Levallymore
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Habitats
Description
Levallymore Lowland meadow This area is of special scientific interest because of its species-rich dry grassland communities. Species-rich grassland tends to occur only where land management is not intensive, in particular where traditional farming practices have been maintained. As a result, it is not a widespread habitat in Northern Ireland and is often fragmented, consisting of individual fields, part of fields or banks. Species-rich dry grasslands, like those found at Levallymore, are a particularly scarce resource even in south Armagh, where there is known to be a greater proportion of this habitat type. Levallymore is situated on the north-western side of Slieve Gullion, about 6 km south of Camlough. Soils are shallow brown rankers and are well drained over much of the area. The grassland communities at Levallymore are of a species-rich dry type except for localised patches of wet, rush Juncus spp. dominated grassland. They range from moderately species-rich swards in some field units to areas with abundant orchids and herbs reflecting a long history of traditional management. The moderately species-rich swards tend to be grass dominated with frequent common bent Agrostis capillaris, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Associated meadow species include herbs such as eyebright Euphrasia officinalis and common birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Although many of the fields at Levallymore are described as herb-rich, they also tend to be grass dominated with common bent Agrostis capillaris, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and red fescue Festuca rubra all common with heath grass Danthonia decumbens also notably constant in the sward. However, there is a much richer herb component including many meadow indicators such as yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, pill sedge Carex pilulifera and greater birdsfoot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus. In some fields, areas of outcropping rock occur locally. Here very thin soils support a quite species-rich acidic flora. Fine-leaved grasses tend to dominate here with red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris and silver hair grass Aira cmyophyllea all frequent. Species suggestive of the more acid and drought conditions present include mouse_ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, heath speedwell Veronica officinalis, dog lichen Peltigera canina and the moss Campylopus introflexus. In addition, Levallymore is notable for the collection and relative abundance of the hemi-parasitic species eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor and lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica. The orchids greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza spp. are abundant in places. Several other species are worthy of note. Field scabious Knautia arvensis is present in several fields. This is a species of scattered distribution in Northern Ireland, more often observed along verges than in meadows. Field gentian Gentianella campestris was also recorded from one of the acid outcrops-this is the first record of this species in County Armagh. The notable grassland fungus Hygrocybe intermedia has also been found, a species reflecting the low nutrient status of the soils. Levallymore represents a large area of semi-natural grassland and associated habitat managed in a traditional way. As such, it provides valuable feeding and roosting sites for a range of animals, including birds and invertebrates. A variety of butterflies have been recorded in the area including meadow brown Maniola jurtina and common blue Polyommatus icarus. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/levallymore-assi
Species mentioned
Show the 22 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland
Show 71 indicator speciesCarex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta
MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard
Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland
Show 81 indicator speciesCarex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta
MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland
Show 70 indicator speciesCarex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa