Lower Nex Meadows, Devauden
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Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description Lower Nex Meadows are situated to the south of the village of Devauden at an altitude of 210 metres. The underlying geology consists of Brownstones of the Old Red Sandstone and the soils are classified as brown earths of the Oglethorpe Association. The meadows slope gently to the south west and are freely drained. The site supports a traditionally managed unimproved neutral grassland community with a restricted distribution in Gwent. The vegetation is uniform and is best described as the Lathyrus pratensis sub-community of the Centaurea nigra – Cynosurus cristatus type of neutral grassland. This site supports the largest area known in Gwent of this vegetation type. The most frequent grasses are red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, common bent Agrostis capillaris and sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Quaking-grass Briza media is less frequent. Spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea is the only sedge species present. A particularly noticeable feature of the meadows is the widespread abundance of oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, a reliable indicator of nutrient poor soils. Other herbs of interest include yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, cowslip Primula veris, eyebright Euphrasia sp. and betony Betonica officinalis. Orchids are well represented with heath spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata, common twayblade Neottia ovata, early-purple orchid Orchis mascula and green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio. Remarks: Adjoins the boundary of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 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 bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| betony | Betonica officinalis | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| heath spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza maculata | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| meadow vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| spring-sedge | Carex caryophyllea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |