Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Bazzania trilobata near Taffs Well

An interesting discovery during a habitat survey on Monday was Bazzania trilobata near the Nant y Brynau stream, in old woodland between Cardiff and Caerphilly (ST140848). I've not seen this anywhere near Cardiff before so it seems like a good record. A good sized patch of it sprawling over mossy boulders for nearly 10m. Lots of other nice woodland bryophytes with it, Dicranum majus, Rhytidiadelphus loreus and a Lepidozia that seems much chunkier than the usual L.reptans, that I really ought to have another look at.
I've never posted anything on a blog before, so if anyone can read this then Barry's advice at the recorders forum was successful!

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8 comments:

  1. Unknown25 November 2015 at 09:36

    (Sorry about the fuzzy photo - probably because my hands were freezing!)

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  2. GMT25 November 2015 at 09:40

    Welcome to the blog Peter and what an excellent first contribution. My copy of MM only has two tetrads shown for Glamorgan but I'm sure Barry will be able to post a more complete distribution map.

    I've been very near there at Mountain View Ranch with the kids a few times, and have often thought that I really should check out the surrounding habitats which look very promising. Anyway, you've beaten me to it!

    George

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  3. Barry Stewart25 November 2015 at 11:40

    Congratulations on your first blog post Peter, and what a quality way to mark your arrival! That's an excellent record of what sounds like a remarkable colony. As you will see from the map I've added it's new for the hectad. Looking forward to future posts which hopefully you will find time for every now and then.

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  4. GMT25 November 2015 at 12:19

    Have you explored the lower part of that stream Peter? I'd like to have a look at the Taff's Well end and work my way up towards where you found the Bazzania.

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  5. Unknown25 November 2015 at 13:55

    Thanks both - very useful to see the map Barry - it does seem to be a good record, and I'll certainly be making recommendations to make sure the colony (and the other woodland bryophytes) are protected.
    George, I've only looked in the land within Mountain Ranch site so far - so nothing downstream from ST131842. There's a redirected public footpath from there that runs close to the south side of the stream through the Mountain Ranch land and up towards the Blackcock pub, so it should be possible to get to the Bazzania area without trespassing. There's lots of good stuff to see along the path if you do get to visit.

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  6. Charles Hipkin25 November 2015 at 17:52

    That is a rare bryophyte in Glamorgam, great record Peter. What a curious distribution. I presume one of those dots is Roy's record from Darren y Dimbath, where there is also Hymenophyllum tunbrigense if my memory serves me right. It also grows with H. tunbrigense in the Nedd Fechan Valley (Brecs) on cool north-facing slabs in typical upland oak woodland - similar to the one you describe.

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  7. sambbryo25 November 2015 at 19:28

    The Darren y Dimbath colony has been revisited by me and by Des Callaghan, but there are very few other sites for Bazzania in VC41, so Peter's find is really excellent. I wonder whether local NRW officers might be interested, as any woodland in SE Wales with Bazzania needs consideration as SINC or even pSSSI. The Lepidozia sounds intriguing, but I doubt you would see L cupressina and think "that's a bit big for L reptans" - it's one of those instantly recognisable species.

    In Monmouthshire and southern Breconshire, both Bazzania and Lepidozia cupressina grow in deep Millstone Grit block scree, for example on The Blorenge. Anastrophyllum minutum is an associate. I wonder whether there are any areas of block scree in VC41.

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  8. GMT25 November 2015 at 20:28

    Thanks Peter, I'll take a look up there when I get chance.

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