I'

No.l

·/

BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF THE BRITISH 'ISL~.S

WELSH REGION BULLETIN

Editor: J.P.Savidge, Ph.D., F.R.Met.S.

JANUARY, 1964

Lake Flora Survey Carmarthenshire Roses

Contents

Reports of Field Meetings, 1963 . Programme for 1964

Report of 1963 A.G.M. Notices

Aberystwyth, January, 1964

3 6 8

11 12

14, 15

Price 6d.

riisn Nutf."ie-o'1: /:,oW' N\xtdent" Conten.·1:; G:onte,nt ~

fl ,,,-~,c,,,.~,,",·'~-~~ tabella cLof"t~4IlI1a U ~ " '\ Iscetes Uicus:thS

I~, p [I,

-r.7":;~"lT".:,-nT~=r:-,.., ... ~~'~~ro~r-="r.~ Sl')f':J<:'"r;8J1j ) .. lLl

~ ~ onfl,1)J,L:ij;,)ll.u1Yl

\1 ~~'.=T",,=-=~,~~~~=.~=={1 MyOf.lo·hif.-; ~:le':'1VJd "1

I~ =~=-~~~~=~-.. ~ ij J?Qtamogeton

1\ polygou:hfol:i.1:,,':,',

:._._~>,~~,.,,, __ ,_".1' .• ",' \ Iltyr:Lophyllum ; , I 'olterniflor;Yt' a ~_ .. ~_ .... ______ ~..... "'"'=n..-:I.,.". ........ ;. '7>~""~'" C~~r:le:~. p0Jl-j,.C·OJ f) .. t~l .

• n..... • • • ~ r~.l.'\'l;).gr.a:l. -c es. OOID.ll\l.nJ. S r=~·==--==-=-~~--=m===

10/iyo BO'Gia c.!:!£Er.9i·~ osa r''-==''=c,,, u= =.4 __ .. =m=,."

~:~::::::: E=:~= polygonum:. tlI!q)hibium.

~-riophyll.\1J1'­sirioo.tum

:~::::t,~:::": Ir:'=·~~:.~'~==-c:=~-~_~_~--So£,-1; Water

Fig. 10 DiD.g:l,~tJ)n. shcwing the -col.eranili"" to wator (lQndi t:1.ons. of' Jche

m.o:re imJ.Jol't£mt aq'U.atic,so P.r:il1.cipeJ, il1(~i.08.tor species. shUv"ffi :In j;'edo

" p,1<.ge 2 M.

I I

"OIER.A:rION WELLINGTON"

Some results of a Lake Flora Survey of Wales

:by 13.Seddon, Ih.D.

This atlrV.ey was started in 1962 and with the results of' two season' ~ '·w.ork.availablei.t is possible now to take stock ,ef' 'What has been ';accomplished, and what r~m8ins 'to be' done. .The aim as stated at _fth~ ':;outset was .,to ,r~cord"jtliiy ',the, flora of' 'about 200''-· 250 of the iakesin ... Wales,.that is';'approrlma'tely'orie quarter "'of the total numbeJ;',m~ked',on the, -'one:-:in~h ,Ordmmce"maps, incr:udi~p06].s; , ponds '" lakes.,and reserv:oirs. :: _S~m(3 ;:01'. these ~ate :f'M/.dy inaccessible and the problem of' carryirig equipment, ,even if'oflly:"'s, grapnel, line"

. collecting bags (pOlythene) and a rucksack or pressto'carry the specimens" adds to;the',dif'ficulties.· "Nevertheless, 74 sites have been visited and lists :of a;I.l the .. aquatic and marsh plants have been" compiled. '

, The total number .. :: of individual records made ,is' several thousand but,·thisobviously;iric:ludes:.a~: ~eii'a::l the" 'true :~ub'me:rt~dand

. ' emergent.:.aquatics ,{a 'iai.ge·:;;ca,tegoty.of'~ p:iruits "whiqh ,,~f'e' 'a bJ:e" :to grow:.;in' the;iamp.,:grO}.Ul9,;-s}l+.J:l.o~£li~.;)~.~~.:,~~, ,p~ndi3~)':~~ wh~ch ;~~e by no. means ,0 on:rine d. to o~,t~~\t ;~,i;;t;'l.~~~~~:.:' ::,:~~us. al~n6~f:;t?e s e must

. be included ~n,any ;complet~"d:~.sc,~ip~:i:pn\I~s.."assocj,e:1;,~9-""s'p~cies .they are notthepr±mary;s.l.ipj~ci~:,.o,:t:; in~erest.~, .Ifth'es~' :a.r,e, excluded, tll~r:~.remai.!is '.a, to:tal:t9.f ';.B:b~~t,:;i OO~pec:tesofsu1?m13:i~ted.-~ andeu:ergent

. 'aquatic plants .:'':'':>:kln~_~a4.<?i.:.t:ipn:, :~q~;'(~!i~ r:~cords 'f~pbl lJ-"el'd :.lis:ts :'a .. further800,record.t""9~~::6:t4€J:5e,:5p~c:ie:,~'.~ave been;;e~~,~~~~e<l::,~~r~, ,; ,llterature.£and .:200 :;,tr..om".specimens .. in the N'atiori8.1~"Herbarium.,;' ... : .....

;: ,The::;s<>rting:::of'~i·thitiq1iMtitY·,of< :i.rlform~ti.~ii irito'some'k:i,rid":df':':order is a f'ormip.able[;i~slc";and."i·t. ii3;ri.Qt nee.rly'c·omp1-eted as'yet. ,.:.

:1 j)" b,"j: .t~~ n: iJ -:t:~rf.~·y .~', ... i'.r~ "~ '"\ ;:' . 1. ~ ...... :. ~' ,. ... ~.' ' " .~ --." .~ • ' " ' ',.: :.)- .,:;.;.;:.~.~~.".',. • •. , .... ~:: : .. ;~ .. ~, :~:. ~':: ':. ::,~:.: .,:' 'Ther;'collecH~ii~:of:re~~r~ for:"!th~i~' o;m~·k.ke has:!!not'beem": am0ng

.~ ..... '_'.",~ ... :;.~~::,: ••••..••••. 1. .": -' ....• '. \, .:.i. ...... . J!, . '-_; '. ,c. ....,,..., . " •.. 1~. t'~""~' ",', '

;, the objectives~;9f':fitbe:·~·tEi~ey;; ,}hey,,:ar:erE,lgeir<:1~d~_oilly,:~sa';basic . :im~ ter~al ~y,';~.\lrllJ,e;t'" s t'f.dy,~ ~f,,~:!,hi,<j~:~~ 'r:~,a,?>.?~'s.::, f'9,r, tp:~': ,observed

distr~bu;t;Lon,ftnd, aSjSoc;J.atJ.on .. o:t:,spec~es ma.ybeJbe:t-:tel:" understood. , :_,' ':, ,':.:""~' '::,:: ;,;, . ': i ., , , :~'~ ',:~;" '; ,~,:;<,~;Y:('f:~~::'" ,~: '" . ~

, It ,is I'eia.50nab.1~"td':'a:s5uJ1le~ if pl'ants arec,'ada:pted at all to th~ condi tionsin ,which they live," :that some" :p:Cant.~ are favoured by conditions at one:extreme andaomeby' conditiems' at, the other

" extreme while a third group may ,flourish"incon'di ti(llls of an' , interniea..iate kind. .. , These groupings 'are not separ1,lted '~by~ sudden

',;f,'i';

- page 3 -

changes but pass gradua1ly,o~€ into the next for not two species are identical·il·,theil requirements. While some are exacting in their demand3 .:enjheenvironment· and fail to survive in -the ~b~·e;;'ce"·c.t par{r~U1ar conditions,' others are tolerant of a much Wi:ae:r range of conditions. It follows that some )vaterplants maybe regarded as indicators of certain ~ype's (of lakes ~and··if's·eve;:r.al.such "species are present ,at.cs: ... ' ,given site, then ~he ilidica.~on·a.re·reirrr6'rced; .' One··:of,tlie'.!liain ", .aims in,'conduc"ting' 'this :s-urveyhas' 'been 'to find' which·,f-loristic .

• •• ..:. ~--- , ,I ,~,.,.. .'. " •• - • " 4 • • 1 asseIIlblages 'maY:b~.:. re.gai'~~das:characteris·ticof;:the '·types.of" :. lakes ilIlairily \inc9Witei--ed;:in ':Waies ;'for ,example,: 'the ·:ro'cky':' c:, .. , - .

'ill.. ". i. " J J r • ..:. •• " .,. ..•• . • . .

mountain 'l!llCe~ 'Vd tli barren-snores' a.rid61ear of 'peaty·.water,':.cthe b · "lale' ,.t. 'th' l'ak . th' ,,' "'i'=!";: f 11." th' lak . th .. .. og~ es" EL es"WJ. "se'"'"6e-:-ens,' eo' es::WJ. .. i..,i , .••. : .

. "reedswamp;'~tc'~ . . . .' ,:'~"', ' '. . . .... .' ,.'. '.:.~ , .. ;'

" , . Some .gener81isatic.n.s. can'be'made' but further refinement: .. of :tbl's' '~ppro1:tchII1ust ay.ai t thecompletJ..on,of more detailed ' analysis of the plant lists which is at present in,progress.

--~.".. on'e'bf'" the' tnostus'efi<F iila.icatbr~ of 'a~' lake .. rich· in, ;':r)··

~~s:.6iY~:~~:~\ltr~·eI?-~< ~s: ~)~~ohtfu': amphib:ium""( amphibious, bi;",drt}, .,.an~."in;.·a :ij~b~er:of lakeSf\1h'E:)re':·th~s·):OCcur8:Myriophyl1um::;·':;'·"1

::'~<~ic'at'um :X~;E~~.d· w~~~:~":ni:i!~?i);7L'1!~'··'a:lso' pre·sent. '; ,:,This' s-pecies '. ' .. :d~mand~ .~v·e:n]11gher·nutri't;inJf·d9n1;ent-;;"partic:ula:rly'· ,of;: ;lime ,",.-.

'" ;ani 'maY):~,:>fElg!i:r<1~a:::~S';;l.kn.tlin~cato1f) pf·::'a:ctrue 'hard~ater, j.:., i

'., "~.~ ~l8ke~.·:.,:.: o1in~r':'~'PE3ci'es .Wh:j:bh'·"lliiv.e' similar. ,z.equirements ,and'·, !ihl~h ~maYr~ci;Cc1tf:,~ei -t¥~r~~~~'~~1:~'r; wi'ith··dr.~nstea:d of ;Myriophyllum !!.picaturii; .~,i:i :IPOta.nio~etBh'- liiC'enSJ~( shirii-hg:, 'pondweed) an'd ':.:' ~ Ranunculul V'c~rc·iha'tii8'4."" trchir.actBnS"tic~:eniergent '.'shaJ.:!l.ow-: .. r~:r •.. :;

'. ". .,. 01'" fl .' . . , ... wateri:.,Jllarits"or'tne"hk-a.:;;.walJerefruce3'jare;:Garex:~ripari,a':.,':'!'··'.'<;';

.,". ·'.(g;~at.~~p~'-:~~ai~)~:. B~~ir;;lib~ti:rdrmisl(le8ser·,p6na,·.sedge-)., i.:~d·· Ty@8.' a~ustJ101:t~''-(le~'ser'~i<,~eCIriabe) ~ ,.'·'11e35 '·!exactfng.ia:nd~ .10

," th~;t'~:t:or~hm9;r:!e, ID:~~sRf~a.9-; ~ ,o~~),U';e~?e ar? 'TyPha l~tifoli~ :.' (great t,~e~a.?ebeE."e~~:r-t:7kl!l.;5IDd'.'Spa:g~m.~':,erectum·;,~~. ,·rl'L'

;( lJ1p;'-:-;t'~,eaJL~:' ,~!Th,e;:l(~ rJ3f.'1s,,:9f'~'g:b. . n.utrlen~'·b onten t,:~, usuall.Y'.; ,.;. .' ,.~.~a,ve J:y.~~e9:,;~~Sl;~W?e~,?;}?,s.:~~l:fp~,~.~~s:;in·: ~h?~¥,: ~:'e'dswa.trips ~ .. "j ~[:.~ '; .. '

1ncluding ~lloblum hirsutuiil (great· nalry'WJ.llow.:..hwrb),:' :':';, {L co useuro aeus ,,(gipsy.::Yr~J:'t), and Lythrum sali-caria ~:purpleloosestrif~Y~. :~" ~:Fr,eshwater: pools" among:'sana .... dunes' I :.ar.e: a.spe.cialtypeof'tbis ::9a'tegory, of ten: 'possessing' many of I the .. plants mentioned" 'abo-v.e'btit als0 characteristical.lY· "', I .Carex .0 trub ae (ialse 'fo:ic-p~dge),' andRani;nculustrichoEhyllus·. , .

- :rap.;e 1\, -

,. i

The size of the lake is yet another factor which influences the flora, and smaTI·a.reasof.productive water, Le., ponds often contain Fbtamogeton crispus (curled pondw~ed).

The plants common to most lakes of moderate nutrient content, that is those occupying the mlddle of the range of conditions, is

" }!yriophyllum alterni!lorum (alternate-flowered water-milfoil). Of the emergent species Carex vesicaria (bladder sedge) and Carex paniculata

"; (panicled sedge) are frequently found. But rather than possessing ~~' distinct indicator species of their own, lakes of intermediate

nutrient content generally have a somewhat impoverished version of the f'lora·of.hard-water lakes, the number of species diniinishing progress­ively-through the transition to soft-water lakes.

The 'only distinctive character of:'the soft-water lake is the presence of submerged rosette plants other than Littorella uniflora (shore-weed) (which is non'selective). The full complement of plants of this type includes Isoetes lacustris (quillwort), Lobelia dortmanne. (water lobelia), and less frequently Isoetes echinospora, and Subularia aquatic a (awlwort). Among ~5 such lakes Isoetes lacustris was present in 10 of them, Lobelia in 8, Isoetes echinospora in 5 and Subularia in 3. By a process of elimination' the flora of these lakes is numerically the smallest and although Carex rostratu i~ a ubiquitous sedge it takes on a dominant role in soft-water lakes where none of the other aquatic sedges survive. ~n similar mf<nner Equisetum fluviatile. (water horsetail) also comes,into predominance.

It is interesting to' see which species are the most widespread (non-selective) and for this purpose those species present at 20 or more lakes out of 50 lakes examined are listed below in order.

RanuncUkus flammula Galium .palustre Carex rostrata Juncus articulatus Hydrocotyle vulgaris Menyanthes trifoliata Equisetum fluviatile Eleocharis palustris Carex nigra Littorella 'uniflora

41 35 34 34 33 31 31 30

.25 25

Juncus bulbosus Caltha palustris Potentillapalustris Epilobium. palustre '. 'Nymphaea alba .. 'Lychnisflos-cuculi' Glycer~a 'fluftans' Nupharlutea Lotus Ullginosus Ranunculus repens

25 24 24-22 22 22 21 21 21 20

Of course, these results are only provisional and for greater

- page 5 -

accuracy a lerger number of lakes should be analysed and for every lake included a ,plant , list which'i5~complete is necessary. These two pre-requisites point to the way for the work still needed on this survey: quality, i.e. completeness of the plant lists, shciuld'not be sacrificed for quantity, i.e. number of lakes visited.'

1-,

~elimiJ:!.C!if,n~tes",on~s~r:~d)Ution of roses inCarm~thenshire

Peopie 'are'api~to.~sh~/ off ;'ihe',subject ofrosesmainJj:Jperh~ps because' there' is scant ii terature - and that little is mos'tly out of print -, 8.nd because' opinions are not firm as to the validi ty or limits .of some. of Wolley Dad's varieties and forms.

,The main SPE;:C~~'S; h()wever', are ,not too aifficult to determine. ,;"-lil:-CClrmarthensh±i-~:,ther'3is a:o.abimdan'ce of roses v.~th many

''', ','v,arieties .:ancfforms: ,The following notes briefly summarise thei -. .,' . . ., t • .J • - .-,'. •

"-, 'ditftribution ,01',_ the spac;i..es; ','. 1:·· .. ',.,:: .. :1.f~~.~~.;\ .... :~ .. -..... ,', ._ .

.. :"f' .','. ~:·;·r;i·.J:f-..:·::~.',",~~ •. 1:'.>_ .. _'_ .-1.. ..'

t'i:: .. 'R.,arven'sis}:Iuc:l:~., ,~" ': ,: F7'equ,ent in m?st, ~r~as~d tlsuallyin its :typical~;:rp:rm::';~'It:-seems ita. hEve' no discrimimation, ,in

"' fav,oUr of eith'e~,ad.d;~or,' c'alcar'eci.lS 'soiiJ;.s,- but it aoes appea:r' '-:,;':to avoid':,~~~~s~i~':~':';:~>, .. ',:,,~ ,~' ,_,' I "" " ' .. '

,." R,;'pi~~i;~i1ifolia~L".' ,.:,~This ~, ~~curs . on som,e o~, ~r:-e ' sand­dtmes in the south of Carmarthen, but is absent, rather' 'unaccounta}Jly;~ f~9m,J:!lost:o~" ,A s;i.ngle ~l,ant,; gr,o~fs, ;inB:, ,?revi,ce

': ",ot\Ca,J;'bpro..:ferom;,:J.;t;ime,sto:nerock ,at' Carreg Cenne:u, sOnle .. 1,8, ' mil~sj.nla~~. ' " . '", -, '" ,; ~ ,," :'.' ''',:_''

Rc> stzlosa?pe's;f,."f A' sQuihern:' oceanic type which"I have not 'found northo'('th'e'I-G:;larrtorgan coast. T};ere is a ' record f"o:b­Carmarthen"llff'Welshr-Flowerin6 Plants but this is' riot" , '''' '

"substa.ntiat1iCf"by,he,rbariutn material. " ",; '.' :',':,':" '1'." ,

0, .:. ... "

. ',.j.

R. c aniniil;L:.J:: to '?~he: 'Lu tetianae group. 'characterised, by more or less uniseiTe:t'~"aD.a{:gTabrous i 3afle1.s,""is' much less frequent than the serie~ io£!'~ncTea.sinJ1y'l iserrE te' .. and. his pi d' leaved"

, types. The 'l!lci-t~/'a#'fererlt,iated types like syntrichostyla, , eriostlla arid' dumet6~um:'6c'cur wi tJ. fail frequency, !at'laast"

in the ~o:r:;th-east of the county • ..

- page 6

/

I

R .. dumalis )\~chst. Frequent in a range of forms throughout the COlli'1ty. In the Itho"n valley in Radnor it is co-dominant with R~sherardii and almost displaces' R~canina. A robust, hardy, and often magnii'icEmt species ~

" .'.'

R.obtusifolia Desv. A northernspecieswhichT have not seen in SouthW'ales but it may wel16ccur further north.

11 :.:. ·R~;"illosa··L.·· Wbihl'ey Dod'make's var. pomifera ,to 'be wholly northern in' native distribution but -admits var., c~ollis as ·farsouth 'as Glamorgan. Welm,:Flov{Elriii&: Plants record::i'R.·villosa·formost Welsh :cotihties, but I"have';no't;":iet foundi t in GarmartliEm •. It is not-€2sil:Y"distinguished frdm"R. sherai:J:ii: : i."

... ,; .... :. • J ..'~ .

.. ~··:·R~sherri=:1ii: Da.vies : AbUndant~growing alinost·~undEir':any'condi tions: in Hedge' 'or scrub; 'in'shelter or exposure; iriadid'or calc·areou.s soil; and up to 302m (1,000').° Its ';-VaXieti'esinclude ':Eseuclomollis,

auber,ecta, resinsoides ,and Or:ri.ss~ (a.l,l ,det. Dr. R.Melville)" •. 11ybrids wi:t.h''R,·.canina . occur ,and -there is a'v'eTy notable 'population of them at

,E~~v~·~,t·,'::J:,·:::·., ';', . "', '0., ',.,; .. ,."c-:':-... ' _. . 1. ,.~. ~ " .: .':~N ::\:>~ .. _: -"'1"::'_"

''-;R\·tcim~ntbSaSni:~:''Thinly·;di'stribuied' throughout·:~heco"u.nty. It seems-indiffe:r;ent.'as .. "to ··soil,::but:Y.'have-:·;seen it;cirily~ iniscru'b. It may p·oss:tbly:· .. re'sehi;'.:'the f:arastic.prurifng s\.rrfered by he'dges. t ~-

. :."'~: :~,...r~:~::~.~;._ #0 ' ,~., ~: \.'-':" '" '~, .,;~ ;~ ••• _. +,_" ... :-~~··.~l: .. ~J~~j~ ... R ~rUb'i'g:ihosa .:L .... , Ra,re~·an:d/.·~o .'itar, , recdrdirigs'Ji:a;v~·f\:)e!3!J. .. ':lnade from

aci'd,or; ne1i:t~a:l'sc'-i1:.±n::·the·:ricirth-and· C'entre of the/{}'buhty, ;cbnt:;.~ary ib- wha~ :"o, •. n,}!:. ,'!',,::.··.6\l:id ~.·e.x., .. l.,;~':e~".)'. ::'~)~ .. ': .t .. :_' . ":; : i.; j .::;:)

_.. ~-. • - ~ ~ •• ~' •• ",-'; :'.:." • :\. I ~ •• • i '~i.. (; :.;, . '\ ';.' " ," r i" . -t",;: .'" ' ... ,

, R.micrantha ,Borrer ex Srn. Thinly distributed but more frequent thanR',;rubiginosi •. ::Of<:fouxi::recorde'dsta.t:Lonstv,d :·are ','from the north­east 6n;acid~::sbili and,::two:'frc>'nithe.'-limestone .area<of:the·;'south ..

:. ~.,·"~::·"r~n :.' r...c:t;::J:,~ ~,. '.' } ~~r:' !". ..' ,:,.: I";~" "c' ]'~L~~;',:' '"i:"-' :~.

·',J:'t· is "pb'ssible "that screeand,'scrub'addictswould"be':mo're' frequent if ies!3';exposed:to:shee.p'~ grazinghazar.ds: .. mutilate'd'small . plants, which are·':'Probably.R.micrantha; ·occUr .in the heavily grazed :J.imestone scree-";Of'Carreg 'Cennen', 'but ;ontl:le whole ,the : distribution 'of rose species i~ Carmarthenshire seems to be governed more by climatic than by "an;i Other 'single ·factor.

- page 7 -

" !"

I' I

REFDRTS OF THE 1 I I

~QRQ.UQH .. V~~

This meeting was arranged duriig National Nature Week in order to give' members an opportunity of vi si ting the Nature Trail laid.outin .Newborough Warren by menbers of the B.S.B.I. (Welsh Region) in 'co-:operation with ,the Nature Conservancy.

Athoughtthe',25th ·Mayturned out ,to., be fine, attendance .was very ,9,isappointing. ' ·The lack of ,~upport, however, did ',nothin to:.,damp ,the.enthusi,asm of .. the party, which crossed the ,Warren t9 ,the ,shore and from there walked to Ynys Llanddwyn. Here sometime was spent examining ti,e geology of the island, as well as the vegetation of the cliffs and beaches~,The plee,s\lr'es:ofj' ;this li ttle_excursio~ WE-re unex)Jectedly enhanced 'by a mo st:,:~.?J.jqyable .;~es."provided by } r andMrs" TrowbricIge, in one of the, ,oldPiol ts,' Houses •.

',. ." '.. "....; ~"", ...... ~ .~. ""'" .,., .,,, \

J.. '.' • ..;·\:·.~~-.:l:'. c".~ .. '. . ,_ . \ ,,' .. ~ :

With ,s:u:~r:a. ;Vm?-ed,~lor:a,at o;n-:cisposal it is <li.ff'icul t to do more than mention a mere handful of the species we saw. Near Llyn :Rhos Ddu, Eguisetum :x li torale was seen in ab'undance, 1;hcughits;;pJ;esen9.~;' h..Elre"has,only ,be~ rec,eIltly discovered. ,Lemnatrisulca, ;Utric ulari a ne &1;e cta , ,Hippuris' vulgaris 'were seen; .. ~~hi~.~l on, ~e~.:w~1.:k. aCF;oss"th(3"d:unes :Saxifraga granulata", Vicia lathIToiEi.es, polarotundif'olio s'ubsp. maritima, ..

"Eleocharis~ uniglumis,:: E .. quin9.,.ueflora '.fJ?-d 'Carexserotina, ., ., ;wer,eIno:tea,,!\~i 'The",~ 1;:t~ac:tive :Viola tricolor subsp'~, curtisii

and: the hybrid Primula vetis x· vulgari!!,J;~r~~pg' here :in very' large,£loriferous clumps, made a nice show ,of colour. .

·'.~I. ~ .. ;', '-;. \' ... _. .i·: .~., . .' L i;,} .'; :1 i ' ; ~ ,.: ~J,,~ .. ".- ," -,

, i,On '~the;clif'f'~,.of',LJ.,a.nddwyn InUJ.a.o~i thiU~ides :was:-s(~en .in .:,::"'some,:abundance, :with Spergula.:cia'rupicola a.nd:'.A~plenium ' ,

marinum T the latter showing signs of severe frost damage ':! af'terthe,,'extreme".Wintery' conditions of a few months earlier •

. ' On ,the<return ijounney ;I!Yoscyamus ,niger ,:and.,th~ .very ,loc,al ,plittle fern:-Ophioglossum vul2,tUJ'll subsI! •• ambiguum were seen:, . besides, other ,interesting speciestoo'l,umerous to mention.

Despite ,the fact that we had ',w-alkec qV,ersix miles, we were all agreed that the excUJ:3ion l:ad been a .most delightful and memorable one.

R.H.ROBERTS

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j

mE 1963 FIELD MEETINGS

)

j '\

e,

ffiHBROEFSHIRE - ..... - :-- .. ~.~ '~{" "

..,' ~ .' I J.... > • • _. ~. \,.

This ,meeting was on the Society's FieldMeetings;'programme"and was for the week -15th, ",to: 2~d ,June. ' Altogether1S'membersand three :non­members attended the 'e:ic"llrsions, <?~ whom ha+r,were from England. The average daily turn-out was about< ten. A room had been engaged in Haverf'ordwest, ;th~ headq~arte,rs .of;;th~ mE)et:iIl.g" where ,Illembers met and examined specime~~n, the evenipg. ;"", .. ';

. . .. .. -. ~"... -.' "'. _. .~ .. -, , ,,':~ .~ ~ .. ('~;,' -.' ~_: _ .. ~ ,. : ' '" ~ ':' r:·~:.~li·; .... : : . ...:..:;;. ,:'.: ... :. ..... ' .... ~ ...... .

, 'Locali tie~ ~d )~a.b~ fats ~'ii.sited:;wEu;e ;,Do~C?g ,CoirJin9~T>t~~i~ialley of the,Western Gl€l9-,ful.1J B.i1ier:riea:r~~Letter~;tqn ~(r:Corscewgylir C'arnmenyn

, ,".J,;OIi MynyddPreseily, where moorland,., pog "an4,~:bog~ pool' .. v;eg~ta tion were . ~ ... 's'e'eb';:acid,::;r9Ck~icl:iiis a:t St.D~v:id~~s J1;ea·d;'~~T:revine)lri·d.:t'fEi:wporl;

limes,t,one,C:lirfs':,:-at'~·Stadip61eHe·a·a:;·"sanci~q.une's':at"T~:nbY·:'$'\ir;r.ows, Broad·.:Haven-(Boshe£S-t'on) and at 36m:(:t,20'k,altitude . abqve,i limestone cliffs.,at.,Stackpole:Wmen,. WhitesandsBaY",St. David's and Newport Sands. : A. shortacc'ount'ot the nieeti:ng will appeai-;in.the lr:lceedin&s •

'" . T~A. W 4 Dil.VIS

LIJlliGORSE LAKE

.' On' 6th July six members explored the' swamps, and fens, bodering, this lake which is second only. to Bala Lake':in size of. the natural'lakes in Wales'. , The party ,worked along the northern ,shore first, seeing Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush), Rumex maritimus~ (golden dock),

I ~ .

and several pondweeds: Potamogeton crispus, P.perfoliatus, P.lu~ and P. berchtoldii. .After lunch the southern extremity of the lake was examined alld dense stands of' tall sedges'prov.ed most puzzling. Later determination of specimens showed that Carex acuta, C.aquatilis and C.elata were ,all present.

B~SEDDON

, LOGG-ERHEALSAND',LLANFERRES '---_._- ----"':""'-'--

The main purpose of this meeting held on 27th July,was to examine the flora of two limestone areas in Denbighshire. The morning was spent,looking at,the vegetation of an olf limestone quarry, beech wood, and limestone outcrop just east of Loggerheads. ,Some attention was paid to the apomfcGic groups Alchemilla, Hieracium and Rubus and to the recognition of a number of species of Compositae whic usually prove difficult to identify_ Of the more. interesting species seen in

- page 9 -

.... ~ .. ~

the morning Leontodon bisE.idus (rougl h8.Vlkbit)" Helianthenum ctamaec:i.stus (rockrose) and· Ger.9.nium sylvaticuID (blood-red cranesbill) were common; while }enticnella amarella (felwort), H;:merid1.iIir,:carioinunl' (rose'of sl',3.ron) and Inura conyza (plough­man's spikenatd}"were frequent. Ger£nium endressii and Corydalis lutea were :fotmd near the ·lnn~

'In the afternoon the area around:the Pot Hole Valley near Llanferres was explored. In'the lanes·Campanula latifolia , C .. trachelium (bellflowers), Knautia ervensis (field scabious) Centaurea·"sc8:0iosa. and G-eranium'.E.rate~ (field cranesbill)

