are deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs often with prickles, or herbaceous perennials. The leaves are various in form and in arrangement. The flowers usually have parts in fives, there is no epicalyx, the hypanthium is flat, the receptacle is saucer-shaped, there are numerous stamens and a fruit consisting of a group of drupes. Identification of most brambles requires expert knowledge and some experience; Brambles of the British Isles 1988 by E. S. Edees and A. Newton should be consulted.

Meadowsweet

A taller plant than F. vulgaris reaching 150 cm in ideal conditions; its pinnate leaves have a terminal lobe and up to 5 pairs of larger leaflets, all longer than 2 cm; the 4-8 mm across, fragrant, cream-coloured flowers with 5 petals are in much denser clusters. 23

Rubus saxatilis

Stone bramble

This has long stolons with few or no prickles, ternate leaves, few-flowered inflorescences with white flowers, and red fruits with a few drupes. Wyndcliff, ST/59, 1878, WAS, *; SH; 1942, JCE. About Chepstow, ST/59, 1868, JHC. Woods near Tintern, ?SO/5.9, 1881, HPR, and 1920, Richards (3 t)

18 31

Rubus idaeus

This is a plant of wet places. In the vice-county it is often in damp woodland, in ditches, in the remaining marshy meadows and by streams. It is still widespread but in much smaller numbers than before 1960. 358 t

KERRIA Kerria These are deciduous shrubs with simple leaves; flowers have 5 sepals and petals but numerous stamens and they occur solitarily on the ends of lateral branches; the fruit is a head of achenes.

! Kerria japonica

Raspberry

This has stems arising from short suckers c. 2m tall with bristly prickles, pinnate leaves with 3-7 ovate leaflets with dense, short, white hairs beneath; c. 1 cm, white flowers small racemes and usually red fruits consisting of a tight cluster of drupelets.

Kerria

This is an erect shrub to 2.5 m with ovate to lanceolate, coarsely toothed and sparsely pubescent leaves; its yellow flowers are up to 5 cm across. It was introduced from China and grown in gardens usually in the flore pleno form with many petals forming what is popularly known as bachelor’s buttons. Vc 35 records: 3 plants of ‘Pleniflora’ SE

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197

Flora of Monmouthshire Raspberry is possibly native but many plants in woods near houses have their origins in bird droppings. Frequent in woods and on waste ground. 250 t

Rubus angusticuspis Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1922, WAS, *; Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1955, ESE, *; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Chepstow Park, ST/5.9, 1925, HJR, *; Chepstow Park Wood, ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; Chepstow Park Wd., SO/504.982, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Cilfeigan Park, ST/34.99, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Coed y Gatlas, SO/4.1, 1924, AEW, *; Coed-cae, ST/4.9, 1897, Ley, A. WAS, Watson, W.C.R, *; King’s Wd., SO/46.12, MP, RDR; Llanddewi Fach, ST/39, 1943, AEW, *; Lower Talycoed Wd., SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Mescoed Mawr Wd., ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; N of Gray Hill, ST/42.92, 42.93, 1993, RDR; Narth, The, SO/5.0, 1909, WAS, * and SO/52.06, 1994, TGE, *; Penallt, 1983, TGE, *; Penallt, 1973, AN, *; Pen-y-fan, SO/5.0, 1895, AL, *; Pont-y-saison, 1921, WAS, *; Priory Wd., Skenfrith, SO/45.20, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Sor Brook Picnic site, ST/32.97, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; St. Arvans, 1896, WAS, *; Tintern Abbey, SO/5.0, 1890, WAS, *; Trelleck, SO/5.0, 1892, WAS, *; Troy Park Wood, 1910, AL, *; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Thornhill, Wd. Margin, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood, ST/42.94, 1993, RDR. 14 t (14 t)

Rubus phoenicolasius Caewern Wood, SO/445.089, 1997, SDSB. 1 t

Rubus fruticosus agg., Blackberry, Bramble 23

18 31

As an aggregate it probably occurs in every tetrad. All the remaining species form part of the R. fruticosus aggregate. All NMW material has been determined by E. S. Edees, B. A. Miles, A. Newton, M. Porter, R. D. Randall, H. J. Riddelsdell and/or W C. R. Watson.

Rubus aristisepalus No details other than SO/5.0, 1983, AN. (1 t)

Rubus acclivitatum Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; The Park, SO/28.17, 1993, MP, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR; wood, S end of Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 4 t

Rubus ariconiensis Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; King’s Wood, SO/46.12, 1993, MP, RDR; Llandegfedd, ST/3.9, 1943, AEW, *; Lower Talycoed Wd., SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; marsh, Steppes Fm., SO/42.01, 1996, TGE; Park Wd., Penyclawdd, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01 and hedge nr. Beech Farm, SO/32.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; St. Mellons, ST/2.8, 1941, AEW, *; Steppes Farm, SO/42.01, 1996, TGE, *. 7 t (2 t)

Rubus acutifrons Chepstow Park, 1896, AL, *; Darren Road, 1942, AEW, *; Risca, 1942, AEW, *; Wentwood Lodge, ST/41.94, 1993, RDR. 1 t (3 t)

Rubus albionis Mescoed Wood, ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 1t

Rubus armeniacus Caerleon, ST/32.90, 1987, TGE, *; Caerleon, ST/32.90, 1987, TGE, *; Cleppa Park, ST/278.848, 1994 GH, *; Risca, ST/2.8 or ST/2.9, 1942, AEW, *; hedge near Severn Tunnel Junction, ST/46.87, 1996, TGE; Edge of R. Ebbw, Ebbw Vale Cricket School, SO/16.10, 2000, TGE. 5 t (1 t)

Rubus amplificatus Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, 1924, HJR, *; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR. 1 t (1 t)

198

Flora of Monmouthshire Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/45.88, 1993, RDR; The Narth, 1909, WAS, *; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR; Pant-y-cosyn, 1891, WAS, *; Priory Wd., Skenfrith, SO/45.20, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; St. Arvans, 1896, WAS, *; Talycoed Wd., SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; The Fedw, ST/59, 1889, WAS, WAS, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. AN, MP. 7 t (5 t)

Rubus armipotens Lower Talycoed Wood, SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Sor Brook Picnic Site, ST/32.97, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 3 t

Rubus arrheniiformis Tintern, SO/5.0, 1895, WAS, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. 1 t (1 t)

Rubus cavatifolius Rubus ‘Beacon Hill serpens’ Chepstow Park Wd., ST/503.983, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp; Pecket Stone, Trellech Hill, SO/503.074, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp; Wentwood, ST/427.950, 43.94, 43.95, 1993, RDR. 3 t

Beacon Hill, 1891, WAS, *; 1893, AL, EFL, *; Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1956, ESE, *; Chepstow Park Wood, ST/4.9, 1925, HJR, *; ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; ST/504.982, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Monmouth, 1894, W.MR. WAS & AL, *. 1 t (2 t)

Rubus bertramii

Rubus conjungens

Cleddon Bog, SO/509.041, 1983, TGE; Narth, The, SO/5.0, 1909, WAS, *; NW of Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/193.005, 1995, TGE; Trelleck Bog, SO/5.0, 1891, WAS, * and 1944, AEW, *. 1 t (4 t)

Rubus biloensis

Chepstow, ST/5.9, 1891, WAS, *; Dixton, SO/5.1, 1925, HJR, *; Monmouth, 1893, EFL, *; Parkhurst Rocks, 1890, WAS, *; Shirenewton, ST/4.9, 1890, WAS, *; St. Mellons, ST/2.8, 1941, AEW, *; Trelleck, 1885, AL, *; Troy Wood, 1923, HJR, *. .(9 t)

Wentwood, ST/417.945, and ST/43.95, 1993, RDR, *. 1 t

Rubus dasycoccus Thick-berried bramble is a rare British endemic, the bulk of the populations occurring in Monmouthshire. During surveys in 1998, it was found in at least 14 sites in three 10-km squares in Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Glamorgan (Watsonia 23: 437). It belongs to an especially rich concentration of species centred around the old Welsh kingdom of Erging or Ewias and called the 'Archenfield' complex, after the Norman Royal Forest of that name. It occurs in a broad range of habitats and soils, but probably grows best in marginal habitats such as woodland edge and unkempt hedgerows on deeper brown earths. The main potential threats appear to be from inappropriate forestry and regular mowing of hedgerows or road verges, but its scattered distribution with broad ecological requirements indicate few significant threats to its long-term survival despite its decline in vc 35. Barbadoes Hill, 1892, WAS, *; Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1955, ESE, *; Catbrook Lane, 1891, WAS, *; Tintern, 1925, HJR, *; Tintern, 1891, WAS, *; Tintern, 1893, AL, WAS, *; Trelleck Hill, 1892, AL, WMR, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, MP, AJN; Wye Wood, 1892, WAS, *. 1 t (6 t)

Rubus bloxamii Little Oak, ST/411.937, 1966, BAM, *. 1 t

Rubus boraeanus Caer Wood, S end of Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN. 1 t

Rubus botryeros Earlswood, 1925, WAS, *. (1 t)

Rubus caesius Caer llan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Chepstow, 1891, WAS, *; Five Lanes, ST/44.91, 1993, RDR; Llanfoist, 1923, AEW, *; Llanvair, ST/43.92, 1993, RDR; Mounton, ST/5.9, 1891 and 1893, WAS, *. 2 t (4 t)

Rubus caesius hybrid Cefn Llogel, 1941, AEW, *; Pen-y-lan, 1943, AEW, *; Trap Hill, 1892, WAS, *. (3 t)

Rubus cardiophyllus Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/326.167, 1996, 2000 BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; 199

Flora of Monmouthshire 1993, RDR; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood, 1890, WAS, *; Wentwood, ST/42.94, 43.94, 41.94, 1993, RDR. 3 t (3 t)

Rubus dasyphyllus Marsh, Arrel View, SO/209.056, 2000, TGE bank above marshy gd., Abertillery, SO/22.04, 1988, TGE, AN; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Chepstow Park Wd., ST/503.983, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Chepstow Park, ST/5.9, 1894, WAS, *; Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; Lower Talycoed Wd. SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Mescoed Mawr Wd., ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; The Narth, SO/5.0, 1909, WAS, *; nr. Penallt Old Church, SO/52.10, 1983, AN; Shirenewton, ST/49, 1891, WAS, *; Sor Brook Picnic Site, ST/32.97, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Trellech Hill, SO/503.074, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Wentwood, ST/41.94, 42.94, 43.94, 43.95, 1993, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR. 11 t (3 t)

Rubus fuscicaulis Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Whitebrook, SO/50, 1956, ESE, *. 1 t (2 t)

Rubus glareosus Graig Wd., Pen-y-Clawdd, SO/44.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Mescoed Mawr Wd., ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S end Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 3 t

Rubus halsteadensis Ball Road, ST/2.7, 1941, AEW, *; Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1891, WAS, *; Beacon Hill, SO/510.052, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Chepstow Park, ST/5.9, 1895, WAS, *; Parkhurst Rocks, 1890, WAS, *; Pensylvania, ST/2.8, 1941, AEW, *; Rogerstone Grange, ST/5.9, 1892, WAS, *; Trelleck, SO/5.0, 1903, AL, *. 1 t (7 t)

Rubus dentatifolius Beacon Hill, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. MP, AN; Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Chepstow Park, ST/5.9, 1925, HJR, *; Coed-cae, ST/4.9, 1897, AL. WAS, *; St. Arvans, ST/5.9, 1903, ESM. WAS, *; The Glyn, ST/4.9, 1897, AL. WAS, *; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood, ST/42.93, 41.94, 1993, RDR. 4 t (5 t)

Rubus hibernicus Chepstow Park Wood, ST/5.9, 1896, WAS, *; Mescoed Mawr, ST/27.89, 1996, TGE MP, RDR; Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/193.005, 1994 and 1995, TGE, *. 2 t (1 t)

Rubus echinatoides Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. MP, AN; Mescoed Mawr Wd., ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; NW of Whitehouse, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR. 3 t

Rubus hirsutissimus E. of Penallt Old Church, SO/52.10, 1983, AN.

(1 t) Rubus imbricatus

Rubus echinatus

Penallt, SO/52.10, 1983, AN; Pen-twyn, SO/50, 1933, Watson, W.C.R, *; Troy House, 1894, WAS, *; Whitebrook, 1885, WAS, *; Whitebrook, SO/50, 1956, ESE, *. (5 t)

Barnett Woods, 1891, WAS, *; Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Chepstow, 1891, Miles, B.A., *; Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, 1924, HJR, *; Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/44.88, 44.89, 45.88 1993, RDR; Mynydd Alltir-fach, ST/43.92, 1993, RDR. 2 t (4 t)

Rubus insectifolius

Reddings Inclosure, SO/5.1, 1905, AL, *. (1 t)

Chepstow Park Wood, ST/502.983, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Fedw Wood, ST/508.986, 1992, TGE, *; Wentwood, ST/426.950, 43.94, 43.95, 1993, RDR. 3 t

Rubus euryanthemus

Rubus iscanus

Rubus euanthinus

Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1956, ESE, *. (1 t)

Coed Abergwenllan, Goetre, SO/32.06, 1995, TGE; Kings Wood, SO/46.12, 1993, MP, RDR; Mounton, ST/5.9, 1898, WAS, *; Trap Hill, ST/5.9, 1891, WAS, *; Underwood, ST/39.88, 1997, TGE. 3 t (2 t)

Rubus flexuosus Bigsweir, 1897, WAS, *; Chepstow Park Wd., ST/501.984, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Chepstow Park, 1925, HJR, *; Gray Hill, ST/42.93, 200

Flora of Monmouthshire

Rubus leyanus

Rubus moylei

Chepstow Park Wood, ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; Glanau Wood, SO/496.071, 1983, TGE; Highmeadow Woods, SO/54.12, 1994, TGE, *; Lower Farm, SO/15.05, 1995, TGE; wet heath, The Narth, SO/52.06, 1994, TGE; NW of Pen-y-fan Pond, SO/193.005, 1995, TGE; S of Pen-y-fan Golf c. SO/196.012, 1995, TGE; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood, ST/428.941, 1996, RDR. 7 t (2 t)

Cae-Hedydd Farm, ST/45.95, 1990, TGE; Caer Wood, Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; hedge, Abertillery, SO/22.04, 1988, TGE; Pen-y-fan Golf Course, SO/196.012, 1995, TGE; Wentwood, 1890, WAS, *; Wentwood, ST/41.94, 42.94, 43.94, 43.95, 1993, RDR.

5 t (1 t) Rubus nemoralis Coed-cae, 1897, WAS, *; Itton, 1895, WAS, *; Mynydd-bach, 1892, WAS, *; Pecket Stone, Trellech Hill, SO/503.074, 2000, BSBI Gp. AN, MP. 1 t (3 t)

Rubus lindebergii Coed-cae, 1897, WAS, *. (1 t)

Rubus lindleianus Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; Minnetts Lane, ST/45.88, 44.89, 1993, RDR; Pant-y-cosyn, ST/4.9, 1891, WAS, *; Sor Brook Picnic Site, ST/32.97 1993, TGE, MP, RDR; Warren Slade, ST/5.9, 1891, WAS, *. 3 t (2 t)

Rubus nemorosus Henton Farm, ST/3.8, 1941, AEW, *; Llanrumney, ST/2.8, 1941, AEW, *; hedge, S of Pentre-waun, ST/33.98, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Pen-y-lan, ST/3.9, 1943, AEW, *; Rumney, 1921, EV, det. RDR, *; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; St. Mellons, ST/2.8, 1941, AEW, *. 2 t (5 t)

Rubus longithyrsiger Penallt, SO/52.10, 1983, AN; Tintern, 1893, WAS, *. (2 t)

Rubus nessensis Rubus longus

Chepstow Park, 1925, HJR, *; Chepstow Park, ST/49, 1956, Webster, M.M., *; Chepstow Park Wd., ST/501.984, 2000. BSBI Rubus Gp. MP, AN; Fair Oak Pond, 1874, WAS, *; Fedw Wood, 1889, WAS, *; Wentwood, 1890, WAS, *. 1 t (5 t)

Beacon Hill, SO/5.0, 1955, ESE, *; Cas Troggy, ST/41.95, 1984, TGE, *; Graig Wood, SO/44.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Gray Hill, ST/42.92, 1993, RDR; hedge, W of Cilfeigan Park, ST/34.99, TGE, MP, RDR; Itton, ST/49, 1895, WAS, *; King’s Wood, SO/46.12, 1993, MP, RDR; Llanvair, ST/43.92, 1993, RDR; nr. Wentwood Reservoir, ST/42.93, 1993, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR; Parc Seymour, ST/40.92, 1990, TGE det. AN; Penallt, SO/52.10, 1983, TGE, AJN, *; S end of Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Tal y Coed Wood, SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; The Park wood, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Tintern, SO/5.0, 1891, WAS, *. 11 t (5 t)

Rubus pallidisetus Beacon Hill, SO/51.05, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Hadnock Wood, SO/5.1, 1944, SGC, *; Highmeadow Woods, SO/543.126, 1994, TGE, *; rough meadow, Markham Common, SO/16.01, 1995, TGE; Monmouth, 1923, HJR, *; Wyastone Leys, SO/5.1, 1925, HJR, *. 3 t (3 t)

Rubus pictorum

Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. 1 t

Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Newchurch West, 1896, WAS, *; Priory Wood, Skenfrith, SO/45.20, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR. 4 t (1 t)

Rubus melanocladus

Rubus platyacanthus

Rogiet, ST/4.8, 1904, WAS, *. (1 t)

Itton, ST/49, 1895, WAS, *; St. Arvans, ST/59, 1894, WAS, *; The Cwm, ST/49, 1910, WAS, *; Tintern, 1894, WHP. & AL, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Yellow Moor, SO/50, 1895, WAS, *. 1 t (5 t)

Rubus ‘macrophylloides’

Rubus micans Hale Wood, ST/472.974, 1994, TGE. 1t 201

Flora of Monmouthshire

Rubus polyanthemus

Rubus pyramidalis

Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; field margin, S of Glascoed, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE; Itton, 1895, WAS, *; King’s Wood, E of Hendre Fm., SO/46.12, 1993, TGE, MP, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR; Tintern, 1891, WAS, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Gp., MP, AN; Wentwood, ST/42.94, 1993, RDR. 5 t (2 t)

Beacon Hill, 1895, AL, *; Penyvan, 1891, AL, *; 1922, HJR, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, BSBI Rubus Gp., 2000, MP, AN. 1 t (2 t)

Rubus radulicaulis No details, ST/4.9 and SO/5.0, 1983, AN. (2 t)

Rubus riddelsdellii St. Arvans, ST/59, 1903, WAS, ESM, *. (1 t)

Rubus prolongatus Ball Road, 1941, AEW, *; Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Chepstow Park, 1925, HJR, *; Chepstow Park, ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; Coed Llifos, ST/452.971, 1995, TGE, *; Coetgae Wood, ST/47.96, 1994, TGE, *; Earlswood Common, ST/4.9, 1984, TGE, *; heath, above Llanllowell House, ST/40.99, 1990, TGE, AN; Mescoed Mawr Wood, ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Minnett’s Lane, Rogiet, ST/44.89, 1993, RDR; Mounton, 1892, WAS, *; Mynydd Bach, 1892, WAS, *; near Beech Farm, SO/32.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Pecket Stone, Trellech Hill, SO/503.074, TGE, MP, RDR; Pen-y-fan Golf Course, SO/196.012, 1995, TGE, *; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Pentre-waun, ST/33.98, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Shirenewton, ST/4.9, 1973, AN, *; The Forest, ST/39, 1943, AEW, *; The Park, Penyclawdd, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; W edge of Cilfeigan Park, ST/34.99, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Welsh Trees Garden Centre, SO/38.07, 1995, TGE, *; Wentwood, ST/42.94, 42.95 & 43.94, 43.95, 1993, RDR; Wern Melin Farm, SO/412.108, 1995, TGE, *; Wyastone Leys, SO/5.1, 1925, HJR, *. 13 t (10 t)

Rubus rossensis Caerllan hedge, SO/48.08, 1993, AN; Mitchell Troy Common, SO/49.09, 1996, TGE; Rogiet, ST/448.892, 1993, RDR, R.D., *; The Park, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Trelleck, SO/5.0, 1892, WAS, *; Troy House, SO/51.10, 1956, ESE, *; Whitebrook, SO/5.0, 1956, ESE, *. 4 t (4 t)

Rubus rubritinctus

Five Lanes, ST/44.91, 1993, RDR. 1 t

Ball Road, 1941, AEW, *; Bigsweir, 1891 and 1892, AL, *; Cas-bach, 1941, AEW, *; Darren Wood, Pen-y-cae-mawr, ST/40.94, 1990, TGE, AN; E. bank, Wentwood Reservoir, ST/43.93, 1995, TGE, AN; Gray Hill, ST/43.93, 1993, RDR; Llanvaches, ST/43.91, 1993, RDR; Llanvair, ST/44.92, 1993, RDR; Mescoed Wood, ST/27.89, 1996, TGE MP, RDR; Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/44.88 & 45.88, 1993, RDR; Minnetts Wood, ST/44.89, 1993, RDR; Mynydd Alltir-fach, ST/43.92, 1993, RDR; Nant y Crochan, ST/212.941, 1994, TGE, *; Portskewett, 1925, HJR, *; Rumney, 1942, AEW, *; St. Arvans, 1903, ESM. WAS, *; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE MP, RDR; Tintern, 1891, WAS, *; Tintern, 1892, AL, *; Trelleck Common, 1891, WAS, *; Wentwood Lodge, ST/41.94, 1993, RDR; Wentwood, 1890, WAS, *; Wentwood, ST/42.93, 42.94, 1993, RDR; Whitebrook, 1895, AL, *. 13 t (11 t)

Rubus purchasianus

Rubus rudis

Rubus pruinosus

Chepstow Park Wood, SO/502.983, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Glanau Wood, SO/496.071, 1983, AN; Graig Wd., Penyclawdd, SO/44.08, TGE, MP, RDR; Lower Talycoed Wd., SO/41.15, TGE, MP, RDR; Monmouth, SO/51, 1922, HJR, *; Park Wd., Penyclawdd, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Pecket Stone, Trellech Hill, SO/503.074, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; S end Lasgarn Wd., SO/271.031, 2000, TGE; Troy Park Wood, 1956, ESE, *; Troy Wood, SO/51, 1923 and 1924, HJR, *; Usk, 1890, WAS, *. 6 t (5 t)

Reddings Inclosure, 1904, AL, *. (1 t)

Rubus rufescens Alcove Wood, 1983, TGE, *; Alder Carr, Rhyd-yfedw, ST/47.95, 1994, TGE, *; Ball Road, 1941, AEW, *; Blaenavon, SO/26.07, 1994, TGE, *; Caer Wd., S end of Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, 2000, TGE, MP, RDR; Caerllan, SO/49.08, 1983, AN; Chepstow Park Wood, ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; Fairfield Farm, 1898, WAS, *; Fedw Wood, ST/505.985, 1994, TGE, *; Glanau Wood, 1984, 202

Flora of Monmouthshire TGE, *; Glyn Wood, 1994, TGE, *; Gray Hill, ST/43.93, 1993, RDR; Great Barnetts' Wood, ST/51.94, 1987, TGE, *; Great Barnetts' Wood, 1994, TGE, *; Hadnock, SO/5.1, 1944, SGC, *; King’s Wood, SO/46.12, 1993, MP, RDR; Llanfoist Farm, 1990, TGE, *; Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; Lower Talycoed Wd., 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Mescoed Mawr Wood, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Minnetts Lane, ST/44.89, 1993, RDR; nr. Cwm Tillery Reservoirs, SO/21.07, 1995, TGE; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR; Park Wd., Pen-y-clawdd, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Priory Wd., Rhyd-y-fedw, ST/47.95, 1994, TGE, det. AJN; Skenfrith, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; The Narth, SO/522.063, 1994, TGE, *; The Park, ST/3.8, 1924, AEW, *; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Troy Park Wood, SO/5.1, 1973, AN, *; Wentwood, ST/42.93, 42.94, 1993, RDR. 22 t (9 t)

Rubus surrejanus Earlswood, ST/44.95, TGE, RDR; Forester's Oaks Car Park, ST/428.939, 1993, RDR, *; N of Gray Hill, ST/428.939, 1993, RDR. 3 t

Rubus trelleckensis

Rubus scabripes

Trelleck Bramble, is a very rare Monmouthshire endemic. During surveys in 1998 (Watsonia 23: 317) it was found in only five sites in one 10-km square near Trelleck. Five small populations were found, all in locations which were probably at one time either open heath or open Birch-Oak woodland but are now either conifer plantation, or conifers mixed with broad-leaved trees. Plants were most frequent on acidic podzols in sunny but sheltered spots on level ground. The main threats to its survival are change of land-use from forestry or changes in forestry operations. Beacon Hill, 1891, WAS, *; Beacon Hill, 1893, AL, EFL, *; Beacon Hill, 1893, AL, WAS, *; Beacon Hill, 1895 and 1897, AL, *; Beacon Hill, 1955, ESE, *; Beacon Hill, SO/510.052, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp, MP, AN; Cleddon Bog, SO/509.041, 1983, AN; no details, ST/2.8, 1983, AN; Trelleck Bog, 1891 and 1903, AL, *; Trelleck, 1894, Focke, WHP & AL, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. MP, AN.

St. Arvans, ST/5.9, 1925, HJR, *. (1 t)

2 t (2 t)

Rubus sciocharis

Rubus tricolor

Chepstow Park, 1925, HJR, *; Chepstow Park, ST/4.9, 1956, ESE, *; Chepstow Park Wd., ST/501.984, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp; Hale Wood, 1892, WAS, *; Honddu Valley, 1891, AL, *; Llanthony, SO/2.2, 1956, ESE, *; Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, MP, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, MP, RDR. 3 t (5 t)

E end George St. Bridge, ST/320.877, 1990, GH.

Rubus scaber Chepstow Park Wd., ST/503.983, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Fedw Wood, ST/505.985, 1994, TGE, *; Mescoed Mawr Wd., ST/27.89, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 3 t

1t Rubus troiensis Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, 2000, TGE, MP, AN; Darren Wd., Pen-y-cae-mawr, ST/40.94, 1990, TGE, AN; Darren Wood, ST/40.94, 1990, TGE, *; Glanau Wood, 1984, TGE, *; Lower Talycoed Wood, SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, AN; St. Brides, 1904, AL, *; The Fedw, 1889, WAS, Allen, D.E., *; Thornhill, wood margin, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, AN; Troy Park Wood, 1910, AL, *; Troy Park Wood, SO/5.1, 1973, AN, *; Troy Wood, 1924, HJR, *. 4 t (6 t)

Rubus scissus Chepstow Park, 1896, WAS, *; Cleddon Bog, SO/509.041, 1983, TGE; Cross Hands Inn, 1891, WAS, *; St. Arvans, 1903, WAS, *; Trelleck Bog, 1891, WAS, *; Trelleck Common, 1891, AL, *; Vicar’s Allotment, SO/507.062, 2000, BSBI Rubus Gp. 1 t (6 t)

Rubus tuberculatus Rubus sprengelii

Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Five Lanes, ST/44.90, 1993, RDR; Lower Talycoed Wd., 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/45.88, 44.89, 1993, RDR; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood, ST/43.95, 1993, RDR. 5 t (1 t)

Chepstow Park Wood, ST/503.983, 2000, BSBI Gp., MP, AN; Cwmtillery, SO/22.04, 1987, TGE, *; Itton, 1895, WAS, *; Newbridge on Usk, ST/22.97, 1987, TGE, *. 3 t (2 t)

203

Flora of Monmouthshire Rubus Gp., MP, AN; Hedge nr. Beech Farm, SO/32.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; hedge, S of Pentre-waun, ST/33.98, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Kings Wood, SO/46.12, 1993, MP, RDR; Park Wd., Penyclawdd, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Sor Brook, ST/32.97, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; The Goitre, 1896, WAS, *; Underwood, ST/39.88, 1997, TGE, AN; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR. 10 t (1 t)

Rubus ulmifolius Bulwark, ST/53.92, 1983, TGE, *; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 2000, TGE, MP, RDR; Carrow Hill, ST/43.90, 1993, RDR; Chepstow, ST/53.92, 1983, TGE, *; Five Lanes, ST/44.90, 44. 91, 1993, RDR; Goldcliff, ST/36.82, 1984, TGE; Gray Hill, ST/43.93, 1993, RDR; Llandegfedd, ST/3.9, 1943, AEW, *; Llanvaches, ST/43.91, 1993, RDR; Llanvair, ST/43 + 44.92, 1993, RDR; Llewellyn’s Dingle, ST/40.98, 1987, TGE; Malpas, ST/30.90, 1987, TGE; Minnetts Lane, ST/44.88, 45.88, 1993, RDR; MOD, Caerwent, ST/492.915, 2000, TGE, conf. MP; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, RDR; Penallt, SO/52.10, 1983, TGE; Penpergwm, SO/32.09, 1987, TGE; Peterstone Wentloog, ST/26.80, 1962, Harrison, S.G., *; Peterstone Wentlooge, ST/2.8Q and V, 2000, TGE, MP, RDR; Pontyspig, SO/28.20, 1994, TGE; Priory Wd., Skenfrith, SO/45.20, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Risca, ST/2.9, 1942, AEW, *; Rumney, ST/2.7, 1942, AEW, *; S of Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S of Pentre–waun, ST/33.98, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Sor Brook Picnic Site, ST/32.97, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Sudbrook, ST/50.87, 1987, TGE; Thornhill, ST/27.95, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Tredunnock, ST/37.94, 1987, TGE; Underwood, ST/38.89, 2000, TGE; Wentwood, ST/42.92, 42.93, 1993, RDR; Wern Melin Farm, SO/412.108, 1995, TGE, *; AN. 24 t (7 t)

Rubus vestitus

Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, AN; Hale Wood, ST/468.973, 1994, TGE, *; Llanddewi Fach, ST/3.9, 1943, AEW, *; Llanmelin Wood, ST/463.928, 1994, TGE, *; Risca, ST/225.913, 1994, TGE, *; Steppes Farm, SO/42.01, 1996, TGE, *. 3 t (2 t)

‘Withy Bed’, Portskewett, ST/507.886, 1995, TGE; Blaenavon, SO/26.08, 1994, TGE, TGE, *; Caerllan, SO/48.08, 1983, BSBI, Wales AGM, AN; Chepstow Park, 1925, HJR, *; Five Lanes, ST/44.90, 1993, RDR; Great Barnetts' Wood, ST/51.94, 1987, TGE, *; hedge, Earlswood, ST/44.95, 1990, TGE; hedge, Wonastow, SO/485.108, 1989, HVC; Llanvair, ST/44.92, 1993, RDR; Llwyn-du, SO/28.16, 1993, RDR, MP; Lower Earlswood, ST/4.9, 1925, WAS, *; Lower Tal-y-coed Wd., SO/41.15, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/44.88 & 89; 45.89, 1993, RDR; Monmouth, 1925, HJR, *; Mynydd Alltyr-fach, ST/42.92, 1993, RDR; Nr. Wentwood Reservoir, ST/42.93, 1993, RDR; NW of White House, SO/42.22, 1993, RDR, MP; Pen-y-clawdd, SO/45.08, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Plantation Farm, ST/47.97, 1990, TGE, *; Priory Wd., Skenfrith, SO/45.20, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; S end, Lasgarn Wd., SO/271.031, 2000, TGE; S of Glascoed Vill. SO/33.01, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Triley Mill, SO/31.17, 1988, TGE; Upper Cwmbran, ST/27.96, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; W of Cilfeigan Park, ST/34.99, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Wentwood Lodge, ST/41.94, 1993, RDR; Wentwood, ST/42.94, 1993, RDR. 23 t (4 t)

Rubus ulmifolius hybrid

Rubus vestitus hybrid

Dinham, ST/4.9, 1991, TGE, *; Earlswood, ST/46.94, 1994, TGE, *; Gwehelog Common, SO/38.04, 1987, TGE; Itton, ST/4.9, 1895, WAS, *; Pant-y-cosyn, ST/4.9, 1891, WAS, *; Pen-y-lan, ST/3.9, 1943, AEW, *; Rumney, ST/2.7, 1941, AEW, *; Rumney, ST/2.8, 1942, AEW, *; St. Brides, Wentlooge, ST/29.81, 1987, TGE; Welsh Trees Garden Centre, SO/38.07, 1995, TGE, *. Numerous tetrads

Crosskeys, ST/2.9, 1942, AEW, *; Llanddewi Sgyrrid, SO/3.1, 1909, AL, *; Llanvair-Discoed, ST/4.9, 1903, ESM. WAS, *. (4 t)

Rubus ulmifolius x vestitus

Rubus vigorosus The Minnetts, ST/4.8, 1904, WAS, *; Slade Wood, ST/4.8, 1904, WAS, *. (2 t)

Rubus winteri Marsh, Pandy Mawr, Henllys, ST/26.92, 1996, TGE. 1 t

Rubus vagensis Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/32.16, 1996, TGE, MP, RDR; Caer Wd., Skirrid, SO/326.167, 2000, BSBI 204

Flora of Monmouthshire The following 12 Brambles occur in vc 35 in the Atlas of British and Irish Brambles by A. Newton & R. D. Randall but I have no details:

Rubus altiarcuatus Rubus asperidens Rubus babbingtonii Rubus diversus Rubus hylocharis Rubus lanaticaulis Rubus murrayi Rubus pallidus Rubus pampinosus Rubus raduloides Rubus sempernitens

18 31

POTENTILLA Cinquefoils Cinquefoils are usually herbaceous perennials but deciduous shrubs occur rarely. They have palmate (leaflets in 5s or 3s) or pinnate leaves; their flowers are solitary to numerous, with sepals and petals usually in 4s or 5s, there is an epicalyx, stamens are numerous, the hypanthium is flat to shallowly saucer shaped; the fruit is a group of achenes. To separate the hybrids from their parents and each other refer to ‘Plant Crib 1998’ by Rich & Jermy pages 149-150.

Potentilla anserina

Silverweed

The leaves and flowers arise from the nodes of long runners. The pinnate leaves are covered with silvery hairs, which are usually denser when the plant needs to conserve water e.g. when it grows on sandy shores where rain makes water more available than from the salt water invading from the sea. The 15-20 mm flowers have yellow petals twice the length of the green sepals.

Shrubby Cinquefoil

The only British shrubby Potentilla but alien in the vice-county. Its simple leaflets are greyish hairy underneath and narrowly elliptic and in various compound arrangements. Its yellow flowers are borne singly or in small clusters. In the wild it grows on river or lake margins, often rocky ones, and on mountain rocks but is only native in N England and W Ireland. In vc 35 it is either a garden escape or in a derelict garden. 1 t

Potentilla palustris

It is a plant more common in the wetter, western and northern parts of the British Isles, growing in fens, marshes and bogs. In vc 35 it has been long known in a pond at Llanfoist, SO/295.130, Wade (1970); 1990, RF; 1990-2003, TGE, CT. 1 t (2 t) Plate 34

Rubus subinermoides

! Potentilla fruticosa

Marsh Cinquefoil

Marsh Cinquefoil has pinnate leaflets, looking almost palmate at a casual glance, arising at the nodes from a long, rather woody rhizome and ascending stems to over 40 cm. It tends to form patches. Unlike most cinquefoils, which have yellow flowers with rounded petals, they have dark red flowers with narrow, lanceolate petals with longer, broader and pointed sepals of the same colour.

18 31

205

Flora of Monmouthshire Silverweed is a plant of shores, damp and grassy places, waste ground, particularly road and tracksides. Widespread in the vice-county. 372 t

Potentilla argentea

Hoary Cinquefoil

This plant has spreading and ascending stems and palmate leaves with 5-7, narrow, finely-divided lobes, silvery-haired on the lower sides only. The 10-12 mm, yellow flowers are in branched clusters. It tends to grow on gritty substrates in upland regions. In vc 35 it grows in 2 tetrads at Rock, SO/181.991-9 and ST/1799.9873, 1986-2004, TGE, on ballast of a disused railway and neighbouring coal waste tips, landscaped since 1986. 2 t

! Potentilla recta

18 31

It grows largely on acid or neutral grassland or heaths in the uplands, and also occurs at lower altitudes. It is widespread in vc 35 but largely avoids the Levels and it is hard to find on ‘improved’ farmland. 279 t

Sulphur Cinquefoil

This is a stiffly erect perennial to 15 cm or more. It has greyish-hairy, palmate leaves with narrow, deeply toothed leaflets. The 15-20 mm pale yellow flowers are borne in lax, branched clusters and have sepals and petals roughly the same length. In Britain grown in gardens and occasionally escapes. In vc 35 several plants were observed on a landscaped coal tip, on the edge of the R. Rhymney, Cwmsyfiog, SO/15.02, 1988, TGE, UTE. 1 t

Potentilla x suberecta

a hybrid Cinquefoil

This P. erecta x P. anglica hybrid has trailing, seldom-rooting stems bearing leaves with from 1-5 leaflets (but mostly 3), that are sessile towards the apex but petioled towards the base of the stem. Very few achenes are produced. It occurs where its parents grow. In vc 35 it has probably been under-recorded and occurs at: bank/shingle bed of Afon Llwyd, Llantarnam, ST/313.934, 1991, JFH; roadside bank, NE of Argoed, nr. Pen-deri Farm, SO/182.004, 1997, TGE, UTE; Calling Wood, SO/46.13 R, 1987, PJ; King’s Wood complex, SO/47.12, 1987, TGE, UTE. 3 t

! Potentilla norvegica Ternate-leaved Cinquefoil This plant is a short-lived, hairy perennial with ascending stems bearing ternate leaves with 3 elliptical, deeply toothed leaflets. It has rather large stipules. The bright yellow, 10-15 mm flowers are borne in loose, branched clusters, the sepals are the same length as the petals or longer and enlarge in fruit. An introduced plant from Scandinavia and N Germany, which naturalises easily in Britain. In vc 35 its records are: Maindiff Court Hospital grounds, SO/31.15, 1987, GFM; garden weed, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/52.93, 1990-2004, TGE. 2 t

Potentilla erecta

Potentilla anglica

Trailing Tormentil

Tormentil

This sparsely downy perennial has a basal rosette of ternate leaves, that wither as the trailing but non-rooting stems develop almost sessile, ternate leaves; these leaves, which have noticeable pointed teeth towards the apex, appear to be palmate due to two opposed stipules that are like smaller leaflets. The plant tends to form close patches. The 7-11 mm, yellow flowers are borne singly or in lax clusters.

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206

Flora of Monmouthshire It was recorded: on the drier parts of the wet heath between Blackwood and Pontllanfraith ST/16.96, 1987, TGE. 1 t

Potentilla anglica is like P. erecta but looks less sturdy and has persistent basal leaves. Its trailing stems only branch occasionally and root at the nodes only late in the summer. Its leaflets may be 3 4 or 5 but more often 5. It has 4 or 5 petals. Its fruits have abundant, fertile achenes. It grows on ‘unimproved’, dryish grassland, heaths and open edges to woods. In vc 35 it is widespread in smaller numbers but there is little to be found on the Levels or on much of farmland, where the old hay meadows or old type pastures have been ploughed and resown with the modern rye grass mixtures. 208 t

Potentilla reptans

Creeping Cinquefoil

This perennial has persistent basal leaf rosettes and creeping and rooting stems to a metre or more, the stem leaves are all palmate with 5 oval leaflets and petioles over 1 cm in length. The 15-25 mm, yellow flowers have stalks arising from the leaf axils. 23

Potentilla x mixta

Hybrid Cinquefoil

This is usually produced by P. anglica x P. reptans hybrids but is sometimes inseparable from P. erecta x P. reptans. It rarely has branching stems, but they root readily. The petioles are longer than the shortest leaf and have simple stipules at their base; the petals number varies between 4 and 5 and it only produces sterile fruits.

19 23 18 31

It grows on waste ground, marginal land, open grassland and coastal areas. In vc 35 it is widespread. 369 t

Potentilla sterilis

Barren Strawberry

19 23 18 31

Potentilla x mixta seems to be the commoner Cinquefoil hybrid and may be found even in the absence of its parents. I do not find it commoner than P. anglica. The records in Wade (1970) for P. x italica probably refer to this hybrid: upper part of the Honddu Valley, SO/2.2, AL; between Wyndcliff and Tintern, ST/5.9, AL; The Glyn, ST/47.96, WAS (1920). 18 t (5 t)

18 31

Potentilla x italica

a hybrid Cinquefoil

This is a hairy perennial with long, rooting runners and terminal leaf rosettes. Its leaves are trifoliate with broadly ovate, toothed leaflets silkily hairy underneath and an apex with the central tooth

This P. erecta x P. reptans hybrid is very similar to Trailing Tormentil but has sterile fruits. It occurs where its parents grow together. 207

Flora of Monmouthshire somewhat inset. Its flowers are white and the sepals can be seen in the gaps between the petals. It grows on hedgebanks, open woodland and dry banks. Though widespread it is not as common as thirty years ago as woodland tends have less open areas and brambles and ivy invade the open spaces created by modern forestry practices. 344 t

! Fragaria moschata

FRAGARIA Strawberries These herbaceous perennials have rooting runners with ternate leaves that have toothed, ovate leaflets that terminate in an acute point; the white flowers have 5 petals, an epicalyx with entire segments, and which produce strawberries which are false fruits comprised of swollen receptacles that turn red and are covered with the true fruits (achenes) over their surfaces.

