Cae Penmaes
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description The site consists of a single field with a north-easterly aspect, situated at an altitude of 190m in the village of Llanfilo, near Talgarth. The semi-natural vegetation is influenced by the loamy soils derived from the underlying Old Red Sandstone. Cae Penmaes supports an excellent example of the common knapweed -crested dog's-tail Centaurea nigra - Cynosurus cristatus mesotrophic grassland community, characteristic of grazed, traditionally managed hay meadows. This grassland community, which typically supports a rich assemblage of meadow plants, has become scarce as a result of agricultural improvement, and this sizeable example at Penmaes is one of very few known to survive in Brecknock. The sward is dominated by grasses such as sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and crested dog's-tail, with frequent red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus and cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata. The most frequent herbs are common knapweed, red clover Trifolium pratense, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, common bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus and ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata. Other characteristic associates such as autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, common sorrel Rumex acetosella, tufted vetch Vicia cracca and cat's-ear Hypochoeris Radicata also occur. Where drainage is impeded, on gleyed soils, areas of meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria are present.The site, though situated on some of the lowest ground in Brecknock, supports several species which are usually more typical of upland hay meadows, such as pignut Conopodium majus and the scarce globeflower Trollius europaeus.
Species mentioned
Show the 20 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG7 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Lolium perenne leys and related grasslands Lolium perenne-Alopecurus pratensis grassland
Show 47 indicator speciesJuncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Stellaria media agg., Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis
MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland
Show 79 indicator speciesCarex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens