Harptree Combe

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.2992, -2.6311

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Also within

Somerset County Mendip Hills Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
ST560557 — Unfavourable Recovering 13.63 2010-12-15

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 13.071 ha. 32.29 ac. Description A narrow limestone gorge containing a variety of habitats, including ash woodland, rough grassland, natural and artificial rock faces and a small, marshy stream. The valley wood has been identified as an ancient woodland site, rich in tree and shrub species and with a ground flora containing plants such as Herb Paris, Paris quadrifolia, indicative of such undisturbed habitats. Harptree Combe is a locality for an increasingly rare plant, listed in the Red Data Book as one of the most vulnerable components of the British flora. Several other uncommon or local plants, such as small teasle, Dipsacus pilosus and autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, also occur. The limestone rock exposures and aqueduct walls are a location for many species of moss and fern, some of which, e.g. Geheebia ferruginea, B. spadice and Cystopteris fragilis, are rare in Southern England.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis CR fern woodsiaceae
autumn crocus or meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale NT herb colchicaceae
small teasel Dipsacus pilosus LC herb dipsacaceae
herb paris Paris quadrifolia VU herb melanthiaceae
moss fern Geheebia ferruginea Not listed in GB list moss pottiaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea