Wednesday 13 April 2016

Stanner shines in rainy Radnorshire

Grimmia decipiens under scrutiny
On Monday Sam led a BBS group around Stanner Rocks showing us a succession of rare Grimmia species and much more besides. Whilst the weather was not ideal for looking at the critical characters of this tricky genus, the liverworts were at their best and together with vascular plants, highlights came thick and fast and included Bartramia stricta, Frullania fragilifolia, Gagea bohemica, Grimmia decipiens, G. laevigata, G. lisae, G. longirostris (poss?), G. ovalis, Riccia beyrichiana, R. nigrella, R. subbifurca, Schistidium pruinosum, Sedum forsterianum, Silene viscaria, Targionia hypophylla, Teesdalia nudicaulis & Veronica spicata. Phew!
Above:
G. decipiens - G. lisae
G. longirostris - G. ovalis
Schistidium pruinosum

Below:
Bartramia stricta - Frullania fragilifolia
R. nigrella - Silene viscaria
Sedum forsterianum

a rather nice little community with Bartramia stricta, Sedum forsterianum, Silene viscaria, Targionia hypophylla, & Veronica spicata.
rain-soaked Rory taking an end of session record shot of rain-soaked Stanner

2 comments:

  1. That's quite a species list! It would be great to experience the delights of this site (on a less soggy day). During the Mellte excursion Sam did mention the possibility of leading a South Wales contingent to visit the site...

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  2. We did well, and the light morning rain was perfect for Riccia. We found a new location for R nigrella, a new area with Bartramia stricta, two new areas for R subbifurca, an additional colony of Grimmia laevigata and the first modern record of Bryum kunzei. All that from a site I have surveyed 4x in the last 10 years, though we did look at bits I'd never done before. Stanner is a deceptively big place.

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