"wre in··full: ifl6wer.lnthe:grikes:of the limestone pavement ThelypterisJrobertiana (liniestone'-polypody),' C;Vstopteris:fragilis, -!--sE,leniu.rn:adiantum-nigrum,:' .A..trichome.nis, ,A.ruta-:'milraria, . :. and ',several, other 'f'ernswere abunda.nt~".:Carduus.nutans'(muski thistle)' :made '-El ffin'e' dispiaY'ina rew places., . On the way. back to Llal".i'erx"es:. a- searcn'forParis quadr..ifolia·was made' ina .s;nall· wood.'; Much to the leaders surprise ·a number of. plants were found, although these had almost died down. The attendance at the meeting was seven. J.P.SAVIDGE

":.:', 'B ORTH BOG

, " 1 8 ,members,:. an'd friends:'. attended, the. meeting; on 7th September. ,,: Theparty.·met ori:"the Llancynfelyn -Yl'yslas.raod.and-proceeded

.. in poor. weatheri~through':the old,:peat-:cuttings.,- ov~r-rim by , " Phragriii tes:t.?_;:.~P;.e.~ cel1:~r,e'.of, the r.aiseC.bog. ','<.-! .. ', ... ,. ':,. .;

~ , ' • .-, •. ,~., • M", _L •.... :.-.: .• ~ .. :'.- ... ,.' ... , •. ~;' • ';., • 1'~

-, ~~~;.ThEr: .. mdre"~~int·e;;esting .:species~·.-,s~e~en~"'''v·.~ere, in: the .. ·.peat~.--; .. ~ .:U

'cuttings<""Eleocharis.'multicaulis; Osmur da regaI:Ls'::a:rid-;'rlowering ,:'.J. ~:Utri.cl.l.laria minor;::,' and: in . the,. uncut End', quaking,:bogcentre : . ';,

IUlynchospcra alba in great abundance:;~prosera anglica,<.~ ' .. '·; .. D~.rotundifolia and Dointermedia, flowEring Andromeda polifoli.a

and Oxycoccus quadripetalus. . The hycrid Drosera x obovata, which has been':recorded;her:e;.;W,a:s'~~s~a,:iched for unsuccessfully. Also visited were some drier elerated hummocks which formerly

c.' :bor·epidei:tnd.~-b~rc3l'i.\tr€l'es' nowdestroyed.i,by fire'. ,This: area . . was'"very ;different~fr,om' thesur:r o'undJ,.ng' bog~ land in having a

, 's crul:)·.'6f; bircW~S.s::owa.n ;' holly, honeysuckle" bramble" :: and. ferns ,,';"", :whi~h' appear to:be' mostly the hyhri& '12h::0pteri;s dila~2

:::'spiriul'os'a' , .. :., "':'.' .'<,".", ~.'. . " '.T" ";

" '

S'phagna, though' outside the sCvpe 6fthe B.S .B.I. ~ . are such

- pag<:: 10 -

"

a conspicuous feature of, Borth, Bog, that. they: c.oulCl:har.dlybe ignored. TWelve species were demonstrated: inagellanicUm~:~'palustre~paEillo'sum" the rare relmct imbricatumf"or:'vvh:Ecfrthis is·,one: 'ofthef few surviving stations in Wales, tenellum, cuspidatum, pulchrum, recurvum, fuscum, fimb'rlatum subsecumdum and ruoellum:" '" -:-;-,' ': '" -' , ,

':'''''' ;;" L,; ,~', '".',,',>,',',~: : ,~, ,', :.",;:: ":";':"P.M.BENOIT .. "/ .,' '" " - - T _""-- ~::, .~, ,.~: • ~ ;..:' ~:~

,.:.': :."

~i." ,-':',~ ... :" ... ;. r..~.~'1·._·'~ .. ::.;:_~' '::'i~-: ,"_,. '-;j" , .~ ",,' '.. .;: ~.

Despi te.~a. cloudy ~tart';,with ,light ,drizzle eigg1;:.me!Ilbe;;; "l,e£t'Cardiff for Kenfig Dunes",wher~,"coriditions\ impro:V!'ld:;:tO:p'~9vi~e;,i§~~P.~~~"ji.~ the afternoon. Led by Mr. A.E.Wade we first looked at the north shore of Kerif'ig,: PobVwhere' a, sward'of·,Li ttorella;-uniflora" (s!torE:lw~ed}~was exposed~,:' In' "the': water Mmophl.llUIll"!8E.icat~,,;;tp.9.::Pot~mo~~~~,gr$.mineus wet-e" seen.i and, a plant:' thought?, to' be,Luronium ~tans ;VY,a8'~ J;'epo,~~~d for the first':: time at:' this', 8it~ .;' Tn the Q.un~,! ,sl~g,ks pola, rotunc1if'olia , 8ubs,p.',:maritima (wintergreen) was':: still ~in_ f;Lower an<;l.."on the dunes Eri" e~o~ri;~(blue fleabane) andAri~phalis mar~arit'~c~a .. JpE;arlY everlasting ,jw0re: also,n.owering. ,,'Li thospermum ,ofi'icinale .. wasrecognised though only~' in its vegetative state.: <[n the' saltmarsh, at Aberthaw attenti'oni:was conc'entrated on, the gl~:S,sworts.,oi,;~iuch r~;:ur species were present:~ :,:,Inthe adjoining shingle- ,Glaucium flavum,(horned ,I~~PPY) was

" .. ", ...... . seen;;:: 'C 'i,.:" ", , r, ' ,.C.;,,,,,

;.. . ~.~ . .r .L. ... ' • i BoSEDDON

.......

Full de~ails' will, ,be sent later, or can' be, ~b~'~i'ned !.!~in :the Fi~ld Secretary, Mr. ,T.A.W'.Davis, South'Mull.ock, Haverfordwest" Pembs.

i,

Sat., May 2nd. Tinte~: ,woodland~in the WYoeValley. Sat. & Sun., May 30th & 31st. Brecon: Llangorse Lake and the

south Brec'bn escarpmen:tat Craig'7y~cilau,." i Leader B .Seddon. Sat~, Juno20th'~: Bangor:, fens ,and orchids. ,Le13.dEtr,R.H.RobGrts. Sat.' & Sun •. ," July 11 th &. 12th... The G:o}V.e~:.' c":::), ;,l Sat. & Sun'.', July 25th & 26th. Golden Grove, Cllrmarth,en: Towyn

. Burrows ,: Carreg, ,C ennen, Carm6l woodlands .Lea~er Mrs.Vaughan. ,'" ., ",'Sat., October 3rd. ' Annual Meeting' and Annual Genera.l ,Meeting

at Bangor;. Sun., October 4th. Field meet~rig from,Bangor:: "

r

- page 11 -

Report of the Annual Meeti~c! Annunl General !eetin&: he Id

in C'ardiff" on 28th September~.2.§L

Twelve members and eleven visitors, m&inly teachers of biology in Cardiff and Glamorgan sc~ools, attended the morning session at 11 a.m. The session opened with a welcomong address by }krs. H.R.H.Vaughan, deputising for th~ Chairman, Dr. W.S.Lacey, who was in the United States. Mrs. Vaughan gave a summary of the past year's activities and remark(d on the encouraging increase in membership there had beer in Wales, adding that a continuation of this tren,d was very nn. ch hoped for.

'There followed three talks, two 01 which were illustrated by slides. Dr. B.Seddon (National Musetm of Wales) spoke about "Plants of the Welsh Lakes" in which 1.e described and illustrated the variety of water plants and the ~. pes of lakes found in Wales. Professor R.C.McLean (Emeritl:s Professor of Botany in the University·.of Wales) then gr/e hi:: "Reflections on Botany" in which he traced .thedevelopm(·.lt of· the Society and the changing emphasis in the sub ject in r( cent years. With tha publicationof··the· "Atlas of' th( Bri tj sh Flora ll now behind us he thought'that:.B.S.B.I. members coulC:turn their attention increasingly from plant di.strib\".cion io biological studies of individual species. Dr. J.P.SavidgE (University College of Wales, Aberysywyth) concluded the marring session with a talk on IIExperimental.studies :on the ·evolui.. ion. o~ .P1:ant:species" • He. illustrated differences between clcsely related species having ·differentdhI'omosome numbers :m.d ~.other,cases in which ... species ll'airs' 'se'parated ·mainly by ·thejr .disti~. ,distributions could be regarded as extrem,~ forms of a series showing continu­ous variation.'>' (:'

.. The . art'ernooncommenc'ed with: the~'lnnual (;eneral Meeting (reported belbw) 'and: at 3 p.m.· this'.WE sfollowed .bya .discussion . on the theme tlAims' ~a.nd Methods in Field Botany",. : Dr. Savidge described and ';demonstnited the useof..:a·Fun:ched~card index for the storage, 80rt'ing~d retrie:\" '11 of :inl6rD!-ation and its application :inc'Onstr~cting keys for "cri ticalspeciesinvolving combinations of'. characters. Mr. A.E.'i,ade explained the use of a similar system for 'catalo 3UiIl[. infOl mation on ··the Welsh flora and Dr. Sedden suggested its use?ulne~s for recording distribu­tion on the basis of the Nationll Grit squares. Discussion

- page 12 -

.~'

j~ J

cO.!1tinued during the tea interval and members' exhibits were on view 3..n the Herbarium until the close of the meeting at 5 p.m.

Minutes of the .Annual General MeetincL

1 .. TheVice-:-Chairman,.;MJ;I3.:fI.ri..H.Vau.ghan1M.B.E~,.t~ok the chair and the .meeting: commenced at 2.,30. p.m.·~ien·membe'rs' 'o'f thG Society

(resident in Wales) peing. present.. .' . " . . ..... .. '.... . ,

2. The' 'reportbf :the;:~:prbvisionar committee~ whichhad·be.enappointod .. t'o. ini tia t'e ,:th~::~~.~~vi ties" of the Welsh 'Regj:onr:f.rom.its .'inception, wa.sr~ad byDr"~~ J;·P~S;avfdge. .,: .. '. c!. '~!: ;~'.::;;: .c. i: _::.~"" ... ', .. : ... -,'" . ..; .. ,.::~ .. ,";"'" _ i:.~ .,. ',.~.;.:. ::' ',i;~" ~ ',. ,"~ .,' ;,\:" i ... ~. ~".' .

3. :The ;Ciiairman I;? : ... r.eport, ·t,A' .tp.e abse.nc,E: :p'fp:r;'~;: V{.~:~; . .L:a:R.~Y i~ the United State s, . ,was .read ;))y.:;~the .;Vd.ge.~hair.~a.rt. .:.:~. 3 '; Mf~i:; -Yaiighari' s ':remarks were brief a.s she had:~"a,l~eadyr~Y,ie.Vf,eqt~e .. ;m,ai;n ~~t,J;Y'i ties ;indas:pir.ations of the Welsh . ~eg.iQ)l:,;in h~I';;.oP€l·rp.I?S.:aO:dr~s .. ~:. t;9':'i;:~e 'mq:r;ning session for thebenef~ t of. our, v~s~tors. .'

• " " .' -,',' > '. ; ,- ", ~ ;.' .. ,'-..

4. Electio~ ofOffic,~rs and 'Coinmi tteeMembers.. . There ,being no ·further nominations"'to iliose~'publi'shed : With,;.the notice ::Qt';1;;hemeeting, a proposal that :,the ''ri6minees ·tbe.o:electedJen:bloc ·wa,s "cm9:de:bY. ,'.

5. 6.

Dr. M.Percival and seconded by Mr. A.E.;WE!td~ andi,c,arJ::t.ed".tmanimously.The Commi ttee::'elected for the 1963-4 Session was: ',' . ,-

Chairman;,,:! ~ .• J .. P.Savidge .' .-Vi~·~1:Chi:iihnan·~~,·::i·Mr'J,~' :'H~;R~H·~\T~ilghaIi; . .i; ":.,;.s';".§

'. ,., ."..secr~:tfl.IX,; D~.Bo$~ddon, .'

M~mo~~;~i~~f!~::~~;::;qf~:~:::~\~~i~ff,;~,;~":;;" *L.Larsen " .. Dr. A.J .:m~Smi th

The names oi,·t:h~:({fZ~4,5;'Mti:oIJ,b·6mmitte·a·:meiIli.ers..~{~.,.. e. t1).Os e due to reti're.la.f.ter:;:op:ei.ye.~j) i~e~e:.:dra!ffi;:"b:Yi:,;the," .CEaj,I7P~\.?:i:J.p..~Fe ?-n.dicated

:.a;~~~~:iji;bs;;,ci~~,~ :~",,~,~~~~~:!~,;:,~;,: T:'::::':,?· Election~:,of~)tep~.e.s~nt~:tiv,~ ,qn .:C_9E?P~~-~;; ~Y'.~¥.:m,~~s~.~e,9.ssion Mrs Vatighau>,.was·. a,.~;ked :-to-contin~~ .:in./:tms:: .PI'f;i'Ce -.~ ,' .. ::~','

" :_ ,": ,:\':- ; r'r .:'.,._' , ,', ... ~. '. ~.:"~""J".",:'~~':':" ~;':.~ "~'':''-~~'~''':?~'''.''''. J •• ,:,.:"'. • ... J. :.,~,: ..). .. ~

AJ;ry O;ther ,Euisne.s's:.' The :Chairman:-'·inir.i ted·.·~the cvie'ws:.;of ;thQ,se.me,mbers pres~rit ·:Wh.o'h/3.dn.6:t··be·en as,so'ciated !wi th.itb.e. provisionIjlL:801:I.lmi}itee .

•• ",... . ',_ ..• ,.: • • ,r ." • ~ " ,. ~ ._., ~_,, __ , ".'.' ;,}" .[~': .. ", ,,: :

- page .13.- ..

duriag the past year on possible future lines of activity_ Dr. M.Percival suggested that observations on floral biology and insect pollinators w uld be a very useful extension of activities. She also expressedthe'view tu at tie prDctice of.many schools in requiring pupils to make a collection of pressed specimens of wild flowersJias not a stimulus to t1 eir interest in botany. In addition the prac'tice was detrimenta.J..: to the local flora in its emphasis on the rare or unusual specimen. Othe'r .speakers agreed ·that specimens of rare .speciesfrom all. their well-known locall ties were a.1.readyrepresent.ed often in duplicate and triplicate, in 'the major herbaria and ,inconfrast re:presenta~ion

. and knowledge of, the .. more ,conrnon specie5was relatively lacking~ ' .. ))r. Seddon s'ugges"te'd that instead of 'me'relYrecording the .presence

of, a species at a giVen place';more attel,.~ion:,shoUldbe given :to its' biology J e.g. :t.im:e of' :flo;rierlng, "OD "to-recording. the ... aiti'tude of i"ts' occurrence' or the habitit of',theiplant, at 'each locality. Dr. Savidge referred ,to the' subject: of his talk which showed that variation within "a. SP! cies and between related species could easily 'be 'madea:subject ,·of· study by simple .b.ut a~curate observation. At,;the :conolusiqnof this d,iscussion the meeting closed at 3· p .m~ ... , . ' . "

B.SEDDON.

T:!:J.e subject of· the purpose andf.hric:f;:tbn'of record'ers:for the Welsh counties has been revie.vedby"tbe' Co~ttee;':''''A'number of recommendations'::'havebeen made arid certain:"sligbt alterations in the present'systE?m:have been approved. Ful:L,:details Will'be given in the n,ex .. f "Billietin ll

.... :!:" : ... ,.,., '. . ....... !.-.," ,'1..',.' f: ..... ,

, J' ,:' .,. A new ·,floristic . publication for Wales, . 1. '. 4't , f." .,' ~ ...• , .. ,. ', •. ~~: l", • ' . ...' ..• , .. .' f'" .'. '. '.', ,I. t"

. The Co'mnii ttee has"'dec'ided,to":enib;arkL::on rthepreparation :cf..>:.' a book 'about .the distril?ution of plarits:in Wales'~c,: This,wil~," , be a compa."1ion vol".lID.e, to the pres.eI1:~: Welsh, FloweriI¥> . Plants_ •. , c"

The new, 'hQok will provid£:) back-ground informiition' about' . ' .. distribution, . relating \list:ribution. :to [dlima'te~"so.ils;~ :etc.; . The book will also contain; 'deta.i.led. :'accounts:;aboutthe:main' . plant 'habitats in Wales~ ..... ,Find. details have still to be

"'deicided,~:b~tit'.i·e"hoped, togiv:e' :,~ .£ui;L accoynt.in:;:"Bulle:t1.n 211. The Committ.ee.,hqpe, that all members will help 1"n'the collecting· of material and preparation of the ~ook_

!

I

I J

O.:.~l )'" " ',' ~ i ' '"r (' .. ;/.../h;

tl:l1t? II18.:tn Pur1j{'se of t.hE: il£.u11otinf! 3.13 -r,,) :i.ni'o:r.'r1 VTe1sh UlelJ'~t)el"f:J

of. the EoSoB.,I" (.,f the Welsh Region e.c-;;iv~,t:l.e~1 end. the ):'(;:I:m1 t:,~

issue "Will con'tain two or t.:b.rec. urtiole8, reIJOl"'to of mee·t;ings.,

notes on eurveysf and itemB of' intttlreS1, '1:.0 Welsh botanisi;s"

The IlBu.l1.etin il 'rv:Ul "be publishec1. at lea.st twice. a. year 0

T.he Welsh Region is ~mg8.ged on 8. 1l1..11IlQOr (If floris·~i.c:.

~mrveys j,.11 W8,l13.s lond in colle.cting d.Dta to publish f;t. b...')ok

~ OIl the Welsh £'lcu.'ao .All .taerabers ar,~ :Lnv.i. t~c1 ~";Q help c;y

colleoting materia], and 8.,[.wisti.ng with th6 cOillpihl.tion of

the booko

Ft1X·theJ.~ de'bai1s about Welsh Region f).C'civitiesoan be

ob·~ai.nea. from the Regional. Secretary~'

Dro Bria.n Seddons

Department of Botanyp

Natj,oneJ. Museu..'1l of Wales 9

G ... ~.LJ:I'l!lo

." ------_ ..... _. ~:,"'."