Fragaria vesca

Wild Strawberry

This has a sparsely pubescent, rather glossy upper side to its leaves; its strawberries do not exceed 15 mm in width and its sepals are patent; the 12-18 mm flowers are bisexual and the uppermost pedicel in the flower cluster has apically directed hairs. The achenes are proud on the surface of the ripe receptacle.

! Fragaria x ananassa

DUCHESNIA Yellow-flowered Strawberry This perennial is similar to Fragaria spreading by slender runners bearing leaves with three leaflets on erect stems but differs in having solitary yellow flowers with each, spreading, epicalyx segment terminated with 3 round teeth, larger than each of the lanceolate sepals.

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Garden Strawberry

This is a larger plant in all its parts, the leaves are almost glabrous; the strawberries are mostly over 15 mm wide, with the sepals appressed; the achenes are sunk in the pits on the surface of the ripe receptacle. A garden plant that can occur apparently wild in the British countryside. In vc 35 it is sometimes by railways, where once railway workers tended strips of land as allotments alongside the fences that kept the public from straying on to the lines. Abandoned strawberry fields, due to a disastrous crop-year, account for some sightings. Wade (1970) gave railway bank, Abersychan, SO/2.0 S, 1923*. Recent sites: rail side, Caldicot, ST/48.87, 19761990, TGE; near strawberry fields, Brook House, ST/228.827, 1986, GH. 2 t (1 t)

Hautbois Strawberry

This is similar to F. vesca but is a bigger plant with few or no runners; the flowers are 15-25 mm across and are either male or female, so unless plants of both sexes are nearby no strawberries will form. The pedicels are clothed in long, white, patent hairs that are diagnostic. The achenes are not in pits on the surface and are absent from the base of the strawberry. It grows in similar sites to F. vesca. The only extant vc 35 site is on a hedgebank, on Trap Hill, Mounton, ST/509.933, 1943-1990, TGE, UTE. The bank is often cut before the flowering season because of the narrowness of the road so the flowers have not been seen for some years. Wade (1970) gave 8 sites: near Buckholt, 1880, AL; Buckholt Wood; near Wyesham signal box, SGC, *; Usk Road, Mounton does not ring true as the two are widely separated; Shirenewton Hill; between Pont-y-Saison and the Pantau, *, WAS; near Kite’s Bushes, Shirenewton, *. 1 t (8 t)

It grows in open woods, dry, open grassland, embankments and margins on calcareous soils. The modern, managed vc 35 woodland is less open and clear felling allows brambles and ivy to shade out plants such as wild strawberries, so that though the plant can be found in numerous tetrads it is difficult to find them in quantities sufficient to fill even a small bowl with fruit. 332 t

Duchesnea indica Yellow-flowered Strawberry Like a yellow-flowered Wild Strawberry, differing as shown above, it has an insipid, almost globular, 208

Flora of Monmouthshire red fruit with sepals curved upwards at its base, below which is the noticeable, spreading epicalyx. Grown as a novelty and escaping from gardens. I took a rooted plantlet from a runner on Berkeley Church Wall in 1984 and put it in my garden, ST/52.93, out of curiosity. My advice is do not repeat my experiment; within my garden in 2006 it is out of control. Recorded in Nelson Garden at the rear of 18 Monnow St., Monmouth SO/508.127, and was on track from Chippenham Court to Nelson Garden (now under tarmac), 2006, DTP. 2 t

THT, *; Rhymney Valley, SH (1909); Lasgarn Wood, *; The Glyn, Itton, SH; Shirenewton, SH, *. Recent sites: bank of Mounton Brook, Rhyd-yfedw, ST/474.957, WAS (1920), 1970-2003, TGE; rock ledges, Tarren-yr-esgob, SO/254.305, 1944, RL, AEW, 1986, TGE; wet Triley Great Wood, SO/311.182, 1986, RF, 2002, TGE; central path, W side of Skirrid, SO/325.173, 1994, CT; half a square metre, side of Afon Honddu, NW of Llanthony, SO/283.280, 1996, TGE. 7 t (7 t)

Geum x intermedium GEUM Avens Hairy, perennial herbs with pinnate leaves and flowers usually in branched clusters with 5 sepals, 5 clawed petals and numerous stamens, an epicalyx is present; each achene is eventually terminated with a long, hooked tip, and a group of them form the fruit, usually sitting on the hypanthium.

Geum rivale

Geum urbanum

Water Avens

18 32

Wood Avens

This is an erect, hairy perennial with basal leaves which have 1-5 pairs of irregularly lobed, toothed leaflets, the stem leaves may be three-lobed or pinnate and have a pair of large stipules at their base; the 8-15 mm, pale yellow flowers are held erect in little-branched clusters; the achenes form a globose bundle above the calyx, each with a straight, barbed style, which turns dark red when ripe, the base of the style may have glands; the receptacle is densely hairy.

The basal leaves have a large, wide terminal lobe, the plant has an erect stem terminated with pendent, bell-shaped, 8-15 mm, cream to pink flowers with a hairy, purplish calyx and epicalyx; the globose head of achenes is separated from the calyx by a short stalk, the styles have long hairs and short glands on their base; the receptacle is hairy.

a hybrid Avens

This G. rivale and G. urbanum hybrid is a highly fertile intermediate between its parents. It is found wherever its parents are in close proximity. The only site is in Triley Great Wood, SO/311.182, 1989, RF, 1994, TGE. 1 t Plate 33

It grows in marshes, in wet areas in open woodland and by streams. In vc 35 it is found in wet woods and by streams. Wade (1970) had sites: Honddu Valley, ? before 1904, Mrs AL; Grwyne Fawr Valley, AL; between Abergavenny and Triley Bridge; between Great Triley and Crowfield; between Abergavenny and Llantilio Pertholey; Varteg, JHC (Newport Museum); Abersychan,

It grows in woods and hedgerows. Widespread in the vice-county, except where hedges or suitable woods are lacking. 331 t AGRIMONIA Agrimonies Agrimonies are shortly rhizomatous, hairy, perennial herbs; their pinnate basal leaves form a rosette, from which arises an erect stem terminated 209

Flora of Monmouthshire in a long spike of yellow flowers, there are 5 sepals and petals, 5-20 stamens, no epicalyx; a ribbed, conical to bell-shaped hypanthium, which has rings of hooked bristles, enclose the achenes in fruit.

Agrimonia eupatoria

Agrimony

This plant has non-glandular hairs, it has 3-6 main pairs of leaflets, the underside of the leaves may have a few sessile, shining glands but usually none, the leaf teeth are rather blunt; the obconical hypanthium is grooved almost to its end the basal bristles are patent (sometimes very slightly reflexed) to erecto-patent becoming more erect towards the apex.

18 31

It grows in unimproved grassland and similar grassy verges. In vc 35, apart from MOD, Caerwent, it is usually in small numbers in any one site. 17 t

SANGUISORBA Burnets Burnets are perennial herbs with pinnate leaves and flowers in compact, terminal spikes and which are hermaphrodite or a mixture of hermaphrodite and single sex, there are 4 sepals but no petals or epicalyx, the stamens are 4 or numerous. The hypanthium is deeply concave and the carpels ripening into achenes are enclosed in it.

18 31

Sanguisorba officinalis

It grows in grassy places. In vc 35, like other parts of Britain, it can be found widely, but in greatly reduced numbers. It flourishes in unimproved meadows, but because they are much less common, the plant has become more marginal, and occupies verges of woods, roads and tracks. 227 t The hybrid between A. eupatoria and A. procera has both hairs and glands, and blunt and acute teeth to its leaves and no fruits are formed. It is likely to occur where both parents grow in numbers and in close proximity of each other. It is rare because Fragrant Agrimony is much less common, but in places such as MOD, Caerwent, where both species abound, it could occur; certainly plants that seemed somewhat intermediate had small fruits.

Agrimonia procera

Great Burnet

The erect stems may be over 1 m tall and arise among pinnate leaves that have 3-7 pairs of bluntly toothed leaflets; the hermaphrodite, purplish flowers are aggregated into a roundedoblong head, and have 4 stamens and a single papillate stigma. 23

Fragrant Agrimony

Like A. eupatoria but it is more leafy, all hairs are longer, there are abundant, sessile glands on the underside of the leaves, which have deeper and more acute teeth; the hypanthium, in fruit, is bellshaped, and has grooves that do not extend to ¾ of the way to the apex, the basal bristles are reflexed.

18 31

210

Flora of Monmouthshire record, TGE; bank of River Ebbw, Risca, ST/2.9 F, 1992, JFH; 2 plants on built up bank of R. Ebbw, Newtown, Cross Keys, ST/218.917, 1994, TGE; on sloping, wet, stony ground, W of Castle Farm, Bishton, ST/385.880, 1996, TGE. 3 t

Great Burnet is a plant of wet, unimproved grassland and mountain ledges (especially in the Brecon Beacons). It is confined to western vc 35 where it is wetter and has more unimproved meadows. 34 t

Sanguisorba minor subsp. minor Salad Burnet

ALCHEMILLA Lady’s-mantles These are tufted, perennial herbs. The palmate or palmately-lobed, toothed, simple leaves arise from the apex of a rhizome covered with brown remains of previous petioles. The 3 mm, green or yellowish green flowers are arranged in clustered cymes on branched stems.

This plant is about half as big as Great Burnet with erect stems to just over 50 mm tall; its flowers are female at the top of the globular head with the rest hermaphrodite or male, a flower has numerous stamens and 2 tassel-like stigmas. The hypanthium has thickened ribs with finer reticulations between.

Alchemilla xanthochlora

Lady’s-mantle

This species is usually over 20 cm high with palmate leaves divided to less than half way into 711, rounded lobes with 11-15 more or less equal, acute teeth; the stems, petioles and lower sides of the leaves are clothed with patent or erectopatent hairs, the leaf basal sinus is wide; the epicalyx is shorter than the calyx.

20 23 19 22 18 31

It grows on unimproved, calcareous or sometimes neutral grassland. In vc 35 the map shows a concentration of sites in SE vc 35, where Carboniferous Limestone is the underlying rock but many sites are being lost due to the massive extension of house building in that corner. The loss of unimproved meadows compounds the situation. 33 t

18 31

It grows in grassy places. In vc 35 it may be native in the western valleys but certainly the sites in the SE corner are associated with dwellings. 22 t

Sanguisorba minor subsp. muricata Fodder Burnet This is a larger plant than subsp. minor with the leaflet edges more deeply divided and the teeth more acute; the angles on the hypanthium are often wavy, winged, and smooth or wrinkled between. It was grown as a fodder crop and remnants sometimes persisted and also gets introduced with grass seed. In the vice-county it has been noted only 4 times: 8-10 plants on grassy bank (was being overgrown by shrubs) of Nant Hafod-tudor, Wattsville, ST/203.916, 1986-88, 1st vice-county

Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita Lady’s-mantle With this plant, the upper part of the stem, the upper side of the leaves and the whole of the inflorescence are fairly densely hairy; the base of the stems and petioles are tinged wine-red; there are usually 7 leaf-lobes toothed completely between them and the leaf base has a sinus open to more than 45 degrees; the epicalyx parts are shorter than the calyx. 211

Flora of Monmouthshire 1988, TGE, UTE; grassy roadside bank, Tredegar, SO/14.09 and SO/13.08. 1988, TGE, JK; recreation ground, nr. Glasllwch Cemetery, ST/298.875, 1988, EJS; Pontypool, SO/2.0 V, 1985, PM; grassy part of heath, Pontllanfraith, ST/166.961, 1991, TGE; beside damp forest track, Bal Mawr, SO/26.26, 1999, SAR; garden weed, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/52.93, 1980-2004. 10 t

Alchemilla mollis

18 31

Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita is a plant of open places in woodland and damp, rich grassland, but does not re-appear in re-seeded fields. In vc 35 it has declined in both numbers of sites and in numbers on sites. 69 t

Alchemilla glabra

Lady’s-mantle

The hairs on the hypanthia are sparse and absent on the pedicels, otherwise the plant is densely pubescent with patent hairs; the palmate leaves are lobed to less than half way; the leaves have 9-11 rounded lobes with 15-19 slightly incurved, pointed teeth; the hypanthium is much shorter than the mature achene. 23

Lady’s-mantle

This plant often grows to well over 20 cm high, with palmate leaves lobed to less than half way, the 7-9 lobes have rounded or straight sides with 11-19 incurved teeth that are largest at the middle of the sides; the stems are appressedpubescent only on the lowest 2 or 3 internodes and on the veins on the lower side of the leaves, the upperside is glabrous. The basal leaf sinus is wide.

18 31

It was introduced as a garden plant and because of its prolific seed production has become widely naturalised. It is much commoner in the NW of the coal valleys than elsewhere in vc 35. 15 t

APHANES Parsley-pierts Parsley-pierts are small annuals with deeply palmately-lobed leaves; their small, hermaphrodite flowers are in dense, leaf-opposed groups, 4 sepals do the work of petals which are absent, there is an epicalyx, a deeply concave hypanthium and usually a single stamen; the fruit is an achene enclosed in a dry hypanthium.

18 31

Aphanes arvensis

This species grows in grassy places, upland ledges, by waterfalls and in open spaces in woods. In vc 35 it is found mainly in rough grass in the west. Wade (1970) gave: Llanthony dist. SO/2.2, AL, RL; Rhymney Bridge; near Tintern, 19th C, CB. Some recent sites: grassy bank, N Rhymney, SO/108.089,

Parsley-piert

This is a low-growing, hairy annual branched from near the base, with thin branches clothed in small (to 1 cm), grey-green 3-lobed, toothed leaves; there are stipules and at fruiting nodes form a leaf-like cup with ovate-triangular teeth at apex 212

Flora of Monmouthshire This species is found more on acid soils and is not common on arable land. In vc 35 it seems to frequent higher ground but is much less frequent than A. arvensis. 25 t

c. half as long as the whole cup, inside this structure the 2-2.6 mm, fruiting hypanthium, including erect c. 0.6-0.8 mm sepals forms, at the base of the sepals there is a constriction, which is on the same level as the tip of the stipules

ROSA Roses Roses are deciduous shrubs with prickles on stems and petioles; the leaves are pinnate; the flowers have 5 sepals and petals, the stamens are numerous, there is no epicalyx, the hypanthium forms a fleshy flask with a narrow neck and forms the false fruit enclosing hairy achenes, the fruit above the sepals forms the disc and in its centre is the orifice. BSBI Handbook No.7 ‘Roses of Great Britain and Ireland’ has clear illustrations of key diagnostic features, as well as descriptions, and is recommended for identification.

Rosa arvensis 31

This small plant grows on cultivated and bare soils, where drainage is reasonable. The gaps in the distribution in vc 35 suggest it has been overlooked in some places? 100 t

Aphanes australis

Field-rose

This is a shrub with weakly trailing, purple branches, armed with slender, curved prickles, and glabrous leaves with 5-7, ovate-elliptic, eglandular leaflets; the 1-few, white flowers have 2-5 cm pedicels bearing short-stalked glands, the styles are united in a column, the simple, purplish sepals fall early.

Slender Parsley-piert

This is very similar to A. arvensis but differs in having stipule-teeth at fruiting nodes ovateoblong c. as long as the whole cup; the 1.4-1.9 mm, fruiting hypanthium includes the c. 0.3-0.5 mm, convergent sepals which continue the curved outline of the hypanthium, which is shorter than the tips of the mature stipules by some margin.

19 23 18 22

A plant of hedgerows, wood margins and open spaces in woods or scrub. In vc 35 it is widespread on more base-rich soils, though modern hedgecutting does not favour it. 325 t

Rosa x pseudorusticana

18 31

a hybrid Rose

This R. arvensis x R. stylosa hybrid was identified by ALP in 1992 from a specimen collected from a hedgerow nr. Tintern, 1891, WAS, *. (1 t)

213

Flora of Monmouthshire

Rosa x verticillacantha

beautify new estates and occasionally turns up on neighbouring land. 22 t

a hybrid Rose

This R. arvensis x R. canina hybrid was identified by ALP in 1992 from a specimen collected in woods at Wyndcliff, ST/53.97, 1895, ESM, *. It was recorded at the side of a path near McDonald’s Nursery, Abergavenny, SO/285.137, 2003, GMK. 1 t (1 t)

! Rosa pimpinellifolia

! Rosa ferruginea

Burnet Rose

This forms low, dense patches from its suckering habit; its stems are generously clothed in a range of slender prickles and acicles; its glabrous, eglandular leaves have small, oval to round leaflets; its 2-4 cm flowers are more often white and produce a globose, purple-black fruit with erect sepals. In Britain it is largely coastal growing on sand dunes, inland it may be found on heaths or limestone. In vc 35 it is mainly planted to beautify entrances to new industrial estates. One site on coal waste at the side of the B4248, Bunker’s Hill, Blaenavon, SO/248.095, 1987, TGE, RF, does not seem natural either. 4 t

! Rosa rugosa

Red-leaved Rose

This is a suckering, erect shrub to 3 m; its young, flexuous stems are red-brown with a purplish bloom; it has few, straight or curved prickles, and acicles on the sucker stems; the 5-7 leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, sharply uniserrate, glabrous and glaucous or flushed crimson red; the gland-edged stipules are very narrow; the 3-4 cm flowers range from light to dark pink; the globose, sparsely glandular hairy hips ripen red and have pedicels to 2.5 cm often with glands; the usually entire sepals are spreading to erect and persist until the hips are ripe. It was found on a coal waste parkland, E of Blackwood, ST/17.96, 1990, RF, det. GGG. 1 t

Rosa stylosa

Short-styled Field-rose

Japanese Rose

This is a quite glandular, robust, suckering shrub with erect, over 1 m stems clad in numerous prickles and acicles; its uniserrate leaves have an uneven, shiny, rugose upper surface and a glandular and hairy, to varying degrees, under surface; its white to red, 6-9 cm diameter flowers are usually solitary; its c. 2 cm, slightly flattened globose fruit turns red when ripe.

18 31

18 32

This rose is a climbing shrub, with arching stems reaching a height from 2-4 m, the stem prickles are large and deltate with a slightly curved top and arched underneath; the uniserrate, ovatelanceolate leaflets are darker above than below, hairs and glands occur among the prickles on the petiole and these extend on to the rachis and the leaf underside, particularly on the midribs; The white or pale pink, to 5 cm flowers are borne on long glandular pedicels in varying numbers but usually 3-5, the sepals deflex as the fruit develops but fall early; the hips are smooth though occasional glands appear on them, the disc above the sepals is strongly conical (cut in half it is even more like a volcanic cone with thick walls penetrated by a vent through which the styles protrude, rather than lava), the orifice is 1/5 of the

This rose is grown as a stock for propagation purposes and as an ornamental barrier in open plan urban development. In vc 35 it is planted to 214

Flora of Monmouthshire disc diameter and the emergent styles form a glabrous column. It grows in hedgerows and on wood margins. In vc 35 it is commoner in the SE but is often more difficult to identify because of the way hedges are cut and because it hybridises quite freely with R. canina. 33 t

Rosa x andegavensis

a hybrid Rose

All stages of the intermediate state occur in this R. stylosa x R. canina hybrid. It is found largely in the areas where R. stylosa grows. 22 t

18 31

This aggregate map has not been separated into its four groups Lutetianae, Dumales, Transitoriae or Pubescentes or had hybrids extracted, particularly when the canina aspects were dominant.

Rosa canina Group Pubescentes

18 31

Rosa stylosa x R. obtusifolia

a hybrid Rose

It differs from R. obtusifolia in having coarser prickles and glandular-hispid pedicels. Some of the fruits have noticeably conical discs with aggregated styles. It was found in an 80 m long ‘hedge’, Barnett’s Farm, Bayfield, ST/517.934, 1992, TGE, conf. GGG, ALP. 1 t

Rosa canina agg.

Dog-rose

This group has hairy petioles, rachis and leaves, though hairs may be on the underside of the leaves and confined to the mid-ribs; it is eglandular apart from a few stalked glands on the stipule margins. Records: hedgerow, between Mounton and Trelenny, ST/5.9 B, 1890, WAS, det. EBB; meadow below Tintern Abbey, ST/5.9 J, 1890, WAS, det. AHW-D; Rumney, ST/2.7 E, 1920, AEW, det. EBB; hedgerow, NW of St Mellons, ST/2.8 F, 1934, AEW, AHW-D; between Castleton and Marshfield, ST/2.8 L, 1934, AEW, det. ALP; nr. Court Perrot, Llandegfedd, ST/33.95, 1943, AEW, det. ALP; banks of R. Wye, Dixton Newton, SO/5.1 M, 1944, RL, det. ALP; waste ground, Newlands, Rumney, ST/238.793, 1972, RGE, det. ALP; hedgerows, nr. Marshfield, ST/26.82, 1972, RGE, det. ALP. 9 t

Dog-rose

This climbing shrub has arching stems to over 3 m; its prickles are broadly based and strongly curved; the leaflets vary according to which group they belong, so could be glabrous or hairy on the underside, 1-2 serrate, eglandular or with glandular teeth or with glands on underside veins; the flowers to 6 cm across are white or pink, the sepals may be glabrous or sparsely glandular, reflexed on the fruit, before falling while the fruit is still green, the fruit may be globular, ovoid or tapering towards the apex. A common plant of hedges, scrub and woodborders. Widespread in vc 35 but requires specialist attention. 372 t

Rosa canina Group Lutetianae

Dog-rose

The plant is glabrous apart from some hairiness of the styles; the leaflets are uniserrate and eglandular; the stipules, petiole and rachis are eglandular, though stalked glands may occur on the stipule margin. Records: hedgerow, Coedkernew, ST/2.8 R, 1934, AEW, det. EBB; edge of clearing, Garth Wood, nr. Monmouth, SO/5.1 G, 1944, RL, det. RM; hedgerow, nr. Marshfield, ST/26.82, 1972, RGE, det. ALP. (3 t)

215

Flora of Monmouthshire

Rosa canina Group Dumales

Dog-rose

The group is glabrous apart from some hairs on the styles; the leaflets are bi- or multi-serrate, with small, scentless, shiny, red glands on the teeth; stalked red glands appear on the petioles and on the underside of the leaflets, particularly on the midribs. Records: The Meads, Chepstow, ST/5.9 G, 1889, WAS, det. EBB; nr. Cherry Orchard Farm, Shirenewton, ST/4.9, 1891, WAS, det. AHW-D; Llandewi Skirrid, SO/3.1 I, 1909, AL, det. AHWD; field hedge, by Troy Woods, Monmouth, SO/5.1 A, 1924, HJR, det. ALP; hedgerow, Coedkernew, ST/2.8 R, 1934, AEW, det. ALP; hedge, Dixton, nr. Monmouth, SO/51 B or G, 1943, AEW, det. ALP; hedgerow, nr. Marshfield, ST/26.82, 1934, AEW, det. EBB, 1972, RGE, det. ALP; one large plant on the W side of the cycle track, S of Blaenavon, SO/26657.06920, 2004, TGE det. RM. 1 t (7 t)

Rosa canina Group Transitoriae

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R. canina x R. caesia subsp. glauca (with R. canina as female parent). Records: hedge bank, E side of road, Lower White Castle, SO/384.163, 1992, TGE, conf. GGG; N facing grassy bank (Carboniferous Limestone), The Brockwells, ST/469.896, 1992, TGE, det. GGG; grassy slope, Park Redding, Bulwark, ST/54.92, 1992, TGE, det. GGG; grassy bank, entrance to ‘The British’, Talywain, SO/259.043, 1992, TGE, det. GGG; top of a bank of scrub, S of Argoed House Club, SO/212.018, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG; scrubby bank, nr. R. Rhymney, Pengam, ST/154.972, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG; road bank, Maes-y-Cwmmer to Fleur-de-lis, opposite Carlton Heights Nursing Home, ST/155.956, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG. 9 t

Dog-rose

The roses in this group are glabrous apart from some that have hairy styles; the leaflets may have large teeth interspersed with small ones tipped with dull, brown glands; stalked glands sometimes occur on the margins of the stipules, on petioles and main leaf vein. Records: The Cwm, Shirenewton, ST/4.9 L, 1910, WAS, det. EBB, AHW-D; Marshfield, ST/2.8 L, 1934, AEW, det. EBB; edge of Garth Wood, Staunton Rd., SO/5.1 G; 1944, RL, det. RMel.; Marshfield, ST/2.8 R, RGE, det. ALP; one large bush to over 2 m on steep, field bank, NW of Upper Red House, SO/426.128, 2004, TGE, CT, det. RM. 1 t (4 t)

Rosa x dumalis

Rosa x dumetorum

a hybrid Dog-rose

This R. obtusifolia x R. canina hybrid occurs with a puzzling range of gradations between the two parents. Wade (1970) stated that dumetorum was frequent to common in hedges and thickets in all districts. For R. obtusifolia he stated rare in hedges in two of his five districts, he gave seven sites in those two districts with three specimens lodged in NMW. The two statements seem to be in conflict as the hybrid is commoner than the parent. The only recent record: on reen side of hedge, S of Grangefield Farm, ST/39.84, 1991, TGE, det. GGG. 1 t

a hybrid Dog-rose

This R. caesia subsp. glauca x R. canina hybrid (with R. canina as male parent) is close to R. canina but has wine-red colouring of stems and leaves, glabrous, uniserrate, glaucous leaflets, hairy beneath, large hips ripening early, rather short pedicels and very hairy stigmas. Records: frequent on upland meadow, SW of Trinant, ST/204.994, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG; roadside scrub with trees, S of Argoed House Club, SO/212.018, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG: wet ditch/trackside, Bishton, SO/391.876, 1996, TGE, conf. GGG.

Rosa x scabriuscula

a hybrid Dog-rose

This has the appearance of R. canina; its leaflets tend to be dull, dark green, long and narrow, somewhat hairy underneath and with some glandular-biserration; the small, globose hips 216

Flora of Monmouthshire

Rosa obtusifolia

have glandular-hairy, long pedicels to 2.5 cm; stigmas are variously hairy in a very small head. Records: woodside, E of Skenfrith, SO/467.203, 1876, JGB, det. ALP; hedge, Usk to Pen-y-caemawr, ? ST/4.9 H, 1890, WAS, det. ALP. 2 t

Rosa x rothschildii

a hybrid Dog-rose

This R. canina x R. sherardii hybrid has the appearance and prickles of R. canina. Its leaflets may be glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often flushed crimson and have biserrations, the underside may well have reddish, sweetly scented sherardii-type glands; the sepals may be reflexed but fall late and the stigmas form a hairy, small head. It grows where parents occur nearby. Vc 35 records: Llanthony, SO/28.27, 1876, AL, det. ALP; Llantarnam to Pontnewydd, ? ST/3.9 B, 1923, AEW, *, re-det. ALP. 2 t

Rosa x molletorum

Round-leaved Dog-rose

This shrub with arching stems grows to 1-2 m; though broad-based and strongly curved, the prickles are neat and their lower curve forms a semicircle; the 5-7, dark green, pubescent leaflets are broadly ovate with a rounded base and are biserrate, with dark, reddish-brown glands on the teeth, and often have glands on the lower surface; the 3-4 cm flowers are produced in small groups and give way to ovoid to globose fruits, ripening red, though at first, before falling early, the large, reflexed, bipinnate sepals almost cover them. Recorded once in a hedgerow, Barnett’s Farm, nr. Mounton, ST/51.93, 1892, WAS, det. GGG. (1 t)

Rosa tomentosa

Harsh Downy-rose

This is a climbing shrub with arching stems to 3 m clad in arcuate, slender, strong prickles; its leaves are pale greyish-green, tomentose with scentless glands beneath, its petioles and rachis are also tomentose and glandular; the stipules have spreading auricles and are edged with numerous glands; the pink or white flowers produce globose, densely glandular hips, especially around their lower half, on long to 3.5 cm pedicels, that are also densely glandularhairy, as are the spreading-erect sepals that fall early, the stigmas and styles form a glabrous or sparsely hairy small head on the disc, which has an orifice 1/5 of the disc’s diameter.

a hybrid Dog-rose

This R. canina x R. mollis hybrid has an armature of curved and completely straight, patent prickles. The leaflets may be glabrous or slightly hairy. Sparse resinous glands are often found on leaflets and stipules and maybe on sepals and pedicels. The styles and stigmas are often very hairy. The two vc 35 records: in hedge, in gully, nr. Coed Ithel, Little Mountain, Trevethin, SO/2883.0321, 2002, TGE, det. ALP; side of cycle track, S of Blaenavon, SO/26303.07591, 2004, TGE, det. RM (R. mollis was female parent). 2 t

Rosa caesia subsp. glauca Glaucous Dog-rose 22

This is a climbing shrub with arching stems reaching 2 m. Its young stems often turn winered in the sun; its prickles are broad-based and strongly hooked; its smooth, glabrous leaflets are narrowly ovate and glaucous underneath; it has large stipules with short, acute auricles; its pink flowers are up to 5 cm across; its ripe red hips, to 3 x 2 cm, vary in shape from globose to ellipsoid on very short pedicels hidden by broad leafy bracts; the pinnate sepals become spreading to erect but fall as the hips turn red; the stigmas form a hairy dome hiding the disc. The two vc 35 records: Marshfield hedge, ST/2.8 R, 1934, AEW, det. ALP; in upland meadow, SW of Trinant, ST/204.994, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG. 2t

18 31

This climbs in hedges and scrub. Vc 35 records: Whitebrook, SO/5.0 I, 1898, WAS, det. ALP; narrow woodland strip, Llantarnam Abbey, ST/305.927, 1992, TGE, conf. GGG; hedge, SO/432.036 and on grassy bank, SO/432.037, The 217

Flora of Monmouthshire Cross Hands, 1991, TGE, DL, det. GGG; 6 records are for tetrads with no details. 12 t (1 t)

Rosa x avrayensis

Rosa x shoolbredii

a hybrid Downy-rose

This R. tomentosa x R. rubiginosa hybrid resembles the tall, strong climbing habit of R. tomentosa but a mixture of arcuate, straight-sloping and strongly curved prickles on the main stem indicates influence from both parents; some acicles on flowering branches are a R. rubiginosa character, as is the presence of sweet-scented glands on the thinly hairy, ovate to elliptic, longish leaflets’ undersides; the long, glandular hairy pedicels bear acicles and viscid glands; not all the narrowly ovoid hips develop properly. Only two specimens of this rare hybrid have been seen by GGG & ALP, one from Carmarthenshire and one from Monmouthshire. The latter record was on grassy, sloping bank in field, The Cross Hands, Llansoy-Llandenny, SO/432.037, 1992, TGE, DEL, det. GGG. 1 t

Rosa sherardii

a hybrid Downy-rose

This R. sherardii x R. mollis hybrid has the general appearance of R. sherardii but is inclined to have more erect stems and produce suckers, like R. mollis; the prickles vary from arcuate to straight; leaves of both parent types occur on the same bush viz. large, softly tomentose leaflets and rugose, hairy ones mixed; there is a noticeable neck between the barely pinnate sepals and the midsized hip. This hybrid is found rarely where both parents occur close together. Vc 35 records: E bank of road between Rhymney and Llechryd, SO/109.090, 1990, TGE, RF, det. GGG; ditch boundary of upland meadow, SW Trinant, ST/204.994, 1992, TGE, RF, det. GGG. Rosa x shoolbredii was named in honour of our Dr William Andrew Shoolbred, author of ‘The Flora of Chepstow’ (1920). 2 t

Soft Downy-rose

Rosa mollis

This is an erect, suckering shrub, so can form thickets; it has straight stems and main branches, which are glaucous in shade and may be flushed wine-red in the sun; it has straight, slender, patent prickles; it has large leaflets irregularly glandular-serrate, softly tomentose on upper and lower surfaces, the latter very pale-grey with numerous, reddish, subsessile glands (when crushed smell slightly resinous) partially hidden by the tomentum; the stipules are edged with glands; the flowers are usually deep pink; the large, ellipsoid hips, ripen red and often glandular-hispid; the largely simple, persistent sepals have expanded leaf-like tips and become erect; the stigmas and styles form a hairy, large domed head, which covers an orifice ½ the diameter of the disc.

Sherard’s Downy-rose

This is an erect shrub to 2 m, with slender, glaucous or sometimes wine-red stems that zigzag, becoming flexuous at their extremities; the prickles vary in some regions from slender, arcuate or straight sloping ones with insubstantial bases to much more robust, arched ones in other regions; the rugose, bluish-green upper surface of the leaflets is slightly hairy, the lower surface grey-green and tomentose at least on the veins and may have some resinous glands, the margins are multiserrate and glandular; the petiole and rachis are hairy and glandular; the wide stipules are edged with glands; the flowers are a deep rose-pink; the hips ripen early becoming red and sparsely glandular-hairy, the pinnate sepals, covered with reddish, translucent resin-scented glands, become spreading-erect showing the constriction where they are attached to the hip; the stigmas and styles form a large domed head on the disc, which has an orifice 1/3 of its diameter. At home in hedges, wood margins and in scrub. Vc 35 records: hedge, nr. Tintern, SO/5.0 F, 1892, WAS, det. ALP: Cwmyoy, SO/2.2 W, 1909, AL, det. ALP; hedge, Staunton Road, W of Staunton, SO/5.1 L, 1944, RL, det. RMel; rail bank, SE Woodfieldside, Blackwood, ST/181.968, 1988, TGE, conf. GGG; NW side of road to Pan Bryn on open cast site, Rhymney, SO/114.089, 1990, RDP. 2 t (3 t)

18 31

218

Flora of Monmouthshire Rosa mollis grows in hedges, woods, and on waste ground. In Wade (1970) it is described, under the name R. villosa, as rare, with the following sites given: Llanelen, EL; Llanthony Valley, AL; nr. Maes-y-cwmmer, *; nr. Usk, HPR; nr. Tintern; Trellech; nr. Pont y Saison, WAS; between Sirhowy and Rhymney Valleys, ST/16.93, 1968, AEW, det. GGG. More recent sites are: quarry top, Mynydd Islwyn, ST/184.938, 1990, RF det. TGE conf. GGG; roadside, Markham, SO/17.01, 1988, TGE det. GGG; roadside bank, Llechryd, SO/10.09, 1988, TGE; on colonised coal waste, N side of B4248, N of Blaenavon, SO/24.09, 1990, TGE, RF, *, det. GGG some introgression from R. sherardii; grassy stream bank, Cwm Celyn, SO/208.088, 1990, TGE, RF, det. GGG; hedge, nr. Bluebell Picnic Site, Wentwood, ST/422.960, 1990, TGE, meadow, SW Trinant, ST/204.994, 1992, TGE, conf. GGG; railside, Woodfieldside, ST/183.967, 1992, det. TGE, RF, conf. GGG; 3 roadside sites, Mynydd Islwyn from ST/189.943 to 198.952, 1994, TGE; park-like wasteland, nr. River Sirhowy, E Blackwood, ST/17.97, 1990, RF, *; 4-5 bushes, side of rail track, N Argoed, SO/177.005, 1997, TGE, UTE, also SO/1772.0021, 2001, TGE; 2 bushes, disused rail track, The Rock, ST/1799.9873, 2001, TGE; 1 large bush with very bristly hips, side of cycle track, near stream and small waterfall, S of Blaenavon, SO/25937.07904, 2004, TGE, conf. RMa. 12 t

Rosa rubiginosa

18 31

It mainly grows in open scrub and hedges on calcareous soils. Wade (1970) said it was rare and gave 4 sites: Llangeview, JHC; Llanwern; nr. Caerwent, SH (1909); nr. Tintern, WAS. More recent records are: gritty bank, N side of B4248, Blaenavon, SO/25.09 and 24.09, 1988, TGE, RF, conf. GGG; edge of River Sirhowy, Blackwood, ST/178.965, 1990, RF; bank of R. Rhymney, Rhymney, SO/10.07 & 10.08, 1990, TGE, RF, *; several sites, side of N/S road, Hendre, SO/45.13 & 45.14, 1991, TGE, UTE, det. GGG; meadow bank, Cross Hands, SO/432.037, 1992, TGE, conf. GGG; roadside bank, nr. Entrance to ‘The British’, Talywain, SO/259.043, 1992, TGE, RF, conf. GGG; Dixton Embankment Reserve, SO/527.151, 2001, TGE; path side, high on slope, Cwmynyscoy Quarry (disused), ST/284.994, 2004, TGE, conf. RM; E end of viaduct, Abersychan, SO/263.043, 2004, TGE, conf. RMa. 13 t

Sweet-briar

This is the rose of poets, who refer to its pervading scent and use its poetic name Eglantine. It is an erect shrub to 2 m with strong stems clad in strongly curved prickles of mixed sizes interspersed with acicles; its leaflets are roundish to ovate-elliptical with margins doubly serrate and very glandular, pubescence occurs on the veins below and to some extent above; many viscid brown or translucent, sweetsmelling glands on the leaf under surface fills the air with scent for many metres from the bush on a still, warm summer’s day; the stipules are edged with glands; the flowers are a deep pink; the hips are smooth or sparsely clad with stalked glands mainly around the base, the hispid stigmas are sunk in the orifice that is 1/3 of its diameter of the disc; the pedicels have glands mixed with acicles; the persistent sepals turn up to spreading then erect.

Rosa micrantha Small-flowered Sweet-briar This is a tall, climbing shrub to 3 m, its arching, green stems have long internodes and are clad sparsely in roughly equal, curved prickles with a long base; acicles are absent; the round-based leaflets are glabrous above, shortly pubescent below, with viscid, brownish or translucent sweet-smelling glands the odour of which I can detect only on a good day and with my nose close to the pink flowers, the leaf has multiserrate and glandular margins and the petiole, rachis and stipules are glandular; the hips are smallish, urnshaped with a neck and the pedicels are glandular with sparse glands on the hips; the pinnate sepals are reflexed and fall before the hips turn red; the disc is convex with an orifice 1/6-1/5 of the diameter of it; the glabrous styles hold the small group of stigmas just clear of the orifice. 219

Flora of Monmouthshire 23

18 31

Rosa micrantha grows in scrub, woods, hedges mainly on calcareous soils. Wade (1970) gave its status as rare with the following sites: Llangattock Vibon Avel, SO/4.1, AL, Lady Park Wood, SO/5.1 M, RL, 1943, AEW, *; Dinham; Pant y Cossin (? Pant-y-cosyn), Shirenewton, ST/4.9 S; Runstone, ST/4.9 V, AL, WAS, det. EBB; Severn shore below Mathern, WAS. More recent sites are: limestone bank, S edge of Liveoaks Grove, ST/539.981, 1989, TGE, conf. as almost ‘perfect micrantha’ GGG; grassy, limestone bank, CrickRunstone Road, ST/492.909, 1992, TGE conf. GGG, *; E side of small wood, Piercefield Park, ST/529.953, ?1992, TGE conf. GGG; 1 bush, bank of Llandegfedd Reservoir, SO/328.003, 1997, TGE, UTE; top of R. Usk bank, Llancayo Farm, SO/359.026, 1997, TGE, UTE, 1 bush, top of bank, NW of Runstone Church, ST/495.916, 2002, TGE; 7t

It is most frequently found in hedges, vc 35 records include: hedge, Turner’s Wood, St Maughan’s, SO/460.166, 1989, PCH, JFH; hedge, nr. Bluebell Farm, Wentwood, ST/42.95, 1990, TGE, UTE; S side A4136/wood edge, Fiddler’s Elbow, SO/528.136, 1985, 1988, TGE, UTE; minor roadside, N side, hedge, Wentwood, ST/428.962, 1985, 1987, TGE, UTE; several small trees, W side of road, Crick, ST/486.897, 1984, 1987, TGE, UTE; Kymin Road, Monmouth, SO/521.129, 1993, DI; Troy Station, Monmouth, SO/505.122, 1993, JH; 1 small tree, hedge, S of Bargoed Farm, ST/463.943, 1984, TGE, UTE; wood edge hedge, W of Rogerstone Grange, St Arvans, ST/504.967, 1984, TGE, UTE; hedge, Cwrt-y-Brychan, 1983, LBB. 14 t

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn

PRUNUS Cherries Cherries are trees or shrubs with simple, toothed leaves; their flowers are solitary or in different compound arrangements; there are stipules but no epicalyx; the fruit is a drupe.

! Prunus cerasifera

Cherry Plum

This is usually a shrub but can form a tree to 8 m; it has glabrous, hairless, shiny twigs bearing oblong leaves which are hairless and shiny above, hairy beneath, and white flowers to 20 mm across often borne singly; the roundish fruit may be red or yellow and 2-3 cm across.

18 31

This is a dense, deciduous shrub that has dark bark, bears stout straight thorns and oval, toothed leaves to 3 cm, and it suckers freely; its white flowers, to 15 mm across are borne singly before the leaves, 220

Flora of Monmouthshire and so many flowers are produced that the bush is a mass of white; its black fruit (sloe) has a bluish bloom and is nearly globular, like its stone, it is sour tasting and leaves the mouth dry. It grows in woods, hedges and forms thickets if neglected. It is widespread in v.c. 35. 370 t

Arc. Prunus domestica subsp insititia Bullace, Damson This is said to have densely pubescent and often spiny twigs and fruits little bigger than sloes, with a roundish stone.

Arc. Prunus domestica Wild Plum, Damson, Greengage

Wild Plum is a deciduous, large shrub or tree; its leaves are broadly elliptic to 8 cm; its greenflushed, white flowers to 25 cm across are borne in small clusters among the expanding leaves; the egg-shaped, edible fruit may be red, blue-black or purple.

19 23 18 22 31 21

18 32

Wade (1970) gave: Kymin, *; Coleford Road, Monmouth, *, SGC; Llanllywel, JHC; Castle Woods, Chepstow, *, Tintern; Mounton, *; Wyndcliff; rocks, S of Chepstow Station; Piercefield Woods, *, WAS. More recent records are: hedge, nr. Clytha Farm, SO/377.097, 1973, BMF; Red House Wood, SO/366.103, 1974, BMF; ruined cottage garden, St Mary’s Vale, SO/280.164, 1986, GH; nr. Cefn Coch, SO/39.07, 1988, DEL; Twyn-y-Sheriff, SO/40.05, 1988, DEL; W of Dingestow, SO/43.10, 1987, PCH, JFH; wood edge, Hardwick Plantation, ST/460.894, 1982, TGE. 7 t (12 t)

Though planted it is often naturalised in hedges and wood borders not far from human dwellings. Modern hedge cutting has meant that the hedge plants are not seen fruiting so often. The BRC recording card RP12 used when the bulk of the common plants were recorded did not differentiate between the three subspecies of P. domestica and the 156 tetrads total includes all three taxa. Stace (1997) says there has been so much hybridisation that the subspecies are often scarcely discernible. There are no specific records of subsp. italica Greengage, but it could occur near habitation. 156 t

Prunus avium

Wild Cherry

Arc. Prunus domestica subsp. domestica Wild Plum

This is said to have sparsely pubescent, spineless twigs, usually large fruits with a very flattened stone.

18 31

221

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows in woods, hedgerows, meadows and scrub. It is native on the western side of the vice-county; elsewhere it has been planted for ornamental purposes. There are concentrations in the area of the Llanthony valley, where it is the dominant white-flowered tree making quite a show in May and June, and the western valleys of the coalfield. 45 t

Wild Cherry is a spreading, deciduous tree to over 20 m with glabrous twigs and reddish-brown bark which can be quite smooth and peels off like paper; its leaves are dull green above; the white flowers, to 25 mm, are borne in clusters of 2-6 at the same time as the emerging leaves; the 9-12 mm edible fruit may be red, yellowish or black. It grows in woods and hedges. Widespread in vc 35, but thinning out towards the Levels and the coalfields. 250 t

Arc. Prunus cerasus

! Prunus lusitanica

Portugal Laurel

This is an evergreen, black-barked shrub or tree with leaves longer than wide with a shiny upper surface and terminating with an acuminate tip; its fragrant, white flowers are arranged in long, pendent, almost cylindrical racemes; its fruit goes from red to shiny black. It is not native but is planted in large gardens and estates. In vc 35 it has been under-recorded because, until recently, planted trees have been disregarded. 4 t

Dwarf Cherry

This cherry resembles P. avium but is usually a suckering shrub, but with leaves shiny above, flowers to 18 mm across borne in clusters of 2-4, and a bright red, sour fruit. It frequents hedges and copses. Wade (1970) said it was rare and gave the following: Hadnock Wood, *; Garth Wood, SGC; woods about Usk, JHC, AEW; The Coldra, Christchurch, SH (1909); nr. Tintern; Barnetts Wood, nr. Chepstow; Barbadoes Hill, *; Penterry; Minnetts Wood; wood below Kilpale, *, WAS (1920). Almost all of the records were made in the first year of my recording scheme (1985) when some card marking errors occurred; I have tried to eliminate these but with only a tetrad letter to go on checking is difficult. I have not seen a convincing example for years. ? t (10 t)

! Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry Laurel

This is an evergreen shrub or occasionally a tree bearing large, shiny, oblong leaves terminating abruptly into a short point; its upright, raceme cylinder of creamy-white flowers gives way to roundish, purplish-black fruit, which cause the peduncle to bend down under their weight. 23

Prunus padus

Bird Cherry

This is a shrub or tree to over 15 m with dark, unpleasant-smelling bark and elliptical, pointed and toothed leaves; the solitary, white, scented flowers are in long, pendent racemes; the 6-8 mm, shiny-black, globular fruit is bitter and astringent.

19 23 18 22 31 21

18 32

Cherry Laurel was also introduced to large gardens for cover, privacy and variety and was originally introduced for culinary flavouring. On the edge of woods these soon spread into the woods and became naturalised. In many vc 35 woods and on the upper parts of valley sides, planted trees have become invasive and a nuisance. When I was young and butterflies were plentiful the crushed leaves (which give off Prussic acid) in a screw cap

222

Flora of Monmouthshire jar were used to kill the insects ready for fixing for display. 64 t

pyraster on the Welsh recording card RP 12 and few records of wild pear made and the problem of an occasional, apparently wild pear which is likely to be a remnant of an old orchard complicating the issue, I have decided to merge records for the two species together. In spite of that, there was a tree on the approach road to Lighthouse Inn, ST/301.818, 1988, TGE, which had the globose fruit and spiny twigs of P. pyraster but was out of reach for a specimen and had been cleared when I went to check a few years later. The best example of P. pyraster is on a bank opposite revetment 1047, MOD Caerwent, ST/476.921, 2003-4, TGE, this has globose fruits and sturdy, straight thorns on its twigs. The tree in a field (inside the MOD, Caerwent boundary fence), ST/460.920, near deserted Lower Llanmelin Farm I recorded as P. communis because it is a tall non-spiny tree with small pearshaped fruit that are quite sweet but it could well be a remnant of the deserted farm’s orchard. ? 4 t

OEMLERIA Osoberry These are deciduous shrubs, which are usually male or female; they have simple, entire leaves; the flowers are borne in short racemes; the fruit is a cluster of up to 5 drupes.

! Oemleria cerasiformis

Osoberry

This is a suckering shrub, with upright stems and glabrous, lanceolate or elliptic leaves with a translucent, very narrow, slightly upturned margin; the greenish-white, scented flowers are suspended in racemes of up to ten; in this country the 10-15 mm bluish-black fruit is seldom produced. It is grown as a fragrant, ornamental and possibly as a novelty plant. In the vice-county it occurs in a few gardens, the one naturalised plant was: in a derelict garden, off a lane to S of Abbey Hotel, Tintern, ST/532.999, 1983-87, MARK, CK, first Welsh record. 1 t

MALUS Apples Apples are shrubs or trees that have simple, toothed, deciduous leaves; flowers in clusters with numerous stamens; the fruit is a pome.

PYRUS Pears Pears are shrubs or trees with simple, toothed, deciduous leaves, their flowers are white with numerous stamens and dark anthers; the ovary has free styles, the apple is a pome made up of a fleshy receptacle enclosing the fruit, which has cartilaginous walls with the seeds within, the part we do not eat.

! Pyrus pyraster/communis

Malus sylvestris

Crab Apple

Sometimes a tree to 10 m, often less, often has spiny twigs; its 3-5 cm leaves may have hairs, particularly on the underside veins when immature but be glabrous in maturity; the flowers are pinkish-white with glabrous pedicels, which are shorter than the pome, and a calyx glabrous on the outer surface; the fruit is yellowish-green, like an apple but only 2-3 cm in diameter.

Wild Pear

Pyrus pyraster is a spiny shrub or tree to 15 m with glabrous, broadly ovate leaves to 7 cm and yellow to dark brown, globose, obovoid or obconical fruits to 4 cm. P. communis differs in being a non-spiny tree to 20 m with edible, usually pear-shaped fruits to less than 6 cm. In practice, the fact that the eastern half of vicecounty of vc 35 was dotted with a large number of sizeable orchards with regimented lines of trees and also many smaller collections of fruit trees meant that the occasional tree appeared spontaneously in hedgerows and wood margins. As the management of the orchards was labour intensive and thus expensive and imported fruit was cheap, it became uneconomic and many orchards were grubbed out. Many smaller farms and old farm-hand cottages were abandoned and their small orchards neglected and only remnant trees remained bearing old-fashioned fruit, often small and hard, even if sweet. With only P.

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223

Flora of Monmouthshire Mainly found in hedges and woods. More common in vc 35 than Wild Pears, but many crabs have hairs on the leaf underside veins, and have misled me to think they are hybrids but apparently it is now accepted that crabs may have this characteristic. 35 t

! Malus domestica

Sorbus aucuparia

Rowan

The Rowan or Mountain Ash, is a slender tree with pinnate leaves composed of 5-7 pairs of toothed, oblong leaflets hairy beneath; the 8-10 mm diameter flowers are in low, domed clusters and produce bright red fruits to 9 mm across.

Apple

This tree is not spiny and is larger in many more characters than its wild version; its leaves to 15 cm are pubescent on their lowers sides and often on the upper side as well; its ‘fruit’ up to 12 cm has various colours and a relatively shorter stalk.

20 23 19 22 18 21

It grows in hedges, woods and on moors, particularly in upland regions. It is widespread but more concentrated in the west. It is particularly attractive to our winter visiting thrushes, which can become intoxicated on the berries. 268 t

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Sorbus x thuringiaca

It grows in hedges, in waste ground and scrub. In vc 35 it is found in forms that resemble the cultivated apple to ones that are hardly distinguishable from a ‘crab’. 63 t

a hybrid Rowan

SORBUS Whitebeams Whitebeams are deciduous trees or shrubs with serrate leaves that may be pinnate, simple, entire or pinnately-lobed, many trees have a whitish indumentum of hairs on the underside of the leaves; they have clusters of white flowers, with numerous stamens; their reddish or brownish fruits are berries. Whitebeams are a difficult group with sexual and apomictic species included; some species have evolved on isolated limestone outcrops to vary from species elsewhere. Whitebeams are currently under review; new procedures may result in new species being declared. For further information and illustrations of the vice-county Whitebeams and others elsewhere refer to the ‘Plant Crib’ (Rich and Jermy 1998). The S. domestica record in Wade (1970) refers to S. torminalis.

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It is a tree with leaves with at least one bottom lobe free from the rest, usually the bottom pair are free and sometimes the bottom two pairs are free. This S. aucuparia x S. aria hybrid includes S. x pinnatifida, which is cultivar and deliberately planted, and the basal pair of leaflets are more distant than those of native trees. 224

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows near the parents unless planted. Vc 35 records: wooded limestone cliffs, E end along rough path from river meadow level, Piercefield, ST/535.959, 1972-96, TGE, *, ST/5362.9612, 2005, TCGR; Llanwern, ST/39.86, 1974, CT; 1 tree planted, edge of car park of Great Mills store, Newport, 1988, ST/33.87, 1988, TGE; 1 grafted tree, near entrance to Bryn Village Hall, SO/330.097, 2003, TGE, CT; planted tree in Ringland Estate, Newport, ST/3.8 ?P, 1994. 6 t

! Sorbus intermedia

N of St Arvans, ST/523.968, 1978-2003, TGE conf. PJMN, ST/5233.9667 and ST/5069.9620, 2005, TCGR; 6 shrub-like trees on top of limestone block left when rail cutting was made, to W of Chepstow Station, ST/5389.9269, 1977-2004, TGE, conf. PJMN and abundant on cliffs and rocks on W side of cutting, 2001, TGE, TCGR (‘all trees cleared on W side in 2002’ TCGR – by British Rail presumably because they caused leaves on the track); on cliffs and rocks of Pwll-du Quarry (disused), 1994-2003, TGE, conf. PJMN; 3 trees on Millstone Grit, SO/252.115, TCGR, 2005. 5 t

Swedish Whitebeam

This is a tree to over 10 m with ovate-oblong, lobed leaves, with 7-9 pairs of lateral veins running into the lobes with the deepest divided lobes at the rounded base, either the first or second pair, graduated to the least divided lobes at the apex of the leaf. The 12-15 mm fruit has a few small superficial lenticels. This is a planted tree often in lines (as at the side of the by-pass at Caerwent), but it does naturalise from seeds in vc 35. 19 t

Sorbus anglica

Sorbus aria agg.

Common Whitebeam

This has leaves of various shapes but usually with a woolly white indumentum on the underside; it also has 10-14 pairs of lateral veins frequently near the upper end of which the tooth projects beyond the ones on either side; the 8-15 mm scarlet fruit, which is usually longer than wide, has few or many small lenticels spread evenly over its surface.

English Whitebeam

A tree or shrub to over 3 m with oval to broadly oval leaves, mainly cuneate or slightly rounded from the petiole to rounded to slightly pointed at the apex; the numbers of lateral veins vary but there are usually 8-10 pairs; the 7-12 mm fruit ripens to a crimson colour and is covered with few to numerous small lenticels.

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It grows among other trees on limestone rocks or soils. It is most frequent on the limestone rocks of the two gorges in the Wye Valley, on the limestone on the edge of the coalfield and scattered where plantings have taken place. 31 t

Sorbus x vagensis 31

Wye Whitebeam

This S. aria x S. torminalis hybrid is variable with leaves where the veins agree more with S. torminalis and end in more definite triangular lobes than those of S. aria but less distinct than S. torminalis; the underside may be woolly like S. aria or thinly covered like S. torminalis; the fruits are yellowish or brownish-orange, longer than wide and with few, usually small lenticels.

This whitebeam is usually found on limestone rocks, often with other trees. Vc 35 records; Lady Park Wood SSSI, SO/547.144, 1970, GHo; limestone cliffs, Wyndcliff, ST/528.973, 1995, GHow, ?AJW; Piercefield, ST/5.9 H, 1894, WAS; jutting out, near the top of Lover’s Leap rock face, 225

Flora of Monmouthshire Sorbus x vagensis

FJAH, det. EFW 1936, PDS 1961; Piercefield Park, ST/52.97, 1903, WAS, SHB, det. EFW; in woods, Wyndcliff, ST/5.9 I, 1895, ESM, det. PDS, 1961; 1 tree (it had 9 trunks due to early coppicing, later 2 more had been sawn off and 1 had rotted) grows on a steep slope just to the SE of the cable bridge at the Biblins, SO/550.142, 1980-2003, TGE, conf. PJMN; 2 trees + 4 of northern form near top of cliffs, Lady Park Wood, SO/547.147 (and neighbourhood), 2003, LH, ACT, CCh det. TCGR; Far Hearkening Rock, SO/54109.15089, 1 tree, 2005, TCGR. 2 t (3 t)

Sorbus porrigentiformis Grey-leaved Whitebeam

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This is a shrub or small tree to 5 m with obovate leaves with untoothed sides from the petiole to 1/3-1/2 of the leaf length and with 8-10 pairs of lateral leaves; the underside white to greenishwhite; the terminal tooth is prominent and at least some of the teeth point outwards to form a right-angle to the mid-rib; the 8-12 mm, crimson fruit has a few large lenticels near the base, and is wider than long.

It usually grows near its parents. Vc 35 records: 3 trees upper wood above the cable bridge, Lady Park Wood, SO/547.144, 1980-82, TGE conf. PJMN; one tree, SO/54694.14390, 2005, TCGR; on top of Knoll, Gorrashill Wood, Mounton, ST/506.936, 1995, GL, 2003, TGE, TCGR; 1 tree near top of Cliff Wood, Mounton, ST/507.937, 1996, GL; 1 tree at north end of cliff, Cliff Wood, ST/50764.94086, 2005, TCGR; 1 tree, Lover’s Leap, 1970s, TGE, ST/5235.9669, TCGR, 2005. The Wye Valley is one of the few places in Britain where backcrosses between S. x vagensis and S. aria occur. The leaves look like those of S. aria but have shallow, sharp lobes, long petioles and greener undersides. In Monmouthshire they have been recorded at Gorrashill Wood, ST/506.936, 2003, TGE, TCGR, and Piercefield Park, ST/523.966, 2005, TCGR. 4 t

Sorbus eminens

Round-leaved Whitebeam

This shrub or tree to 10 m or more has leaves orbicular to obovate little longer than wide; apart from a short length near the petiole the margins are toothed, with the vein apical tooth longer than those on either side; the underside is clothed in a woolly indumentum that renders it a greenish-white (the leaves of some trees found in the Avon Gorge differ from some in the Wye Valley); the crimson fruit of c. 1.5 cm has numerous large and small lenticels mainly around its base. This species grows on rocky limestone outcrops among other trees in a comparatively small area in the Avon and Wye Valley Gorges. In vc 35: near Itton (I suggest Whitfield Wood, the limit of limestone near Itton and where there were old records of Carex digitata), ? ST/49.96, 1852,

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It grows on wooded limestone rocks. Vc 35 records: at 300 m numerous trees, the Daren cliff, above Cwmyoy, SO/296.246, 1978, AMcGS; cliffs, Tarren yr Esgob, SO/254.305, 1986, TGE conf. PJMN; 1 tree over R. Wye near top of limestone block separated from the main rock structure by the railway in cutting W of Chepstow station, ST/5389.9269, 2001, TGE, TCGR; 1 maiden tree growing from cliff, below small yew, Lady Park Wood, SO/547.146, 2003, ACT, det. TCGR; 6+ trees, Pwll-du quarry, SO/253.115, TCGR, 2005; 1 tree at north end of cliff, Cliff Wood, ST/50799.93896, 2005, TCGR. 4 t (1 t) 226

Flora of Monmouthshire

Sorbus rupicola

pairs of lateral veins; the 12-16 mm fruit brown, longer than wide with numerous, small lenticels. It grows in woods and less commonly in hedgerows. Some vc 35 records: locally abundant, woods, Piercefield Cliffs, ST/53.95, 1957-87, TGE; woods, Wyndcliff, ST/52.97, 1957-1987, TGE; Great Barnets Wood, ST/516.942, 19541996 when 6 trees grew on a ridge (1 was coppiced ½m from ground and then formed two trunks), TGE; Strawberry Cottage Wood, SO/313.215, 1987, RF; Llanfihangel Court wood, SO/332.203, 1989, RF; near minor road, Pandy, SO/336, 224, 1988, RF; hedgerow, W of Tregare, SO/419, 102, 1985, TGE, UTE, RF; side of old track, on Psammoteuse Limestone, Twyn Ruthlin, SO/448.144, 1985, PCH, JFH; numerous trees on cliffs, Chepstow Rail cutting, ST/539.927, 19852004, TGE; woodland, SE side Coombe (Cwm) Valley, ST/459.928 & 461.928, 1991, CT; steep wooded bank, Mounton, ST/51. 93, 1991, TGE, UTE; 1 tree fenced by Forestry Commission, side of broad track, Great Barnets Wood, ST/512.940, 1960s-2003, TGE; lane near Frogmore, ST/50.93, 1998, CT; 12 trees, cliffs, Lady Park Wood, c. SO/547.147, 2003, LH, ACT, CC. 20 t

Rock Whitebeam

This is a shrub or small tree 6 m often less with narrowly obovate leaves with small and irregular teeth, frequently fading out after half way towards the petiole; there is an average of 89 pairs of lateral veins that end in teeth no longer than their neighbours or only slightly longer than them; the 12-15 mm deep red fruit is well covered with small to medium sized lenticels, and is wider than long. Usually near the top edge of Carboniferous Limestone cliffs and rocky scrub. Vc 35 records: several trees on top of a tall, Carboniferous block on edge of R. Wye in Chepstow rail cutting, W of the station, ST/5389.9269, 1977-2004, TGE, conf. PJMN; 1 tree on second outcrop below Far Hearkening Rock, SO/54143.15164, 2005, TCGR. A tree on the Tarren yr Esgob cliffs reported in 1986 was never confirmed or re-found, and is probably S. porrigentiformis. 2 t Plate 36

Sorbus whiteana

White’s Whitebeam

There is one unconfirmed record for this newly described species from cliffs at Lady park Wood, LH, 2003.

Sorbus torminalis

COTONEASTER Cotoneasters Cotoneasters are shrubs or small trees with simple, entire leaves; their white or pink flowers, with persistent calices, are solitary or in small groups, they have 10-20 stamens; their fleshy fruits are variously coloured from red to black. There are over 70 Cotoneasters naturalised in Britain, almost all are planted in gardens and on edges of housing estates, with other trees and shrubs for ornamental screening or as street decoration and screening. Most people will see only a few species naturalised from bird-sown seed and those mainly in urban areas. Until the new handbook is ready, Stace’s New Flora of the British Isles is the most useful guide to recognition. When collecting for identification the following must be collected from naturalised plants: flowers, ripe fruit, mature leaves taken between flowering and production of ripe fruit; knowledge of the extent of winter leaf retention aids the referee.

Wild Service-tree

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This species can attain a height of over 25 m and has leaves that have a terminal lobe and mainly three pairs of acute lateral lobes, the bottom pair somewhat remote from the rest and divided to almost half way to the midrib, though I have some herbarium specimens divided to 2/3 to the midrib; when young the leaves may be densely whitish tomentose though usually the hair covering is sparse to glabrous; there are about 4

! Cotoneaster frigidus

Tree Cotoneaster

This species is a shrub or tree to over 8 m that may shed all its leaves or remain semi-evergreen; its oblong-oval, flat leaves are pubescent on the underside; there are usually over 20 flowers with purple anthers in its inflorescences; its 4-6 mm 227

Flora of Monmouthshire fruits are bright red, orange, yellow or crimson depressed globes with 2 stones. Originates in the Himalayas. Vc 35 records; rough grassy area, Cwmtillery, SO/22.04, 1988, RF; in W Abergavenny, SO/2.1 X, 1991, RF. 2 t

! Cotoneaster simonsii Himalayan Cotoneaster This is an erect, deciduous shrub to over 3 m; it has oval leaves to over 2.5 mm with roundish bases and acute apices, the upper side is flat and shiny, the lower side is slightly hairy; the flowers, in groups of 1-4, have white anthers; its 811 mm, globose to obovoid fruits are orange-red and contain 3-4 stones.

! Cotoneaster linearifolius Thyme-leaved Cotoneaster This shrub tends to lean on its support before arching to no more than 1 m; its 4-7 mm leaves are flat and shiny above and are clad in appressed hairs below; the 5 mm flowers are solitary with blunt sepals and purple to black anthers; the crimson fruits are 4-5 mm, crimson globes. Introduced from the Himalayas. Vc 35 records: waste ground, S of M48, Thornwell, Chepstow, ST/538.915, 1990, JDRV; waste ground, electricity station, below Newhouse Industrial Estate, ST/539.903, 1990, JDRV. 2 t

! Cotoneaster horizontalis Wall Cotoneaster This low-growing, deciduous shrub is recognisable by its ‘herring-bone’ branching, which is spreading or arching; it grows vertically against walls; its small 0.5 cm to just over 1 cm leaves are flat and shiny on the upper surface and only very slightly hairy below; its white to pink flowers, in 2-3s, have white anthers and though small are very attractive to bees; the 4-6 mm, globose, orange-red fruits contain 3 stones.

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Introduced from the Himalayas to British gardens it is increasingly being introduced to the countryside mainly by birds. In vc 35 it occurs on waste ground in quarries, man-made cuttings, wall tops and in meadows. 27 t

! Cotoneaster sternianus Stern’s Cotoneaster

This erect, evergreen shrub to 3 m has oval leaves with blunt apex to 5 cm in length; its flowers have white anthers and its 8-10 mm, subglobose fruit usually have 3 stones. It was introduced to British gardens from China. In vc 35 it has been recorded on top of rail embankment, off Spitty Rd., Newport, ST/332.868, 1990, GH, 1st vice-county record. 1 t

! Cotoneaster dielsianus Diels’ Cotoneaster This is an erect, deciduous shrub to over 2 m with arching branches; its broadly oval leaves, to 3cm long, taper to an acute apex and slightly to the petiole and have slightly impressed veins above and are greyish or greenish tomentose below; the flowers, in clusters of 3-7 have white anthers; the 6-8 mm, subglobose, bright red fruits contain 34 stones. It is introduced from China. The vc 35 record was of a bird-sown plant on old wall near town centre

18 31

Though commonly grown in gardens against walls or over mounds, it is frequently naturalised. In vc 35 dispersal of its seeds by birds is probably the reason it occurs on rail embankments, in disused quarries, on walls, in graveyards and on rough grassland. 43 t 228

Flora of Monmouthshire (with C. horizontalis), Abergavenny, SO/297.144, 1993, IKM, det. GH. 1 t

tetrad apart from those with only marginal areas. 399 t

CRATAEGUS Hawthorns Hawthorns are thorny, deciduous trees with simple, lobed and toothed leaves; their flowers have 5 petals, numerous stamens and 1-5 free styles, and are arranged in flattish-topped corymbs on spurs (short lateral shoots); the haw is a fleshy fruit containing 1-5 stones.

Crataegus x media

a hybrid Hawthorn

This fertile C. monogyna x C. laevigata hybrid may be completely intermediate between its parents. The only vc 35 record was from a field hedge, Bishton, ST/3.8, 1941, AEW. 1 t

Crataegus laevigata ! Crataegus persimilis Broad-leaved Cockspurthorn This is a spiny, deciduous tree with doubly serrate, simple leaves hairy on the underside veins and the cuneate base forms an angle of less than 90 degrees; the flowers have hairy pedicels, 10-15 stamens and 4-5 styles; the fruits fall in the autumn. It is frequently planted in Britain. Vc 35 record: 1 tree, towards the top of steep hill, roadside hedge, Ysguborwen, ST/411.959, 1982-1993, AP, TGE, UTE, det. PMcP, 1st Welsh record (tree was damaged with much of its top removed in mid1990s). 1 t

Crataegus monogyna

Hawthorn

This is a thorny shrub or tree to 10 m; its leaves are wedge shaped with a cuneate base and deeply 5-7 lobed with the lobes deeply toothed towards the apex, shiny but with some hairs on lower side veins; fragrant flowers up to 15 mm across are white or deep pink with 1 style; the red berry has a single stone which can be squeezed out of its mealy surrounds between finger and thumb.

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18 33

FABACEAE Pea family This family has members that cover a range of life cycles and plant and leaf types, though leaves are generally alternate and often pinnate and end in tendrils; the flowers are zygomorphic, hermaphrodite and hypogynous; they have 5 sepals arranged in a tube, with 2 forming an upper lip and 3 forming a lower one; there are 5 petals, the upper, the largest, is known as the standard, the 2 lower ones are fused to form the

It is only common in central and SE England in woods and hedges. In vc 35; Cwrt Perrott, Llandegfedd, ST/33.95, 1946, BC; 2 trees, near sheep fence, behind and W of ‘Highlands’, off A4048, S of Tredegar, SO/151.068, 1995, TGE; 3 trees in planted hedgerow, near ‘Brockwells’, Caldicot, ST/470-1.895, 1995, CT; line of trees along drive edge, Mounton House School, ST/517.927, 1995, TGE; 1 tree S of the church, Mathern, ST/523.908, 1996, TGE; 1 mature tree in churchyard, Llangua, SO/389.256, 1997, TGE. 6 t

Midland Hawthorn

Similar to C. monogyna but its twigs are less spiny, its lobes less deep and usually only 3; its fruits have 2-3 styles and nutlets (squeeze away the fleshy surrounds).

It is abundant in hedges, woods and scrub throughout Britain. In vc 35 it occurs in every 229

Flora of Monmouthshire an apiculate tip; the flowers range from white to bluish-mauve. Originating in Europe, it is grown in gardens and is found on tips and other waste areas. In vc 35: a weed in Tudor St. car park, Abergavenny, SO/29.14, 1986, RF; roundabout edge at the junction between the A4161 and the A48, St. Mellons, ST/238.819, 1987, GH; waste ground between Abergavenny and Mardy, SO/3.1C; naturalised on an organic smallholding, The Nurtons, Tintern SO/53.01, 1st reported 1985, still increasing 2004, EW; no details for ST/2.8 sites but its recorder EJS was meticulous. 6 t

keel and 2 free ones make up the wings, the 10 stamens are variously fused into a tube and with the ovary are almost concealed by the keel; the fruit is a legume (pod) that splits down two sides, or less commonly a pod that breaks up transversely into 1-seeded parts. ROBINIA False-acacia This is a tree with pinnate leaves, paired with a solitary terminal leaflet, leaflets are entire, the flowers are in hanging clusters with 9 stamens forming a tube and another free; the pod splits along its length and has many seeds.

! Robinia pseudoacacia

COLUTEA Bladder-sennas Bladder-sennas are deciduous shrubs with upright racemes of pea-like flowers with the tenth stamen partially fused to the other fused 9; the two-valved pod is vastly inflated.

False-acacia

This deciduous tree to over 25 m comes from N America and is planted in large estates or on wood edges for its graceful pendent, pinnate leaves and racemes of white-tinged, pink, pea-like flowers, with contrasting pinky-brown calices; it has patent spines for stipules. In vc 35 it is fairly commonly planted. 12 t

! Colutea arborescens

PSORALEA Scurfy Pea These are herbs with toothed, ternate leaves; flowers in erect, axillary racemes, 10 stamens forming a tube; the fruit is indehiscent with a solitary seed.

! Psoralea americana

Scurfy Pea

This is an erect, tender, short-lived perennial; it often has roundish leaflets but narrow leaflet forms also occur; the white, tinged mauve flowers occur in clusters. It sometimes occurs in birdseed and has been recorded on rubbish tips. Two plants were recorded on the rubbish tip on Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, in 1975, TGE, det. RDM. 1 t Figure 22

ASTRAGALUS Milk-vetches These are perennial herbs with flowers in upright racemes, and having beakless keels and a tenth stamen free of the fused 9; the fruit is a pod that may be inflated.

Astragalus glycyphyllos

Wild Liquorice

GALEGA Goat’s-rue This is a herb, which has pinnate leaves with a single terminal leaflet; the flowers are in axillary racemes, they have 9 stamens forming a tube and a tenth one partly fused to the tube; the fruit splits along its length or is indehiscent; the number of seeds is variable.

! Galega officinalis

Bladder-senna

This is a shrub up to 6 m tall with pinnate leaves of 4-5 pairs of oval lateral leaflets topped by the terminal one; the yellow flowers sometimes have reddish honey guides and a beakless keel; the inflated pod may be up to 7 cm long. A European introduction that has spread from gardens to nearby wasteland, roadsides and rail sides. Vc 35 record: 2 plants on soil bulldozed 2-3 years before, Tregarn House, Langstone, ST/385.906, 1993, DEG. 1 t

Goat’s-rue

This is an erect perennial to over 1 m has varying numbers of usually elliptic leaflets, though often the number is 9 (4 pairs + the terminal one), with

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230

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 22

Psoralea americana

231

Scurfy Pea

Flora of Monmouthshire Wild Liquorice is native on unimproved grassland, in scrub and by the side of woodland rides. Vc 35 records: Wade (1970): nr. Dinham, ST/4.9 Q, 1894, MSW; Norbury Common, 1904, JSC; Llanvair Discoed, ST/4.9 L, SH, WAS; between Dinham and Llanmelin, *, WAS; Carrow Hill, ST/4.9 F, *; 1 large plant on the edge of the main woodland ride through the Minnetts complex, Highmoor Hill, Caldicot, ST/459.894, 1971-1982, CT; c. 10 plants on revetment 301 embankment and neighbouring grassland, MOD, Caerwent, ST/483.917, 1991, TGE, CT, GT, down to a single plant in 2004 due to shrub encroachment and voracious appetite of sheep; many plants on long barrow, Helston Brake, Portskewett, ST/505.887, early 1980s, JPW, c. 20 plants, 1992, TGE; Colin Titcombe who worked for the Forestry Commission alerted me in 1982 that the Highmoor Hill site was under threat as the ride was to be widened into a metalled-surface track. We both lifted the plant on to a large sheet of plastic, carried it to the car and transported it to Colin’s farm to a cold frame, sprayed it with water and covered it with a sheet of polythene and cared for it until it had established itself. It was then divided up into a number of plants and each planted them in our respective gardens until we could return them to the Minnetts complex or nearby Rogiet Common. Plants were planted out in the spring of 1989 and 1991 in both habitats; some plants survived for a few years but dry summers in the woods killed them off and rabbits on the common ate them there; these reintroductions thus account for the remaining dots on the map. 4 t Plate 37.

since the 1970s. Past vc 35 sites listed in Wade (1970) are: Pontypool, SO/2.0, *, THT; near Wyndcliff, ST/5.9 I, AEW; Newchurch E., ST/4.9 N, JHC; Portskewett, WAS; near Minnett’s Lane, ST/4.8 P. More recent records: entrance to Five Lanes Quarry (now County Council rubbish tip), ST/444.911, 1971-75, TGE, CT; grassy verge of Crick-Shirenewton Rd., 2km north of Crick, ST/49.92, 1971-75, TGE, CT. (8 t) Plate 38 ANTHYLLIS Kidney Vetch This is a variable, silky-haired perennial with lower leaves having few pairs of leaflets and a large terminal leaflet whilst the upper ones have several more pairs of almost equal sized leaflets, the stipules are small and fall early; 9 stamens are fused and the tenth is fused variously; the usually 1-seeded, indehiscent fruit is enclosed in an inflated calyx.

Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. vulneraria Kidney Vetch This has a calyx 2-4 mm wide with its lateral teeth appressed to the upper ones; it has upper leaves with 4-7 pairs of lateral leaflets almost the same size as the terminal ones; there are appressed hairs on all parts of stems; the yellow to orange (sometimes red) flowers are densely clustered often in paired clusters and subtended by leaf-like bracts; the sepals are red tipped. 23

ONOBRYCHIS Sainfoin These are perennial herbs with pinnate leaves with single leaflets at their apex; all leaflets entire; the flowers, with a tube of 9 stamens plus a free one, are in axillary racemes; there are indehiscent, 1seeded fruits.

! Onobrychis viciifolia

Sainfoin

This is a fairly erect perennial with 6-14 pairs of narrowly elliptic leaflets terminated with single leaflet; the flowers, that are clustered in a spire on the end of a long, axillary stalk, are pink with a purplish keel and veins and have long-toothed sepals; the pods are small and fan-shaped and have toothed edges and sides. Once grown as a fodder crop, especially on calcareous soils, it is now a rare relic. It appears to be extinct here, as there have been no sightings

18 31

It grows usually on coastal, calcareous areas and waste ground. Records from Wade (1970): on limestone chippings of a disused rail track, Mynydd Dimlaith, ST/15.90; Wyndcliff, TWG, JHC, WAS, AEW; Earlswood, ST/4.9, WAS, SH; The Minnetts, WAS; Caerwent, JCE; Carrow Hill, *. Recent records: coastal bank, Sudbrook, 232

Flora of Monmouthshire ash pans, Uskmouth Power Station, ST/33.82, 1986-96, TGE, CT; several patches, wet meadow, near Julian’s Gout, ST/333.841, 1982-85, TGE, SP; meadow, near sea wall, SE of Great House, ST/423.838, 1985, TGE, UTE; waste ground, amid sluice beds (ponds), Alpha Steel Works, ST/337.845, 1993, MJ; 100s plants on sea wall/salt marsh S of Rogiet Rifle Range, ST/465-470.864-5, 1997, TGE, CT; scattered plants, grassy shore, S of Blackbird Rd., Caldicot, ST/484.872. 7 t

ST/502.873, 1957-2003, TGE; marsh, Newport Docks, 1971-82, TGE, CT; disused rail bank, W Newbridge, ST/20.97, 1988, TGE, UTE; waste ground, Cwmbran, ST/2.9 X, 1986, TGE, UTE; near Michaelstone-y-fedw, ST/2.8 M, GH; low cliffs, Uskmouth, ST/33.82, 1985, SP; meadow, The Brockwells, ST/468.896, 1985, CT; Monmouth link road bank of imported soil, SO/502-3.119, few plants 1990, 1 large plant 1991, BJG; large patches, Newport Docks, ST/316.862, 1997, MJ, waste ground, Alpha Steel Works, ST/33.84, 1995, TGE, MJ. 15 t

Lotus corniculatus Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil

LOTUS Bird’s-foot-trefoils Lotus species have leaves with 5 leaflets with the basal pair so close to the stem that they could be mistaken for stipules (so trefoil is really a misnomer) which are in fact minute and fall early; 9 stamens are united, a tenth free; the usually yellow flowers have beaked keels and occur singly or in small heads; the cylindrical, many-seeded pods split lengthwise.

This has solid stems and tends to form low patches with leaflets that range from round to ovate or elliptical; its flowers vary from yellow to orange and usually form clusters of 5-7. 23

Lotus glaber Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-trefoil

This is usually a glabrous perennial forming sprawling patches with linear to slenderlanceolate leaflets; the bright yellow, 6-12 mm flowers are solitary or in clusters of 2-4.

18 23 31 22

It grows in short grass that has not been overfertilized, but is well drained, which includes coastal cliffs. In vc 35 it has suffered from land ‘improvement’ but can still be found in most tetrads. 371 t

Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil

This is much more erect, often ascending to 1 m in height, its stems are hollow; its leaflets are ovate to subovate; its flowers are yellow and are in clusters of 5-12; though similar to L. corniculatus it looks more robust, taller and has hollow stems. It is found in damp, grassy places, marshes and pond sides. Though still widespread drainage has reduced numbers of sites and plants in vc 35. 335 t

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It grows in dry grassy places near the coast, often on calcareous soils. In vc 35 it is centred around Newport on waste ground and at the mouth of the R. Usk, spreading along the R. Severn banks. Vc 35 sites: Wade (1970) waste ground, Newport Docks, ST/3.8, 1881, WW, *, 1st record, AEW. Recent records: marsh, Newport Docks, ST/313.849, 1972-84, TGE, CT; 1000s of plants, 233

Flora of Monmouthshire has reduced its numbers in the last fifty years, Wade (1970) had already stated it as was rare. Vc 35 sites from Wade (1970): near Kymin, Monmouth, SO/52.12, JHC, *, SGC; ascent to the earthworks, near Trewyn, ?SO/32.22, 1884, DrW; Hatterels above Pandy, SO/3.2, 1870, HGB; Beaulieu Wood, SO/52.12, SGC; Little Mountain, Pontypool, SO/28.02, THT; Abercarn, *; Cwmcarn, 1922-3, AM; Cefn Rhyswg, nr. Abercarn, ST/29 H, *; Coed-y-Paen, ST/39 J, CC; Allteryn; Foxwood, SH (1909); Llandegfedd, ST/39, *, 1943, BC; Earlswood, ST/4.9 M, JHC; nr. Cleddon (Trellech) Bog, SO/5.0 C, *, AL, GP, TGE; Alexandra Dock, Newport, ST/3.8, SH. More recent sites: entrance to wood, Coed-y-Prior, SO/288.112, 1986, RF; heath, Coed-y-Prior, SO/289.111, 1986, RF; dry open ground, adjacent footpath, Brecon Beacons National Park. SO/2.0 Z, 1985, JD; 1 plant, path, Bargain Wd., Llandogo, SO/52.03, 1984, TGE, UTE; woodland path, Botany Bay, Tintern, SO/518.022, 1991, TGE, UTE; c. 30 plants, semi-improved grassland, Trostrey Common, SO/377.044, 2003, JBr; N side of B4598, E of Troddi Bridge, SO/508.116, 2005, PJ. 4t (12 t)

Lotus pedunculatus 23

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ORNITHOPUS Bird’s-foots Bird’s-foots are prostrate annuals with more than 3 pairs of lateral leaflets below the terminal leaflet; the beaked pods are often narrow, curved and in 3s with slight constrictions between the seeds, the pod arrangement probably accounts for their name.

Ornithopus perpusillus

Bird’s-foot

Bird’s-foot is usually a small, hairy, prostate annual (once I saw it form long spreading branches, on sandy soil on the edge of a ridge woodland in the Trellech region); the elliptical leaflets occur in 7-13 pairs; its small, white or pink flowers are in clusters of 3-8; the 10-18 mm pods are slender, segmented and end in a hooked beak and with the arrangement in 3s resemble a bird’s foot.

HIPPOCREPIS Horseshoe Vetches These are herbs or shrubs with ribbed stems, leaves with paired lateral leaflets and a terminal leaflet; the fruit are flattened pods with beak and horseshoe shaped segments.

Hippocrepis comosa

Horseshoe Vetch

This is a low-growing, hairy perennial with a woody base; its 3-8 pairs of linear to oval leaflets are notched at their apices; its yellow flowers are grouped in a circle at the top of a long stalk; its fruits have 3-6 horseshoe-shaped segments. It grows on calcareous grassland and cliff tops. It is extinct in vc 35 but was recorded at Chepstow, ST/5.9 ?G/H, 19th century, JHC; the Wyndcliff, ST/5.9 I, SH (1909). (2 t)

SECURIGERA Crown Vetch These are perennial herbs with spreading, ridged stems that die down in winter; the leaves are pinnate completed by a terminal leaflet; the pods are almost straight and scarcely constricted between the seeds.

