Gweunydd Penstrowed
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Description
Description The site consists of two discrete steeply sloping fields on either side of a dingle. Their aspects are predominantly north-facing and south-facing respectively. Much of the site is poorly drained, with wet flushes occurring particularly in the north-facing field, but steep banks provide drier habitat in places. The site is used as rough pasture for cattle. The sward is of bents and fescues (Agrostis/Festuca), but with a range of other grass species including cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa. Quaking-grass Briza media is particularly well represented in the southern (north-facing) field. The plant communities represented here differ according to variations in drainage and in the base-status of the soil. They vary from the more acid types of sward, typified by tormentil/mat-grass Potentilla erecta/Nardus stricta with eyebright Euphrasia officinalis or devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, to more neutral components typified by zones dominated by common knapweed Centaurea nigra in which both primrose Primula vulgaris and cowslip P. veris are well represented. Rush-dominated flushes with tall-herbs and sedges add further diversity. Orchid species recorded from the site include the uncommon lesser butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia. Butterfly species recorded from the site include the small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris and common blue Polyommatus icarus.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
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IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common blue | Polyommatus icarus | LC | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| small skipper | Thymelicus sylvestris | LC | butterfly | hesperiidae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| mat grass | Nardus stricta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| English sticky eyebright | Euphrasia officinalis | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| lesser butterfly orchid | Platanthera bifolia | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| primrose | Primula vulgaris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |