Threatened arable plants of Wales An identifi cation guide Arable Wales is rich in arable plants and the distinctive arable flora which has developed under its mild, plants wet climate is of international importance. are the Yet during the 20th century the amount of arable land across Wales reduced by 75 per most cent. Just 11 per cent of land is now arable. Many fields have been converted to permanent pasture to critically cater for a rise in livestock farming across Wales. Meanwhile the costs of arable farming have increased, making it threatened uneconomical for smaller farms to cultivate land. group However the arable fields that are still cultivated of retain impressive arable displays. Corn marigolds can still be seen creating a blaze of golden colour, wild plants and less well-known species such as corn spurrey, in the field woundwort, weasel’s-snout and dwarf spurge can still easily be found. UK Wales is also a hotspot for some very rare arable plants, including small-flowered catchfly, large- Identifying where flowered hemp-nettle, corn buttercup, shepherd’s these rare species needle, broad-fruited cornsalad and cornflower. remain is essential This guide not only helps you identify Wales’s threatened to ensuring their arable plants, but also provides germination and flowering times, soil types they tend to grow on, seed longevity and conservation. places where populations have most recently been found. Contents

Common name Welsh Common name Scientific name

6 Anagallis arvensis 24 Common cudweed Edafeddog Filago vulgaris Blue pimpernel Gwlyddyn mair benyw ssp. foemina 25 Field pepperwort Codywasg y maes Lepidium campestre 7 Cornflower Glas yr ŷd Centaurea cyanus 26 Corn chamomile Camri'r ŷd Anthemis arvensis 8 Corn mint Mintys yr ŷd Mentha arvensis 26 Stinking chamomile Camri'r cŵn Anthemis cotula 9 Field woundwort Briwlys y tir âr Stachys arvensis 28 Narrow-fruited Gwylaeth yr oen cornsalad deintiog Valerianella dentata 10 Corn marigold Melyn yr ŷd Glebionis segetum Hairy-fruited Gwylaeth-yr-oen 28 Valerianella eriocarpa 11 Smooth cat's-ear Melynydd moel Hypochaeris glabra cornsalad ffrwythau gwlanog 28 Broad-fruited 12 Corn buttercup Cranfanc yr ŷd Ranunculus arvensis cornsalad Gwylaeth yr oen llyfn Valerianella rimosa 13 Henbane Llewyg yr iâr Hyoscyamus niger 30 Scandix pecten- Shepherd's-needle Nodwydd y bugail veneris 14 Sharp-leaved fluellen Llysiau Llywelyn Kickxia elatine Small-flowered 31 Gludlys amryliw Silene gallica 14 Round-leaved Llysiau-Llywelyn catchfly fluellen deilgrwn Kickxia spuria 32 Corn spurrey Troellig yr ŷd Spergula arvensis 16 Large-flowered hemp-nettle Y benboeth amryliw Galeopsis speciosa 34 Euphorbia Broadleaved spurge Fflamgoed lydanddial platyphyllos 17 Red hemp-nettle Y benboeth gulddail Galeopsis angustifolia Fflamgoed eiddil 34 Dwarf spurge Euphorbia exigua 18 Marddanhadlen goch flaenfain Henbit dead-nettle gron Lamium amplexicaule 35 Annual knawel Dinodd flynyddol Scleranthus annuus Lythrum 19 Grass-poly Gwyarllys isop-ddail hyssopifolium 36 Mousetail Cynffon llygoden Myosurus minimus 20 Prickly Poppy Pabi hirben gwrychog Papaver argemone 37 Rye brome Pawrwellt bach Bromus secalinus 20 Rough Poppy Pabi cryben pigog Papaver hybridum 38 Lesser quaking grass Crydwellt bychan Briza minor 22 Weasel's-snout / Lesser Snapdragon Y trwyn-y-llo lleiaf Misopates orontium 39 Glossary, Acknowledgements 23 Night-flowering catchfly Gludlys nos-flodeuol Silene noctiflora

4 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 5 Blue pimpernel Cornflower Gwlyddyn mair benyw Glas yr ŷd Anagallis arvensis ssp. foemina Centaurea cyanus

Scrambling mat-forming plant Tall, branched plant up to 1m. with stems up to 30cm and Grey-green hairy leaves with opposite stalkless oval leaves long, narrow and variably 20 x 9mm. The five blue petals dissected lower leaves are about 10mm in diameter, 10-20cm in length and BLUE / PURPLE BLUE / PURPLE do not overlap showing the smaller, un-dissected upper sepal between the petals, leaves. The blue flower heads and are on stalks shorter than are typical of the daisy family the leaves. The petal edges and up to 3cm in diameter. are sparsely hairy and the hairs are four cells (sections) in length. ©Richard Moyse ©Richard Shellswell ©Cath

Soil: Calcareous. Soil: Sandy soils but may be present on calcareous clays and chalk. Germination period: Spring. Germination period: Autumn and spring. Flowering period: July - August. Flowering period: June - August. Distribution: The most recent record was reported from Monmouthshire. Distribution: Scattered populations in Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire, Anglesey, Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived. Cornflower is often used in annual seed mixtures. Seed longevity: Short-lived seed unless deeply-buried where it may survive dormant for longer.

6 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 7 Corn mint Field woundwort Mintys yr ŷd Briwlys y tir âr Mentha arvensis Stachys arvensis

Downy, aromatic herb with Hairy spreading plant with a peppery mint smell when branched stems from the bruised, 10-30cm tall. Leaves base growing to more than are round-elliptical and 20cm. Opposite paired oval- blunt-tipped, arranged in heart-shaped hairy leaves BLUE / PURPLE BLUE / PURPLE opposite pairs up the stem. have short stalks. Bilaterally Dense whorls of flowers are symmetrical pale purple present at the leaf axils. flowers with a large lower lip The calyx of each flower is and three smaller lobes, up bell-shaped and very hairy to 7mm long, are arranged in with short triangular teeth. whorls of up to 6 flowers in The petals are mauve with leaf axils. Unpleasant smell projecting stamens. when bruised. ©JP Martin / Plantlife ©Bob Gibbons / Plantlife

Soil: All soil types. Soil: Sandy and clay loams. Germination period: Spring. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: May - October. Flowering period: April - November. Distribution: Widespread across Wales. Distribution: Widespread across Wales. Seed longevity: Unknown. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

8 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 9 Corn marigold Smooth cat’s-ear Melyn yr ŷd Melynydd moel Glebionis segetum Hypochaeris glabra

Tall branched plant up to Small dandelion-like annual 60cm. Deeply-shallowly lobed with a rosette of leaves and leaves are about 10cm long flowering stem up to 40cm. and greyish-green in colour The scales on the flowering with a waxy surface. The stem are shaped-like cats’ orangey-yellow flower heads ears. Hairless 1-8cm long YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW are typical of the daisy family leaves are narrowly-spear with disc florets producing shaped, broader closer to the cylindrical, unwinged seeds tip than base with occasional and ray florets producing teeth. Each inflorescence in broad-winged seeds. the flower head has a single large yellow petal twice as long as broad only opening in full sunshine. ©Cath Shellswell Shellswell ©Cath Gagg / Plantlife ©Andrew

Soil: Sandy soils which may be acid or calcareous where they Soil: Acidic sandy soils. are derived from shell-sand. Germination period: Autumn. Germination period: Spring (early autumn seedlings may be Flowering period: June - October. able to survive frosts). Distribution: Coastal fields and sand dunes on Anglesey, in Flowering period: June - October. Caernarfonshire and Glamorganshire. Distribution: Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, Anglesey, Seed longevity: Short-lived. Lleyn peninsula and Gower peninsula. Scattered populations elsewhere. Corn marigold is often used in annual seed mixtures. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

10 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 11 Corn buttercup Henbane Cranfanc yr ŷd Llewyg yr iâr Ranunculus arvensis Hyoscyamus niger

Branched plant up to 50cm. Tall bristly-stemmed annual Stalked, 3-5 lobed deeply- and biennial plant up to 80cm. divided leaves are more Sticky-haired, glaucous-green, elongated and linear than the strong-smelling leaves that leaves of common grassland are oval-oblong and toothed. buttercups. Typical but The upper leaves may clasp YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW smaller, pale lemon-yellow the stem. Two rows of flowers buttercup flowers up to are present along a flowering 12mm in diameter. Distinctive stem, flowering in succession seeds up to 8mm in length, with new buds growing at the ovate and covered in spines top of the stem. Dull-yellow up to 2mm in length. flowers have purple veins and a purple centre. Whole plant is very poisonous. ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell

Soil: Sandy and clay loams. Soil: Sandy, light chalk and limestone soils. Germination period: Spring. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: April - November. Flowering period: July - September. Distribution: Widespread across Wales. Distribution: Radnorshire, Flintshire, Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire and Cardiganshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived. Seed longevity: Unknown.

12 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 13 Sharp-leaved fluellen Llysiau Llywelyn Sharp-leaved fluellen Round-leaved fluellen Kickxia elatine Llysiau llywelyn Llysiau-llywelyn deilgrwn Kickxia elatine Kickxia spuria & Round-leaved fluellen Llysiau-Llywelyn deilgrwn Kickxia spuria

Long-stemmed, prostrate hairy triangular-shaped leaves

creeping plant with many with teeth at the bottom / ORANGE YELLOW branching stems and projecting sideways similar to occasionally forming an arrow-head. These leaves mats. Leaves are arranged are only present from the alternatively up the stem second or third set of leaves YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW and basal leaves of both on the flowering stem. species are round. Bilaterally Round-leaved fluellen symmetrical yellow flowers continues to grow hairy with a purple upper lip have ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell round-oval shaped leaves fused petals and straight spur. along the flowering stem. The Soil: Both species present on well-drained calcareous soils. Flowers are borne solitarily on leaves tend to be larger than Sharp-leaved fluellen more common on sands compared with long stalks from the leaf axils. those produced by sharp- round-leaved fluellen which is more common on clay loams. Sharp-leaved fluellen has leaved fluellen. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: July - October. Sharp-leaved fluellen Round-leaved fluellen Distribution: Sharp-leaved fluellen is widespread across Wales. Round-leaved fluellen is restricted to Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

14 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 15 Large-flowered hemp-nettle Red hemp-nettle Y benboeth amryliw Y benboeth gulddail Galeopsis speciosa Galeopsis angustifolia

Tall branched plant up to 1m. Low-growing plant up to Nettle-like ovate leaves are 50cm. Shallowly-toothed, shallowly toothed and 2.5- softly-hairy, spear-shaped

8cm long. The large bilaterally leaves up to 1.5cm long by RED / PINK symmetrical flowers have a less than 1cm wide. The hairy hooded upper-lips, large relatively large bilaterally YELLOW / ORANGE YELLOW three-lobed lower lip, and very symmetrical flowers have long corolla tube up to 3cm. a hooded upper-lips, large The pale-yellow petals have a three-lobed lower lip and large violet patch on the lower very long corolla tube and are lip and each flower produces densely clustered in leaf axils. four seeds. The pinkish-red petals have white patches and each flower produces four seeds. ©Cath Shellswell Moyse ©Richard

Soil: Clay loams. Soil: Light chalky and sandy soils and coastal shingle. Germination period: Autumn and spring. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: July - October. Flowering period: July - September, some regrowth and flowering in cereal stubbles. Distribution: Coastal populations only, particularly around the sand dune systems of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Distribution: Two known populations both on coastal Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire. shingle in Glamorganshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

16 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 17 Henbit dead-nettle Grass-poly Marddanhadlen goch gron Gwyarllys isop-ddail Lamium amplexicaule Lythrum hyssopifolium

Low-growing, irregularly- Low-growing, spreading plant branched plant up to 30cm. with a branched stem up to Round irregularly-toothed 20cm. Leaves are stalkless and RED / PINK RED / PINK leaves arranged in opposite oval at the base of the stem pairs up the stem. Lower and become increasingly leaves have short stalks and narrower with parallel-sides upper leaves are stalkless up the flowering stems. and clasp the stem. Up to Flowers are borne singly in 10 pinkish-purple bilaterally the leaf axils along the stem symmetrical flowers are borne and have six pink petals. It is in whorls in the leaf axils and found in crop-free areas as a at the end of the stem. Each result of winter water-logging flower produces four seeds. and summer dry-outs. ©Cath Shellswell Gagg / Plantlife ©Anderew

Soil: Present on a wide variety of soils, especially well drained Soil: Water-retentive soils, especially clays. calcareous loams. Germination period: Spring. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: June - July. Flowering period: July - August. Distribution: The only known recent population was Distribution: Widespread across Wales. in Monmouthshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

18 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 19 Prickly poppy Pabi penwrychog Prickly poppy Rough Poppy Papaver argemone Pabi penwrychog Pabi penbigog & Papaver argemone Papaver hybridum Rough Poppy Pabi penbigog Papaver hybridum RED / PINK

Basal rosettes of leaves with day. The stamens have bright stems growing from the blue pollen. The elongated, centre up to 50cm. Leaves are club-shaped seed head is

RED / PINK pinnately divided with narrow, 2-2.5cm long with numerous parallel-sided segments prickles and a terminal disc. and can appear flattened. Rough poppy flowers are up to Flowering stems can branch at 5cm across with scarlet petals the base but more commonly that have black blotches the main stem is branched at their base. The stamens each bearing a single flower at ©Cath Shellswell Shellswell ©Cath have deep blue pollen. the end with four petals. The spherical seed head is Soil: Predominantly chalky and sandy loams, sometimes Prickly poppy flowers are up 1-1.5cm in diameter with calcareous clays. to 5cm across with orange-red numerous upward pointing Germination period: Spring and autumn. petals that persist for a single prickles and a terminal disc. Flowering period: June - July.

Prickly poppy Rough Poppy Distribution: Prickly poppy is known from a few scattered sites on Anglesey, Pembrokeshire and Gower peninsula. Rough poppy has only been recorded recently from Pembrokeshire and Gower peninsula. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

20 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 21 Weasel’s-snout or Lesser snapdragon Night-flowering catchfly Y trwyn-y-llo lleiaf Gludlys nos-flodeuol Misopates orontium Silene noctiflora

Tall, branched plant with Branched sticky-haired plant a leafy stem growing up up to 50cm. A basal rosette to 60cm. Shiny leaves of 5-10cm elliptical leaves RED / PINK RED / PINK up to 5cm long are dark- dies back. Smaller, narrower green and narrowly oval in stem leaves, up to 8cm. Five- shape. Stalkless bilaterally petalled white-pink flowers symmetrical flowers are borne are 2cm across with creamy- in the leaf axis. The petals yellow backs. Each petal is are deep pink with a slight deeply divided into two. The yellow tinge in the flower flowers are tightly-rolled by tube and resemble those of mid morning, opening again in the garden snapdragon. the early evening. Behind the flower are oval seed capsules about 1.5cm long. ©Cath Shellswell www.flickr.comphotoslliam-all-botanical Rooney ©Liam

Soil: Sandy loams. Soil: Calcareous and sandy loams. Germination period: Predominantly spring, with some autumn Germination period: Predominantly spring. and summer germination. Flowering period: July - September. Flowering period: June - October. Distribution: Denbighshire and north Cardiganshire. Distribution: Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Gower, Seed longevity: Long-lived. Cardiganshire, Lleyn peninsula, Anglesey and Monmouthshire. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

22 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 23 Common cudweed Field pepperwort Edafeddog Codywasg y maes Filago vulgaris Lepidium campestre

A branched, erect silvery-grey Annual and biennial softly plant up to 50cm. Woolly hairy plant up to 60cm. Lyre- WHITE WHITE stems have strap-shaped, shaped basal leaves wither wavy blunt-tipped, woolly and triangular toothed stem leaves. The leaves below the leaves are stalkless with flowering head are shorter clasping pointed basal lobes. than the terminal cluster Inconspicuous white flowers of flowers. Globular flower are 2-2.5mm in diameter clusters are present on each in long racemes. Five, 4mm branch with outer woolly fruits are covered in minute white bracts and inner pointed bumps, visible using a hand yellow-bristles. lens, and have a short style not projecting above the fruit notch. ©Richard Moyse ©Richard www.flickr.comphotoslliam-all-botanical Rooney ©Liam

Soil: Acid and calcareous sandy soils, loams and chalk. Soil: Dry sandy and gravelly soils. Germination period: Autumn and spring. Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: July - August. Flowering period: May - August. Distribution: Scattered populations across Wales but more Distribution: Scattered populations widespread across Wales. often found in dry grasslands and rare on arable land. Seed longevity: Unknown. Seed longevity: Unknown.

24 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 25 Corn chamomile Camri’r ŷd Corn chamomile Stinking chamomile Anthemis arvensis Camri’r ŷd Camri’r cŵn & Anthemis arvensis Anthemis cotula Stinking chamomile Camri’r cŵn Anthemis cotula WHITE

Tall, branched mayweed up and 1mm wide, and broadens to 50cm. Alternate, deeply to about two-thirds of its WHITE divided leaves that are slightly length and then tapers to flattened. The typical daisy a point. flowers have yellow ray- Stinking chamomile leaves florets with no scales. The smell unpleasant when yellow disc-florets have a crushed and are usually scale attached to the bottom less hairy. The flowers tend of the flower receptacle. to be slightly smaller and the Corn chamomile’s downy similar-sized scales are narrow Shellswell ©Cath ©Cath Shellswell leaves smell aromatically of with linear sides tapering Soil: Corn chamomile grows on chalky loams and calcareous chamomile when crushed. The to a point. sands; stinking chamomile also grows on clays. disc floret scale is 2.5mm long Germination period: Spring. Flowering period: June - August.

Corn chamomile Stinking chamomile Distribution: The only known natural population of corn chamomile is in the Vale of Glamorgan, while stinking chamomile 3mm 2mm is found in Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Both chamomiles and Austrian chamomile Anthemis australis are often used in annual seed mixtures. Seed longevity: Unknown. 26 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 27 Narrow-fruited cornsalad  Narrow-fruited cornsalad Gwylaeth yr oen deintiog Gwylaeth yr oen deintiog

Valerianella dentata WHITE Valerianella dentata  Hairy-fruited cornsalad Hairy-fruited cornsalad Gwylaeth-yr-oen ffrwythau gwlanog Gwylaeth-yr-oen ffrwythau gwlanog Valerianella eriocarpa Valerianella eriocarpa ©Cath Shellswell Shellswell ©Cath &  Broad-fruited cornsalad Broad-fruited cornsalad Gwylaeth yr oen llyfn Gwylaeth yr oen llyfn Valerianella rimosa Valerianella rimosa Slender, branched plants hairy-fruited cornsalad. with stems up to 30cm.

WHITE Narrow-fruited cornsalad Spear-shaped leaves with a seeds have a single large few teeth are present up the tooth at the apex with hairless stem and the white smaller sub-teeth. They are ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell to pale-pink flowers are borne not swollen and are about in clusters at the end of the 0.75mm across. stem on a couple of branches. Soil: Calcareous sandy, clay and chalky loams. Hairy-fruited cornsalad seeds There is often a single flower Germination period: Spring and autumn. located in the base of the have five to six large teeth at stem branch immediately the apex, resembling a crown, Flowering period: June - August. and the body of the fruit has below the flower clusters, Distribution: All three cornsalads are rare across Wales. Narrow- which is the first to flower and small hairs visible using a x30 hand lens. fruited cornsalad has been recorded in Pembrokeshire, south set fruit. The seeds are the Cardiganshire and Gower peninsula. Hairy-fruited cornsalad distinguishing characteristic Broad-fruited cornsalad seeds has only been recorded on arable land from one location in but there is a degree of are grape-pip like and swollen Pembrokeshire. Broad-fruited cornsalad has only been recorded 2mm long by 1.5mm wide. All uncertainty surrounding from one location in recent years on the Gower peninsula. inter-breeding, particularly of the teeth are short at the with narrow-fruited and apex of the fruit. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

28 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 29 Shepherd’s-needle Small-flowering catchfly Nodwydd y bugail Gludlys amryliw Scandix pecten-veneris Silene gallica

Tall, occasionally branched Branched sticky-haired plant plant up to 60cm, typical up to 30cm. A basal rosette WHITE WHITE of the carrot family. Finely of narrowly-oval leaves die divided leaves with narrow back as the stem grows, with parallel-sided segments. smaller narrow leaves on the Flowers are clustered on stem. White or occasionally umbels at the end of the pink, small, five-petalled flowering stem and have flowers are 1.5cm across and small, white petals. The each petal has a short notch. distinctive fruits begin to Behind the flower are oval form shortly after flowering, seed capsules about 1cm long. elongating from the base of the flower to form long “needles” up to 5cm. ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell

Soil: Heavy clay loams. Soil: Sands and sandy loams. Germination period: Predominantly autumn, occasionally Germination period: Spring and autumn. germinating in the spring. Flowering period: June - October. Flowering period: April - July. Distribution: Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire and Distribution: Vale of Glamorgan and Flintshire. Gower peninsula. Seed longevity: Short-lived. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

30 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 31 Corn spurrey Broadleaved spurge Troellig yr ŷd Fflamgoed lydanddial Spergula arvensis Euphorbia platyphyllos

Slender scrambling plant with A green, hairless plant up branched stems up to 60cm. to 60cm with often reddish WHITE Long 3cm narrow thread-like stems. The broad, narrowly- GREEN leaves are arranged in whorls oblong pointed leaves can up the stem. Loosely branched be up to 5cm long with clusters of five-petalled white serrated edges. The petal-less, flowers 8mm across are yellowish-green flowers are present at the end of stems. arranged in a loose umbel Black, round seeds are about with a leafy bract at the base. 1.5mm in diameter. Fruits are about 3mm in diameter and covered with warts. They explode on ripening. ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell

Soil: Sandy and gravelly soils, but can occur on clays and in Soil: Calcareous clays and silty loams. chalky soils. Germination period: Predominantly autumn germinating with Germination period: Predominantly spring, with some autumn some spring germination. germination. Flowering period: June - October. Flowering period: June - August. Distribution: Two known populations, in Monmouthshire and Distribution: Widespread across Wales. the Vale of Glamorgan. Seed longevity: Short-lived. Seed longevity: Long-lived.

32 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 33 Dwarf spurge Annual knawel Fflamgoed eiddil flaenfain Dinodd flynyddol Euphorbia exigua Scleranthus annuus

A light-green, hairless plant Low-growing, spreading, mat- up to 10cm. The narrow, forming plant up to 20cm. GREEN GREEN parallel-sided leaves can be Linear, pointed leaves are up to 2cm long by 3mm wide. paired up the stem. Clusters The petal-less yellowish-green of minute flowers 4mm across flowers are arranged in a loose at the stem terminals with no umbel with a leafy bract at petals. The sepals form the the base. Fruits are smooth, flower tube and are pointed, spherical capsules that straight, grey-green with explode on ripening. narrow white margins, and enclose the stamens and ovary. Annual knawel is commonly found on disturbed grassland as well as arable land. ©Cath Shellswell Shellswell ©Cath Shellswell ©Cath

Soil: Sands, calcareous loams and clays, chalk and Soil: Dry sandy and gravelly soils, clay loams and chalky loams. limestone soils. Germination period: Autumn. Germination period: Predominantly spring germinating Flowering period: June - August. with some autumn germination. Distribution: Pembrokeshire, near Mwnt in Ceredigion, and Flowering period: June - October. Gower peninsula. Distribution: Scattered populations in Monmouthshire, and Seed longevity: Unknown. on Anglesey and coasts of Denbighshire, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire. Seed longevity: Unknown.

34 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 35 Mousetail Rye brome Cynffon llygoden Pawrwellt bach Myosurus minimus Bromus secalinus

Low-growing plant in the An erect grass up to 1m tall. buttercup family growing. Leaves are 5mm wide and GREEN Narrow, linear dark-green can be 20cm long with blunt leaves form a basal rosette. ligules up to 4mm long. The GRASSES The flower spikes have short- stem and leaf are softly hairy. lived, small, green-yellow The branched flower-head has petals below the seed-baring slightly laterally-compressed, receptacle, which elongates long-stalked oval spikelets. forming a long narrowly conical The inrolled lemma stops the tube resembling a mouse tail. spikelets breaking-up and It occurs on water-retentive shedding when ripe, keeping soils in disturbed areas such as the seeds in a spikelet form tracks and hollows, particularly until much later in the season. in gateways. ©Cath Shellswell Shellswell ©Cath ©Cath Shellswell

Soil: Clays and other silty soils which are non-calcareous. Soil: Clays loams and occasionally other soil types. Germination period: Autumn. Germination period: Autumn germinating. Flowering period: May - June. Flowering period: June - July. Distribution: Denbighshire. Distribution: Scattered populations in Cardiganshire, Breconshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire and Seed longevity: Long-lived. Monmouthshire. Seed longevity: Short-lived.

36 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 37 Lesser quaking-grass Glossary Axil the upper angle between Inflorescence any grouping of Crydwellt bychan a leaf or bract and the stem flowers on a stem or in a leaf-axil. Briza minor from which it grows. Lemma The lower (outer) Basal at the base, such as of the two bracts that in a rosette of leaves. enclose the grass flower. An erect grass up to 50cm Bract a leaf-like structure, Ligule the tiny membranous tall. Leaves are 3-7mm wide, usually green, immediately below flap or hairs present where the hairless and blue-green in a flower and located where the leaf-blade joins it’s sheathing GRASSES base in grasses and sedges. colour with a pointed ligule flower-stalk joins the stem, or in Umbellifers (carrot family), used Ovary the carpels (female seed 3-6mm long. The branched for the whorl of small leaves at units) of a flower collectively, flower-head has triangular the base of the main umbel. especially when they are fused flower spikelets and looks Bilaterally symmetrical the together forming a case or several cells in which are attached the like a smaller version of the flower is symmetrical along one angle usually in cross section. ovules. After pollination and common quaking-grass fertilisation the ovary develops into Calyx the whorl of sepals below the fruit and the ovules into seeds. associated with calcareous an individual flower. A sepal is one grasslands. of the outer whorl of green leaves Racemes an elongated surrounding the flower petals. inflorescence in which the individual flowers are usually Corolla the petals of the stalked. The lowest flower opens flower (used collectively). first, and then the others in

©Sphl under Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 licence ©Sphl under Creative Elliptical widest in the sequence towards the tip, which middle and up to 3x as long can continue to form new buds. Soil: Acidic sands, loams, gravels and clays. as wide, tapering to the tip Style the stalk-like structure at and the base (applied to flat the tip of a carpel or on top of an Germination period: Predominantly autumn germinating with objects such as leaves). ovary of several joined carpels, some spring germination. Floret a small flower, especially that bears on its tip the stigma(s). in the flower-head of members Umbels a flat-topped Flowering period: June - August. of the daisy and related families; inflorescence, with several or the individual tiny flower in branches all rising from one point Distribution: Only two populations are known in grasses, sedges and rushes. at the top of the main stem. Monmouthshire. Acknowledgements Seed longevity: Unknown. Text compiled using Arable Plants - a field guide, Wilson, P and King, M, 2003, English Nature and Wildguides; The Wild Flower Key, Rose, F and O’Reilly, C, 2006, Penguin Books, and Field Flora of the British Isles, Stace, C, 1999, Cambridge University Press.

38 Threatened arable plants of Wales An identification guide 39 Plantlife Cymru Plantlife Cmru speaking up for Wales’s wild fl owers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of the Welsh Assembly, we’re here to raise their profi le, to celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future. Wild fl owers and plants play a fundamental role for wildlife, and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost. Join us in enjoying the very best that nature has to offer.

Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales Plantlife Cymru 13 St Andrews Crescent, Cardiff, CF10 3DB Tel: 02920 376193 [email protected] www.plantlife.org.uk ISBN number: 978-1-910212-08-0 © August 2014 Cover photo: Corn spurrey ©Cath Shellswell Design: evansbleep.co.uk Plantlife is a charitable company limited by guarantee, Company No. 3166339. Registered in England and Wales, Charity No. 1059559. Registered in Scotland, Charity Number: SC038951. Registered offi ce Plantlife International - the wild plant conservation charity, 14 Rollestone Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1DX. Tel: 01722 342730