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! Securigea varia

It grows in open spaces in short turf, unused and arable soil especially if it is dry, acid, sandy or coarsely gritty. Changes in management of land

Crown Vetch

This plant soon forms large, sprawling patches; its leaves have 11-25 elliptic to oblong leaflets; the 234

Flora of Monmouthshire 1922-3, AM; Mynyddislwyn, 1946, JBL; near Cwm Lasgarn, SO/28.04, *. More recent records: many plants along a ditch bank, just below Ty’rgelli, Cwm Celyn, SO/209.091, 1986, MD, RF (has since been eaten out by sheep); roadside bank, Llanhilledd, SO/215.018, 1986, RF, 2003 TGE; hayfield, Cwm Sychan, SO/247.042, 1988, REH; sheep pasture, nr. top of ENE slope, Blaen Tillery, SO/221.087, 1987, RF, 1994, TGE; roadside bank, N of Mynyddislwyn, ST/1934.9460, 1990, RF, 2001, TGE; 1 patch, wet heath, Pontllanfraith, ST/1698.9625, known for years before 1987, NH, 1991-2001, TGE; more than 100 large cushions of plant (with Sanguisorba officinalis and Lathyrus linifolius), in large meadow of ?common land where locals exercise their dogs, near concrete mushroom water tower, Markham, SO/165.014, 1991, TGE, UTE (reported to NCC but offered no protection and since then the local council has granted permission for a farmer to fence the land, erect a stables and run horses on it); c. 250 plants, hay meadow, Ty’r-hen, Cefn-crib, SO/237.998, 1988, AW, KR, 1991, JPW, CM; 1 plant, wet heath, Cwm Celyn, SO/205.088, 1991, JWo; 4-5 plants, grassland, Pengam, ST/159.972, 1994, CT, GT; several plants, N of road, Bedwellty, SO/168.001, 1994, PAS; churchyard, St. Saunan’s, SO/166.003, 1994. 11 t Plate 140 site

white and pink pea-like flowers occur in groups of 10-20. It was introduced from mainland Europe and is now naturalised on grassy banks. Vc 35 sites: Wade (1970) gave 2 places: bank of R. Wye, above Monmouth, SGC; canal bank, below Chapel of Ease, between Abercarn and Newbridge, 1923, *, AM. Recent records; margin of new road, Coalbrookvale, SO/10 Z, 1988, JN, PG; large patch, roadside bank, Mt. Pleasant, Llanhilledd, SO/21.01, 1987, RF (still there 2000); bank of Clawdd-du, behind garage, Monmouth, SO/506.121, 1990, BJG; 5 m², pasture, Monmouth, SO/507.120, 1992, BJG, HVC. 4 t (1 t) VICIA Vetches These herbs often have ridged but not winged stems; they have pinnate leaves ending sometimes in a point or a tendril but not a leaflet; their stipules are small and green; their flowers may be solitary or in racemes, with a symmetrical or two-lipped calyx; their legumes (pods) are cylindrical, often somewhat flattened, curved and with pointed apex.

Vicia orobus

Wood Bitter-vetch

This hairy perennial forms cushions with smooth stems bearing leaves, of 6-15 pairs of elliptical leaflets, ending in a short point; the white flowers with purplish veins are borne in a cluster at the end of a long stalk; the 2-3 cm hairless pod is yellowish-brown.

Vicia cracca

Tufted Vetch

This is a climbing perennial to 1-2 m aided by branched tendrils terminating the leaves of 6-15 pairs of leaflets; the long, one-sided, long-stalked raceme of violet-blue flowers tend to add colour to the British countryside in the second half of summer. The standard petal has its limb as long as its claw or longer and a calyx with a base only slightly asymmetrical.

20 31

35 19

It grows in rough grassland on roadside banks or unimproved meadows or among rocks. In vc 35 it is confined to the hilly west. Sites in Wade (1970): Abergavenny district, 1886, JWh; near Crumlin, JHC; Rhyswg; near Chapel of Ease, Abercarn, *,

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235

Flora of Monmouthshire Vicia cracca is common in hedgerows, wood margins and under-managed grassland. Still widespread in the vice-county but because of the spread of sheep farming and ‘improvement’ of grassland it has become confined to marginal habitats. 340 t

Vicia sylvatica

obtain and fulfil the tidiness craze that now afflicts village culture. Wade (1970) opined that it was frequent on calcareous soils and very rare elsewhere and gave 20 sites. Recent sites are: Bishop’s Barnetts Wood, ST/520.943, 1954-84, TGE; Great Barnetts Wood, ST/51.93, 1982- 2003; Usk Rd., Pandy Mill, ST/492.942, 1985-1996, TGE; several plants with Herb Paris, tracks in woodland adjacent to Graig Wd., SO/439.081 & 444.079, 1987, EW; wood edge, Forestry Commission track near Offa’s Dyke Path, SO/477.137; 12 plants woodland Sergeant’s Grove, SO/485.135, 1985, PJ; 2 plants St Pierre Great Woods, ST/504.926, 1991, JDRV; extensive on E edge of Garth Wood, SO/524.134; Troy Orles Wd., SO/509.097, 1994, BJG; patch, Livox Farm Wd., ST/539.972, 1990, EW; 9 plants, Five Paths, Wentwood, ST/437.949, 437.950 & 436.950, 1995, CT, 2003, TGE; Buckholt Wd., 1 plant, edge of track, SO/508.157, 1987; many plants over 50 m, SO/507.156, 1993; present, SO/506.163; several extensive patches among scrub, in young plantation, SO/502.157, 1997, BJG; limestone quarry, Company’s Wood, Abersychan, SO/272.034, 1999, SW; no plants in Buckholt Wood, but 2 large patches more than 3 m² on steep A466 roadside bank on E side of the wood, SO/5065.1622, 2004, TGE; 1 large plant, Hadnock Road bank, Priory Grove, SO/5249.1383, 2003, TGE; 1 large plant 6 x 3 m, track side, St. Pierre Great Wd., ST/5005.9267, and another 4 x 4 m at ST/5006.9270, 2003, TGE; 1 plant 24 x 5 m, Graig Wd. S of Monmouth, SO/5097.0982, 2003, TGE, CT; 1 plant 7 x 2 m, side of forest track, Troy Orles Wd., SO/5133.1022, 2003, TGE; 1 plant 4 x 2 m, cliff face above caged-stones retaining barrier, E side A4136, Garth Wd., SO/523.134, 2003, TGE. 12 t (22 t) Plate 40.

Wood Vetch

Wood Vetch uses its branched tendrils to reach heights of 1-2 m and can spread laterally many metres; its leaves have 5-15 pairs of elongated oval leaflets that have a neat appearance; the 1220 mm white or pale lilac flowers with purplish veins are borne in loose, somewhat one-sided racemes on long main stalks; the 2-3 cm black pods contain 4-5 seeds. 23

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It grows in open woods and scrub, along rides and margins. In the vice-county many of the sites shown on the distribution map no longer have plants. A possible reason for its demise is the use of forestry machines that can change large areas in a single operation. Vicia sylvatica grows on the established edges of paths and tracks or wood edges, the machines widen the whole path or track or wood edge taking out the vetch at the same time. Invasive plants like brambles take over the newly created space preventing the necessary conditions for the successful germination of dormant seeds of the vetch; or the widened path accommodates vehicles or the stacking of timber piles or the trimmings are often just pushed into the wood edge, none of which favour the re-establishment of the plant. The open areas that favoured Wood Vetch were established by small scale coppicing to supply pea and bean sticks, vegetable gardens so important during the war have largely gone out of fashion and canes from garden centres are easier to

! Vicia villosa (incl. subsp. villosa) Fodder Vetch This species is very similar to V. cracca but differs in that its standard petal has a limb ½ as long as its claw and a calyx very asymmetrical at its base with a bulge on its upper side; the wings are often white or yellow. It is introduced and grown as a fodder crop or to be ploughed in to increase the nitrogen content of the soil. It also occurs on tips and waste ground. Vc 35 sites: several large patches with white wings of subsp. villosa, rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1977-79, TGE, CT, det. EJC; spread over a failed wheat field, NNE of 236

Flora of Monmouthshire This is very similar to Hairy Tare but is almost hairless and has leaflets acute tipped, its flowers are usually solitary or in pairs and are of a clear pale blue; its pods contain four seeds, (observable if held up to the light), and ripen brown. It often occurs together with V. hirsuta sharing many of the habitats. In vc 35 it is more scattered and less widespread than its hairy relative. 90 t

Llantrisant, ST/40.97, 1987, TGE, UTE; scattered in field, W of Wolvesnewton, ST/44.99, 1987, TGE, UTE; disturbed soil, Newport Docks, ST/31.85, 1985, TGE; 1-5 plants, among dumped soil, R. Usk east bank, S of George St. Bridge, ST/320.877, 1988, TGE, UTE. 3 t (1 t)

Vicia hirsuta

Hairy Tare

Hairy Tare is a slender, hairy annual with leaves of 4-10, linear to narrowly oblong leaflets, and ending in branched tendrils; small 2-4 mm, mauvish-white flowers were grouped usually in 3-5s at the head of a long slender stalk; the short 6-10 mm pod holds 2 seeds with a growing constriction between them as the pod turns from green to black.

Vicia sepium

Bush Vetch

This is a more robust vetch that uses its leaf tendrils to climb to over half a metre; it has 5-9 pairs of leaflets that are oval though many are wider below the middle and end bluntly with the main vein forming a short, apiculate projection; the rather dull, purplish blue, 12-15 mm flowers are borne in short-stalked clusters of 2-6; the 2-3 mm hairless pod turns black when ripe.

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

35 18

It is commonly found on dry, unimproved grassy banks, road and rail sides. It is still widespread in vc 35 but tends to be a plant of margins. 235 t

Vicia tetrasperma

This is a plant of margins and grows typically under hedges and woodland edges and among decreasing rough grass. Widespread in vc 35, particularly in hedgerows. 337 t

Smooth Tare

! Vicia pannonica

Hungarian Vetch

This is like a small Bush Vetch, but has narrower leaflets and the 14-22 mm flowers are a dirty yellow and in small clusters; the pod is yellowish and has adpressed hairs. This an infrequent casual of waste places. The only vc 35 record was on waste ground, after the demolition of the St. Mary’s Church School, in Chepstow Priory, ST/535.939, 1974, TGE, det. RDM. (1 t)

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237

Flora of Monmouthshire

Vicia sativa

up but there is no dramatic change of width; the 1-2 cm flowers have a paler red standard than the wings or keels; the fruits are smooth, usually glabrous and ripen brown to black. This is probably the commonest subspecies, but was only just being recognised when the bulk of the common plants were being logged 1985-90 in vc 35 and not given in many floras in use at that time. I have little doubt that some of the subsp. nigra records could have been subsp. segetalis. 130 t

Common Vetch

Common Vetch is a climbing, hairy annual to over 1 m; it has average of 4-6 pairs of leaflets often with branched tendrils and toothed stipules that have a black spot near their base; their flowers range from pale to dark red to purple.

Vicia sativa subsp. nigra Though the lower leaf leaflets are not wide, the upper ones are abruptly narrower and the smallish, 14-19 mm flowers are bright purplishred.

Vicia sativa subsp. sativa This subspecies is usually the largest, more fleshy and robust of the three; it is like a large version of subsp. segetalis with larger flowers more markedly bicolorous; its fruits are often pubescent and slightly constricted between the seeds and ripens to yellowish to brown.

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35 20

It is common on sandy soils and heaths and marginal grassy sites elsewhere. In vc 35 it can be found in many tetrads but is less numerous than possibly shown by the map. 277 t

Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis

It was formerly grown as a fodder crop or on green farms to be ploughed in to increase the nitrogen content of the soil. In vc 35 it has been grown for those purposes but very infrequently in recent years; one can only hope that with popular pressure for the use of less nitrate application its use can come back into fashion. It can still be encountered among some crops but most records seem to be from waste land and margins. Many of the sites which had this subspecies in the 1985-90 period, when most of the common plant records were made, no longer have them due to agriculture changes. 63 t

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! Vicia lutea

Yellow-vetch

This is an annual, that sprawled over other plants, variously hairy, with leaves composed of 48 pairs of oval leaflets terminated in tendrils; the

The leaflets of this subspecies may be slightly wider at the base of the plant compared with higher 238

Flora of Monmouthshire 2-3+cm, pale yellow-tinged-purple flowers were borne singly or in 2-3s; the 2-4 cm pods were usually hairy and turned yellowish-brown to black. It grows in rough grass mainly in coastal locations. In vc 35, less than 10 plants grew on a railway embankment near rail bridge over R. Honddu, Llanvihangel Crucorney, SO/321.209, 1987, SAR. Had the seeds been introduced with seaside sand or shingle used in track maintenance? 1 t

broadly elliptic, as in the majority of vc 35 plants, or linear; the 12-16 mm, reddish-purple flowers which age bluish are borne in a lax group of 3-6 at the end of a long, slender stalk; the reddish-brown, glabrous pods range from 2.54.5 cm. It favours wood margins, hedge banks and scrub. In vc 35 it always seem to occupy small areas, frequently just a few plants, but is quite widespread. 96 t

! Vicia faba

Lathyrus pratensis

Broad Bean

Broad Beans are erect, rather fleshy annuals to c. 1 m; the leaves have 2-3 pairs of leaflets but the tendrils are replaced by a pointed projection; the flowers are largely white but have black wings; the large pods contain up to 8 large, flattened seeds. It is grown as a commercial crop and dropped seed causes casual appearance, or when discarded haulms were transported to the rubbish tip where seeds germinated the following spring. In vc 35: several plants on rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, most years 1972-82, TGE, CT; on bare mud and earth of rubbish tip, Pengam Farm, ST/265.798, 1994, GH. 4 t (1 t)

Meadow Vetchling

This climbing perennial may use its leaf tendrils to climb to over a metre but it seldom has to; on its sharply angled stems its leaves bear a pair of lanceolate to pointed elliptical leaflets and a terminal tendril, they are subtended by large, paired, arrow-shaped stipules; the 10-16 mm, yellow flowers are usually in long-stalked racemes of 5-10; the pods ripen black. 23

LATHYRUS Peas Peas have angled or winged stems; leaves are usually pinnate sometimes ending in a tendril, or are reduced to a simple blade or tendril; styles are hairy only on upper surface.

Lathyrus linifolius var. montanus Bitter-vetch

18 31

It is a common plant of grassland in big meadows or strips, by hedges or woods. Widespread in the vice-county. 373 t

Lathyrus grandiflorus Two-flowered Everlasting-pea

A climbing perennial to over 2 m high and which often reaches that height. Its stems are wingless and bear leaves of 2 obovate to almost round leaflets and terminated by a branched tendril; the purplish-pink, 2.5-3.5 cm flowers are borne in small clusters. It is grown in gardens for its perennial nature, its delicate leaf sprays and large showy flowers. In vc 35 all plants I’ve seen have a garden origin, where they were allowed to drape themselves over shrubs and hedges and have spread from there. The plant that once adorned Penpergwm railway platform

18 31

This is an erect, glabrous perennial with winged stems and leaves of 2-4 pairs of leaflets and ending in a fine point, the leaflets may be 239

Flora of Monmouthshire (now disused) has extended its territory to neighbouring hedges. 8 t

Severn upper banks, in rough ground near the railway lines and in hedges and wood edges. 42 t

Lathyrus grandiflorus

! Lathyrus latifolius Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea

This perennial may clamber to 3 m, has broadly winged stems with leaves having paired, broadly lanceolate leaflets with large paired stipules, each like half an arrow-head; the bright red (rarely white), 2-3 cm flowers are in long-stalked racemes of 4-10; the 5-10 cm, brown pods are glabrous.

22 31

35 21

Lathyrus sylvestris Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea

This perennial pea has a creeping rootstock and winged stems with paired, long, elliptical, 3parallel-nerved leaflets ending in a triplebranched tendril that helps it clamber over neighbouring shrubs or tall grasses, the stipules are small, narrow and acute and less than ½ as wide as the stem. Without support it forms compact quite bushy plants; it carries its purplishpink, c. 2 cm flowers in long-stalked racemes, all calyx-teeth are shorter than tube.

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This is introduced from mainland Europe and has a persistent underground rootstock and fertile seeds. Where it escapes to hedges, grassy commons, railway banks and uncultivated ground it will survive for years. 7 t (1 t)

! Lathyrus heterophyllus Norfolk Everlasting-pea

This perennial pea is similar to L. sylvestris but has stipules more than ½ as wide as the stem, the lowest calyx-tooth is as long or longer than the tube and the flowers are brighter coloured. It is separated from L. latifolius by its smaller flowers, its leaflets being more than 4 x as long as wide, and its ovules being 15 or less per ovary. It is a rarely naturalised plant in Britain. The vc 35 site is many m² on N side of disused railway line, Pye Corner, Bassaleg, ST/276.873, 1996, TGE. 1 t

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! Lathyrus odoratus

Sweet Pea

This annual may climb to 2-3 m; its winged stems bear leaves ending in branched tendrils and a single pair of ovate leaflets; the various coloured, 20-35

It is at home in hedgerows, wood margins, coastal scrub and grassy verges. In the vice-county there is a big concentration in the SE corner, on the R. 240

Flora of Monmouthshire very small numbers; the cylindrical pods may grow to 12 cm in length. This is grown in gardens, smallholdings and large arable fields to provide one of the best vegetable proteins. Some pods may not be harvested or get spilled and grow on roadsides or fields, or garden waste containing pods may end up on tips. In vc 35 the only record was a patch of plants on rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1982, TGE. (1 t)

mm flowers are grouped in 1-3s at the end of a long, upright stalk. Introduced from S Italy, it has been grown for cutflowers and occasionally appeared on tips and waste areas. The only vc 35 record is several plants in the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1978, TGE, CT, Herb. TGE. (1 t)

Lathyrus nissolia

Grass Vetchling

This is a slender, upright annual with leaves reduced to a single, grass-like blade that tapers gradually to a long point; the long, slim flower peduncles bear 1-2, clear, bright red flowers; the long, narrow pods are many-seeded.

ONONIS Restharrows These are woody perennials or annual herbs; the flowers are solitary or in terminal racemes; the calyx is glandular; all 10 stamens are fused into a tube; the straight pod, splits along its length shedding its 1-many seeds.

Ononis spinosa

Spiny Restharrow

It is an erect or ascending usually spiny shrub with hairs along one side of the stem or along 2 opposite sides; its leaflets are more than 3x as long as wide and acute to nearly so; the flowers are pink.

19 23 18 22 31

35 21

It is native to grassy habitats. In vc 35 it is to be found in grass but it also flourishes in gritty substrates such as the ash pans of the Uskmouth Power Station. It otherwise does well on unimproved grassland as in MOD, Caerwent, on the levels near the reens, and remnant fields awaiting the nearby housing developments to spread and swallow them up. It is widespread on motorway verges across the Severn and more rarely in Glamorgan, and could occur beside vc 35 motorways but they have not been surveyed. 25 t (1 t).

18 31

It grows in grassy places or rough ground. In vc 35 it hugs the margin of the R. Severn, and is only scattered elsewhere. 23 t Plates 39, 41.

PISUM Garden Pea These have smooth stems that bear pinnate leaves that are terminated by branched tendrils, the stipules are larger than the leaflets; the flowers have calyx teeth that are broad and leafy; the style is pubescent only on the upper side.

! Pisum sativum

Ononis repens

Common Restharrow

This is similar to O. spinosa and sometimes has a few spines, but differs in having hairs all round the stems, it is procumbent to ascending, its leaflets are less than 3x as long as wide and they are obtuse to emarginate. It grows in grassy places. In vc 35 it is widespread and not confined to the coast. 94 t

Garden Pea

This is a plant that uses its tendrils to climb over 1.5 m; the white to purple flowers are arranged in 241

Flora of Monmouthshire railways and urban conurbations afford waste areas. 50 t

Ononis repens 23

! Melilotus albus 22

White Melilot

This is similar to Tall Melilot but has white flowers, only 4-5 mm long, with the standard longer than the keel and wings. Its hairless pod is to 5 mm long. Its origin and habitats are similar to M. altissimus but it less frequent. 8 t

19 23 18 31

MELILOTUS Melilots These tend to be erect, annual or short-lived perennials with leaves of 3 leaflets, usually toothed; the yellow or white flowers, usually in long, erect racemes, have a non-glandular calyx; the pods are short and contain 1-2 seeds, dehiscing late in the season.

18 31

Arc. Melilotus altissimus

Tall Melilot

This tallish plant often survives the winter; it usually has oblong leaflets with acute teeth and many erect, long racemes of 5-7 mm long, yellow flowers, which have standard, keel and wings the same length; the pubescent fruit is over 5 mm long, black when ripe and usually contains 2 seeds.

Arc. Melilotus officinalis

Ribbed Melilot

This is similar to Tall Melilot in having yellow flowers but though the standard and wings are equal, the keel is shorter; the glabrous fruit is less than 5 mm long and brown when ripe. 23

18 31

It is now naturalised on waste ground, particularly in urban settings near railways, industrial buildings, playing fields etc. In vc 35 it is concentrated on the Levels, where docks, roads,

Its origin and habitats are also similar to M. altissimus but it follows the river valleys inland more. 51 t 242

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Melilotus indicus

notches of their apices and the 1.5-3 mm, smooth pods are kidney shaped and turn black on ripening.

Small Melilot

It may reach a height of 40 cm though not often and is noticeably narrower, having narrower leaflets too, it has much smaller, yellow flowers only 2-3.5 mm long, the flower wings are as long or longer than the keel; the fruits are less than 3 cm long and have transverse or netted ridges on them. It is a casual of tips and waste places associated with birdseed or wool waste. In vc 35 sites were: scattered plants on rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.86, 1975-85, TGE, CT; 1-10 plants in waste areas of Newport Docks, ST/30.85, 1977-1980, TGE, CT; 2 plants at base of wood chippings pile, Began, 1986, GH. 1 t (2 t)

TRIGONELLA Fenugreeks These are fairly low, annual herbs with leaves with 3 finely or untoothed leaflets; the flowers are solitary to stalked racemes; pods may be straight or curved but split along one side only.

18 31

It grows in grassy places, particularly verges and other unimproved grassland. Widespread in vc 35 but mainly in marginal habitats. 331 t

! Trigonella corniculata Sickle-fruited Fenugreek

! Medicago sativa subsp. sativa

This hairless herb has leaves with leaflets that range from linear to oval (that in the Mediterranean tend to turn up in the hot sun to reduce its scorching effect); the yellow flowers are arranged in a cylindrical raceme reminiscent of Melilotus plants, their wing petals are shorter than the keel and the sepals are not equal; the narrow pods are curved outwards in the pendent position. In vc 35 its site was on bare ground on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1978, *, TGE, det. EJC. (1 t)

Lucerne

It is usually an erect 60 cm perennial with hairy leaves with oblong leaves, toothed around the apex; the mauve to violet, 7-11 mm flowers are grouped in short axillary racemes; the pods are spiralled 1-3 turns leaving a ‘hole’ in the middle. 23

MEDICAGO Medicks These are herbaceous annuals to perennials with trifoliate leaves; their flower are 1-many in axillary racemes, with non-glandular calices and a tube of 9 fused stamens with one solitary stamen; their fruits are often diagnostic ranging from slightly curving to spiralling to varying numbers of complete turns, they are also indehiscent and often spiny.

Medicago lupulina

18 31

Once cultivated as Alfalfa for fodder and the roots and their nodules ploughed in to improve the nitrogen content of the soil, now it is a relic on roadsides and former arable fields. In vc 35 it is usually a roadside plant, particularly in the southern half. 24 t

Black Medick

This low-growing, often hairy annual to short-lived perennial with clover-like leaves and compact raceme of 2-3 mm, yellow flowers could be mistaken for a hop trefoil until closer examination reveals its heart-shaped leaflets have a short projection of their mid ribs in the 243

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Medicago sativa subsp. falcata Sickle Medick

TRIFOLIUM Clovers These herbs have variable life cycles but the same trifoliate type of leaf, with toothed leaflets; though a minority have heads of only 1-3 flowers most have dense heads or dense, short spikes with many flowers; the calices have equal or near-equal teeth; the corolla with wings longer than keel is retained in the head after anthesis; the small pods are almost hidden within the calices.

This is similar to Lucerne but has yellow flowers and fruits that are almost straight to curved in an arc to less than ½ a circle. It grows in grassy, rough and waste ground. The only vc 35 record was a casual of waste ground, Alexandra Dock, ST/3.8 H, 1955, JDD. (1 t)

! Medicago polymorpha

Toothed Medick

Trifolium ornithopodioides Bird’s-foot Clover

This species is a straggly more or less glabrous annual; its flowers are yellow; its glabrous fruits consist of 1.5-5 turns, edged with teeth, grooved at their base, and longer than the central part, the smaller veins are netted near the peripheral vein. Native in Channel Isles and parts of S Britain (but not this vice-county) on sandy areas near the coast. In vc 35 it is a casual: Chepstow, ST/5.9, WAS (1920); Kymin Hill, Monmouth, SO/52.12, SGC; in sandy soil, waste area of Buffer Wharf, Chepstow Shipyard, ST/538.938, 1996, TGE. 1 t (2 t)

Medicago arabica

This annual forms rosettes of small leaves with heart-shaped leaflets having small teeth, the petioles are longer than the blade; the lanceolate, long-pointed stipules are small; the 6-8 mm, white or pink flowers are grouped in 2-4s; the 6-8 mm, oblong pod, containing 5-8 seeds, projects beyond the calyx. It grows around the coast in scattered, disparate sites. Vc 35 sites are: Rumney, 1922, * DHM, AEW; abundant along track, inside sea wall, Goldcliff; ST/37.82; ST/371.819; ST/38.82, 19932001, CT, TGE. 3 t (1 t).

Spotted Medick Trifolium repens

This is usually a medium-sized, clover-like annual with trifoliate leaves, with heart-shaped leaflets bearing a blackish blotch in the middle; it has ear-shaped, toothed stipules; the glabrous, 5-6 mm, spiny pods are spiralled 4-7 times.

White Clover

White Clover is a glabrous perennial with creeping stems that root at the nodes; its leaves have oval to elliptic bright-green leaflets with usually white marking arching across their centres, the translucent veins project as little points around the edge; the stipules sheath the stems; the white, sometimes pink, 1 cm scented flowers are arranged in a dense, globose head with the lower ones reflexing after anthesis.

20 31

35 19

It grows in grassy, marginal sites. In vc 35 it occurs on track and road margins, lawns, a floor of disused quarry and a grassy wasteland. It is sometimes ephemeral, not necessarily appearing on the same site in two successive years. 23 t

18 31

It is native in grassland and rough ground. In vc 35 it occurs in every tetrad, one of the few wild plants 244

Flora of Monmouthshire to join the few species of grass in ‘improved’ grassland. 400 t

Trifolium hybridum

2 cm due to the swelling of the upper lobe of the calyx, which turns pink to dark red, for the globe to resemble a strawberry. Its home is the brackish grasslands of the coast or tidal mouths of rivers. In vc 35 it is found along the edge of the R. Severn and lower stretches of the Rivers Usk and Wye. 25 t Plate 42

Alsike Clover

It is like a coarse White Clover though its stems do not root at nodes, the leaflets do not have contrasting markings, its green stipules are broader and have long, tapering tips, its flowers are white, pink and purple, turn brown after anthesis, and have longer stalks.

! Trifolium resupinatum

18 31

Trifolium campestre

Alsike Clover grows more on disturbed ground, rough pastures, often on clay. In vc 35 it is frequent on newly established road verges (where it may be planted) and ploughed land, but tends to thin out in established pastures. 121 t

Trifolium fragiferum

Reversed Clover

Reversed Clover is like a smaller version of Strawberry Clover but has 2-8 mm pink to purplish-red flowers, in a globular head, twisted so that the standard lies below the other flower parts; the hairy calyx becomes inflated but because of the hairs is more fluffy-looking and tends to remain pale-coloured. Introduced from S Europe it sometimes becomes naturalised. In vc 35 its sites were: Bank by road between Llanvaches and Wentwood, WAS (1920); Newport Docks, ST/3.8, *, AEW (1970); in drier parts of a marsh, Newport Docks, ST/314.848, 1974-83, *, TGE (in its attempt to turn the docks into a Euro Port, the Dock Board had a marsh full of rare county plants filled in with rubble, thus destroying an outstanding habitat). (1 t)

Hop Trefoil

This is a sparsely hairy, semi-erect annual to 30 cm; its leaflets are oval with the terminal one shortly stalked; its pale yellow, 4-5 mm long flowers are borne in terminally and axillary, globosa, stalked heads to 15 mm across of more than 20 flowers, after anthesis the heads become pale brown; the oval pod contains 1 seed.

Strawberry Clover

23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 31

35 31

This is a creeping clover with stems rooting at the nodes; it has membranous, lanceolate stipules, its dense head of 6-7 mm, pink flowers enlarges to

It grows in unimproved grassland. In vc 35 the use of fertilizers and herbicides has greatly reduced the number of sites now supporting this plant and I 245

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows on dryish, grassy habitats, including lawns, and poor, sandy ones. Wade (1970) described it as common and gave sites in all his five regions. In vc 35 today it is much less frequent, it may be on more lawns than appears on my records but constant mowing makes it less easy to distinguish from Lesser Trefoil. 32 t

doubt whether it would be possible to find it in anything like 189 tetrads for it in this millennium. 189 t

Trifolium dubium

Lesser Trefoil

This is similar to Hop Trefoil but the flowers are only 3-3.5 mm long and yellow, and the globose heads of have less than 20 flowers and are only 9 or less mm across; its calyx is glabrous.

Trifolium pratense

Red Clover

This is a tufted, hairy perennial of variable height; its trifoliate leaves, more hairy underneath, have leaflets that have a pale crescent marking near their centres; the stipules are narrowly lanceolate becoming very broadly based higher up and showing clearly marked veins, and abruptly ending in a brown bristle-like point; the 12-15 mm, pink to reddish-purple flowers form large, solitary, sessile, globular heads, that tend to form a pointed dome as they age; pods are oval, thickened at the apex.

19 23

18 31

It grows in grassy and open habitats. It has also decreased in numbers for the same reasons as for Hop Trefoil but was more common in the first place. 367 t

Trifolium micranthum

Slender Trefoil

This is much smaller than Lesser Trefoil, having smaller leaves on very short stalks and there are 2-3 mm long yellow flowers in usually 2-5 loose clusters.

18 31

It grows in grassland and on rough and waste ground. In vc 35 it can be found in most tetrads but in reducing quantities. 385 t

Trifolium medium

18 31

Zigzag Clover

This is a rhizomatous perennial and often forms low bushy patches; its leaves have more strongly elliptical unmarked leaflets and its stipules are green to their tapered point; the flowers are a deep but clear red colour and their shortstalked, globular head tends to be somewhat flattened as they age. It grows in grassland, open woodland and scrub, often on poor soils. In vc 35 it is widespread. Wade (1970) says frequent in all districts except District 5 ‘The Levels’. Today it is recorded there only around Newport and Rumney (both new since

246

Flora of Monmouthshire Wade), and in spite of all the drainage that has taken place nearer the R. Severn it has not yet colonised suitable places. 168 t

meadow, Brockwells, ST/471.896, 1985, CT; 1020 plants, top of cliffs, E end, Sudbrook, ST/506.873, 1985, TGE, UTE; more than 10 plants on bank, S end of field, Common-y-Coed, ST/435.888, 1991, TGE, UTE; Usk Tertiary College, SO/3.0, 1997, GSH; c. 30 plants, rail bank, MOD, Caerwent, ST/481.907, 2000, TGE, CT. 5 t

Trifolium medium 23

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 31

! Trifolium incarnatum subsp. incarnatum Crimson Clover

This is usually a sturdy, erect, hairy annual branched only from the base; its leaves are typically clover-like with heart-shaped leaflets, finely toothed near their apices; the blood-red, 1012 mm flowers (very occasionally white) are aggregated into a stalked, cylindrical head, where the petals equal or exceed the calyx. This was once grown as a fodder crop but now is rarely found in the wild. Vc 35 records from Wade (1970): in meadow, near Llanvair Discoed, ST/4.9 L, WAS, * (but not listed in Shoolbred’s Flora); Rogiet, ST/4.8 L, 1942, JCE. Recent record, Matthew Picard’s allotment, Machen, ST/20930.89280, 2003, MPi, conf. JPW. 1 t (2 t)

Trifolium striatum

Trifolium scabrum

Rough Clover

Rough Clover is a prostrate to procumbent annual with obovate leaflets that have lateral veins thickened and arched-recurved at their margins; the small, white to pinkish, 4-7 mm flowers are grouped in small globular, sessile, terminal and axillary clusters, fingers rubbed over the plant surface feel the clusters as knots and the plant as rough. This grows on sandy soils around the coast, and in limestone quarries. Wade (1970) gave two sites: Portskewett, ?ST/5.8, ESM, WAS; Ifton Quarries, ST/46.88, 1942, JCE, *. The only recent site is on a sandy bank & Trias sandstone, Sudbrook, ST/501.874, 1971; ST/503.873, 2000-04, TGE (there has been a big reduction in the population over the 33 years from many patches along the top of the cliffs to just one). 2 t

Knotted Clover

It is a rather slender, erect, pubescent annual with obovate leaflets; its pink, 4-7 mm flowers, equalling or slightly longer than their calices, are densely clustered in small, sessile heads. It grows in short grassy turf over gritty soils often near the coast. Recorded in Wade (1970): R. Severn bank, near St. Pierre Pill, ST/52.89, *; old quarry, Portskewett, ST/49.88, *, WAS (1920); sea wall, Rumney, *. Recent records are: sandy bank. Mathern Pill, ST/527.898, 1971, TGE; 30-40 plants, Trias sandstone cutting, Portskewett, ST/493.883, 1972, TGE; several plants, waste land, Caldicot, ST/485.876, 1981, TGE; patch ash pans, Uskmouth Power Station, ST/339.825, 1985, TGE;

Trifolium arvense

Hare’s-foot Clover

This annual to biennial has an indumentum of white or pink hairs; its lower leaves are stalked and the upper ones are unstalked, the leaflets are narrowly elliptical, the stipules are narrowly lanceolate; the white to pink 3-6 mm flowers are clustered in ovoid to oblong, stalked, mainly terminal heads that elongate into rather fluffy cylindrical racemes. 247

Flora of Monmouthshire positions from year to year, but a good site on the land side of the bank may be semi-permanent. 12 t (1 t) Plate 44

Trifolium arvense 23

22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 19 31

35 18

It grows in barish sandy, acid soils, grassy heaths, road verges etc. Wade (1970) gave it rare status and listed only Newport Docks, ST/3.8, 1943, JMa, *. Recent sites are: waste ground, Newport Docks, ST/305.862, 1972-83, TGE, CT; on dismantled rail track, Cwm Ffrwd-oer, ST/26.01, 1988, IBH, DH, PCH, JH; waste ground, brickworks, NW of Ridgeway, Newport, ST/290.886, 1989, EJS; waste ground, Griffithstown, ST/29.99, 1986, TGE, UTE; rail ballast, Level of Mendalgief, Newport Docks, ST/31.86, 1985-87, TGE, CT; Aberbeeg, SO/204.008, 1995, PAS; industrial waste ground, E of Corporation Rd., Newport, ST/330.863, 1990, GH; rail ballast, dismantled line, Govilon, SO/274.138, 1991, RF, TGE; road verge, S side of bridge, Risca, ST/22.91, 1989, TGE, CT; top of concrete bank of River Ebbw, Risca, ST/23.91, 1992, JH. Other sites were recorded as a tetrad with no detail. 26 t

Trifolium squamosum

Trifolium subterraneum Subterranean Clover This pubescent, annual clover develops a flattish rosette of leaves and branches bearing heartshaped leaflets spread out, the stalked heads of white flowers curve upwards, the heads appear to have only a small number (usually 2-4) of flowers making up the racemes but closer examination reveals more sterile, corolla-less flowers in the head; after anthesis the peduncle turns downward, and with the fruits arranged like an arrowhead, pushes them into the soil, effectively sowing them. This plant is found in short turf or gaps in it, particularly in sandy areas near the coast. For the vice-county Wade (1970) stated it was very rare and gave only the sandy shore of the R. Severn, below Mathern, WAS, * (we have failed to refind it). Recent sites are: gravelly bank and nearby grassy bank, Sudbrook, ST/501.874, 1971-82, TGE, *; after the drought of 1976, in the large bare area left by the burning of the dried up grass, large numbers of plants covered the area and to just below the top of the nearby coastal cliff in 1977 but the numbers dwindled to none in 1983, TGE; c. 40 plants grew in the lawn near the small car park for Severn View Residential Home, Chepstow, ST/530.938, 2000, HVC, still present 2004, TGE, *. 2 t Plate 43

Sea Clover

Sea Clover, given freedom from grazing, is an erect, slightly hairy annual to over 30 cm; its leaflets are narrowly oblong to oblanceolate on rather spaced out leaves; the pink, 7-9 mm flowers are in mostly terminal, shortly stalked, ovoid heads, with a pair of leaves at the base of the stalk, frequently overlapping the head; the calices enlarge after anthesis to elongate the head. This native inhabits brackish turf near the sea and estuarine shores. In vc 35 it hugs the banks of the sea ‘wall’ and suitable upper saltmarshes, along the shores of the R. Severn and mouths of the rivers Rhymney, Usk and Wye. The spring tides deposit the seeds on to the sea ‘wall’ so that sites facing the Severn are ephemeral and may turn up in different

LUPINUS Lupins These are annual or perennial herbs though some give the appearance of being shrubby; their longstalked leaves are digitate; the flowers are in 248

Flora of Monmouthshire terminal racemes; the calyx is deeply divided into 2 lips; the keel is beaked; the dehiscent, somewhat upright to patent pods are variously seeded.

! Lupinus arboreus

the pendent racemes of over 2 cm yellow flowers, are up to 30 cm long; the ripe brown pods have a thick, dorsal rib and contain poisonous, black seeds. 8 t (1 t)

Tree Lupin CYTISUS Brooms These thornless shrubs have simple or ternate leaves, yellow flowers in terminal or axillary clusters or flowers are produced in small numbers in leaf-axils, the upper lip of the calyx is bifid to different degrees and the pods are held from horizontal to erect.

This is a much branched, evergreen subshrub to 2 m, though it can be damaged in severe winters; its 5-10 leaflets, short and stiff-haired (mainly underneath), are less than 6 cm long and oblanceolate; the lower lip of the calyx is 7-11 mm long; the flowers are yellow, sometimes blue-tinged. This Californian introduction to gardens has been naturalised particularly on the sandy stretches of coastline but also occurs on road and rail embankments. Vc 35 records are: 14 plants on Trias sandstone bank of railway cutting to N of Portskewett, ST/493.883, 1972-2000 when only a single bushy plant was found, TGE, *; waste ground in Cwm Tillery, SO/21.05 C, 1991, RF. 1 t

! Lupinus x regalis

! Cytisus striatus

Russell Lupin

This is a branched herb to over 1 m with acute to acuminate leaflets and more than one inflorescence of various shades of blue, pink, purple and white. L. x regalis is planted in gardens and has largely replaced L. polyphyllus as a garden plant because the latter had a single inflorescence, of only blue flowers, on an unbranched plant. Russell Lupins have been planted in the mistaken plan to ‘beautify’ the road verges with plants not native to our area; fortunately they did not survive. Former vc 35 sites were: planted near the River Sirhowy, edging a pleasant community walk, SE of Cwmfelinfach, ST/18.91, 1997, TGE, UTE; roadside planting, Nantyglo and S of Nantyglo, SO/1.1 V, 1986, & SO/1.0 Z, 1988, RF; roadside planting, N of Blaenavon, SO/2.0 P, 1986, RF; planted along the banks of the A465, S & E of Abergavenny, in tetrads SO/2.1 W; SO/3.1 A, B & C, 1990, RF, TGE. 7 t (1 t)

18 31

This has been introduced from Spain and Portugal to our roadside banks. Vc 35 sites are: A4042 W bank for 100 m, Pontypool, SO/299.004 to 300.004-5, 1990-2004, TGE; 5-10 plants, B4235 bank, opposite Cook’s Wood, ST/437-8.977-8, 1991-2004, TGE; B4591 NW side bank, SW of Cross Keys, ST/21.91, 1995, TGE; Twyn Gwryd, SO/2.0 I, 1991, RF; Grear Warfield Well, SO/5.1 G, 1998, BJG. 6 t

LABURNUM Laburnums These are deciduous, thornless trees; they have ternate leaves, pendulous racemes of yellow flowers from short shoots and pendent, somewhat flattened pods.

! Laburnum anagyroides

Hairy-fruited Broom

This is very similar to C. scoparius but its pods are densely covered with conspicuous, white hairs.

Cytisus scoparius

Broom

This erect, bushy shrub to between 1 and 2 m has ridged, green, spineless stems that mature glabrous; the stalked, trifoliate leaves have elliptic leaflets and subtend 1-2, 16-18 mm, scented, yellow flowers in their axils, the oblong, flattened pod has long hairs on its edges and ripens to a black colour.

Laburnum

Apart from the old twigs, upper side of leaves, and flowers this tree has an appressed-pubescent indumentum, densely silvery when immature; 249

Flora of Monmouthshire dehiscent are borne at an angle of 90 degrees or less.

Genista tinctoria subsp. tinctoria Dyer’s Greenweed

This is an erect to ascending, deciduous, nonspiny subshrub, usually not exceeding 1 m in height; its narrowly lanceolate, somewhat pubescent leaves are more than 4x as long as wide and are borne singly in a spiral; its yellow flowers to 15 mm long appear in terminal and lateral clusters; the pods are glabrous.

18 31

It grows on heaths and open woodlands where the soils are acidic. In vc 35 it is widespread, favouring open woods, and on rough banks in farming areas. 264 t

SPARTIUM Spanish Broom These are spineless shrubs with narrow, simple leaves on short stalks or sessile, flowers are yellow, in leafless terminal racemes; the calyx has an upper lip split almost to its base; the many-seeded pods are held patent to erect.

! Spartium junceum

18 31

This grows in grass, on banks and in rough ground. In vc 35 it grows well for 50 m along banks of drainage ditches close to the R. Wye, just N of the M48 bridge over the river, on little-improved meadows on the vice-county’s eastern N/S ridge and in similar sites around Usk. Elsewhere it is scattered often near rivers or streams. 45 t Site Plate 45

Spanish Broom

S. junceum has smooth stems with large cavities filled with soft pith that makes them vulnerable to breakages in high winds, they have narrow, simple leaves that fall early leaving a leggyplant, especially as it can grow to 3 m in height; the large (to 25 mm), scented, deep yellow flowers are borne singly in terminal racemes; the long, narrow, flattened pods ripen brown and are shortly hairy. Though this Mediterranean plant is widely grown in gardens and to ‘beautify’ industrial properties, new housing estates based on the open plan system, and banks of the larger roads, it has so far not become naturalised in the vice-county. Vc 35 sites are: two plants on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1975, TGE, CT; NE of Monmouth, SO/514.143, 1994, BJG; Manson, N of Monmouth, SO/50.14, BJG. 3 t

Genista anglica

Petty Whin

This spreading to erect near hairless shrub has slender almost glabrous stems usually equipped with slender spines; its sessile leaves are simple and oval shaped except those on the spines which are linear; its yellow flowers to 8 mm, with the keel longer than the standard and wings, are terminal on the main branch and on the side branches; the glabrous pods are up to 2 cm long, narrow and rounded. It grows on sandy and peaty heaths and moors, preferably in wettish ones. Wade (1970) gave these sites: In the north of county – near Tregare, BMF; In the west – Pant yr Esk; Aberbargoed, AM; near Pentwyn-mawr, Abercarn, JBL; near Pound-yCoedcae, Aberbeeg, *; In S central – Garw, CC; near Pontypool, JB; Llantarnam; Llanfrechfa, SH;

GENISTA Greenweeds Greenweeds may or may not have spines; usually they have simple leaves but much less commonly they may be ternate; the yellow flowers with a twolipped calyx divided to ¾ to the base are borne in terminal racemes or lateral clusters; pods normally 250

Flora of Monmouthshire mm long and are borne in compact, terminal racemes with hairs on the keel; its pods to 11 mm contain 1-2 seeds. A plant that has been introduced from the Iberian Peninsula to our gardens and has become naturalised on sandy and rocky hillsides but in vc 35 it occurs only in the Dan-y-Graig Reserve, ST/23.90, 1992, JH. 1 t

near Little Creigydd, Llandewi Fach, 1943, BC; Garw Wood, near Pontnewydd, *; Llanfrechfa Lower; Llandegfedd; In SE – near Rhyd-y-Fedw, * (probably the meadow I saw it in from 1950-1976 when it became extinct there due to a combination of the long dry, hot summer turning all vegetation brown and the cattle being concentrated there, near the brook, where the grass remained green longest); Coed Cae, The Glyn, *, WAS (1920).

ULEX Gorses These are densely prickly, evergreen shrubs with small, alternate leaves reduced to scales or weak spines, except for seedlings which have trifoliate leaves; the flowers, borne amid the spines solitary or in small groups, are yellow, their calices are greenish-yellow and two-lipped, the upper with two, short teeth; tiny bracteoles occur at the base of the calices; pods barely protrude from their calices can be heard popping to disperse their seeds on a warm summer’s day.

Ulex europaeus 31

More recent sites for G. anglica are: wet heath, Pen-y-Van, SO/194.006, 1964-2004, TGE; acid heath, Plas Bedwellty, Blackwood, ST/166.964, 1983, vc 35 Meadows Team (still sparsely scattered 2004); acid heath, Oakdale, ST/194.986, 1983, GMT (now under a housing estate); lowland meadow, Penrhos, SO/410.126, 1983, GMT; wet meadow, Trinant, ST/208.997, 1983, GMT; wet coal waste, SE Pantside, ST/21.97, 1988, TGE, UTE; wet heath, Cwm Celyn, SO/204.088, 1987, RF, TGE; boggy field, The British, SO/252.043, 1987, RH; scattered plants, wet meadow, E of school, Aberbargoed, ST/162.988, 1987, TGE; Varteg waste land, SO/261.056, 1991, SK; marshy grassland, Heol Ddu, ST/174.945, 1991, SK; wet area, S of Penrhos Farm, SO/41.11, 1987, LP; more than 100 plants, Penllwyn grasslands, Pontllanfraith, ST/167.962, 1991, JPW, CM, PS; 11-100 plants, Twyn Gwyn, ST/203.971, 1992, JPW, KSW, MY; 11-100 plants, boggy ground, Crumlin Old Farm, ST/203.991, 1992, JPW, CM. 13 t (2 t)

! Genista hispanica

Gorse

This forms dense bushes to c. 2 m high, with stout, deeply grooved spines; its 15-20 mm long, golden-yellow flowers, smelling of coconut, appear mainly from winter to spring, when flowers appear in the autumn they are accompanied by many buds; at the base of the calices there are tiny, scale-like bracteoles that are at least twice as wide as the pedicels; hairy pods may be up to 2 cm long.

18 31

Gorse is widespread on a variety of habitats mainly on neutral or acidic soils. In vc 35 it is spread widely on heaths, in scrub, rough upland areas and waste ground and has only been curtailed by more intensive cultivation of land enabled by the use of tractors that can till difficult terrain. 262 t

Spanish Gorse

This erect to over 60 cm, perennial subshrub is very prickly because of its branched spines, it has simple, hairy, lanceolate, sessile leaves; its yellow flowers, with hairs on the keel, grow to 13 251

Flora of Monmouthshire

Ulex gallii

1988, JN, PG; 1 shrub among bushes near sea wall, SE of Great House, Redwick, ST/42.83, 1986, TGE, UTE (repeated searches failed to find it in following years); near Newport Old Dock, ST/32.86, 1994, NCC, TGE; planted at Uskmouth Power Station, ST/32.83, 1986, SP. 4 t

Western Gorse

This is similar to U. europaeus but is generally smaller, usually less than 2 m high, with less grooved spines, the flowers are up to 14 mm long, it flowers in the summer (flowers appearing in the autumn are accompanied by many withered ones) and bracteoles seldom up to twice the width of the pedicels often no wider than them.

HALORAGACEAE Water-milfoil family This family comprises herbaceous, subaquatic perennials with flaccid trailing stems, their simple leaves are opposite or in fine whorls; the flowers are small and inconspicuous, in diverse arrangements, with 2 tiny bracteoles and a single bract at the base; the fruit is a nut or group of nuts.

MYRIOPHYLLUM Water-milfoils These are found in water or less commonly on adjacent mud; their leaves are in whorls of 3-6, finely pinnate; the ovary is 4-celled and the fruit a group of up to 4 nutlets. Vegetative characters alone are suspect as diagnostic features.

Myriophyllum verticillatum Whorled Water-milfoil

18 31

It has stems that can spread through the water for 3 m, the leaves are usually 5 in a whorl with 24-35, slender segments, emergent leaves are sparsely covered with sessile glands; the bracts are deeply serrate to pinnately dissected; the reddish flowers are in whorls of 5 usually with males towards the apex, females below and hermaphrodite ones between. M. verticillatum is usually found in base-rich, static or slow moving waters. Wade (1970) gave: Whitewall Common, ST/?42-43.86, 1944, RL. It has been seen recently in only one site: several m², in a reen adjacent to and S of the minor road, Magor ST/413.866, 1985, PRG (the reen was cleaned out before the 1986 flowering season and despite repeated searches over the years has not reappeared). (? 2 t)

It grows in similar habitats to Gorse but is not common in lowland farming areas of vc 35. 198 t ELAEAGNACEAE Sea-buckthorn family Members of this family are usually spiny trees or shrubs with silvery or reddish, scale-like hairs on immature stems and leaves, its alternate, simple, almost sessile leaves have no stipules; the small flowers lack petals; the fruit is a drupe-like achene surrounded by a fleshy hypanthium. HIPPOPHAE Sea-buckthorn This genus has male or female plants, is windpollinated and flowers have 2 sepals and stamens.

! Hippophae rhamnoides

Sea-buckthorn

This is a free-suckering, deciduous, spiny shrub to c. 4 m tall; it has linear to lanceolate, entire, nearly sessile leaves covered with silvery scales which are lost with age, its very small, greenish flowers appear in early spring before the leaves, the somewhat globose to 1 cm fruits are a translucent orange colour. It grows on sea cliffs, fixed dunes, river gravels and alluvium of mountain river valleys. It is not native to vc 35 and has been planted for its numerous, attractive clusters of berries. Records are: Coalbrookdale on new road bank, SO/1.0 Z,

! Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot’s-feather Its stems spread to 2 m or more and bear leaves in whorls of 4-6 usually with 8-30 segments, emergent leaves are covered with numerous sessile glands; the simple bracts are entire to minutely serrate; female flowers only present, in whorls of 4-6, and they are white; its exotic-looking foliage occurs more out of water than in other species. This S American aquatic is sold in garden centres for garden ponds, which it quickly overwhelms and owners thin out into nearby ponds, reens and slow 252

Flora of Monmouthshire field near road hedge, W of Llanellen, SO/297.116, 1987, TGE; shallow silted section of Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, ST/2746.8859, 1990, PAS. 4 t

moving waterways (e.g. canals) where it quickly becomes naturalised and is invasive. Vc 35 sites are: covers a pond where it appears to have been planted, Little Campston, SO/377.245, 1994, TGE, CT; several m², Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Malpas, ST/302.906, 2000, SW; 2 large patches, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, W of Fourteen Locks, ST/274.885, 2001, TGE; in c. 10 m across pond in Lock’s field, near Glan Usk (N. side of road, Chainbridge-Nant Deri), SO/34.05, 2002, CT; large stretch Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Malpas, ST/302.903, 2002, TGE, CT. 4 t

LYTHRACEAE Purple-loosestrife family These are herbs with simple leaves opposite or in whorls; stipules minute or absent; the actinomorphic flowers are solitary or whorl-like in the axils of the leaves; the flower parts are in 4-6s, usually 6s and usually mounted on the top edge of the hypanthium; the many-seeded capsules splits in two valves.

Myriophyllum spicatum Spiked Water-milfoil

LYTHRUM Loosestrife These have stems 4-angled, at least when young, opposite, entire leaves, purple or pink flowers and 2-12 stamens with a sessile ovary.

Its aquatic stems spread for over 2 m and bear whorls usually of 4 leaves with 13-38 segments each; the simple bracts are entire or minutely serrate; flower spikes always erect and bear whorls of reddish flowers in 4s, male, female and hermaphrodite flowers present.

Lythrum salicaria

Purple-loosestrife

This is a stiff, hairy perennial to 1.5 m, the raised angles of the stem give strength; the sessile, lanceolate leaves are opposite or in whorls of 3; the purple flowers to 15 mm across top the plants in long spikes (flowers have styles in 3 different lengths and stamens to match, but in different plants); thus flowers with long styles do not have long stamens; either the style or some stamens exceed the sepal length.

20 23 19 22 18 31

It grows in lowland base-rich, still or slow-moving waters. There has been a big loss of undisturbed ponds and reens, and it has been much more difficult to find in the last ten years. 39 t (2 t)

Myriophyllum alterniflorum Alternate Water-milfoil

This is similar to M. spicatum but has stems that spread to little over 1 m, its 4-leaved whorl has 618 segments per leaf, the yellowish, upper flowers are opposite or alternate. It grows in base-poor still or slow-moving waters. Wade (1970) gave it no mention. It is confined to the western third and apparently not on the lowlands. Sites are: Pen-y-van Pond, SO/196.006, 1985, PSJ; Forge Pond, SO/241.086, 1986, RF; in

It grows on fresh water margins and in marshes and fens, and avoids more acidic soils. In vc 35 it favours reen and river banks, pond margins and the Levels. 76 t Plate 49

!Lythrum junceum

False Grass-poly

This annual in Britain is fairly upright with a ribbed stem bearing sessile, lanceolate to a 253

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 23

Lythrum junceum

254

False Grass-poly

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows in water, on bare or muddy margins or in ditches. It has suffered from the disappearance of many ponds or their neglect (by the run off of slurry into them, for instance). It is absent from The Levels, and a large area of farmland of the centre and north of the vice-county. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave only 7 sites. I think it has lost sites in the eastern part but until 1990 I did not appreciate that there were so many sites in the west. 35 t

gradually tapering oblong leaves that are variously arranged on the stem from alternate to opposite and even approaching spiral; the purple-red flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves singly (occasionally 2) with petals to 6 mm, the styles are longer than the stamens which are of 2 lengths. N.B. the style or some of the stamens exceed the sepal lengths (see illustration). A Mediterranean plant introduced in bird seed and turns up on tips and in parks. It appeared as a single plant in the glory days of the rubbish tip, the Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1977, TGE. (1 t) Figure 23.

! Lythrum hyssopifolium

THYMELAEACEAE Mezereon family This is a family of glabrous, poisonous shrubs with simple, entire leaves in an alternate arrangement; the hermaphrodite flowers are clustered in the leaf axils; lacking petals, the 4 sepals are concolorous to attract the insects; there are 8 stamens; the single-celled ovary produces a 1-seeded drupe.

Grass-poly

This is somewhat similar to False Grass-poly but the flowers and the leaves of the inflorescence are more compact, the petals are pink and are only to 3 mm long and all the flowers have the same components and the hypanthium is tubular. Native in S England and Jersey, Grass-poly arrived around a pool at Slimbridge on the feet of wildfowl. In vc 35 it arrived probably on the feet of ducks from Slimbridge at around a pond on light soil used for a potato crop at The Nurtons, Tintern, SO/535.010, c. 1994 (but did not persist), AW, EW. (1 t)

Lythrum portula

Daphne mezereum

Water-purslane

L. portula is a low-growing, hairless annual with stems rooting at the nodes, the petiolate, opposite leaves are obovate with a solitary, purplish flower in the axil of each, the 0-6 petals are c. 1 mm long; the style and stamens do not reach the apex of the sepals. 23

18 31

Mezereon

Mezereon is an upright, deciduous shrub to c. 1 m that produces purplish-pink, very fragrant flowers in clusters of 2-4 along the upper part of the stems early in the year before the pale green leaves appear; the roundish, green fruits slowly turn red if the birds don’t eat them. Native in calcareous woods but declining. WAS (1920) stated it was very rare but had been in the Barnetts, ST/?51.94, ‘a few years ago’ (? during the 1914-1918 war); several bushes were growing in the Minnetts Wood, ST/455.893 in 1961, when the Forestry Commission cleared out the deciduous trees and replaced them with conifers. Colin Titcombe, a forestry worker at the time, discovered that 2-3 bushes had been translocated by foresters to their gardens in Wentwood, rather than leave them to their fate in the vastly changed environment. He collected fruit from the bushes, gave me some and we both stratified them in sandy soil during the winter frosts. Colin’s seeds produced c. 10 seedlings and mine 2. I still have a bush in my garden, the other died. We tried to replant some young bushes from Colin’s garden in the 1980s into a section of Hardwick Plantation, a part of the Minnetts complex, but the following dry summer prevented the roots from developing and by the following year the transplants were dead. The birds ate all the fruits on my remaining bush and when I covered my bush with shade netting, the bush did not like it and shed all its leaves before the summer was out, so the netting had to be removed. New leaves slowly sprouted but the fruits had fallen with the leaves. (2 t)

255

Flora of Monmouthshire

Daphne laureola Spurge Laurel

Epilobium hirsutum

This is an evergreen shrub to c. 1 m with upright, green branches bearing alternate, shiny, dark green, oblanceolate leaves and yellowish-green, narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers in racemes from leaf axils near the apex of the branches. The ellipsoid drupes ripen to a black colour.

This is a rhizomatous, softly hairy, erect perennial to 2 m with patent, glandular and non-glandular hairs; its sessile, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, hairy leaves clasp the stem; the 15-25 mm, purplish-red flowers arise from the leaf axils to form a loose leafy raceme, the stigma is 4-lobed.

Great Willowherb

23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 31

It is a woodland plant, at home on calcareous or clayey soils. It is frequent in the Wye Valley woods and scattered in northern woods. 35 t

Widespread in wettish areas in Britain and vc 35. 360 t

ONAGRACEAE Willowherb family This family consists of herbs or less commonly shrubs with simple, alternate or opposite leaves; its hermaphrodite flowers, either actinomorphic or irregularly zygomorphic, occur singly in the leaf axils or form terminal spikes, the hypanthium is absent or forms a tube visible below the calyx; the fruit is either a 4-celled capsule, a berry or a 1-2 seeded nut.

Epilobium parviflorum

Hoary Willowherb

This is an erect, hairy, stout-stemmed perennial that forms leafy rosettes or leafy stolons at the end of summer; it is smaller than E. hirsutum in height and flower size - they hardly exceed 10 mm across, and the oblong-lanceolate leaves with patent, glandular and non-glandular hairs do not clasp the stem. However, it also has a 4lobed stigma.

EPILOBIUM Willowherbs Willowherbs are perennial herbs with leaves in opposite, alternate or whorled arrangements; the flowers, in shades of red, occur usually in leafy racemes or spikes, there are 4 petals and sepals and 8 stamens, the stigmas are club-shaped or 4lobed; the fruit is a linear capsule that splits lengthwise to release numerous seeds with fluffy appendages to aid wind dispersal. Where several species grow in quantity in the same vicinity for some years, hybrids can occur but are under-recorded. They may be recognised by their taller, more branched structure, smaller or larger flowers with darker tipped petal edges, a flowering period that lasts longer, and wholly or partially undeveloped seeds.

18 31

256

Flora of Monmouthshire Widespread in southern Britain in damp habitats. In vc 35 it is less common than E. hirsutum but like it has suffered from subsidised drainage of farmland and resultant reduction of habitat. 202 t

WAS (1970); scrub, near A40, Penyclawdd, 1998, SDSB. 2 t

Epilobium x limosum a hybrid Willowherb

Path edge, McDonald’s Nursery, Abergavenny, SO/285.137, 2003, GMK. 5 t

Epilobium montanum x E. ciliatum a hybrid Willowherb

This E. parviflorum x E. montanum hybrid was recorded at Portskewett, *, WAS (1920). (1 t)

Epilobium lanceolatum Spear-leaved Willowherb

Epilobium x dacicum a hybrid Willowherb This E. parviflorum x E. obscurum hybrid was recorded at The Glyn, Itton, *, and Bigsweir, *, WAS (1920). (2 t)

This is often a stiff, erect, slender-looking plant, sparsely hairy with patent glandular and appressed simple hairs; the leaves are elliptic often with wavy margins, cuneate based and short or long stalked; the pale pink flowers to 12 mm across darken to a deeper pink with age and are the fourth and last species to have a 4-lobed stigma.

Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willowherb This has erect stems to 70 cm and sparsely pubescent, almost sessile, broadly lanceolate leaves arranged oppositely on the rounded stems; the scattered glandular hairs are patent and mixed with appressed non-glandular ones; the purplish-pink flower to 12 mm across have 4-lobed stigmas and are borne in lax racemes.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

18 32

It grows on dry, well-drained substrates. Before herbicide-spraying of tracks, the ballast and walls of halts and stations provided an ideal habitat. In the vice-county it could have been called a railway plant but for the coal waste tips or their landscaped remains, where it has found a niche. Sandy banks which have not been ‘improved’ are the third habitat to provide a satisfactory home for it. 37 t

It grows mainly in shady woods or hedges or on walls and disturbed ground. In vc 35 it is the commonest drier habitat Willowherb. 350 t

Epilobium tetragonum Square-stalked Willowherb

Epilobium x neogradense a hybrid Willowherb

This is an erect plant to over half a metre in height, with square stems and inflorescences densely covered with white appressed hairs; the sessile leaves are narrowly oblong; perennation is by basal leaf rosettes produced in the autumn; the purplishpink flowers have clavate stigmas and are produced singly in leaf axils to form very lax racemes.

This E. montanum x E. lanceolatum hybrid was recorded at Dixton, Monmouth, *, HJR. (1 t)

Epilobium x aggregatum a hybrid Willowherb This E. montanum x E. obscurum hybrid was recorded at Tintern, *, by AL, on old wall, Tintern, 257

Flora of Monmouthshire common on raised land, but as land drains were installed so its numbers declined. 139 t

Epilobium tetragonum 23

Epilobium roseum 22

Pale Willowherb

It is rather like a weedy E. montanum but has raised lines running down its stems, leaves that narrow gradually to a petiole that can be as much as 15 mm long; the amount of hairs varies but both patent glandular and appressed white non-glandular hairs are present; the flowers open very pale and develop pink streaking as they age and are up to 1 cm across, the stigma is clavate.

18 31

It grows in damp habitats, open woods, ditches etc. It is more frequent in the wetter west of the vicecounty and I fear many of the sites in the Usk Valley have been lost to drainage schemes since the 1970s. 38 t

Epilobium obscurum Short-fruited Willowherb

An erect perennial with stems and inflorescences covered with appressed, white hairs; sparse, patent, glandular hairs occur only on the hypanthium and sometimes on the fruit; raised lines run down the rounded stems; the lanceolate leaves have a rounded base and hardly perceptible petioles are somewhat decurrent down the stem; the purplish-pink flowers are up to 1 cm across and have a clavate stigma.

18 31

It grows in damp, shady places, and in waste and cultivated places. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave 16 sites. It would appear from the distribution map that it has become more frequent. I still find it rare and mainly on woodland track sides. The apparent increase was due to the concentrated effort of recorders 1985-90. 32 t

! Epilobium ciliatum American Willowherb 22 23 21 22 20 21 19 20 18 31

It grows in damp habitats on neutral or slightly acid soils. It is scattered in the vice-county, more

18 31

258

Flora of Monmouthshire American Willowherb is a medium to tall, glandular-hairy herb with 4 raised lines running down the reddish stems; the short-stalked, serrate, oblong-lanceolate leaves are mostly opposite; the purplish-pink flowers to 1 cm across have a deeply cleft apex, in bud are erect and have a clavate stigma. It produces basal rosettes in autumn. Formerly called E. adenocaulon, this also favours damp conditions and grows in waste places, ditches, damp meadows and woodland and arable fields. In vc 35 it is widespread. 230 t

Epilobium palustre

borne on long, vertical, thread-like stalks; late summer the long slender pods split open and curl back displaying the feathery seeds so that the mat of stems appear to be covered with tiny, fluffy parasols. 23

Marsh Willowherb

It produces largely solitary, unlined stems sparsely covered with appressed hairs except near the top where few patent glandular hairs appear and have neat, narrowly lanceolate leaves arranged in opposite pairs; the pale pink flowers to 12 mm across, with a clavate stigma, are in a small, lax raceme at the top of the stem.

18 31

It grows in damp barish places such as rock and cliff faces, sandy and gritty stream sides, banks and shady walls or quarries. In vc 35 coal waste can be added to the list of habitats. Wade (1970), using the old name E. nerterioides, described it as rare and gave only 4 sites for it. In the last 30 years it has increased noticeably, especially in the wetter west and to some extent on the eastern, Old Red Sandstone ridge. 74 t

CHAMERION Rosebay Willowherb These herbs with alternate leaves perennate by means of rhizomes; the flowers are borne in terminal, crowded racemes and have an insignificant hypanthium, 4 sepals, 4 purplish-red petals and 8 stamens; the fruit is a linear, dehiscent pod containing seeds with hairy appendages.

18 31

It grows in marshes, fens, valley bogs and woodland flushes on neutral to slightly acid soils. Wade (1970) described it as frequent to common in all districts. I find it less frequently in the last 15 years and am always delighted to find it in a really wet, unimproved meadow. 138 t

Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb This upright, hairless plant is sturdy enough to attain a height of over 2 m; its slightly toothed leaves are lanceolate in shape; the purplish-red flowers to 3 cm across are borne in a long tapering raceme with deflexed buds at the top. It grows in a wide range of habitats forming large red patches, from the waste ground created by firebombing in war time, which led to it being called fireweed, to similar patches in newly-felled woodland especially where the brush was burned on site. Vc 35 woodland clearings and river sides

! Epilobium brunnescens New Zealand Willowherb This nearly glabrous, alien perennial creeps over the surface of the substrate by branching, very fine stems that root at the nodes so gaining purchase even on vertical surfaces; small, paired, broadlyoval, very sparingly-toothed leaves occur at every node, which are closely spaced; the pale pink flowers, with notched petals and reddish sepals, are 259

Flora of Monmouthshire capsules; the rachis is red at the top; the leaves are elliptic with the lowest large to 25 cm long; the sepals are reddish and have tips up to 8 mm long, the yellow petals can be up to 55 mm long and are broader than long, and often have a hairy base, the style much exceeds the filaments. American in origin, it grows on sand dunes and waste places. In the vice-county it is not common but can occur on waste ground and probably spread from nearby gardens. There are no dunes in vc 35, but it does grow in and around grit bins. 50 t

account for many records, but it can occur on waste land anywhere and is not restricted by soil type. 369 t 23

! Oenothera biennis Common Evening-primrose

It can reach a height of 150 cm but it has no red, bulbous based hairs, the rachis is green at the top and has numerous glandular hairs there; its leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, often upswept and twisted; the sepals are green and their tips are up to 3 mm long; the glabrous, yellow petals are up to 30 mm long and are broader than long; the styles and filaments reach the same height in the flower.

18 31

OENOTHERA Evening Primroses These are herbs with alternate leaves and various life cycles; their large flowers are usually yellow (pink or white do occur) and their sepals and petals occur in fours and stamens in eights, stigmas may be club-shaped or 4-lobed; the fruits are capsules dehiscing in 4 valves. First flowers are larger than later ones and red colouring fades in autumn. If the characters do not definitely indicate one species suspect a hybrid. For more information see New Flora of the British Isles (Stace 1997) or Plant Crib (Rich & Jermy 1998).

! Oenothera glazioviana Large-flowered Evening-primrose

19 23 18 22

European in origin, it grows on sand dunes and waste ground. It is uncommon in vc 35 occurring in derelict gardens or on waste ground in urban areas or near rivers. Most records are simply as tetrad, more detail is given in: derelict garden near R. Rhymney, Pengam, ST/15.97, 1987, TGE; throw outs, Markham, SO/167.017, 1994, PAS. 7 t

18 31

Oenothera cambrica Small-flowered Evening-primrose

This is a much shorter, hairy annual or biennial to less than 100 cm; it has red, bulbous based hairs on stem, rachis, ovaries and capsules; glandular

This is a stout, erect, hairy biennial with red, bulbous hairs on stem, rachis, ovaries and 260

Flora of Monmouthshire hairs can be found only on the upper part of rachis; the sepals are green with tips to 5 mm long; the glabrous, yellow petals are up to 30 mm long but are only up to as broad as they are long; the filaments are much longer than the styles.

CIRCAEA Enchanter’s-Nightshades These are herbs, with opposite leaves, perennating by means of rhizomes and/or stolons; the flowers are in lax, terminal racemes, there are 2 sepals, 2 white or pink, deeply divided petals and 2 stamens and these are borne on long, fine pedicels that slope downwards slightly; the indehiscent fruit is a 1-2 seeded achene covered with hooked bristles.

Circaea lutetiana

18 31

Possibly N American in origin, it grows mainly near the coast but has moved inland with human help. There is a concentration of sites around Newport docks and tip but it has also appeared in and around a grit bin at Earlswood ST/457.949, 1985; waste ground, Coed-y-Paen, ST 32.98, 1987, both TGE; damp ground, disused colliery tip, edge of Lower Race, W of Pontypool, SO/27.00, 1988, PCH, JH, IBH & DH. 34 t

CLARKIA Clarkias These are annual herbs with alternate leaves; the actinomorphic flowers are in lax, terminal racemes; hypanthia from 2 to 11 mm long and narrowly tubular; there are 4 sepals and 4 pink, purple or sometimes white petals, and 8 stamens; the ovary is 4-celled and this produces a narrow capsule containing seeds without hairy appendages.

! Clarkia amoena

Enchanter’s-nightshade

This erect perennial to 60 cm spreads by long, white rhizomes, it has paired, ovate, glabrous leaves with a truncate to shallowly cordate base and pointed apex, teeth occur at end of lateral veins, towards the apex; the inflorescence is long with spaced out flowers all of which usually produce club-shaped fruits with a coat of hooked bristles, the fruits frequently ripen to a wine-red colour. The ovary has 2 equal-sized cells.

18 31

It grows in woodlands, hedgerows and other shady places. Widespread in vc 35 wherever the suitable shady conditions exist. 330 t

Godetia

Circaea x intermedia Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade

This erect, branched herb usually grows to up to 50 cm with lanceolate leaves, erect flower buds and a tubular hypanthium to 30 mm; the sepals are also up to 30 mm long, the petals are up to c. 5 cm with very short claws. Introduced to gardens from the western part of the U.S.A., and now a casual on tips and waste places. Twice recorded in vc 35: on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1985; on waste ground near Liswerry Pill, Newport, ST/32.87, 1990, both TGE. 2 t

This is rather like C. lutetiana but though the flowers are spread out in the inflorescence they occupy little more than the upper half of the peduncle and few, if any, form fruits; long stolons, frequently pink in colour, are produced from the lower leaf-axils, these are hairy only on the upper side; the leaves are shallowly cordate at the base and abruptly acuminate at the apex and more noticeably toothed; the ovary has 1 large and 1 small cell. 261

Flora of Monmouthshire

Cornus sanguinea

Dogwood

Dogwood is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 m with dark red twigs and opposite, broadly elliptical leaves with 3-4 pairs of sunken main veins; the white flowers, 8-10 mm across, terminate the twigs in umbel-like clusters; the globose fruits grow to 7-8 mm and turn black when ripe.

22 31

35 21

Circaea x intermedia grows in woods, shady, rocky slopes usually in uplands. Wade (1970) stated it was rare and gave two sites: Penygarn Wood, Pontypool, *, before 1903, THT; Craig yr Hafod, near Blaenavon, *, 1953, DPMG. Some more recent vc 35 sites are: River Sirhowy side, Blackwood, ST/177.965, 1990, RF; shaded roadside, S of Plasycoed Farm, SO/256.007, 1985, RF; Woodland, Waun Carn-y-Defaid, SO/275.097, 1987, RF; Woodland, Twyn-Gwyn, SO/292.014 1987, RF; open woodland, Craig yr Hafod, SO/27.10, 1986-87, TGE, UTE; open woodland, W of Coed y Prior Common, near Nant Llanelen, SO/27.10, 1987, TGE, UTE; shaded roadside, Cwm du, SO/260.020, 1987, RF; 2 large patches, 3-4 m², Darren Wood, Wentwood, ST/405.944 & 408.946, 1997, TGE; wood/streamside, W of Coed-y-Prior, SO/290.097, 1997, TGE, CT. Three other sites are given as tetrad only. I suspect the apparent increase is due to more thorough recording especially by RF. 11 t (1 t)

18 31

It grows in woods, hedgerows and scrub particularly on limestone and base-rich clays. In vc 35 it is widespread in woods and hedgerows, less common on the levels and almost absent from the western uplands. 261 t AUCUBA Spotted Laurel These are evergreen shrubs with rather waxy, opposite, simple leaves, plants are male or female but both have flowers in terminal clusters; there are 4 sepals and petals; the ovary is single celled and has a single style; the fruit is a single-celled drupe.

! Aucuba japonica CORNACEAE Dogwood family Dogwoods are trees, shrubs or sometimes herbs, with simple, opposite or alternate leaves but no stipules. Flower parts are in 4s or 5s, the stamens alternate with the petals. The fruit is a drupe.

Spotted-laurel

This is a shrub to 5 m with shiny, lanceolate, darkgreen leaves that taper to a point and are often covered with yellow spots; the bright red drupes are ellipsoid in shape and grow to 15 mm. This Japanese introduction to estates often spreads by rooting stems. Not usually recorded, probably because it is associated with estate plantings.

CORNUS Dogwoods This family consists of perennial herbs or deciduous shrubs, with opposite, entire, thinnish leaves; the hermaphrodite flowers are in flattopped clusters or umbels; there are 4 sepals and petals and 1 style; the fruit is a drupe with a single 2-celled stone.

VISCACEAE Mistletoe family This family comprises parasitic shrubs that grow on deciduous trees and shrubs; they have opposite entire leaves with no stipules; the insignificant flowers have 4 tepals, as the plants are dioecious there is only male or female flowers in each bunch. The fruit is a 1-seeded berry. 262

Flora of Monmouthshire

Viscum album

Norway Maple; 8 for Fraxinus excelsior Ash; 4 for Corylus avellana Hazel; 3 for Pyrus species Pear, 2 on each of: Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut; Sorbus aucuparia Rowan; Alnus glutinosa Alder, and 1 site for Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak at Gwehelog Common, SO/382.043, Prunus sp. Ornamental Cherry, in Angiddy Valley, Tintern, SO/521.003, 1996, CT, Cotoneaster horizontalis Wall Cotoneaster on the house wall of White House, SO/431.210, Ulmus glabra Wych Elm and Amelanchier ?lamarckii. Hosts lost since the 1970 survey Betula pendula Silver Birch (1 tree in field off Welsh St., Chepstow, cut down) and Sorbus aria Common Whitebeam, Piercefield Cliffs woods. 205 t. Plate 50

Mistletoe

Mistletoe forms a rounded bunch of yellow-green stems and leaves, best sought in winter when the colour and massed stems contrast with the host; the leathery leaves are oblanceolate with a rounded apex; the flowers in small clusters in the leaf axils and the sex is best determined by the female plants producing white globular berries as checking of flowers, in lofty positions, even in spring, may be difficult. No berries probably indicate a male plant. 23

CELASTRACEAE Spindle family These are shrubs or woody climbers with opposite or alternate leaves, the small, actinomorphic, greenish-yellow flowers are in axillary clusters, there are 4-5 sepals, petals and stamens; the fruit is a 3-5 angled capsule that dehisces to reveal seeds covered with bright orange to red arils.

18 31

EUONYMUS Spindles These are erect, non-prickly shrubs with opposite leaves; the reddish or creamy capsule has 4-5 rounded to winged lobes containing seeds with orange arils.

This native is common in a band along the Wales/England border thinning out noticeably west or east of this band. In vc 35 it occurs commonly east of the 30 longitude line but hardly crosses it any distance apart from along the R. Usk valley near Abergavenny. It grows on various hosts: 51 sites on Malus species Apple with many hosts in some sites and includes Crab Apple and a red flowering Apple Malus x ‘Lemoinei’, on front lawn of Village Farm, Bishton, ST/39.87, 1995, TGE (this has now been cut down); 40 sites on Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn, with it on many trees on some sites; 31 sites on Tilia species Limes mostly on T. x europaea Lime but on T. platyphyllos Large-leaved lime in field by roadside S of Gwern Ddu ST/398.976, 1994, TGE (no sites have been noted for T. cordata Small-leaved Lime as host); 25 on Populus species Poplars including 2 for P. trichocarpa Western Balsam-poplar and 1 for P. canescens Grey Poplar; 20 on Salix species Willows including 8 for S. x sepulcralis Weeping Willow; 8 for Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore; 10 for other Acer species including 7 for A. campestre Field Maple and 1 for A. saccharinum Silver Maple in Mounton House grounds ST/515.929, 1 for A. palmatum Japanese Maple at Trostrey Lodge SO/34.04, 1995, FP and 1 for A. platanoides

Euonymus europaeus

Spindle

Spindle is a branched shrub with green stems that are squarish in cross section; they bear thin, deciduous leaves and have terminal buds less than 5 mm long; the flowers usually have 4 sepals, white petals and stamens; the red fruits have 4 rounded lobes opening to display the orange, aril-covered seeds. 23

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263

Flora of Monmouthshire Spindle, a native, grows in hedges, woods and scrub on calcareous or base-rich soils. In vc 35, like mistletoe, it is concentrated east of the 30 degrees longitude line. In woods that grow up over it, it ceases to flower and becomes more spindly. The wood was once used by country folk for skewers. 200 t

alternately or opposite in pairs; the actinomorphic flowers open in early spring, they lack petals so the yellow or white colour is provided by 4 sepals; the plants are monoecious with a cluster of flowers made up of separate male and female flowers, the male flowers have 4 stamens; the fruit is a 2-3 celled capsule with 2 seeds to a cell.

AQUIFOLIACEAE Holly family Hollies are evergreen trees or shrubs, their simple leaves, lacking stipules, usually have spiny edges and are arranged alternately; the small, white, actinomorphic flowers are borne in small axillary bundles and have 4 sepals, petals and stamens; Hollies are dioecious, so a tree is female and bears red berries or is male and bears flowers with 4 stamens only.

BUXUS Box Box is an evergreen shrub or tree with entire, glabrous leaves arranged in opposite pairs; the flowers are arranged in clusters with a few male flowers topped by a female flower; the ovary has 3 styles and the fruit is a dry capsule.

Ilex aquifolium

! Buxus sempervirens

Box

Usually a shrub with slightly elongated, oval leaves and pale yellow flowers; the green fruit to 11 mm long has 3 persistent styles.

Holly

Holly can be a tree to over 20 m or a shrub, and has leathery, glossy leaves that have wavy edges but are not all necessarily prickly; they produce scarlet (less commonly yellow or orange) berries, that are a delicacy for the winter visiting Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

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It is native on chalk and limestone banks in some southern English counties. It is not native in vc 35 and received no mention in Wade (1970); most of the mapped sites can be referred back to former gardens or estates. Some sites, remote from gardens, are: 1 tree, with Vaccinium myrtillus in acid grassland, near a footpath to Loxidge Tump, SO/288.288, 1994, KAC; 3 large bushes in gulley, just south of Siarpal ruins, above Llanthony Priory, SO/290.285, 1999, TGE. 39 t

Holly is common in hedgerows, woods and scrub. In vc 35 it is widespread, but the machine cutting of hedges prevents plants in hedges from forming berries, thus depriving our native thrushes of an important supplement to their winter diet. To those who wish to add berried Hollies to their garden, ensure both a female and male tree are planted. 349 t

EUPHORBIACEAE Spurge family This family consists of herbs, sometimes with woody stem-bases, often with a milky latex; their simple leaves are alternate or opposite; flowers are actinomorphic but usually lacking petals, they are male or female and may be on the same plant or a plant may be entirely male or female; the ovary is

BUXACEAE Box family Boxes are evergreen, small trees or shrubs with simple, petiolate leaves, lacking stipules, arranged 264

Flora of Monmouthshire 2-3 celled and has 2-3 stigmas, which may be papillose or branched.

MERCURIALIS Mercuries Mercuries are herbs with a watery sap and opposite leaves. They have separate male and female plants, the male in axillary spikes with many stamens and females solitary or in small clusters, each has 2 styles; the fruit has 2 cells.

Mercurialis perennis

Dog’s Mercury

This is a spring-flowering, hairy perennial with erect, unbranched stems arising from rhizomes to form patches; the opposite, stalked leaves are lanceolate and bluntly toothed; the axillary flowers are greenish, the males are in upright, catkin-like spikes to 12 cm and the stalked females solitary or in 2-3s, each with 3 green sepals.

EUPHORBIA Spurges These are herbs with a milky latex and leaves opposite, alternate or in whorls; the flowers are grouped in cup-shaped cyathia with 1 female consisting of a single ovary with 3 styles, and several, single-stamen male flowers to each cyathium, which has 4-5 glands at its apex; several stalked cyathia are subtended by leafy bracts; these groups are terminal or axillary on long stalks; the fruit is 3-lobed and may be smooth, hairy or covered with tubercles or papillae.

! Euphorbia platyphyllos Broad-leaved Spurge

This is usually a glabrous, delicate-looking annual that germinates in summer to form an erect pink stem, leafy at first, from ground to first inflorescence branches, these sessile leaves are obovate to oblong and are only lost gradually, the capsules are covered by rounded tubercles. This grows on cultivated and rough ground. In vc 35, three plants appeared on the side of a wet ditch, on the side of a path leading westwards out of Bishton, ST/391.876, 1996, TGE, first vice-county record. For years, it persisted in my garden, especially where my wife forked over the surface to remove weeds or make space for introductions, 2 immature plants occurred on my drive in 2004 but were cut off before I could raise the strimmer; 1 plant in oat field below Great Manson Farm growing with Kickxia spuria, SO/494.157, 2006, DEG. 2 t

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It grows in hedgerows, woods and in shady places among rocks. In vc 35 it is widespread, missing only from close to the R. Severn and from parts of the western uplands where absent shrubs and trees fail to provide the necessary shade. 315 t

! Mercurialis annua

Annual Mercury

This is a less upright and less hairy, paler green plant than M. perennis, has fibrous roots so usually does not form patches and has branched stems; it flowers in late summer, and female plants have fewer flowers which are almost sessile. This grows where the soil has been disturbed and often bare. In vc 35 it is quite infrequent, and in any one year probably only a handful of sites will occur. 18 t

Euphorbia serrulata

Upright Spurge

Upright Spurge (locally called Tintern Spurge) is very similar to E. platyphyllos especially in its rather delicate-looking appearance and pink, leafy stem and finely divided branches and its 265

Flora of Monmouthshire clear, rather yellowish-green colour, but it differs in that the capsules that are covered with papillae, which under at least x50 magnification show that these finger-like structures are barbed near their apex (the heads reminded me of some tape worm heads examined under the microscope). Note that neither E. platyphyllos nor E. serrulata develop a whorl of stem leaves like the commoner E. amygdaloides. The seeds germinate in spring or sometimes even in late autumn.

CT, TGE; 10 plants side of N/S footpath, Coed Wen Wood, ST/417.977, 1997, TGE, UTE c. 10 plants, 2006, TGE; garden soil, Windy Ridge, SO/475.011, 1999, JPW; two to three hundred plants trackside, Church Grove, ST/525.996, 2002, SJT; garden of 43 Wonastow Rd., Monmouth, SO/500.122, 2005, DTP; 2 plants between junction of 2 motorways, Castleton, ST/252.838, 2006, HVC; SJT; c. 20 plants, in gravel, Werngoghen Farm, Cwmcarvon, SO/472.066, 2006, SJT. 14 t (3 t) Figure 24

Arc. Euphorbia helioscopia

Sun Spurge

This is usually an unbranched, glabrous annual with obovoid leaves toothed around the upper edge; the inflorescence is terminal with 5 rays rising from a whorl of yellow-green bracts that are broadly oval and similarly coloured bracteoles of a lesser number at the top of the rays, further upward extension is made by stalks which are topped by the involucres from which arise the cupped flowers; the capsule surface is smooth.

18 23 31

35 22

Euphorbia serrulata is native in the limestone woods of the Lower Wye Valley. It seeds freely germinate in cleared limy soils and over-run carefully cultivated gardens and I suspect that introductions have taken place in its other sites in southern England. In vc 35 its occurrence is sporadic; its seeds are viable for years, at least 20 in my experience, and disturbance of the soil surface in the area between Chepstow and Tintern, for instance, sees an almost immediate resurgence of the plant from dormant seed. However, as other more vigorous natives colonise the space the spurge dwindles in numbers until only its rivals remain. So the number of tetrads above are for the period of 1985-2004 as a whole and exaggerates the number for any one year. Recently, newly created forest tracks where limestone has been used have been quite fruitful in providing new colonies. Recent sites are: 5 plants, SE corner of junction of tracks N of Cleddon Hall, SO/517.045, 1997, TGE; 26 plants extending colony up both sides of S/N track, 2006, DEG; c. 70 plants trackside Chepstow Park Wood, ST/502.983, 2000, Rubus Group; 19 plants ST/483.977, 1997, TGE, UTE; fewer plants 2005, TGE; c. 500 plants trackside, Ravensnest Wood, ST/503.998, 1997, CT; 50-100 plants, trackside N of barrier into Ravensnest Wood, 2004,

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This grows in disturbed and waste ground and frequently turns up on arable land and in gardens usually in small numbers. In vc 35 it is widespread though not numerous, and occurs mainly on lowland. 165 t

Arc. Euphorbia lathyris

Caper Spurge

This is an erect, stout, glabrous, bluish-green biennial making 1 m in height during the first year and doubling that while producing a terminal inflorescence in the second year; its sessile, linear to lanceolate leaves are borne in opposite pairs on a stem that often develops a red tinge; its capsules are large to 17 mm and smooth but its seeds are rugose. 266

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 24 Euphorbia serrulata Upright Spurge Inset; E. platyphyllos. F= fruit

267

Flora of Monmouthshire was frequent to locally common and was present in all districts. Recent records are: c. 40 plants in oat crop, Kilpale, ST/469.924, 1995, TGE (nothing since as field has been resown with grass and sheep grazed or re-ploughed and planted with maize); 1050 plants on edge of mixed arable/corn fields, NE of Coed Wen NNR, ST/42.90, 1985, TGE; 10-50 plants, along edge of corn crop, Carrow Hill, ST/43.90, 1985, TGE; 1-5 plants on edge of barley crop, Wonastow, SO/473.109, 1986, HVC; 1-5 plants in garden of ‘Tyrol’, Glasllwch, Newport, ST/29.87, 1988, EJS; 10-50 plants, in and on edge of mixed arable crop, field N of Undy near road to Common y Coed, ST/436.886, 1988, TGE (continued here until mid 1990s when maize was grown and spraying of herbicides was introduced); c. 20 plants, on edge of mixed arable, Tump Farm, ST/409.883, 1990, TGE; 1 plant, in bean field, Coed y Fedw, SO/437.089, 1998, SDSB; 20+ plants, setaside field SE of Whitehall, Dingestow SO/445.092, 2004, SDSB. 5 t (18 t)

Euphorbia lathyris 23

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It grows on disturbed soil and waste ground and is a weed of gardens. In vc 35 it is uncommon to find it in groups of more than a few plants, and usually only 1-2 plants are seen in any one year. 31 t

Arc. Euphorbia exigua

Dwarf Spurge

Arc. Euphorbia peplus

This usually is a short, much-branched, glabrous, glaucous annual; its sessile, entire leaves are linear to narrowly oblong, the cyathium is topped by kidney-shaped glands edged with long, slender horns; its capsule is smooth with a ridge in the middle of each valve; the seeds are rugose.

Petty Spurge

This is usually a small bushy, glabrous, green, annual herb with oval to rounded leaves, shortly stalked; its opposite bracts are similar to its leaves; its umbels often have three rays. Glands on the cyathium are kidney-shaped and have long, slender horns on their ends. 23

18 31

Petty Spurge is a common weed of agricultural land and gardens. In vc 35 it is widespread, and is especially common on allotments. The reducing trend of growing one’s own vegetables has caused a considerable decline in numbers of the plant in gardens. 263 t

It seems to be confined to arable land. In vc 35 it is close to extinction and only one record came to my attention in 2004. All sites in the south of the vicecounty have been lost to maize replacing root crops and the increased use of herbicides or arable land being grassed over for sheep. Wade (1970) said it 268

Flora of Monmouthshire

! Euphorbia cyparissias

in the woods in the eastern half of the vice-county, particularly in those near the Wye Valley. 119 t

Cypress Spurge

This glabrous perennial forms tufts from its spreading rhizome, its stems branch from near the rhizome and they bear linear, toothless leaves packed tightly especially on the side branches; the terminal umbels arise from a whorl of many bracts and consist of numerous rays topped by roundish to kidney-shaped, yellowish bracteoles with the flowers at the apex; the kidney-shaped glands end in short horns. It is doubtfully native in parts of southern England but is certainly introduced and naturalized elsewhere. It is at home in gritty soils where the native grasses are not too dominant. In the vicecounty it was first recorded on the bank of the River Ebbw, just E of the Beaufort Arms, Beaufort, SO/168.105, 1987, RF (there was 3-4 m of it in 2003, TGE); on dumped material, W end of Spitty Lane, Newport, ST/332.868, 1990, GH; at Aberbeeg, SO/2.0 B, 1994, MJ. 3 t

Euphorbia amygdaloides

RHAMNACEAE Buckthorn family Members of the family are trees or shrubs with simple, alternate or apparently opposite, petiolate leaves with stipules; they have small, green flowers in axillary cymes or singly in leaf axils, there are 45 free sepals, petals (lacking in some species) and stamens; the ovary is 2-4 celled and the fruit is a fleshy berry. RHAMNUS Buckthorns These are shrubs with alternate leaves that may come close to forming opposite pairs; flower parts are in 4-5s; the styles divide into 3 or 4 at the tip.

Rhamnus cathartica

Buckthorn

Buckthorn is a deciduous, spiny shrub with oval, shortly toothed leaves that have noticeable petioles and 2-4 pairs of veins that are recessed from above; the sepals and petals occur mainly in 4s; the fruit is globular though slightly compressed like a pumpkin, and ripens black.

Wood Spurge

This is a fairly tall, hairy, evergreen perennial with the vegetative part arising from the rhizome behaving like a biennial by forming a leafy stem one year and flowering umbels the next year; the single-layered ruff of leaves below half way up the pubescent stem is characteristic of the species; the first year leaves vary from narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate and tapering to the stem; the rays range from 4 to 12 and the cyathium has kidneyshaped glands concave on outer edge and tapering to 2 incurved horns; the capsule to 4 mm is smooth or faintly granular.

19 23 18 22

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It grows in hedges, woods and scrub on base-rich soils. In vc 35 it is very sparsely distributed. Wade (1970) described as rare and gave 10 sites, only the Levels had none. The present hedge cutting method and regime means it is not so easy to notice in that habitat. It is probably getting rarer, in spite of the apparent increase in records. Some sites are: hedgerow in fields near the old Rogiet rectory, ST/45.88, 1970-82, CT; roadside hedge, near Began market garden, ST/22.83, 1987, GH; edge of wood, St Julian’s Park, Christchurch, ST/33.89, 1987, TGE; Lady Park Wood, SO/5.1 M, 1988, BRG; 1 shrub on bank behind factory, outskirts of

This is found mainly in open woodlands but also occurs under shady hedgerows. In vc 35 it occurs 269

Flora of Monmouthshire Monmouth, SO/496.119, 1990, HVC; 2 plants, woodland edge, W of Coombe Farm, ST/459.931 and ST/460-1.931-2, 1991, CT. 6 t (12 t)

ST/295.978, 1998, EGW; in woods, Goetre, SO/32.05, 1992, JFH; 1 small tree, Penyclawdd Wood, SO/438.079, 1998, SDSB; 1 small tree just W of main track from car park, St Pierre Great Wood, ST/503.932, 2003, TGE, SJT. 40 t (1 t)

FRANGULA Alder Buckthorn These are deciduous shrubs or small trees lacking spines and have alternate, entire leaves; the flower parts are in 5s and have undivided styles.

Frangula alnus

VITACEAE Grape-vine family These are deciduous, woody climbers with leaves opposed by tendrils; the alternate, simple leaves are palmate or palmately-lobed; stipules are present; the actinomorphic, small, reddish or greenish flowers are grouped in cymes opposite a leaf; the flowers are usually hermaphrodite and have sepals, petals and stamens in 5s and a 2-celled ovary; the fruit is a berry with up to 6 seeds.

Alder Buckthorn

These erect, non-spiny, woody plants can grow to over 4 m high, they have shiny, entire, oval leaves that have 7-9 pairs of recessed main veins; the small, greenish flowers are axillary and are borne on lateral stems, singly or in small clusters; the fruit is globular (if anything longer than wide), that turns from green to red to black.

VITIS Grape-vine This climber has palmately-lobed, simple leaves; petals fused at their tips are shed when the flowers open.

! Vitis vinifera

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Grape-vine

Using its branched tendrils the Grape-vine can grow to a height governed by the height of its support but seldom has a need to climb to more than a few metres; its leaves have 5-7 lobes and a cordate base; its fruit is globular to ovoid and may be green, red or black. It is grown in vineyards on south facing slopes and may occur in hedges, scrub and on tips. In vc 35 it has been found: by roadside, Newport Docks, ST/31.85, 1979; on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85; 1 large plant growing among large rocks at base of concrete sea wall, S of Sea Bank Farm, ST/230.776, 1996; 1 plant in shelter of concrete sea wall, E end of Peterstone Great Wharf, ST/270.799, 2001; 1 plant among rocks at base of concrete sea wall, E side of New Quay Gout, ST/278.805, 2001; growing among stones MOD Caerwent, ST/468.916, 1995, all TGE. 5 t

Alder Buckthorn grows in scrub, bogs and open woods on damp, peaty soils. In the vice-county it has a scattered distribution but is more clustered where the boggy conditions are more extensive. The leaves are the food plant of the Brimstone butterfly and its presence indicates where to look out for the shrub; it is also a reason to urge conservation measures for the habitat. Some sites are: Henllys Bog, ST/26.92, 1970, TGE (a leader of a work party for Gwent Wildlife Trust allowed all the buckthorns to be cut down during a site clearance operation and Brimstones were vainly searching for somewhere to lay their eggs in the mid 1990s, I hope there was a recovery); edge of strip woodland near brook, Rhyd y Fedw, Itton, ST/47.95 1974-2004, TGE; 3 small trees, wood edge St Julian’s Park, ST/33.89, 1985, TGE, UTE; 2 small trees, wood/stream edge, NE Wentwood, ST/437.958, 1993, TGE; 10 plants woodland near Reservoir, Fairwater, ST/269.949, 1998, CT; near disused rail line, Pontrhydyrun-Sebastopol,

PARTHENOCISSUS Virginia-creepers These are climbers with leaves that turn vivid colours before falling in the autumn, have simple leaves that are palmate or palmately lobed; the flowers have free petals that do not fall when the flowers open.

! Parthenocissus quinqueflora Virginia-creeper All its leaves (dull green on underside) are palmate, usually with five leaflets, the opposed 270

Flora of Monmouthshire tendrils branch c. 5-8 times, each ending in an adhesive disc; fruit bluish-black. This is usually grown up a wall, to which it attaches itself by the adhesive discs. It is a vigorous grower and sometimes spreads to neighbouring structures. It can be naturalised on abandoned cottages or old garden walls. Sometimes plants are thrown out and end up on tips. The only vc 35 record was: on old wall on waste ground, Six Bells, SO/22.03, 1988, RF. 1 t

LINUM Flaxes Flaxes have opposite or alternate, glabrous leaves and flowers with sepals, petals and stamens in 5s, the sepals are entire or have apical teeth; in Britain the petals are shades of blue or are white and several times longer than the sepals; the capsule has 10 valves.

Linum bienne

Pale Flax

This has erect, branched, slender, glabrous stems to 60 cm bearing alternate, linearlanceolate leaves to 1.5 mm wide with 1-3 veins; the pale blue petals to 12 mm are twice as long as the 4-6 mm sepals, which are as long as the ripe capsule, and drop to the ground on the same day they untwist to open; the club-shaped stigma is as long as the anthers; it has capsules 4-6 mm.

! Parthenocissus inserta False Virginia-creeper This is similar to P. quinqueflora except that its leaves are more sharply-toothed and shiny green on the underside, and the tendrils have 35 branches none of which end in an adhesive disc. Grown in gardens for its autumn colouring, it remains sometimes after the garden is abandoned or appears on tips. In vc 35 its two sites are: on low bank, north side of road, Manor Wood, opposite a garden that has it, SO/524.059, 1994; spread over shrubs and trees, R. Usk bank, Glebelands, Newport, ST/317.898, 2000, both TGE. 2 t

! Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston-ivy

This is different from P. quinqueflora in that most of its leaves are simple and 3-lobed, however it may have some simple, unlobed leaves and some palmate with 3 leaflets. Garden plants may become naturalised by spread beyond the garden confines. In vc 35, one site: a plant that escaped to a wild area near disused rail bridge, Usk, SO/37.01, 1987, TGE. 1 t

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Pale Flax grows on rather dry, neutral to calcareous soils often close to the sea. In vc 35 it is nowhere common but is most frequent near the R. Severn and along the tidal part of the R. Usk. The sites are: meadow, Crossway Green, ST/52.94, 1975, woodland path, Minnetts, ST/448.894, 1976-1993, TGE; N side of A40, Mitchell Troy, SO/496.107, 1988, DTP; Wentlooge Levels, ST/2.8 K, 1987, SB; pathside, Hardwick Plantation, ST/458.893 and 45.88 and 45.89, 1985-1991, TGE, SJT, JDRV; meadow, The Brockwells, ST/468.897, 1985, TGE, CT; in short turf, near church, Llanvapley, SO/36.14, 1988, TGE, UTE; cliff top track, E end of Sudbrook, ST/509.878, 1985, TGE; 4 plants, NE embankment of new dual carriageway, St. Mellons-Marshfield, ST/241.818, 1987 GH; 2 plants in Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, ST/45.88, 1991, JDRV; road verge, near M4, Rogiet, ST/455.881, 1993, RDR; many plants on rough grass, Lamby, ST/22.77, 1996, TGE; 500-

LINACEAE Flax family These are slender herbs with simple, sessile, opposite or alternate leaves lacking stipules; the actinomorphic flowers are shades of blue, pink or white and with petals that are folded in various ways in bud so that the rather small sepals can afford them some protection in inclement weather; the sepals and petals are free and arranged in groups of 4s or 5s, the stamens are in 4s when without staminodes, and in 5s when alternating with filiform staminodes; the ovary is 4-5 celled with the same number of styles; the fruit is a capsule opening by valves equal to double the number of cells.

271

Flora of Monmouthshire 1000 plants, 2006 TGE, CT; several metres near rail line, old shunting yards, E of Undy, ST/445.875, 2000, TGE; more than 10 plants, side of path near R. Usk, Brynglas, ST/3132.9030, 2004, TGE, CT. 15 t

! Linum usitatissimum

Flax

This is an annual, with a single, erect stem to over 80 cm bearing 3-veined leaves to 3 mm wide; it has blue petals to 20 mm and capsules 6-9 mm long. It has been grown for flax production and linseed oil. The seeds are used in wild bird mixes and crops are sometimes left in the fields for game. It also occurs on tips. Though still not a frequent crop there are fields of blue on the Raglan side of Monmouth in some years. Wade (1970) stated that Flax was rare and gave 12 sites in all but the coal region. Recent records are rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1977-85; track side, Goldcliff, ST/37.82, 1995, TGE; planted field, W of Cleppa Park, ST/262.854, 1994, GH; on trampled grass verge E side of Cypress Way, St. Mellons, ST/244.817, 1994, GH; 1000s as crop abandoned? as part of an area for development, S of Percoed Reen, SE of Coedkernew, ST/2894.8386, 2003; patches, SE Duffryn, on waste ground, ST/3002.8451, 2003, TGE. 10 t

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POLYGALACEAE Milkwort family In Britain these are small perennial herbs with simple, entire, sessile, opposite or alternate leaves, lacking stipules; the zygomorphic, hermaphrodite flowers are mostly in terminal racemes; the flowers have 2 large inner and 3 smaller outer sepals; there are 3 fused petals, the lower ending in a fringe, and 8 stamens; the fruit is a compressed capsule.

Polygala vulgaris

Common Milkwort

This is a low (to less than 30 cm) perennial, woody at its base, branching to produce erect or procumbent stems bearing all its leaves alternate, the leaves are elliptical with the lower ones smaller and oval in shape; the flowers are blue, pink or white, with the main raceme having over 11 flowers, the sepals have veins that branch but rejoin near the edges; the capsule is ± equal in size to the persistent sepals.

! Linum perenne subsp. anglicum Perennial Flax This is similar to L. bienne in having alternate leaves and can grow to 60 cm, but they are up to 3.5 mm wide, the sepals are half as long as the ripe capsule; petals are bright blue and may be as much as 20 mm long and the capitate stigma may be longer or shorter than the anthers. It grows on calcareous grassland in the E of England. It was recorded on the car park, Blaenavon Iron Works, SO/23.08, 1988, SAR. 1 t

Linum catharticum

Fairy Flax

This is an annual to 25 cm with opposite, 1veined, elliptic-ovate leaves, sepals to 3 mm, white petals to 6 mm and a capsule 2-3 mm long. It grows on dry calcareous or sandy soils, on moorlands and even mountains. In vc 35 it is widespread in the uplands but is difficult to find in the central ‘improved’ farmlands and The Levels. 188 t

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This grows in short turf over chalk or limestone, but also on heaths and sand dunes. In vc 35 it is widespread but sparse. 86 t 272

Flora of Monmouthshire

Polygala serpyllifolia

the car park for Tintern station, SO/536.005, 1994, TGE, UTE. 1 t

Heath Milkwort

This has straggly stems, scarcely woody at their bases, rising to just over 20 cm; The lower stemleaves are opposite but often fall early, so the leaf scars have to be studied to prove the point; The flowers are blue, pink or white, and in the main raceme there are less than 10 flowers; the sepals have branched veins that re-unite near the edges.

HIPPOCASTANACEAE Horse-chestnut family These are deciduous trees with opposite, palmate, petiolate leaves lacking stipules; the flowers are in erect, terminal panicles consisting of a mixture of hermaphrodite and male flowers; the zygomorphic flowers have 5 largely fused sepals, usually 5 free, unequal petals and 5-9 stamens; the fruit is a large 3-celled capsule containing the seeds (conkers).

! Aesculus hippocastanum

18 31

Horse-chestnut

This forms a large tree to over 30 m high with wide-spreading branches; the twigs bearing large, brown, sticky buds, in opposite and decussate arrangement, which open to display large palmate leaves of 5-7, obovate, sessile leaflets; the white flowers, with a yellow to pink blotch at the base of the petals, are grouped in an upright, roughly cylindrical column to 30 cm (from a distance the tree looks as if it has been decorated with thick white candles). The fruit is a green globe with many conical lumps that end in a soft spine, its 3-cells contain the glossy brown conkers, much favoured by squirrels and small boys.

This grows on acid grassland and heaths. In vc 35 it is confined mostly to the western upland and on the eastern ridge. 106 t

SAPINDACEAE Pride-of-India family This is a family of deciduous trees or shrubs with pinnate to twice-pinnate leaves with petioles but no stipules; the zygomorphic flowers are in large terminal panicles and either apparently male or female; there are 5 unequal sepals fused at origin, 4 upturned petals with basal appendages, 8 stamens with hairy filaments; the much inflated fruit is a 3celled capsule with 3 seeds.

! Koelreuteria paniculata

Pride-of-India

It is a tree to 16 m with pinnate leaves (often pinnately-lobed at the apex) to over 40 cm long (often shorter) with 5-15 ovate, bluntly short-lobed leaflets; the numerous, golden-yellow flowers are up to 15 mm across; the 3-5 cm, ovoid-conical, inflated fruits turn reddish and contain 3 glossy black seeds. This tree was introduced from E Asia for its ornamental qualities. It was planted in the pavement edge N of the garage in Tintern, SO/529.007, the flush of golden-yellow blooms in mid summer has been a splendid sight for many years, TGE, DP; 3 younger trees were planted in

Brought in from the Balkans it has been planted, and naturalised by germinating conkers. It is widespread in lowland vc 35 and on the eastern ridge. 199 t

! Aesculus carnea

Red Horse-chestnut

This is similar to A. hippocastanum but is smaller in its parts, sometimes it has shortlystalked leaflets, its flowers are bright pink or red and its fruit comparatively smooth. 273

Flora of Monmouthshire Grown for its ornamental value, it has not been separately recorded from its close relative but it occurs scattered in the vice-county as a single tree or in short lines. One occurs on St. Lawrence Road near its junction with Mounton Road, Chepstow but it is grown elsewhere because of its attractive inflorescences.

glabrous apart from hair tufts in the angles between veins; its leaves are palmate with 3-5 broadly-triangular lobes with long attenuated tips and often have red margins when young; the pale-yellow flowers are in open erect, 8 x 3 cm panicles, flowering in May when rather concealed among the leaves; the fruit has widely spread wings. Introduced from the Caucasus or Asian Turkey in 1838, but not as popular as many other Acers. In vc 35 there is a tree in a wood between Llanover House and the church, SO/31.09, 26.4.04, CT, TGE. 1 t

ACERACEAE Maple family Family members are deciduous trees or shrubs with opposite leaves (often palmately lobed or ternate or pinnate) lacking stipules; the actinomorphic flowers frequently greenish or yellowish are in terminal clusters; they have 5 free sepals and petals and 8 stamens; the fruit is composed of 2-winged samara. The ornamental value of the Maple family, and the skill at producing hybrids and varieties by the horticultural trade, have introduced many more examples than I have space to cover.

! Acer platanoides

Acer campestre

Field Maple

This is a smallish, deciduous tree with pale grey bark and hairy twigs; its smallish, palmate leaves with hairy margins have 3-5 lobes that are oblong but widest above the middle, with a few blunt, lobe-like teeth towards the apex; the flowers are yellowish-green in small, erect, hairy clusters among the leaves; the fruits are usually hairy and have horizontal wings.

Norway Maple

This is a large, deciduous tree with large, palmately 5-7-lobed leaves, the lobes are sharply-pointed and have extra, sharply-pointed teeth; the flowers open before the leaves as bright yellowish-green, broad upright panicles; the paired fruits have widely angled wings.

It is native in open woods, copses, hedges and fields. Widespread in vc 35 apart from the coalfield region and close to the Severn, but has suffered from the removal of hedges and scrub at field margins. 326 t

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Introduced from N Europe, they are widely planted and occasionally become naturalised after wind dispersal into woods and hedgerows. It is often planted as a feature on estates and as street trees. 56 t

! Acer cappadocicum

! Acer pseudoplatanus

Sycamore

A large, deciduous tree with smooth bark, only flaking later in life. Its winter twigs are glabrous, have green buds in opposite and decussate arrangement with the terminal one the largest; its large leaves have 5 palmate lobes that are pointed and coarsely toothed; its flowers are yellowish-green, in longish, pendent panicles; the

Cappadocian Maple

This is a deciduous tree to over 20 m tall with 2nd year branchlets smooth and green; its leaves are 274

Flora of Monmouthshire fruits are hairy with wings at obtuse angles. Tar Spot fungus Rhytisma acerinum forms the numerous black patches on its leaves, so often on older trees it could almost be described as a character.

ANACARDIACEAE Sumach family These are deciduous shrubs with alternate, simple or pinnate leaves, which have petioles but lack stipules; small actinomorphic flowers are in large, terminal panicles; there are 5 basely-fused sepals, 5 free petals and stamens; the single-celled ovary has 3 styles; the fruit is a single-seeded drupe.

! Rhus typhina 22

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OXALIDACEAE Wood-sorrel family These are usually herbs arising from underground perennating organs; the leaves, usually ternate, are all basal; the actinomorphic flowers have 5 free sepals and petals, 10 stamens and a 5-celled ovary with 5 styles; the fruit is a 5-celled capsule.

Sycamore is an alien that has such viable, numerous, well-dispersed seeds that without the intervention of man has become dominant inside and outside many woods. 385 t

! Acer saccharinum

Stag’s-horn Sumach

This shrub with thick branchlets, thickly covered with red hairs looking like velvet, has pinnate leaves that turn yellow, orange, red or purple in autumn. The plants, inclined to sucker, are male or female and bear their green flowers in terminal clusters. It was introduced from NE America and planted in gardens, and on road and rail verges. The only vc 35 record is: a metre high plant on a small mound, on top of west bank of the R. Usk, Shaftesbury Park, Newport, ST/315.893, 1994, GH. 1 t

Silver Maple

An attractive tree to over 30 m with smooth, grey bark (it flakes later in life), apart from shallow fissures, and small burrs and sprouts; the spreading top has a domed outline; its young twigs are reddish with a grey bloom, then turn purple and bear red longish buds; the leaves are palmately-lobed with the central three longest and narrowed near their union, the 2 basal lobes are short and horizontally orientated; all are long pointed and with frequent, finely-pointed teeth of different lengths; the leaf’s upper surface is yellowish-green while the lower one is silvery, due to the densely matted white hairs on it; the veins and petiole are a deep pink to red. The young leaves open in reds and oranges; the stalked, reddish flowers appear before the leaves but fall, in Britain without producing seeds. Introduced from N America in 1725 and grown in large gardens, parks and as street trees, it has recently has had an upsurge in popularity, maybe the growth of garden centres is responsible. In vc 35 there is a fine, tall specimen, hosting bunches of mistletoe, in Mounton House grounds, SO/515.929, 1994; a younger tree was planted, to the west of the Norman town wall at the entrance to Chepstow’s main car park ST/532.938, 1995, TGE. 2 t

! Oxalis corniculata Procumbent Yellow-sorrel This is a hairy perennial with a creeping stem, rooting at its nodes; its small flowers are yellow in small umbels of up to 7 flowers, with all 10 stamens having anthers; it carries its capsules on deflexed stalks. 23

18 31

Introduced from warmer climes, it is now a weed of gardens, paths and lawns. In vc 35 sites are: 275

Flora of Monmouthshire appressed hairs and 3 heart-shaped leaflets at the top of petioles up to 10 cm; the solitary, white, cup-shaped flowers, with delicate-looking petals with mauve veins, have peduncles to 10 cm.

Castleton, ST/2.8 L, 1990, GH; on garage entrance, roadsides and tracks to a farm, Bryngwyn, SO/37.09, 38.09 and 39.09, 1970s, BMF; other sites are given as a tetrad letter only. 15 t

! Oxalis exilis

Least Yellow-sorrel

This could be called a small version of O. corniculata but for it having single flowers with 5 of the ten stamens lacking anthers. Introduced from the Antipodes, it has become a weed of gardens, paths and lawns. It is frequent in SE vc 35: a garden weed on paths and in beds in Westfield, Caldicot, ST/473.882, 1988, DJU, TGE; in rock garden & drive, Mounton Rd., Chepstow, ST/528.937, 2001, TGE; lawns and paths, Bailey’s Hay, Mathern, ST/51.91, 2001, TGE; on rail ballast, Rogiet, ST/44.87, 2001, TGE. 4 t

! Oxalis stricta

Upright Yellow-sorrel

This somewhat tufted, decumbent to erect species has stems to 40 cm sometimes rooting at the nodes; 6-8 mm, yellow flowers on pedicels (erect in fruit) are in cymose clusters; stems and leaves have septate and simple hairs. Introduced from N America, this has become a weed of gardens and arable fields. In vc 35 it has been recorded from: The Nurtons, Tintern, SO/53.01, 1987, AW, EGW; as var. rufa, Farewell Garden of Yew Tree Cottage, White Castle, SO/38.16, 1964, MC, det. MFW, 1990; 2 plants, crack in cement, S side of St. Mellon’s Church, ST/228.814, 1986, GH. 3 t

! Oxalis articulata

This is an inhabitant of woods and shady banks. In vc 35 only the Levels do not provide the required conditions. 290 t Plate 47

! Oxalis debilis Large-flowered Pink-sorrel A scaly bulb gives rise to more sessile bulblets and fleshy roots; petioles to 15 cm are topped by 3 heart-shaped leaflets, the underside of which have scattered appressed hairs, the leaf margins, chiefly, display orange to dark tubercles; the pinkishmauve flowers occur in a broad, umbel-like cluster on 20 cm peduncles. This S American introduction has become a weed spreading by bulblets in gardens and open ground. In vc 35 it has been recorded twice: a weed on an organic small holding, The Nurtons, Tintern, SO/53.01, 1987, AW, EGW; verge, Mounton, ST/51.93, 1987, TGE, UTE. 2 t

Pink-sorrel

This plant sprouts from a thick rhizome covered with brown scales; the leaves on long stalks arise from the apex of the rhizome and have heartshaped leaflets covered with orangey-brown tubercles; the 10-15 mm, pink flowers are arranged in umbel-like clusters at the top of a tall peduncle. Introduced from the eastern side of S America, it has become a well-known garden plant, sometimes naturalised, in stony and sandy soils, from seeds and rhizome fragments or garden cast-outs. In vc 35 it occurred on waste ground near R. Rhymney, Rhymney, SO/11.07, 1987, TGE, and one clump on cliff top, Sudbrook, ST/505.873, 2000, TGE. 2 t

Oxalis acetosella

GERANIACEAE Crane’s-bill family These herbs have lower leaves stalked and alternate, palmate or palmately or pinnatelylobed. The flowers are actinomorphic (in Pelargonium they are zygomorphic) with 5 free sepals and petals, there are 5 or 10 stamens but some may lack anthers; the fruit is a dry 5-celled schizocarp, with each cell single-seeded and drawn out into a beak attached to a sterile central column. As the schizocarp ripens and dries out, the tension in the cell walls increases until the beak coils suddenly and hurls the seeds into the air. The resemblance of the shape of the schizocarp to the

Wood-sorrel

Thin, white rhizomes spreading freely near the soil surface or in leaf mould give rise to spaced out fleshy scale leaves and leaves with a few 276

Flora of Monmouthshire head of a long-billed bird probably gave rise to the name Crane’s-bill.

pink to violet veins and apices notched to give them a heart shape. Grown in gardens and occasionally naturalised outside them. Wade (1970) called it very rare with sites at: Abergavenny, 1916, Mrs P; ‘plentiful for several years along a hedgebank between St Arvans and Pen-y-parc, ‘ ST/509.977, WAS (1920), refound at possibly the original site, 1988, UTE, 1997, TGE; hedge bank, E of house (former Chapel), Far Hill, Trellech, SO/469.044, 1982, SJT, 1990, SJT, TGE; hedgebank, The Narth to Pen-y-Fan road, SO/532.058, 1993, CT, GT; Wet Meadow Wood, SO/49.06, 1993, JFH. 4t

GERANIUM Crane’s-bills The stalked, lower leaves of this group are usually palmate or palmately-lobed; the actinomorphic flowers have 10 stamens with the outer 5 sometimes lacking anthers; the fruits release their seeds when the beak, remaining attached only at the top of the column, coils and slings the seeds away from the parent.

! Geranium endressii

French Crane’s-bill

This plant may forms large patches to over 50 cm high; the leaves, rising on long stalks from the spreading rhizome, are deeply 5-lobed; there are stalked glands on the sepals and top of the pedicels; the darkish-pink flowers c. 25 mm across have veins paler or the same colour as the petals, which are slightly notched at the tip; the fruit has a style 2.5-3.0 mm long and some hairs on the mericarp beak over 0.5 mm long. Introduced from the Pyrenees, it is now grown in gardens from whence it has escaped on to waste ground. Wade (1970) gave it as rare and recorded at: Buckholt, *; Upper Redbrook; Lone Lane, Pentwyn, Penallt, *, all SGC; Cuckoo Wood, Llandogo, *. More recent sites are: roadside, Nantyderry, SO/333.061, 1989; Crumlin, ST/20.98, 1990, both RF; 1 square metre, Argoed, ST/178.998, 1997; W of Llanellen, 1996, both TGE. 4 t

Geranium rotundifolium Round-leaved Crane’s-bill This is a rather short annual, with an ample coating of simple and glandular hairs; its lower leaves are roundish in outline with 5-9 lobes toothed at their apices and divided to less than halfway; the pink flowers, occurring in pairs in a lax arrangement, are 10-12 mm across and have 5 sepals ending abruptly in very short point, and 5 petals with rounded, or nearly so, ends; the smooth, hairy fruits are on spreading stalks often upturned at the ends. 23

! Geranium x oxonianum Druce’s Crane’s-bill

This fertile G. endressii x G. versicolor hybrid ranges from resemblance of the one parent to similarity to the other. This introduction has become naturalised on verges and other grassy places. Vc 35 sites are: several patches on a verge under hedge, below Shirenewton Golf Clubhouse, ST/47.93, 1970 to present day, det. EJC; track side, Mathern Palace, ST/524.903, 1982, both TGE; roadside, Pen-y-fan to Narth Road, SO/526.059, 1991, JFH; Cwrt-yBella graveyard, ?ST/1.9 Z, 1997, PAS. 4 t

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It is a native on dryish, gritty or stony soils, often a weed of derelict or industrial areas of larger towns. In vc 35 it grows mainly near the Severn in industrial and waste places. Wade (1970) described the alien as very rare and gave 2 sites: Pontypool, *, THT; a few plants, Old Town Wall, Chepstow, *, WAS (1920). More recent sites are: disturbed ground, Newport Docks, ST/31.85, 1975-94, TGE; waste ground, Grofield, Abergavenny, SO/291.142, 1986; roadside bank, Sunny Vale, SO/291.161, 1986, both RF; E edge of Magor Reserve,

! Geranium versicolor Pencilled Crane’s-bill This is shortly rhizomatous to produce a compact if sprawling plant; the 5-lobed, palmate leaf is divided between ⅔ and 4/5 to the base of the lobes; there are no stalked glands on sepals or top of pedicels; the 15-18 mm white petals have 277

Flora of Monmouthshire Native, often near streams in meadows and open woods, and also on road verges. In vc 35 it has declined particularly on road verges during the 1960s when councils too readily carried out verge spraying with herbicides, and from grasslands where land owners reseeded old meadows and over-fertilised the land. It has survived in pockets along river banks, particularly on the upper reaches of the Rivers Wye, Monnow and Usk. Some roadsides are still good in stretches. 76 t Plate 48

ST/42.86, 1995, JDRV; Near garage & Fountain Inn, Rock, ST/18.98, 1997, TGE; on track in woodland screen, pulp mill, Sudbrook, ST/49.87, 1995, JDRV; many plants, rail ballast, disused shunting yards, Severn Tunnel Junction, Rogiet, ST/45.87 & 46.87, 2001, TGE, CT; many plants, weeds of gardens and waste places near Royal vc 35 Hospital, Newport, ST/31.87, 1998; industrial site, Machen, ST/21.89, 1989, both TGE; waste ground, near Pye Corner, Bassaleg, ST/27.87, 1988, EJS. 9 t

Geranium sanguineum Bloody Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum

Wood Crane’s-bill

This has a horizontal rhizome that gives rise to much-branched stems that may form large patches; the plant lacks stalked glands; the leaves, roundish in outline, are deeply divided into 5-7 very narrow lobes, themselves divided into narrow lobes; the flowers are 25-30 mm across and are bright red to bluish-red (bloodcoloured); a short pair of bracts occur half way up the flower stalk. It is native on unimproved grassland, rocky ground, sand dunes and open woods, particularly on calcareous soils. 1st vice-county record near Chepstow Castle, 1773, John Lightfoot. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave 4 sites: Wyndcliff, 1773, JLi; 1853, TWG; JHG; WAS; SH; AEW; near Chepstow Castle, 1773, JLi; Piercefield Woods, WAS; Wye Valley, near Monmouth, SH. There have been no recent native sites but it was recorded on limestone rubble, Dixton Road Bee Orchid site, SO/527.149, 1988, EGW, and there have been some reports of garden escapes. (5 t)

This is a rather tufted, erect perennial to 70 cm with leaves round in outline, but deeply divided into c. 7 lobes, almost to the base; the purplishpink flowers are between 22-26 mm across and flowers and buds point upwards, the petals frequently have white bases and have rounded apices, sometimes slightly notched. Native in woods and meadows, frequently near streams or on road verges in the north of Britain. Vc 35 has only two sites, one described as a valley, above Llanthony Abbey, in the Honddu Valley, left side ½ mile above farm at c. 300ft (100 m), AL, and the other Grwyne Valley, *, AL, MSP; EV, ?R. In spite of searches in SO/2.2 no plants have been refound since 1985, TGE. (2 t)

Geranium pratense

Meadow Crane’s-bill

This is similar to Wood Crane’s-bill in size and division of its leaves and its abundance of glandular hairs, but its leaves are more deeply dissected, it has sepals with longer points and the blue flowers are larger to 25-30 mm across; the flowers and buds tend to droop to face outwards or downwards

Geranium columbinum Long-stalked Crane’s-bill

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278

Flora of Monmouthshire Geranium columbinum is a slender, hairy plant that seldom reaches 60 cm and climbs on neighbouring plants to attain upper height limits. It has simple hairs only. Its leaves are deeply divided, almost to the base, into 5-7 narrow lobes, which are further finely divided pinnately. The purplish-pink flowers are produced on two long, fine pedicels over 2.5 cm long, at obtuse angles to each other, at the head of an even longer, slender peduncle. The fruit has few or no hairs. This plant grows on unimproved grassland and in scrub mainly on calcareous soils. In vc 35 it has suffered from reseeding of old meadows and from the loss of limestone grassland to housing developments, particularly in the SE corner. The distribution map has been produced since 1985 and shows the concentration on the limestone of the SE corner and the curved eastern edge of the coalfield where the limestone reaches the surface. There would be far fewer dots if the map showed 2004 records only. 41 t

! Geranium ibericum Caucasian Crane’s-bill It grows into an upright, tufted plant to 50 cm high; its leaf is divided to ⅓ from its base into 9-11 lobes; it has no stalked glands; the flowers are a violet-blue, with 24-26 mm petals notched at the apex. Introduced from the Caucasus, it has been naturalised in E Lothian and in an old churchyard, in Cardiganshire (Ceredigion). Wade (1970) reported it on a roadside, near Cwmyoy school, SO/2.2, 1942, SGC; at Abergavenny, 1924, GCD. (2 t)

! Geranium x magnificumPurple Crane’s-bill This G. ibericum x G. platypetalum hybrid may grow to over 70 cm high, its leaves are divided into 9-11 lobes, usually to less than 4/5 towards their base, and has in equal proportions simple and stalked glands on pedicels, peduncles and upper parts of the stem; its 20-24 mm flowers are purple-violet. Bred for gardens, it has been reported naturalised by roads and on waste ground. In vc 35 it was recorded with other garden throw-outs at the disused rail station, Govilon, near Abergavenny, SO/27.13, 1985, RSWa. (1 t)

Arc. Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Vegetatively, this is similar to G. columbinum, but it has larger basal leaves and much shorter peduncles, redder flowers and densely hairy sepals and fruit.

! Geranium pyrenaicum Hedgerow Crane’s-bill This hairy perennial growing from fibrous roots, may reach 50 cm (seldom more) with fairly erect stems; it has simple and glandular hairs; its leaves have a rounded outline, but are divided into 5-7, wedge-shaped lobes with blunt teeth at the apices; the purplish-pink, 14-18 mm diameter flowers occur on deflexed pedicels.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 31

Widespread in Britain on a variety of habitats, both waste and cultivated land. In vc 35 it is widespread except on upland moorland where other plants crowd it out. It is highly adaptable, utilising any spare grassy sites. 347 t

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279

Flora of Monmouthshire Geranium pyrenaicum grows in unimproved meadows, hedgerows, in grassy and rough ground. Wade (1970) described it as a denizen and very rare and gave only one site: roadside, near Tintern, SH. Its appearance in vc 35 seems to be in a broad band in the lowlands just to the east of the coalfield, and most often on road or lane verges or waste areas. My experience is that, though it is a perennial, it does not persist anywhere year after year, it likes disturbed ground and it does not survive vigorous competition. 38 t Plate 51

plants as weeds of garden, The Nurtons, Tintern, SO/53.01, 1987, EGW; abandoned rail track, near Llandogo, SO/535.044, 1986, EGW; several metres on railway bridge, Penpergwm, SO/323.101, 1991, TGE; Gwent Wildlife Trust Reserve, Rogiet Common, ST/453.884, 1991, TGE, UTE; gritty area, Sudbrook, 1991, JDRV. 18 t

Geranium molle

Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill

This is similar to G. pusillum but it has bright pink flowers, the pedicels have short and long hairs; excluding the beaks, the mericarps are glabrous and usually ribbed; all the stamens have anthers.

Geranium pusillum Small-flowered Crane’s-bill This annual’s short hairs makes it appear greygreen; its decumbent to ascending stems seldom reach 40 cm in height; its leaves are divided into 79 lobes to just over half way to the base; the flowers are a pale lilac, to only 4-6 mm across; the petals are notched at the tips; the outer 5 stamens lack anthers, the hairs on the pedicels are all short; the smooth mericarps are appressedhairy.

18 31

Native, in unimproved grassland and on cultivated and waste land. Widespread in vc 35, but it is seen in flower less often because of the perceived necessity to have all grassy areas near human habitation mown like bowling greens. 264 t

Geranium lucidum 31

Shining Crane’s-bill

35 23

It is native to waste and cultivated land and bare areas in grassland. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave these sites: near Hadnock siding; Lady Park Wood, SGC; Bishpool; Rhiwderyn, SH; Chepstow; Tintern; Sudbrook, *; Rogerstone Grange, St. Arvans, *, WAS; The Coombe, Shirenewton, DL; Town Dock, Newport, SH; Burness Castle Quarry, TGE. More recent sites are: gateway in hedge, Mount Ballan, Caldicot, ST/488.891, 1986, TGE, UTE; road bank, Dixton, Monmouth, SO/527.150, 1990, JFH; Cwmyoy, SO/29.23, 1989, SAR; grassy bank, S wall, Chepstow Castle, ST/53.94, 1990, JDRV; Llanwern, ST/3.8 U, 1987, ME; more than 20

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280

Flora of Monmouthshire It grows in rocky habitats and hedge banks preferring calcareous soils, especially near the sea. The only site in the vice-county where it was probably accidentally introduced was a 20 m² colony among shrubs on eastern edge of Avondale Children’s Play Area, Blaenavon, SO/253.085, *, 2000, REH, conf. TGE, 1st vice-county record. Very little showing in 2004, during which the site was bulldozed; 5 patches, 2007, TGE; 5 plants, Pontypool-Blaenavon rail track, SO/231.098, 2006, JBr. 2 t

Geranium lucidum is a nearly hairless annual which seldom achieves 40 cm in height; its basal, long-stalked, roundish leaves are divided to about halfway into 5 blunt lobes that have 3 blunt teeth at their apices. All leaves are a shiny green, frequently flushed with red. The deep pink flowers protrude from a ribbed calyx, which is narrowed below the petals and rather bulbous near the pedicel. A plant of bare soil, rocks, walls and stony ground, preferably with a calcareous substrate. In vc 35 it is frequent on the Carboniferous Limestone of the SE, on the eastern ridge and widespread in the north-west. It is infrequent on the upland of the coalfield and in the central low farmland and the Levels. 97 t

Geranium robertianum

! Geranium phaeum

Dusky Crane’s-bill

This is an erect, tufted plant to over 70 cm, its stems are branched in upper parts; its dark-green leaves are divided to at least ½ way, into 5-7 deeply toothed lobes; the large, 15-20 mm, paired, dark-purple flowers look almost black in the shade, are diagnostic in Britain; the petals are slightly bent back; buds droop; the mericarps are hairy. It has been introduced from mainland Europe to gardens with streams, shady copses, hedgerows or wood borders. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave the following sites: Osbaston, *, 1925, HR; near Llangwm-isaf Church; Chepstow, JHC; near Pen-y-cae-mawr, Wentwood, *, WAS; Michaelstone-y-vedw, *; Marshfield, 1953, HN. Some recent records: 1-3 plants, road/stream side, Tintern, SO/525.018, 1975, TGE; roadside and churchyard, Penallt Old Church, 1982, SJT; small patch, roadside hedgerow, Pen-y-cae-mawr (Shoolbred’s old site?), ST/409.951, 1997, MJ. 3 t

Herb-robert

This hairy, low-growing, annual to biennial, strong-smelling herb is frequently flushed red. The long-stalked lower leaves are 5-lobed, each deeply lobed again, the upper 3-lobed leaves, subdivided into similar lobes, have shorter stalks; the 14-18 mm across, bright pink, occasionally white, flowers have a distinct claw and scarcely notched limb; the pollen has a distinct orangey colour; the mericarps, with sparse ridges, are hairy. 23

ERODIUM Stork’s-bills These have flowers and fruits similar to Geranium, but have simple, or pinnate, or pinnately or ternately-lobed leaves, mainly in basal rosettes.

Erodium maritimum 31

A common native of coastal sites, woods, hedgerows, banks and scree. In vc 35 it is common throughout favouring rocky, scree-like surfaces. 384 t

!Geranium purpureum

Sea Stork’s-bill

These are tiny, hairy plants, frequently with a basal rosette of simple leaves; the lowest leaves may be toothed or shallowly, pinnately-lobed, or may have branching, prostrate stems; the 4-6 mm across flowers may be pink, white or lack petals and, where present, may fall early, they are borne solitary or in pairs on stalks, longer than the subtending leaves; the petals are ± equal to the sepals in length. This is a native on fixed sand dunes or short, barish grassland. In vc 35 it has been recorded only in the SE corner and as an introduced species. Wade (1970) suggested that the record of near Chepstow

Little-robin

This is very similar to G. robertianum, differing in its smaller flowers 7-14 mm across, its yellow anthers and densely ridged mericarps. 281

Flora of Monmouthshire by SH was probably an error. Genuine records are: unintentionally introduced with gritty sand from Norfolk into La Cuesta garden, Chepstow, ST/52.93, 1981, TGE (still present on drive 2004); one plant on sea cliff, Sudbrook, ST/503.872, 1978, TGE (never refound); many plants in several sites on tracks and rail ballast, MOD, Caerwent, e.g. rail ballast at ST/478.908, 1987, CT; 1000s on ashy path, Kilpale, ST/468.918, 1991, TGE, CT. 3 t (1 t)

bunkers, rail ballast, tips and where sand has been dumped. 32 t BALSAMINACEAE Balsam family Family members are hairless and succulent herbs with simple, petiolate leaves which are alternate, opposite or in whorls of 3 arrangement; the flowers are zygomorphic and made up of 3 petaloid sepals, the lowest of which is extended into a characteristic spur; 5 petals, the upper one free and the lateral pairs united at the base; the 5 stamens are fused around the ovary by their anthers; the fruit is a 5-celled, explosive capsule with many seeds to each cell.

Arc. Erodium moschatum Musk Stork’s-bill This relatively robust annual has pinnate leaves with the main leaflets divided to up to ⅜ to the midrib; the plant smells of musk when crushed; the flowers are pale purple; the beaks of the mericarps are 2-4.5 cm and the apical pits in the groove have sessile glands. It grows on walls, waste ground and where wool shoddy has been used as a fertiliser. In vc 35 it is alien and has been recorded at 3 sites: on wall top, Cwmyoy, SO/29.23, AL; near Alexander Dock, Newport, ST/3.8, SH; once grew along the top and on the side of the sea wall, Rumney, ST/2.7, *, destroyed by reconstruction of wall. (3 t)

Erodium cicutarium

IMPATIENS Balsams These herbs have 3 sepals and the 2 lower petals are joined so there appear to be 3 petals as well; ovules are numerous.

! Impatiens capensis

Orange Balsam

It is an annual to over a metre in height; the 2-3 cm flowers are yellow or orange with orange to brown blotches, the lowest sepal is 1-2 cm long with a 1 cm spur recurved under and parallel to itself.

Common Stork’s-bill

This annual is similar to E. moschatum also having pinnate leaves and pale purple flowers but the plant tends to be larger and the main leaflets are divided nearly to the midrib; the upper 2 petals often have a basal black spot, and the mericarps’ beak is 1.5-4 cm long and its apical pits are glandless.

20 23 19 22 18 21

18 32

It grows along the edge of pools, streams and reens. Wade (1970) described it as a rare denizen and named these sites: by the Alexandra Dock feeder, Tredegar Park, and reens round ‘The Belt’, near Tredegar Park, ST/28.86, 1909, SH; Percoed Reen, Coedkernew, near Duffryn, *; Marshfield. More recent records are: Pontycwcw Reen, ST/303.845; Old Dairy Reen, ST/2983.8438; Sea Wall Reen, ST/3023.8525; Percoed Reen, ST/2891.8390, 1982-83, all NCC Reens Survey; S end of lake Tredegar Park, ST/28.85, 1984, JPC; 2

This is a plant of open grassland and sand dunes. In vc 35 it occurs on roadsides, quarry floors, golf courses where sand has been used to create 282

Flora of Monmouthshire Since its introduction, it has become an invasive menace to native plants, spreading along waterways and from them into neighbouring damp places over much of the British Isles. In vc 35 it is particularly abundant and persistent on the Rivers Wye, Monnow and Usk. 168 t Plate 52

plants E side lake Tredegar Park, ST/288.855; 9 patches, Pontycwcw Branch Reen, ST/3000.8425; 7 patches, Pont Estyll Lane, ST/2917.8320; 7 patches, Percoed Reen, ST/2875.8369 to 2877.8371; 4 patches, Percoed Reen, ST/2894.8386 to 2903.8396; 1 patch ditch, E side of railway, E of Duffryn High School, ST/3025.8480; 5 patches, Pontycwcw Reen ST/3026.8457; 6 patches roadside ditch, Coedkernew, ST/2749.8322; 2 patches on banks of reen, at right angles to Ponty-cwcw Reen leading to Old Dairy Farm, ST/3073.8414; no plants were found in Main Docks Feeder and stream below grid. reference, N of Tredegar House, ST/2794.8676 or in Marshfield area, both sites mentioned in Wade; all records 2003, TGE. 6 t Plate 53

! Impatiens parviflora

ARALIACEAE Ivy family These may be woody, evergreen climbers, deciduous shrubs or herbaceous perennials, with simple petiolate, alternate leaves, usually with palmately lobed or 1-2 pinnate; they lack stipules; the white to greenish flowers are actinomorphic, bisexual or having male and bisexual flowers on the same plant and they are grouped in umbels or clusters of umbels; the fruit is a black berry with 25 seeds.

Small Balsam HEDERA Ivies These are evergreen woody climbers with simple leaves, pedicels not jointed, 5 petals and stamens.

A herb to 60 cm with 0.6-1.8 cm long, pale yellow flowers, the lowest sepal of which tapers to a ± straight spur less than 15 mm. It grows in damp places in woods and under shady hedgerows. In vc 35 there are two sites: c. 100 plants, for 50-100 m both sides of Twyn Lane, Glascoed Village, SO/33.01, 1988-89, RF (the plants have not re-appeared since); between tarmac and stone wall, Trethomas to Machen, ST/20120.89020, 2004, MPi. 2 t

! Impatiens glandulifera

Hedera helix subsp. helix

Common Ivy

In this subspecies the stellate hairs on young leaves and stems are whitish, usually with 4-8 rays, some parallel to the leaf surface and some pointing away from it; the leaves are up to 8 cm across and many are lobed to more than ½ way to the base.

Indian Balsam

This has tall, stoutish, erect stems to over 2 m and leaves opposite or in whorls of 3 with sharply pointed teeth; the 2.5-4 cm large, pinkish, purplish or white flowers are spotted in the throat and have a lower sepal continued as a spur bent at c. 90º and measuring in total from 14 mm to double that length.

20 23 19 22 18 21

It climbs trees and walls and spreads widely on the ground, particularly in woods. It is found in most tetrads in the vice-county and it appears to be more dominant on many woodland floors than in my youth. 382 t

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283

Flora of Monmouthshire

Hedera helix subsp. hibernica

Atlantic Ivy

Its stellate hairs on young leaves and stems are pale yellowish-brown with all its rays parallel to the leaf surface; the leaves are frequently more than 8 cm across and lobed to less than ½ way to the base. 4 t

APIACEAE Carrot family These are herbs (rarely shrubs) ranging from annuals to perennials; the leaves, very occasionally simple, are large and pinnately divided, often with inflated, sheathing bases; the inflorescence is an umbel, usually compound, with or without bracts at the primary umbel, and with or without bracteoles at subsequent, further umbel divisions; the flowers are actinomorphic, or zygomorphic, when the outer petals are longer than the inner ones; there are 5 sepals, often merely teeth around the top of the ovary; there are 5 white, pink or yellow petals and 5 stamens; the ovary is 2-celled but contains only 1 ovule in the upper part of each cell, the 2 styles often arise from the top of an apical swelling; the fruits are schizocarps with 2 mericarps and are often diagnostic in size, shape, compressions, sculpturing and the angles of the styles, as are the characteristics of the oil glands on the mericarps. It is relatively easy to place a plant correctly into Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae, the old name), because of the arrangement of flowers in umbels, but descriptions of vegetative parts and inflorescences of similar plants is more difficult and both the BSBI Umbellifer Handbook that gives descriptions and illustrations of the plants, and the New Flora of the British Isles (Stace 1997), that gives illustrations of two views of the fruits, should help in achieving the correct identification.

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It is common in bogs, fens, marshes and in very wet areas near stretches of water. In vc 35 it is most common in the wetter parts of the uplands and on the Levels. 122 t

! Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Floating Pennywort Similar to H. vulgaris but tends to have long branching, glabrous stems that bear large roundish leaves to 7 cm across, that have a petiole attached near the middle, at the head of a deep notch. The leaf, with round-ending lobes, is divided to c. ½ way to the centre; in water, it forms bunches of dangling roots at the nodes; the branched stems spread out several metres across water surfaces so that pieces that are broken off can drift away to form new colonies; the fruit is subglobular. Introduced from N America this invasive menace to native species, has overwhelmed ponds and some unthinking owners have transferred their surplus to nearby waterways where it has quickly spread in rivers, canals, ponds etc. In vc 35 it is believed to have originated from a garden centre in the Marshfield area and has proved difficult to eradicate. Sites are: 4 large patches Broadway Reen, Marshfield, ST/265.817 to 267.815, 1996; 2 patches of 2 m², Broadway Reen, SE of Marshfield, ST/270.813, 1997, 3 patches, 2001; 4-5 patches, Drenewydd Reen, Marshfield, ST/266, 823 to 267.825, 1996; 2 patches Drenewydd Reen, Marshfield, ST/274.831, 1998, all TGE. 2 t

HYDROCOTYLE Pennyworts These are perennials with procumbent, rooting stems bearing simple ± orbicular, often shallowly lobed leaves, usually on long, thin, erect petioles, that are longer than the axillary peduncles that they subtend; the flowers are small and obscure; the fruits are laterally compressed but roundish from one view.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris

Marsh Pennywort

Its size depends on its habitat; its leaves are roundish and peltate and on erect petioles, and hide the small flowers at their base; short hairs may be found at the top of the petioles and on the underside of the leaves.

SANICULA Sanicle Sanicles are almost glabrous perennials arising from a basal rosette of deeply, palmately-lobed, serrated leaves on long petioles; they lack stipules; the umbels have long-stalked male and sessile 284

Flora of Monmouthshire bisexual flowers above short bracteoles and persistent sepals; the fruits are slightly flattened and are covered with hooked bristles.

Sanicula europaea

tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1977, TGE (one plant transferred to my garden seeded and produced several plants that seeded on to my gritty drive, where they flowered until 1994). (1 t)

Sanicle

Sanicle stems, arising from leaf rosettes, are erect to c. 40 cm; the dark green, shiny leaves are deeply divided into 5 wedge-shaped lobes, each of which is shallowly lobed and toothed; the pink or white flowers are in tight clusters forming compound umbels.

CHAEROPHYLLUM Chervils These herbs have solid stems that persist for more than a year; the leaves are 2-3 times pinnate; bracts may be present or absent, bracteoles are present; the white or pink, actinomorphic flowers lack sepals; the slightly compressed, glabrous fruit is more than 3 times as long as wide and has low, wide longitudinal ridges.

Chaerophyllum temulentum Rough Chervil

This rather slender, erect biennial to 1 m flowers from mid-summer; its purple-spotted stems, petioles and leaves are noticeably hairy and the stems are usually distinctly swollen below each leaf; the dark-green, pinnate leaves are comparatively small and flexuous and are deeply serrate with teeth abruptly pointed; the compound umbels may not have bracts but bracteoles do occur at the base of the white, actinomorphic flower clusters; the 5-6 mm ribbed fruit tapers to an apex where 2 styles project from their swollen bases.

18 31

It grows in deciduous woodlands in loamy soils. In the vice-county it is widely found in lowland woods and near the valley floors in the western uplands. 154 t

ERYNGIUM Sea-hollies These glabrous perennials have stalked, simple or pinnate, basal leaves, with a range of stem leaves with at least the upper ones spiny; the small flowers form globose or ovoid capitula, with a ruff of leaf-like spiny bracts below, and entire or 3-lobed bracteoles, with 1-3 spines, longer than the flowers, subtending the upper flower umbels; the slightly-compressed, scaly or bristly fruits, sit on persistent sepals.

! Eryngium planum

18 31

It grows mainly in hedges and on wood borders and in the decreasing wild grassy places. It is commoner in the northern half of vc 35, mainly near hedges and wood edges. 208 t

Blue Eryngo

E. planum is a stiffly-erect herb to 50 cm with serrate, oblong-ovate, basal leaves, with cordate or truncate proximal ends; the upper, spiny, stem leaves are deeply lobed; the bracts are linearlanceolate; the 1-1.5 cm across, ovoid capitula are deep blue and the fruits are scaly. Introduced from mainland Europe to British gardens, it has become naturalised in waste places. In vc 35 it grew on waste ground on the rubbish

ANTHRISCUS Chervils These are somewhat similar to Chaerophyllum but have hollow stems and 6-9 mm smooth fruits that taper to the apex with indistinct ribs only at the tip. 285

Flora of Monmouthshire

Anthriscus sylvestris

sites: Kymin Hill, Monmouth, SO/52.12, *, SGC; Machen, ST/2.8 E; Portskewett, ST/4.8 Z, both SH (1909); Mounton, ST/5.9 B, WAS (1920); Windmill Lane, Rogiet, ST/45.88, 1942, JCE; Duffryn, ST/29.85, SH (1909). There have been no recent records. (5 t)

Cow Parsley

Cow Parsley is an erect, pubescent perennial to 1.5 m, with basal leaves 3-pinnate and is a considerably branched plant. Most plants are usually fruiting by time Chaerophyllum temulentum starts flowering.

MYRRHIS Sweet Cicely These are large, tufted, hairy perennials with hollow stems and smelling strongly of aniseed when crushed; they grow to between 1-2 m high; only bracteoles are present; the leaves are 2-4 pinnate; the flowers have white petals but no sepals; the slightly-compressed fruit more than 3 times as long as wide is ridged but glabrous or minutely hairy.

! Myrrhis odorata 18 31

Sweet Cicely

Only in ideal conditions does this plant reach 1.8 m high, its triangular leaves, with broadly lanceolate, deeply toothed lobes and often distinctive white blotches, have wide basal sheaths; the 2-4 mm across, white flowers, with unequal petals, are in large umbels with many rays; the deeply ridged, elliptic fruits are in tight clusters turning a dark, shiny-brown when ripe and are held very visibly above the foliage.

It is native in hedgerows, wood margins and grassy places. In the vice-county it is missing from only some of the western uplands. Following the council spraying of verges in the 1960s it has become dominant on many hedge banks because it is more resistant to herbicides than many other natives that were once common there. It also has increased in response to nitrogen running off from overfertilised fields. 358 t

SCANDIX Shepherd’s-needle These are rather short annuals with hollow fruiting-stems; they have 2-4 pinnate leaves; its umbels are simple; only 3(-5) toothed bracteoles are present; their persistent sepals are tiny being less than 0.5 mm long; the white flowers are zygomorphic; the non-compressed fruit is long and narrow with a beak 3-many times as long as the rest of it.

Arc. Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd’s-needle

This is an almost glabrous annual seldom reaching a height of 50 cm; the leaf divisions are linear: umbels, possessing a small number of rays, and opposed to a leaf consist of white flowers with outer petals larger than the inner ones; the fruits are scabrid with upward directed bristles. A former, frequent weed of arable and waste land in England more scattered elsewhere. J.H. Clark (1868) reported that the plant was abundant in cornfields. Wade (1970) gave only the following 6

Myrrhis was introduced from the mountains of C and S Europe and has become naturalised roadsides, banks, waste land and grassy places in N England and Scotland. In the vice-county it has found the western uplands suitable for naturalisation. The plant in the Caerwent area is in a garden. Wade (1970) described it as a rare denizen at: Abergavenny district, 1886, JWs; Llanthony district, SH (1909), AL; Grwyne Fawr Valley, *, AL, 1920, ?Richards; Pont-y-spig, *, 286

Flora of Monmouthshire Pontypool, EL; Cwm Ffrwd-oer, near Varteg; near Trevethin Church; near Pontypool, JHC (1868), AEW (no sign of plant, 2001, but new housing to E and NE may have been responsible); Bedwellty Churchyard (St Sannan’s); Rhyswg Fawr, Abercarn, AM; Pontnewynydd, CC. Recent records are: riverside, NW of Little Goetre, SO/350.239, 1989, 1990, RF; roadside, Ton-y-felin, ST/196.988, 1990, RF; roadside, Upper Cwm Farm, SO/253.125, 1990, TGE, RF; St Sannan’s Churchyard, SO/166.003, 1994, PAS; 1995, CT; 2003, TGE; 1 plant, bank of R. Grwynne, just S of Tabernacle Chapel, SO/28438.22669, 1986, PCH, JH; 2001, TGE, GSH, CT; 2 plants at foot of wall, NW of Blaen-y-cwm cottage, SO/253.283, 1986, PCH, JH; 2001, TGE, GSH, CT; 14 plants, opposite entrance to Barn Cottage, NW of Goose and Cuckoo, SO/2895.0725, 1988, RF; 2001, TGE; 1 patch, Mynyddislwyn, ST/19359.94194, 1990, RF; 2001, TGE; side of disused rail track, E of Abersychan, SO/268.050, 1988, RF; 2 plants, railside, Abersychan, either side of stone culvert, SO/269.054, 2001, REH. 13 t

SMYRNIUM Alexanders Alexanders is a glabrous perennial to over a metre high, with solid stems and large leaves divided into broad, ternate or pinnate lobes; bracts and bracteoles are few or none; the sepals are minute; the actinomorphic flowers have yellow petals; the slightly flattened, ovoid fruits are black with conspicuous ridges and are numerously grouped on the many-rayed umbels.

Arc. Smyrnium olusatrum

Alexanders

Alexanders forms large plants with conspicuous, dark, glossy-green leaves with the base of the petiole broadly sheathing the stem; the flowers are a dull yellow and the numerous black fruits are numerously grouped on the conspicuous, many-rayed umbels above the foliage. 23

CORIANDRUM Coriander Corianders are unpleasant smelling, solidstemmed annuals, with short-lived, long-stalked basal leaves, that are divided into few, broad lobes; the upper leaves are finely 3-pinnate, there are usually few bracts and bracteoles; the conspicuous sepals are persistent; the white or purplish flowers are zygomorphic; the small fruits are globular.

! Coriandrum sativum

18 31

Introduced from mainland Europe, it is now widely naturalised in Britain, mainly near the coast on cliffs, banks, waste places and on road verges, particularly leading down to the sea, where they frequently form linear colonies. Wade (1970) described it as a rare denizen and gave these sites: Machen; Usk, BMF; Bassaleg; Chepstow, EL; Chepstow Castle, *; banks of the Wye, WAS (1920); Minnetts Lane, Rogiet, 1942, JCE; 19842004, TGE, CT; Other more recent records: hedgerow, Burness Castle Quarry, Rogiet, ST/46.88, 1968-2004, TGE, CT; woodland, Crossway, ST/49.88, 1970, TGE; S facing verge, Llanvapley Church, SO/367.140, DTP; roadside, Llanfoist Bridge, Abergavenny, 1986, RF; patches S facing roadside bank, Lower Machen, ST/22.88, 1988, PB, TGE; The Bryn, SO/30 J, 1986, JJ; Croesyceiliog, ST/3.9 C, 1988, KMB; Newport Docks, ST/31.85, 1985, GB; Goldcliff, ST/36.83, 1986, TGE, UTE; roadside, near crossroads, ST.

Coriander

C. sativum is glabrous, having erect, smooth stems to usually less than 50 cm; the long-stalked, almost simple, lower leaves soon wither; the widely spaced, 2-3 pinnate, stem leaves have linear lobes; the white to purplish flowers produce small, globular fruits that become easily detached when ripe. It smells of mice or curry. Introduced from the E Mediterranean, it mainly occurs as a casual on tips or where bird seed is used. It was recorded: on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85 & 30.86, 19751978, TGE, det. EJC; on spread coal waste, near River Ebbw, SO/21.03, 1988, RF; roadside bank leading up to tip, Dan-y-graig Quarry, 1986, ST/23.90, TGE. 2 t (2 t) 287

Flora of Monmouthshire Maughan’s Green, 1985, PCH, JFH; road verges, A4136, Kymin Hill and The Garth, 1988, BJG; River Ebbw bank, Risca, ST/23.91, 1992, JH; 1 plant, A40 verge, Monmouth, SO/513.130, 1993, BJG; clump opposite ‘Red Hart’ pub, Llanvapley, SO/36.14, 1996, JDRV. 16 t

Pimpinella saxifraga

CONOPODIUM Pignut A knobbly, underground tuber gives rise to glabrous, basal, long-stemmed, 3-pinnate leaves with linear lobes, the even narrower stem leaves, smaller and spaced out, have pinnate lobes; there may be 2 bracts, though usually none, but it does have several bracteoles; the white actinomorphic flowers lack sepals; the ribbed fruit is widest near its base and is less than twice as long as wide.

Conopodium majus

Burnet-saxifrage

The base of older plant stems is fibrous due to the covering of remains of previous stem-leaves; the first basal leaves of spring are simply pinnate, with 3-6 pairs of oval leaflets edged with short, sharp teeth; the lower stem-leaves are variously bipinnate with paired, arched, linear lobes, the upper ones are pinnate, smaller and with 3 pairs of linear lobes; the erect stems develop a narrow hollow only after flowering, they are branched above and end in many slender rays terminated by clusters of many dainty, short-pedicelled, white flowers. 23

Pignut

The slender erect stems seldom reach 50 cm in height, with the basal leaves shrivelled by flowering time, resulting in the plant looking under-nourished or sickly.

19 23

18 31

This grows in unimproved pastures and on roadside banks. It is harder to find and far less numerous due to the re-seeding of so many fields to feed an ever-increasing number of sheep. 203 t

AEGOPODIUM Ground-elder Ground-elder rhizomes promote the formation of patches with new plants spread out along the rhizome; the leaves are a mixture of pinnate and ternate forms with large, ovate-lanceolate, toothed lobes; there are no bracts, bracteoles or sepals; the white flowers are actinomorphic; the fruit is widest below the middle.

18 31

In spite of its appearance, it survives in open woods, unimproved grassland, usually at the margins of fields, or along hedgerows. In vc 35 it has certainly disappeared from many fields due to agricultural ‘improvements’. I used to sample the earthy-tasting ‘nut’, dug up with a penknife. 276 t

Arc. Aegopodium podagraria Ground-elder The slender, creeping rhizomes enable the glabrous plant to form colonies; its large leaves are 2ternate; its 3-4 mm fruits are narrowly ribbed. Introduced from mainland Europe, it has become a widespread weed of waste places, verges, cultivated and open ground. In vc 35 it is associated with human habitation and agricultural activities and spreads along nearby lane verges and on to waste ground. Eradication from gardens is

PIMPINELLA Burnet-saxifrages These perennials may have hollow or solid stems; their leaves are usually pinnate or bipinnate; they lack bracts, bracteoles and sepals; the actinomorphic flowers are white or pinkish; the glabrous fruits, with narrow ribs, are compressed, but still roundish from one view. 288

Flora of Monmouthshire difficult as tiny fragments of broken rhizomes are capable of producing new plants. 342 t

The mass of 2 mm fruits makes up for their lack of size. It grows in water and along the banks of rivers, reens and lakes and in ditches and marshes. In vc 35 there is a concentration on the Levels and along the R. Usk, though over-intensive management of both areas have caused losses. 98 t

CRITHMUM Rock Samphire These are glabrous, branched perennials with solid stems that are woody-based; the leaves are 2-3pinnate with long, very narrow, fleshy lobes; there are several simple bracts and bracteoles; the sepals are tiny; the actinomorphic flowers are yellowishgreen; the fruit is ovoid with prominent ridges and is spongy when fresh.

18 31

Crithmum maritimum BERULA Lesser Water-parsnip These are glabrous, hollow-stemmed herbs growing from stolons; its lower leaves are pinnate with many pairs of lanceolate, toothed lobes; there are several, often lobed, bracts and bracteoles, the sepals fall early; the white flowers are actinomorphic; the small, slightly-compressed fruits are roundish and have narrow ribs.

Berula erecta

Rock Samphire

The shrubby plant with fleshy, long, linear leaflets, the yellowish-green flowers, forming umbels and the fact that it grows on coastal rocks, cliffs, banks or shingle are diagnostic. 23

Lesser Water-parsnip 21

18 31

18 32

In vc 35 it has grown on the low sandstone cliffs at Sudbrook for as long as I can remember. Now rocks are used to build the sea wall along the shore of the R. Severn to protect the banks from erosion by the powerful storm-driven tides, a new habitat has been provided which C. maritimum is utilising. All sites are: scattered along low sandstone cliffs, Sudbrook, ST/504.872, 1945-2004, TGE; 1 plant among shore rocks, Redwick, ST/41.83, 1983, DU; 1 plant, stone sea wall, Nash, ST/338.823, 1984-86, TGE, DU; 1 plant base of sea wall, St. Bride’s, Wentlooge, ST/30.81, 1987, TGE, UTE; road verge, near M48, Rogiet, 1993, RDR; 1 large plant, loose stone barrier, edge of saltmarsh, S of Caldicot, ST/480.870, 1996, TGE; 2 and c. 20

Stolons enable this erect herb to form linear colonies along waterway banks; its erect leaves have 5-10 pairs of leaflets and a long petiole with a ring on it just above half way; the leaflets are broadly elliptic and up to 6 cm long; the primary rays of the umbel are relatively short so that the ultimate flower umbels form a close cluster. The umbels are terminally placed so that the aggregate of small flowers is very visible. 289

Flora of Monmouthshire plants in 2 m² in two patches on stony foreshore, SE of Sutton Farm, ST/3042.8181, 2001 & 2004; 1 large plant, top edge of rock barrier, shore, off Rogiet Rifle Range, ST/468.864, 2001, TGE; among barrier rocks, shore, Lamby, ST/232.777, 2001, TGE, GSH, CT; 1 plant among rocks, between Collister Pill and West Pill, ST/458.860, 2001, CT; 2 m² on top of barrier rocks, shore, W of Sutton Farm, ST/3043.8182, 2002, TGE; 1 m² on stony foreshore, just W of Lighthouse Inn, ST/300.815, 2004, TGE, CT; several plants on small promontory, W end of Rumney Great Wharf ST/232.776; 2 plants, Little Wharf, ST/222.776, both 2006, TGE, CT. 9 t Plate 55

have only 2-4, 1-3 cm primary rays which thicken in fruit; the pedicels are very short to give tight, semi-globose, partial umbels; there are no bracts and 7-16 linear bracteoles; the partial umbels are globose in fruit with stoutly-obconical mericarps with inflated corky ridges. It grows in marshy places and in shallow water, mainly in the eastern half of England. In the vicecounty it was common on the Levels, but the deepening of the reens and the steepness of the sides has greatly decreased the occurrence of the plant in the last twenty years. Land drains has had a detrimental effect on colonies in the marshes and ponds of the Raglan area. 54 t

OENANTHE Water-dropworts These are herbs associated with water; they often have tuberous roots and 1-4-pinnate leaves, they have no bracts or just a few and numerous bracteoles; their white flowers, with persistent sepals, range from actinomorphic to slightly zygomorphic; the fruits are often over twice as long as wide and are longitudinally ridged.

Oenanthe pimpinelloides Corky-fruited Water-dropwort This is an erect perennial to 1 m; the pithy, solid, striated stem develops a small hollow later; the roots start normally but form ovoid tubers at 23 cm from the base of the stem; the lower leaves are rather narrowly lanceolate, with the lobes wedge-shaped and divided almost to the base except at the apex where there are blunt teeth; the upper leaves are pinnate with linear lobes; the petioles are longer than the blades; there are 1-5 bracts above which are c. 10 rays of different lengths to give the umbels a slightly flattened shape; the rays and the pedicels thicken in fruit; the 3-3.5 mm long fruit is equal in length to the styles; the partial umbels harden but never become globose. This plant grows on dry or damp grassland on banks, by ditches, ponds or roadsides. In Wales, the only extant site is a clayey, roadside bank, near Tynewydd, ST/272.915, with 1 plant 1985, 2 plants 1994, 3 plants 1997, 1 plant 2002 following too vigorous and too early cutting of the verge in 2001, all TGE. 1 t Site Plate 56

Oenanthe fistulosa Tubular Water-dropwort 23

18 31

Oenanthe lachenalii Parsley Water-dropwort

This is a glabrous perennial with roots gradually widening into a spindle-shaped tuber; striate, usually solid stems may reach 1 m in height with lower leaves usually 2-pinnate, with wedge-shaped leaflets (similar to small hawthorn leaves) to oval ones, the upper leaves 1-2-pinnate with linear lobes; it has 1-5 bracts; the umbels have more than 10 rays; the 2-3 mm, white flowers have short pedicels; neither the rays nor the pedicels thicken in fruit; the 2.5-3 mm, ovoid fruits have styles shorter than themselves; the fruiting partial

This is an erect or sprawling, narrow, glabrous perennial spreading by stolons; individual plants have conspicuous, barish stems which have a large hollow, except at the nodes, and compress easily between finger and thumb; there are spindle-shaped, tuberous roots; the leaves are inconspicuous, 1-2-pinnate, narrowly oblong or lanceolate, with mainly linear lobes, their petioles are longer than their blades; the flowers are white or pinkish, with persistent, acute sepals; the outer petals are largest; the compound umbels 290

Flora of Monmouthshire umbels do not become globose; each fruit is inversely conical with blade-like ridges.

conspicuous, persistent sepals; the 4-5.5 mm, lightly-ridged fruit is usually cylindrical and has 2 styles half as long as it and erect and parallel to one another. It grows in shallow water and in marshes. In vc 35 it is widespread, and, though less common in calcareous streams, it is not absent from them 325 t.

Oenanthe aquatica Fine-leaved Water-dropwort

This annual or biennial has robust stems and lacy foliage, its spindle-shaped tubers shrink as flowers and fruits are produced; the striate, hollow stems grow to over a metre high; the lower leaves are 3-4-pinnate with the final lobes deeply lobed becoming linear if submerged, stem leaves are 2-3-pinnate are finely divided and their petioles have a sheathing base; some umbels are leaf opposed and have rays longer than the peduncle, and are often larger than the terminal ones; there are 0 bracts, 4-8, linearlanceolate bracteoles; neither rays nor pedicels thicken in fruit; the 2 mm flowers are white, with persistent sepals; the 3.5-4.5 mm fruit is ovoid with broad ribs, divergent styles less than ¼ as long as the fruit.

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It is native to grassy, brackish meadows, marshes and ditches near the coast. It is scattered along the Levels and the lower, tidal reaches of vc 35’s main rivers. The lowering of the water table on the Levels is having an adverse effect on its sites and numbers have dropped in the last twenty years. 23 t

Oenanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort

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It grows in shallow water and ditches that may dry up in summer. In the vice-county Wade (1970) stated it was rare to locally frequent and gave these sites: In the north: Llanfoist, *; On the Levels: Coedkernew; Marshfield; St Brides, Wentlloog, SH (1909); near Magor, *, ? Nelmes; TGE; Undy; near Pil-du, St. Mellons; Peterstone, Wentlloog, *. Since the NCC ‘Survey of Reens’ 1982-83 there has been a big reduction of records from the Levels to 8 only since 1985. More records have come

This is by far the most robust-looking Oenanthe in vc 35, forming large tufted plants to 1.5 m; it forms large 6 x 1 cm tubers at the base of the stem, which is grooved and hollow; the 3-pinnate, lower leaves are large with sheathing petiole bases and broad lobes deeply divided into smaller ones that have crenate to bluntly toothed margins; the umbels are compound and large with numerous, smooth rays 3-8 cm long, which like the pedicels do not thicken in fruit; the white flowers have 291

Flora of Monmouthshire from ponds and marshes between Abergavenny, Monmouth and Tintern. Recent records are: c. 5 plants, pond edge, Clawdd Mill, 1974-1985; a few plants, reen, Alpha Steel, Newport, ST/33.84, 1979; 1 plant, reen, Near entrance to Uskmouth Power Station, ST/34.82; reen, Nash, ST/34.83; reen, Undy, ST/43.86, 1982, all TGE; field ditch, near North Court Farm, Redwick, ST/404.854; near Skinner Reen, ST/34.83; Caldicot Level, ST/343.832; reen, St. Brides, Wentlloog, ST/3.8 B 1982-83, NCC survey; pond, Llandenny, SO/41.03, 1988, DEL; 20 plants, Llanover, SO/336.104, 1988, RF; SE Rumney, ST.2.7 J, 1989, NCC; pond, Maes Gwyn, Llandenny, SO/414.045, 1988, DEL; many plants, pond, Llanfoist Farm, SO/295.129, 1990, RF; 30-40 plants, 1994, TGE; 1 plant, in new reen, parallel to Goldcliff road, ST/362.826, 2002, TGE; 3 plants by sluice, Saltmarsh, SO/346.825, 2004, TCGR. 12 t

subsp. cynapium has stems to 1 m, the flowers have bracteoles more than twice the length of the longest pedicel, which is twice the length of the fruit. A common plant of gardens, waste and arable land. Subsp. agrestis has stems to only 20 cm, the bracteoles are equal to the length of the longest pedicel, which is shorter than the fruit. It grows on arable land. All the plants I have looked at critically have been subsp. cynapium but generally it was recorded without differentiation. In vc 35 it is widespread but less common on the higher land. It occurs usually in small numbers. 175 t FOENICULUM Fennel These are tall, glabrous perennials to over 2 m with solid stems that become hollow; the 3-4-pinnate leaves has all leaves filamentous; they lack bracts, bracteoles and sepals; the actinomorphic flowers are yellow; the narrowly, ovoid fruits are 2-4 times as long as wide and have raised thick ribs.

AETHUSA Fool’s Parsley This is a glabrous annual with hollow stems; the leaves are 2-3-pinnate, it lacks bracts, but has 3-4 bracteoles; the actinomorphic, white flowers lack sepals; the glabrous fruit is slightly, dorsallycompressed, almost as wide as long with raised, wide-keeled ridges.

Aethusa cynapium

Arc. Foeniculum vulgare

Fool’s Parsley

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Fennel

An erect, glaucous, striate stem bears leaves with the entire petiole as a sheath enclosing the stem; the leaf blade is divided into long, narrow filaments; the yellow flowers are in large, compound umbels. The plant has a distinctive smell when crushed.

It is usually c. 30 cm in height with triangular, 23-pinnate leaves with short petioles, mostly sheathing; the umbels are compound but not usually very big and are terminal or leafopposed; the flowers are hermaphrodite with the 3-4 peripheral bracteoles long and strongly reflexed.

It grows in docks, by tidal parts of rivers and in open coastal sites. In vc 35 there is a concentration of sites near Newport, elsewhere it is scattered with seldom more than 1-2 plants at a site. 26 t

292

Flora of Monmouthshire SILAUM Pepper-saxifrage They are glabrous, solid-stemmed perennials with 1-3-pinnate leaves; they have 0-3 bracts, numerous bracteoles and yellow, actinomorphic flowers in smallish compound umbels.

Silaum silaus Pepper-saxifrage It has glabrous, striate stem to 1 m tall, with its base clad in fibres the remains of previous leaf petioles; basal leaves have long petioles with triangular blades with simple, very narrow, oblanceolate segments or in threes resembling a bird’s toes; the smallish yellow umbels are mainly terminal, but a few are axillary.

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It grows in damp places by rivers, on waste ground, tips, roadsides and in ditches. In vc 35 it is almost absent from higher ground, with populations mainly occurring along the river banks and waysides. 123 t

BUPLEURUM Hare’s-ear These are usually herbs with simple, entire leaves; entire bracts and bracteoles may be present but they lack sepals; the actinomorphic flowers are yellow; the fruits are variable.

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Bupleurum tenuissimum Slender Hare’s-ear

This is a waxy-grey, much-branched annual; the flexuous branches are thin and wiry and may reach a height of 50 cm; the leaves are almost linear and often curved laterally; only the lower ones are petiolate; the umbels have few rays, so they are small as are the yellow flowers and the tiny clusters of slightly flattened round fruits.

It grows in unimproved grassland and near rivers. In vc 35 it is in the south and east. It used to be common on the Levels and elsewhere where there were more unimproved meadows. 52 t CONIUM Hemlock Hemlocks are glabrous biennials with hollow stems and leaves 2-4-pinnate; they have entire bracts and bracteoles and white, actinomorphic flowers and sub-globose fruits with wavy ridges.

Arc. Conium maculatum

Hemlock

This plant can grow to 2.5 m high, with erect, hollow stems spotted and blotched purple; the large, basal, triangular leaves, deeply dissected pinnately have long petioles; the white flower umbels have over 10 rays; the 2-3.5 mm fruits are ovoid and have diagnostic, prominent, wavycrenate ridges on the mericarps. It smells of mice.

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293

Flora of Monmouthshire

Figure 25 Bupleurum tenuissimum Slender Hare’s-ear 294

Flora of Monmouthshire top of sea wall, west of Windmill Reen, ST/400.830 to 408.832; 10-20 plants, top of sea wall, NE of Portland Grounds, ST/399.830; 200 m of plants, SW of Porton House, ST/380.823 to 382.823; 1-5 plants, top of sea wall, E of Elm Tree Farm, ST/377.822, all 1996; c. 10 plants, E of Magor Pill, ST/439.847 to 442.850, small number, E of Chapel Farm, ST/44.85; 3 tiny patches, W of Hill Farm, at ST/366.822, 367.821 & 369.820; 2 plants, W of Sluice House Farm, ST/2510.7877; 2 plants, E of Sutton Farm, ST/3056. 8199; 1 plant, off Rogiet Rifle Range, ST/468.864, all 2001, TGE. Though only a small sample of the 1996 effort, the 2001 counts illustrate the variation in numbers between years. The largest patches of tall (c. 45cm) plants were found on the northern edge of the large colony of Limonium vulgare in a saltmarsh on Little Wharf near the mouth of the R. Rhymney, ST/220.775, August, 2006, TGE, CT. 14 t Figure 25

Bupleurum tenuissimum grows in grassy, coastal sites, where spring tides can reach. Its small and wiry structure makes it difficult to find in the general greenness, which is increasingly grazed by cattle and sheep; the tiny dots of its yellow flowers reveal it, or its wiriness is so different from the growth form of other plants. In vc 35 most colonies are rather short and exist on the sea wall, others can be found on the edge of the turf above the muddy saltmarsh or on the brackish grassland. Wade (1970) said it was very rare and gave only 2 sites: Magor, *, WAS; and Rumney, *. In walking, in stages, from Chepstow to Cardiff in 1996 I found it in large numbers in 14 tetrads. Populations vary from year to year, but it can be abundant. The records except where stated otherwise are mine: scattered plants, drier saltmarsh, Caldicot Pill, ST/485.872, 1972; many plants, grassy saltmarsh, Blackrock to St Pierre Pill, ST/516.887, 1972; abundant, edge of grassy bank, Goldcliff Pill, ST/366.827, 1983, +CT; scattered plants, grassy, brackish turf, SW of Saltmarsh, ST/34.82, 1985; brackish grassland, Rogiet Moor, ST/46.86, 1985; salt marsh, just E of Magor Pill, ST/439.848, 1985, JPC; 1994, ST/439.849 to 442.850, 2001, 2004; edge of sea wall, S of Redwick, ST/41.83, 1986; many plants, upper grassy saltmarsh, NE of Sutton Farm, ST/30.81, 1987; ST/30.82, 1988, +UTE; grass near sea wall, W. Goldcliff, ST/37.82, 1991, E of Porton House, ST/39.82, 1991, +UTE; 50+ plants, sides of water-filled ditch, upper saltmarsh, E of Chapel Farm, ST/447.856; 50+ plants, W of Mathern Pill, ST/530.901; 100s plants, wellgrazed, edge of bank, stone fortified, just SW of square concrete building on Rumney Great Wharf, ST/252.788; a few plants, in brackish grass, NE of Sutton Farm, ST/304.818; 100s of plants near water ditch, NE of Sutton Farm, ST/306.821; top of sea wall, Goldcliff Pill to Hill Farm, ST/36.82; Sutton Farm to West Usk Lighthouse, ST/30.82, both CT; 10, 000 to 100, 000 plants top of sea wall, Goldcliff Pill to Hill Farm, ST/365.824 to 365.822; 20 plants, N side of Goldcliff Pill, ST/362.826; 100s of scattered plants among flattish upper saltmarsh, S side of Goldcliff Pill, ST/365.825 to 365.827; 100s plants, short turf, S of sea wall, Magor Pill, ST/439.848 to 440.848; 100s plants in short and stony turf just E of pipeline, W of Caldicot Pill, ST/480.871 to 483.871; c. 100 plants, over sea wall, off Rogiet Rifle Range, ST/471.865 to 466.864; c. 1000 plants near sea wall to edge of grass, Hunger Pill to N of M48 Wye Bridge, ST/540.907 to 544.916; scattered along 800 m on

APIUM Marshworts Marshworts are very variable; their life cycle takes more than one year to complete; their leaves are simple pinnate with broad leaflets, except for A. inundatum where the submerged leaves are 2-3 pinnate with all divisions linear; bracts and bracteoles vary from 0-several, sepals are lacking; the white flowers are actinomorphic; the glabrous fruits are laterally compressed and have prominent ridges.

Apium graveolens

Wild Celery

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Wild Celery is usually erect but seldom attains 1 m in height with its solid stem; its leaves are simple pinnate, the basal ones long-stalked with the leaflets 5 lobed, the lower cauline leaves are 295

Flora of Monmouthshire similar but have short petioles, in the upper ones the wedge-shaped leaflets are 3-lobed; the white petals do not vary in size and the umbels are both terminal and axillary; the small c. 1.5 mm fruits are ovoid with prominent, narrow ridges and the styles are recurved. Note the Celery smell when crushed. It grows around the coasts of the British Isles to S Scotland. In vc 35 most plants grow in brackish soils on the Severn side of the sea wall and in suitable places many plants. Inland there are scattered plants often in wet places near streams. 37 t

Apium nodiflorum

lack sepals and have equal sized petals; the 2.5-3 mm, elliptic fruits have prominent ridges. It grows in lakes, ponds and ditches. In vc 35 there are 2 sites: c 10 plants NW edge of Penpergwm Pond, SO/322. 099, 1975, TGE; 1 plant in flower, 5-10 non-flowering, 2002, TGE, GSH, CT; c. 5 plants, 2003, TGE, CT; less than 10 plants 2nd pond, Penpergwm, SO/325.098, 1975, TGE; newly made pond, a quarter covered with it, Goldenhill, ST/42.97, 1996, GSH, CT. 2 t PETROSELINUM Parsleys These are glabrous herbs, with solid stems, with 13-pinnate, wide-lobed leaves, that complete their life cycles in 2 years at most; they have 1-3 entire or lobed bracts and several bracteoles; the sepals, if present, are tiny; the actinomorphic flowers are white or yellow; the slightly compressed fruits are longer than wide with prominent ridges.

Fool’s-water-cress

In the vegetative state it can be confused, by beginners, with Berula erecta, both being found in shallow water. However, its basal, serrated leaves have 2-4 pairs of leaflets whereas B. erecta has 5-9 pairs and the ring around the petiole is unique to the latter. Also the plant is less stiff, especially in water, where it sprawls. Its umbels are axillary, not terminal; the ovoid, 1, 52.5 mm fruits have prominent thick ribs.

Arc. Petroselinum crispum Garden Parsley This is a glabrous biennial with erect, striate, solid stems to over 50 cm; the lower, 2-3-pinnate, shiny leaves are triangular with sessile, broad, lobed and toothed leaflets, often with a crisped, wavy margin, a characteristic of cultivated plants; the cauline leaves become smaller and simpler up the stem and have a broad, sheathing petiole; the hermaphrodite flowers produced late in the second year are yellowish and produced in terminal and axillary, compound umbels with numerous long rays; there are 1-3 entire or trifid bracts, 3-8 bracteoles with broad scarious margins; the 2-2.5 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, smooth fruit is laterally compressed and has low, narrow ridges. It grows on walls, rocky and waste places and is naturalised near human habitation. In vc 35 the long-present plants in Chepstow Castle, ST/53.94, are non-crisped. Wade (1970) gave 3 sites for this rare alien: farmhouse wall, Rockfield, 1934, *, SGC; hedge bank, Pwllmeyric, *, 1899, WAS; Chepstow, BSBI Excursion 1951; Recent records are: near keep, Chepstow Castle, ST/53.94, recorded independently in 1991, RF, JVHS, JDRV, in Barbican, 1993, TGE; other than its occurrence on waste ground, I have no details of garden parsley in Maerdy, Abergavenny or in Chepstow. Plate 46 3t

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It grows in marshes and by water. In vc 35 it favours reens on the Levels; land drains have destroyed many sites inland. 301 t

Apium inundatum

Lesser Marshwort

This glabrous, procumbent perennial has slender, weak, smooth stems submerged to some extent; submerged and lower leaves are 2-3-pinnate with linear lobes; the upper ones are pinnate and have lanceolate to ovate, often 3-lobed segments; the small compound umbels have mostly 2 rays of less than 1 cm; the white flowers

Petroselinum segetum

Corn Parsley

This is an erect, slender biennial to 1 m with a thin and branched stem; its pinnate leaves are long and narrow with over 10 pairs of toothed, 296

Flora of Monmouthshire lanceolate or narrowly triangular leaflets; the small white flowers are in narrow, compound umbels with few very unequal rays, that are directed upwards at acute angles and subtended by 2-3 linear bracts also directed apically; the effect is to produce a wiry plant that is not easily detected in tall grass or in grazed meadows.

Pill, ST/447.863, 1996; 3 clumps, top of sea wall, S of Angling Lake, ST Bride’s, Wentlooge, ST/291.809, 1996; 10 plants, E bank of Windmill Reen, Redwick, ST/4049.8402, 2002, all TGE. 8 t (6 t)

SISON Stone Parsley These are glabrous biennials with solid stems; the leaves are 1-2-pinnate, the lower with wide lobes; there are entire 2-4 bracts and bracteoles, the white, actinomorphic flowers lack sepals; the fruits are laterally compressed, glabrous and with narrow prominent ribs.

Sison amomum

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Stone Parsley

This herb has basal, pinnate leaves with oblong, serrate, leaflets, deeply lobed at their base with shallow lobes along the rest of the edge; upper leaves become smaller with linear leaflets; it has a stem that branches into thinner and thinner ones all proceeding to different length peduncles topped by small, thin-rayed umbels with tiny, white, hermaphrodite flowers; the smooth, 3 mm fruit is globose with prominent ribs. Similar to Petroselinum segetum but it has a petrol-like smell, has larger leaflets on basal leaves, more finely divided upper stem leaves and less unequal rays to the umbels.

It grows in barish or grassy places in pastures or arable fields and hedgerows. In vc 35 today it is confined to the Levels and is declining. Inland the ‘improvement’ of grassland has eliminated it and current Level drainage and some of the management has reduced suitable habitat. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave 8 sites: Machen; Malpas, both SH(1909); near Portskewett railway station, *, 1865, WAS; roadside bank, Bishton, 1941, AEW, *; Dyffryn, SH; shade grown, among bushes, bank of Brass Gout, Llanwern, 1941, AEW; pathside, coast road, near New House, Rumney, 1949, AEW, *; clayey field, wet in winter, Goldcliff Pill, *, 1967, AEW. More recent records: c. 10 plants, reen side, Noah’s Ark, Caldicot Moor, ST/447.864, 1980, TGE; 12 plants, 1983, TGE, CT, 1 plant, 1994, TGE; reen side, near Bowleaze Common, ST/37.85, 1990, JDRV; Uskmouth, ST/3.8 G; Atlantic Shipyard, ST/3.8 H; Llanwern, ST/3.8 U, all 1982-3, NCC team; Green Moor, ST/3.8 X, 1985, PRG, SH; Redwick, ST/4.8 C, 1987, AJ, TGE, UTE; SE of Great House, ST/4.8 G, 1985, PRG; 3 plants, saltmarsh bank, near Seriphidium maritima, Magor Pill, ST/439.848, 1985; 8 patches along 50 m of reen bank, Mireland Pill Reen, ST/37.82, 1994, TGE; 815 plants, sea wall E of Sutton Farm, ST/30.82, 1994, CT; 1 plant, top of sea wall, W of Goldcliff Pill, ST/35.82, 1994, CT; c. 50 plants, bank of Prat Reen, ST/438.848, 1994; c. 40 plants, nr Collister

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It grows mainly in S and E England south of the Humber. In Wales it is said to be coastal. A glance at the distribution map shows that in vc 35, and though it has a more concentrated population on the Levels, it is also widespread in inland fields in the NE. 80 t 297

Flora of Monmouthshire ellipsoidal fruit exudes the Caraway smell when squeezed. It is an uncommon casual grown for its fruits used for flavouring. There is only 1 record: Wade (1970) reported JHC’s plant near Crumlin. (1 t)

AMMI Bullworts These are glabrous herbs with solid stems and complete their life cycles in no more than 2 years; the leaves are 1-3-pinnate; there are several bracts, mostly pinnately divided into linear lobes, and numerous bracteoles; the white flowers have outer petals slightly longer than inner ones; the ellipsoid fruits have narrow, prominent ribs.

! Ammi majus

Carum verticillatum

Bullwort

This glabrous annual has solid, striate stems to 1 m; it has variable leaves, the lower usually 1-2pinnate with ovate-lanceolate, toothed lobes and a sheathing base, the upper have narrower lobes, often pinnatifid, they also have a sheathing base; the umbels are large and compound with numerous, long, thin rays, subtended by linear, pinnate bracts as long as the rays and forming a conspicuous collar; the numerous narrowlylanceolate bracteoles form a simple collar under the thread-like pedicels of the white flowers. An introduction from S Europe, N Africa and Asia Minor, it has appeared on tips, waste ground where bird seed is scattered, or in fields fertilised with wool shoddy and occurs as a contaminant in carrot seed. In vc 35 records are: it occurred in two sites as single plants on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85 and 30.86, 1974, TGE, CT; Weed in carrot row, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/528.936, 1985, TGE; in carrot crop, The Nurtons, Tintern, SO/53.01, 1988, EGW. 4 t

ANGELICA Angelicas These hollow-stemmed perennials have leaves 2-3pinnate, the upper with broad, inflated petioles; they have 0-few short-lived, entire bracts, numerous bracteoles and inconspicuous sepals; the actinomorphic flowers are white, greenish-white or pinkish-white; the glabrous fruits are dorsally compressed with conspicuously winged, lateral ridges.

CARUM Caraways Caraways are glabrous herbs with hollow stems and life cycles that last at least 2 years; their leaves are 1-3-pinnate; their bracts and bracteoles vary from 0-many, the sepals if present are inconspicuous; the actinomorphic flowers are white; the ellipsoid fruit is laterally compressed, longer than wide and has narrow ribs.

Arc. Carum carvi

Whorled Caraway

This is the only umbellifer with long, narrow, tubular-shaped, basal leaves with palmatisect, filamentous segments in apparent whorls. This rises from a rootstock and is surrounded by the fibrous remains of old leaf petioles; the leafopposed, compound umbels of hermaphrodite, white flowers have numerous sub-equal rays on the end of longer peduncles; the up to 10 bracts are linear, acute and deflexed; bracteoles are similar but not deflexed; the 2.5-3 mm fruit is ellipsoid, smooth but with conspicuous ridges. It grows in marshes, streams and damp meadows and ditches in the west of the British Isles. There is only 1 site in the vice-county: 30-40 plants in a wooded, wet flush, Cwm Celyn, Blaina, SO/208.090, first discovered in 1990 by John Wohlgemuth, who was living in Cwm Celyn at the time. 1 t

Angelica sylvestris

Wild Angelica

Caraway

Caraway is an erect biennial lacking a fibrous base of old petioles; its leaves are 2-3-pinnate, the 5-10 mm lobes, often pinnatifid, are linear-lanceolate to linear with an acute, clear hard tip; the basal, longpetioled leaves are triangular-lanceolate; the upper leaves have broad, papery, sheaths for petioles; the compound umbels of hermaphrodite flowers have unequal rays and some umbels are leaf-opposed; the bracts and bracteoles are few or missing; the flowers are white or pinkish; the 3-4 mm

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298

Flora of Monmouthshire Usually this is a tall herb to 2.5 m, with smooth, purplish stems; the basal, 2-3-pinnate leaves are large and lanceolate-triangular in outline with multi-toothed, ovate leaflets; the peduncles and pedicels are shortly pubescent; the umbels are large with numerous long rays; the 4-5 mm fruits have thin, membranous wings. Angelica sylvestris grows in damp habitats in grass, by water in woods. Widespread in vc 35, particularly in woods and in marshes and drainage ditches. 338 t

var. hortensis, Garden Parsnip, is sparsely pubescent with straight hairs, a root often swollen and conical, though if the plant is persistent it will lose the swelling. var. sativa, Wild Parsnip, is pubescent with long wavy hairs, and roots that are not swollen. 23

LEVISTICUM Lovage These are tall perennials to 2.5 m, appearing glabrous at first glance, with hollow stems; the 2-3pinnate leaves smell of celery when crushed; there are numerous, entire bracts and bracteoles; the bracteoles are fused basally; the actinomorphic, yellowish flowers lack sepals; the fruits are very compressed dorsally with winged ridges.

! Levisticum officinale

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Lovage

Erect to 2.5 m, Lovage has large, lanceolateoutlined leaves, which are 2-pinnate with the leaflets wedge-shaped bearing various-sized teeth in the upper half; the 4-7 mm fruits are dorsally flattened but have prominent dorsal ridges and winged lateral ridges. Introduced from Iran, it occurs as a casual on rough ground, by walls and paths. It is uncommon. In vc 35 there are only two records; 1 plant over 1 m tall in a gap in the pavement housing a street lamp, Upper Nelson Street, Chepstow, ST/534.937, 1994, CASh, *, TGE, 1st vice-county record, *; 1 plant in border edge, entrance to ?bungalow, SW of Llanwenarth Church, SO/275.148, 1995, TGE. 2 t

Parsnips grow on rough, waste ground especially on calcareous soils. In vc 35 they are concentrated on the Levels, especially at the side of roads and tracks, near hedges and neglected fields. They are scattered elsewhere particularly along river banks. 65 t

HERACLEUM Hogweeds These are hairy biennials or short-lived perennials with hollow stems with simple and pinnately or ternately divided leaves; there are several bracts and bracteoles; the zygomorphic flowers are whitish or purplish with sepals varying in size; the ovary enlarges to a strongly, dorsally flattened fruit with winged lateral ridges.

PASTINACA Parsnips These are inconspicuously pubescent biennials with a distinctive smell; the leaves are 1-pinnate or ternate, with a terminal leaflet supported by 2 or 4 pairs of similar but smaller ones; there are 0-2, entire bracts and bracteoles; the actinomorphic flowers are yellow; they lack sepals; the fruits are flattened dorsally, with low dorsal and winged lateral ridges.

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium Hogweed The habitat governs the size of this hairy herb but it may grow to over 2 m high; its leaves are pinnate with its leaflets lobed to more than half way to the midrib; its flowers vary from white to purplish with the outer petals of the umbels bilobed and c. twice as long as the inner unlobed ones; the fruits are 6-10 mm long. It is common in rough grass and by waysides. In vc 35 it is probably found in every tetrad, though unrecorded in a few. 388 t

Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa Wild Parsnip It has erect stems to 1.8 m, yellow flowers and 4-7 mm fruits. The varieties have not been recorded separately, though var. sativa is much the commonest. 299

Flora of Monmouthshire the extent and speed of its spread as it was first recorded by R.I. Millichamp at Llanelen in 1967. Apart from swamping native vegetation, contact with the skin of many people causes the skin to become very sensitive to ultra-violet light and large painful blisters can develop when the skin is exposed to sunlight. 38 t Plate 54

Heracleum sphondylium 23

TORILIS Hedge-parsleys These are hairy annuals with solid stems; their leaves are 1-3-pinnate; they have numerous, entire bracts; there are several bracteoles; the persistent but insignificant sepals are hidden by the spines of the developing fruit; the white or purpletinged flowers have outer petals slightly longer than the rest otherwise they could be described as actinomorphic; the ovoid to cylindrical fruits are spiny.

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! Heracleum mantegazzianum Giant Hogweed This is easily recognised by its large size reaching over 5 m in height with huge basal leaves to 2.5 m divided like H. sphondylium; the flowers are white and produce 9-14 mm fruits with persistent sepals with oil glands swelling to 1 mm wide at their base.

Torilis japonica

Upright Hedge-parsley

This plant comes into flower as Anthriscus sylvestris is forming fruits. It is usually stiffer and more compactly erect with solid stems that do not branch as much; there are 4-6 or more bracts and the 2.5 mm fruits look bigger because of the massed, short, tapering hooked spines on them.

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35 18

Introduced from SW Asia to gardens as spectacular feature plants, their prolific seed production ensured their spread to the neighbouring countryside. Once they reached waterways their light buoyant seeds were soon carried rapidly to germinate and form dense cover on river banks to the detriment of native species. In the vice-county the R. Usk’s course can be picked out on the distribution map from where it enters the vicecounty W of Abergavenny to the mouth of the Usk, where S of Uskmouth Power Station it forms a mini-forest on the bank. The map also illustrates

It grows in hedgerows, wood-borders and clearings and on little disturbed grassland. Widespread in vc 35, it is most frequent in hedgerows and woodmargins. 315 t

Arc. Torilis arvensis Spreading Hedge-parsley This is similar to T. japonica but it has 0-1 bracts, 3-4 mm fruits equipped with ± straight spines, minutely hooked at their ends. 300

Flora of Monmouthshire Torilis arvensis was introduced from mainland Europe; it became a weed of arable land but now is rare and a casual. Wade (1970) gave one record from a cornfield near Raglan, 1807, then added ‘Hamilton records this as common. If this was so when he published his flora of the county, 1909, it has completely disappeared as a weed of cultivation within the last 50 years.’ My only record is for my own garden, La Cuesta, Chepstow, ST/528.937, from 1981 to 1984 then a gap of ten years when it re-appeared in 1994 and has spread ever since. The origin was almost certainly from BSBI Recorder, vc 7 N Wiltshire, Joan Swanborough’s garden in Chippenham, seeds must have been in the soil attached to other plants from her rock garden she wrapped up for my wife in 1980. The plant was in her garden and in a hedgerow not too far from her home. 1 t

Torilis nodosa

TURGENIA Greater Bur-parsley Allied to Torilis but Turgenia differs in having fruits with non-persistent sepals and with fruits bearing broad-based spines arranged in rows on the ridges.

!Turgenia latifolia

Greater Bur-parsley

This annual has 3-5 bracts and strongly zygomorphic flowers. It is a very rare casual from S Europe. The only vc 35 record (reported under the old name Caucalis latifolia) by Wade (1970) was in a field, formerly used as a poultry farm, Kymin Hill, Monmouth, *, June 1929, SGC. (1 t) DAUCUS Carrots Carrots are rather variable biennials with solid stems; the leaves are 2-3-pinnate; the numerous bracts are pinnate with filiform-lobes and are often longer than the rays and form a conspicuous collar under the compound umbels; the bracteoles are numerous; the sepals are small; the zygomorphic flowers colour the large domed, compound umbel white except for the central flower which is often red or purple; the fruit is dorsally compressed with 4 ridges, crested with straight barbed spines, alternating with ridges bearing only short, weak bristles.

Knotted Hedge-parsley

This is a branched plant with each branch, even with its small compact umbels and leaves, very narrow. Individual slender stems are usually procumbent and bear small umbels at the spaced out stem nodes opposite small narrow, lanceolate, 1-3-pinnate leaves; the pinkish-white flowers are almost lacking in peduncles and pedicels, and particularly when the fruits have formed explains why the plant was named Knotted Hedge-parsley. The fruits have mericarps with spines minutely hooked on the outer surface whilst tubercles adorn the inner one.

Daucus carota subsp. carota

Wild Carrot

Wild Carrot has a white, non-swollen tap root; it has an erect stem with rather upright branches bearing variable, green, slightly hairy, fern-like foliage; the pinnate bracts make a conspicuous collar under the umbels; the rays of the umbels curve upward to create a concave fruiting umbel after flowering.

21 23 20 22 19 21 18 20 31

35 19

It grows on arable and barish ground mainly near the coast. In vc 35 it favours the sea wall or banks of reens, and is found fairly close to the Severn. 12 t

18 31

301

Flora of Monmouthshire Wild Carrot grows on established grassland mostly on calcareous soils, especially near the coast. In vc 35 it is frequent on the Levels, on the turf above Carboniferous Limestone and along roads and rivers in such areas. 119 t

Centaurium pulchellum

Lesser Centaury

Similar to C. erythraea but it is usually an annual and lacks a basal leaf-rosette; the flowers have 1-4 mm stalks between the base of the calyx and the bracts and 2-4 mm corolla-lobes. 23

GENTIANACEAE Gentian family Family members are glabrous herbs with simple, entire, opposite leaves lacking stipules; They have actinomorphic, bisexual flowers that are in terminal cymes or may be solitary; the usually 4 or 5 sepals are fused to some extent; there are usually 4-5 petals, which are fused into a corolla tube; stamens match the petals in number, and are carried on the corolla tube; the fruit is a dehiscing capsule.

CENTAURIUM Centauries The flower parts are in 5s; the keeled, linear calyxlobes are longer than the calyx-tube; the corolla is pink or white and the anthers become twisted after they dehisce.

Centaurium erythraea

It grows along woodland rides, in damp grass or on bare ground often near the coast. In vc 35 it is rare and infrequent in appearance and not persistent. Wade (1970) described it as a rare colonist and gave only one site: cultivated field, Llanolway, SO/43.03. More recent records are: numerous plants on path through marsh, by timber importer shed, Newport Docks, ST/31.84, 1977-79, TGE, CT; c. 1000 plants on 500 m of clayey track, Upper Tal-y-coed Wood, SO/415.161- 415.163, 2002, TGE, 3 plants only, 2003, TGE; 15-25 plants, roadside bank, near revetment 840, MOD, Caerwent, ST/467.918, 2004; c. 1000 plants, both sides of FC track for 300m, Wentwood, W of Bicca, ST/436.944, 2005, both CT; 25-50 plants, dried out mud, NW end of Treowen Pond, SO/46.10, 2005, HVC; c. 300 plants in 2 sites, Kings Wood, SO/479.128, 2006, SJT, 20-30 plants, shallow W end of quarry, Minnetts Wood, ST/449.894, 2006, CT. 7 t (2 t) Plate 144 site

Common Centaury

This is an erect biennial with a basal leaf-rosette at flowering time; there are 1-2 bracts at the base of the calyx; the calyx is less than ¾ as long as the corolla-tube; the usually pink flowers are congested at the head of the stem on stalks 0-1 mm long; the corolla-lobes are 4.5-6 mm. 23

BLACKSTONIA Yellow-wort These are annuals with yellow flower parts in 68s; the calyx is divided almost to the base with linear, flat lobes; anthers are not twisted.

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Blackstonia perfoliata This plant requires well-drained soil among grass or on bare places. In vc 35 it is less common in upland areas but nowhere does it form dense colonies. 221 t

Yellow-wort

It is a glaucous herb with erect stems; the pairs of triangular-ovate stem-leaves are fused at the base around the stem; the 5-10 mm corolla-lobes are longer than the tube. 302

Flora of Monmouthshire yard. Colin Titcombe and I have had several searches in the area, without success, because this is probably the site that was mentioned several times above. (5 t)

Blackstonia perfoliata 23

Gentianella amarella subsp. amarella Autumn Gentian

This is similar to G. campestris but it usually has a basal leaf-rosette, the usually 16-18 mm flowers are a dull purplish or blue colour but may be pink or white, with usually 5 lobes, 4-7 mm long; the calyx is more than half as long as the corolla and its lobes are about the same width as each other.

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35 23

It grows on calcareous substrates and dunes. In vc 35 it is common on the Carboniferous Limestone in the SE and NE and infrequent in the west. 60 t Plate 59

GENTIANELLA Gentians Gentians are annuals or biennials with flower parts in 4s or 5s; the corolla is blue or purplish; the lobes either have fringed margins or similar features on at their bases on the inner surface.

Gentianella campestris

Field Gentian

This is a rather short, erect annual or biennial with little-branched stem bearing oval leaves which are smaller at the base and often shrivelling by the time of flowering; the 15-25 mm long pale blue or white flowers have four 611 mm lobes and a cylindrical corolla-tube, and a calyx, which is less than half as long as the corolla, with 2 wide lobes and 2 narrower ones. It grows in grassland and dunes. There has been only one doubtful record (1977) since the first half of the twentieth century and it is probably extinct in the vice-county. All records were in grassland: Wade (1970) described it as a rare native at Cwm Bychel, SO/28.27, 1885, EG; Catbrook, SO/5.0B, *, AL, before 1951, SGC; Severn Tunnel Junction; Portskewett, SH (1909); near Broadstone, Tintern, ?SO/50.03, WAS (1920). In Flowering Plants of Wales (Ellis 1983), there is only 1 post 1930 record expressed simply as ST/5.1 and pre-1930, SO/5.0, SO/2.2 and ST/1.8 which could be either vc 35 or 42 and vc 35 or 41 respectively; ST/4.8 and ST/5.8. My only record is ?pasture, near Severn Tunnel Junction, ST/462.875, 1977, MWa. This latter site appears to be among the old rail tracks, an area much disturbed since the closure of the shunting

It grows on mainly calcareous grassland, open woodland and dunes. It is uncommon in the vicecounty: on Carboniferous Limestone, Pwll-du, Carreg Gywir, 1972, TGE, 1988, RB; 40-50 plants, stony, woodland path, the Minnetts, Rogiet, ST/449.892, 1971, TGE, CT; 1-10 plants, short, calcareous turf, 270-310 m, Mynydd Machen ST/234.896, 1991, JW; quarry edge, Danygraig, ST/235.907, 1991; quarry, S of Risca, Ochrwyth, ST/233.897, 1992, both JFH; 100s of plants, forestry track edge, Minnetts-Ifton Great Woods, ST/45.89, 1993-97, TGE, UTE; abundant around quarry, Pwll-du, SO/25.11, 1986, TGE, RF; 20-30 plants, floor, base of quarry face, Pwll-du, SO/251.116, 2003, TGE, CT; near path around steep coal waste, below field centre building, Pwlldu, SO/246.117, 2003, TGE, CT. 5 t APOCYNACEAE Periwinkle family Members of this family are somewhat woody perennials bearing simple, entire, opposite, evergreen leaves, shortly petiolate and lacking stipules; the actinomorphic, bisexual flowers are 303

Flora of Monmouthshire solitary in the leaf axils; there are 5 sepals fused at the base and 5 blue, rarely white, petals fused into a corolla tube, 5 corolla-inserted stamens; 2 free ovaries with 1 style but the normal 2 follicles are seldom produced in Britain.

VINCA Periwinkles These are creeping shrubs with flowers solitary in the leaf axils; stamens with broadly triangular, hairy connective flaps; styles united into a column and enlarged at the top with a plume of white hairs.

! Vinca major

Greater Periwinkle

Plants with the margins of their leaves and calyxlobes minutely pubescent are Vinca major. The ovate 25-90 mm leaves, the blue-purplish corolla-lobes 7-17 mm long, the corolla-tube 1215 mm long and 3-5 cm long corolla limb constitute diagnostic features.

SOLANACEAE Nightshade family These are herbs or shrubs with simple or pinnate leaves lacking stipules and usually alternate; the 5-part, actinomorphic or only somewhat zygomorphic, bisexual flowers are borne solitary or in axillary or terminal clusters; petals are basally fused and the stamens are attached to the corolla-tube; the fruit is a berry or capsule.

NICANDRA Apple-of-Peru These are glabrous annuals with simple, lobed leaves; the solitary flowers are axillary; the calyx is deeply 5-lobed, enlarging in fruit; the shallowlylobed corolla is bell-shaped and the fruit is a dryish berry.

! Nicandra physalodes

Introduced from the Mediterranean it has escaped from gardens into nearby hedges, open scrub, woods and waste ground. In vc 35 it is recorded mainly near human habitation in the eastern half. 70 t

Arc. Vinca minor

Apple-of-Peru

This is a foetid annual that may form quite a bushy plant to 2 m high; the alternate leaves are simple with lobed and toothed outline; the lilac to bluish, bell-shaped flowers 2-4 cm long are solitary in the axils of the upper leaves; the winged calyx is green or black tinged, greatly enlarges, though the brown, globose berry is never completely enclosed. Introduced from Peru and an element in birdseed or in wool shoddy, it has become an occasional casual in gardens or waste ground. In vc 35 it was mainly a casual in gardens where wild birdseed was used, though seed sold in garden centres for these poisonous, ornamental plants is beginning to confuse the issue. The first record was a plant on the rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.86, 1975, TGE;, *; 2 plants on a slurry heap, Trecastle Farm, reported by the owner and det. TGE; Penyclawdd, SO/45.07, 1982, MF, RTy; 1 plant soil heap, near footpath, Drybridge Park, Monmouth, SO/500.129, 1999, DTP; 1 plant in

Lesser Periwinkle

Plants lacking pubescence on the margins of leaves and calyx-lobes are Vinca minor. It is similar to V. major but smaller in all parts and is hairless. It has 15-45 mm leaves, 9-11 mm corolla-tube, 3-4 mm corolla-lobes and a corollalimb 25-30 mm long. Probably introduced from mainland Europe but now naturalised mainly in woodland and hedgerows. In vc 35 there are some large colonies in woodland and not all of them near large old houses. 38 t 304

Flora of Monmouthshire garden border, Newton Green, Mathern, ST/518.917, 2003, KCJ, TGE; 1 plant in bed of shrubs/herbs, Walnut Tree Cottage, ST/3842.0508, 2004, GSH. 4 t (2 t)

shiny-black berry lies in a persistent, starry calyx. All parts are poisonous. It grows in shady woods and on path sides, in rocky terrain, often on calcareous substrates. Never common in the vice-county, it occurs most often in the two limestone regions of the Lower Wye Valley. It has now become rare partly because some over-safety-conscious people destroy it because of its tempting but poisonous berries and partly because young plantations of deciduous woods are allowed to grow more dense for too long a period before they are thinned out. Wade (1970) described it as rare and gave 8 sites for it, viz. Near Hadnock, SO/5.1H;, *; between May Hill Station and Dixton, SO/5.1B, *; Lady Park Wood, SO/5.1M; Redding’s Inclosure, SO/5.1M, *, all SGC; Staunton Road, near Monmouth, SO/5.1G, 1944, RL; Live Oaks Quarry, ST/54.97, WRP; Blackcliff, ST/53.98, WAS; below Wyndcliff, ST/5.9, I, Miss W More recent records are: cliff ledge and tumbled rocks, below Wyndcliff, ST/530.974, 1982-85, TGE; 2 plants, N side of road into Liveoaks Quarry, ST/537.978, 1985, TGE; track edge, between Lady Park Wood and R. Wye, SO/547.149, 1986, TGE, UTE; forestry track, Lady Park Wood, SO/541.142, 1992, BJG; 1 immature plant, S side of track, under Lady Park Wood, SO/547.148, 2001, TGE, TCGR; 1 plant flowering, S side of track nr Biblins, SO/5473.1451, 2003, TGE; 2 plants, outcrop 50 m NE of Far Hearkening Rock, SO/5417.1507, 2005, TCGR. 1 t (6 t)

LYCIUM Teaplants Teaplants are prickly, arching shrubs that shed their simple, entire leaves; the flowers are axillary in very small groups; the calyx is an irregularly, 2lipped cup which hardly grips the fruit; the corolla is funnel-shaped; the fruit is a berry.

! Lycium barbarum Duke-of-Argyll’s Teaplant This is a slightly spiny, deciduous shrub with down-curved branches bearing alternately or in clusters, narrow, elliptic leaves; the purple c. 1 cm, trumpet-shaped flowers turn brown and have protruding stamens; the rather ovoid fruit is a red berry attractive to birds. 23

HYOCYAMUS Henbane Henbanes are unpleasant smelling, glandularhaired biennials with simple, toothed or lobed leaves; the solitary flowers occur in two rows on one side of the stem in the axils of the upper leaves; the funnel-shaped 5-lobed calyx becomes flask-shaped with a bulbous base that encloses the fruit; the funnel-shaped corolla has 5 distinct lobes; the fruit is a capsule that dehisces by a detachable lid.

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Introduced from China as a coastal hedging plant. It occurs in vc 35 in 5 hedges near the Severn but is also in scattered inland sites as well. 17 t ATROPA Deadly Nightshade They range from glabrous to glandular-hairy perennials with simple, entire leaves; the 5-lobed calyx enlarges, but not to hide the slightlyflattened, globose, shiny-black berry; the bellshaped corolla is shortly lobed.

Atropa belladonna

Arc. Hyoscyamus niger

Henbane

Henbane is a stout, bushy plant to 50-80 cm; with an unpleasant smell and purple-veined, tanyellow, trumpet-shaped, 2-3 cm across flowers; in the autumn, the brownish fruits are borne on one side, in two lines, on one side of the curved branched spikes at the top of the plant quite distinctively held above the shrivelled leaves. All parts are poisonous.

Deadly Nightshade

These may form large herbaceous bushes to over 1 m high with ovate to elliptic, pointed leaves; the brownish-violet, nodding, bell-shaped flowers are 2-3 cm long and are borne solitary in the axils of the upper leaves; the large globose, 305

Flora of Monmouthshire Henbane grows on barish ground near the coast or on rich, light soil, near farm buildings or on waste land. Wade (1970) described it as a rare alien (it is native in Britain) and gave eight sites: Abergavenny, ?SO/2.1X, *, 1929, TLW; Llwyna Farm, Llantrisant, ST/39.95, c. 1945, HOG; Chepstow Road, near Christchurch, ST/3.8P; about Chepstow, ?ST/5.9G, 1868, EL; near the R. Severn, Rumney, ST/2.7I, SH (1909); sea wall, Peterstone, Wentloog, ST/2.7U; 1943, JWa; St Brides, Wentloog, 1955, JDD; leafy rosette only, sandy/stony, upper shore Sudbrook, ST/502.873, 1968, TGE. In vc 35 its occurrence is probably at one site only now. Derek Upton, an authority on many aspects of the Severn Estuary through many years of studying it, recounts how a bloated dead bull was washed up in 1989 on to the shore at the mouth of the Goldcliff Pill. On a re-visit to the site in 1990 he found numerous rosettes of Henbane dotted around the now very much decayed carcass. As Henbane was new to the site it poses the question what was the origin of the plant and what part did it play in the bull’s death? The plant numbers have waxed and waned to the present day (64 plants, 1996, MJ, TGE; still there 2004) on this rather gravelly soil and neighbouring rough grassland. Other more recent records are: rubbish tip, Level of Mendalgief, Newport, ST/30.85, 1976-77, TGE, CT; Forestry Commission track Rogiet, ST/450.888, 1979, TDP, JDP; many rosettes (none persisting to flowering) under sea wall, N of Goldcliff Pill, ST/361.825, 1980s, TGE, CT. 2 t (10) Plate 58 & Site Plate 57

especially after being ‘stratified’ in the human gut and so form large colonies at sewage works and on stream margins or on gravelly islands. In vc 35 it grows in scattered sites affected by human activity. It grew on rubbish tips on the edge of Piercefield Park, ST/52.94, 1970; Level of Mendalgief, Newport ST/30.85, 1973-80; foreshore, near a broken sewer pipe, Hunger Pill, ST/539.910, 1996, all TGE; on spoil heaps, Goldcliff Pill, ST/363.826, 1996 MJ; at sewage works at Abergavenny and Newport; on the gravelly margins or islands in the R. Usk, Afon Llwyd, are just a few examples. 27 t

SOLANUM Nightshades These are herbs or shrubs with leaves eith