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Home , Abrostola triplasia, Agriphila straminella, Ancylis badiana, Barred straw, Cirsium, Crambus pascuella

Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Registered Charity Number 212560

BSBI Vice-county Co-recorders for Carmarthenshire

Richard and Kath Pryce, Trevethin, School Road, Pwll, LLANELLI, Carmarthenshire, SA15 4AL answerphone: 01554 775847 email: Pryce [email protected]

17th August 2014

BSBI Week at Glynhir, Friday 19th – Friday 26th July 2014

Thank you all for contributing to this year’s Glynhir meeting and producing another exceptional variety of new and updated records. Judging by the letters and emails of appreciation we have received you must have enjoyed the week. We greatly value your knowledge and expertise which you so generously share. This year the weather didn’t let us down except insofar as it was generally too hot for energetic recording which resulted in, perhaps, an over-emphasis on visiting cooler upland areas. We’ve now had a chance to make an initial analysis of the records produced during the week, although we await some cards. We’ve included a table showing the highlights at the end of this letter which also shows who visited where. A few of the best finds are highlighted below. The Saturday afternoon visit to Cwrtbrynybeirdd gave us the opportunity to examine a very diverse, base-rich, flushed pasture where Eriophorum latifolium and Eleocharis multicaulis were new tetrad records. Arthur Chater pointed out a number of rather, past-their- best, often half-grazed, small almost sickle-shaped which are very likely to be Platanthera bifolia. We will obviously need to revisit the site next year at the time the should be in flower to make a re- examination. If confirmed it would be a significant new hectad record.

Sunday saw us split into a Arthur, Kath and Martyn in the flushed meadows at Cwrtbrynybeirdd with Carreg number of smaller groups to Cennen Castle in the background. Photo Richard Pryce record tetrads in Brechfa Forest. Arthur Chater, Andy Jones and Nigel Stringer (who joined the Glynhir residents for three of the day excursions) refound a Sibthorpia site discovered by Alison Baird (nee Heath) in 2012, whilst Martyn Stead with Kath and myself, found a new site for it although we didn’t realise it was Sibthorpia until the evening back at Glynhir (it was so much larger and more robust than I’d ever seen it before!). On Monday the majority of the group attended the funeral of James Iliff at Cilycwm. James and Mary, over the years, have contributed by far the greatest number records in the north-eastern part of the county having also made a special study of the Lycopods in that area. The day was concluded by some of us taking a leisurely walk around the Glynhir grounds including the waterfall which Paul Green had not seen before. Most remarkable was the ‘explosion’ of Rorippa islandica which certainly seems to have got a hold in some of the cobbled areas this year, only previously having been recorded here by Margot Godfrey and Jean Green in 2010. Those who didn’t go to James’ funeral visited the Coed saltmarsh on the Tywi estuary south of Carmarthen and discovered a new site for Ruppia maritima (a new post 2000 hectad record) and also Eleocharis uniglumis – both are new tetrad records. Most of the party went to Llyn-y-fan Fach on Tuesday where many made a circuit of the lake with some peeling off to examine the cliffs or to walk to the summit. It was good to see that the Arctic-Alpine specialities on the cliffs seem to be thriving, although only a very small area was examined. However, we failed to refind the Salix herbacea last seen on the cliffs here in 1983. Callitriche hamulata ssp. brutia was a new record in both tetrads, convincingly showing its stalked flowers, in contrast to C. hamulata ssp. hamulata, without the stalks, which was also in the lake. But perhaps the star find was Andy’s, who waded into the lake and retrieved a specimen of Potamogeton alpinus from a small not far from the shore – the first record since 1905: it was subsequently found to be in both tetrads. A specimen of probable minor was also collected from by the lake but needs confirmation. We arranged to visit the attenuation lagoons and irrigation ponds at Ffos Las racecourse on Wednesday morning where Eleocharis uniglumis was found in a monospecific stand juxtaposed with stands of E. palustris, affording an opportunity to compare the jizz of these two – uniglumis being much more delicate and a much lighter, yellower green in contrast to the grey- green, more robust stems of palustris. The E. uniglumis was a new tetrad record and the furthest VC record from the coast (about 4km from the plants seen by members of the 2008 Glynhir meeting at Banc-y-Lord). Walking back to the cars after our picnic, Kath photographed a very attractive lucerne which, in the evening, Graeme identified from the photos as Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia, the first VC record. For the first time for several years we didn’t visit either of the county’s main dune systems at Pendine or Pembrey – we don’t know whether the ‘regulars’ get fed-up with these sites or whether you would welcome repeat visits. In any case we can only visit them on Sundays due Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia at Ffos Las Photo Kath Pryce to military access restrictions. We partly made up for the lack of a coastal site by briefly visiting Pembrey Harbour on Wednesday afternoon when Graeme picked-out a few plants of a Sedum which Kath and I had seen previously but never in flower. Its flowers were cream- coloured and Graeme later ran it down to S. nicaeense, a new VC record. It’s origin could have been a garden throw-out but, more likely, as it was just above the line of highest tides, a fragment from a garden could have been washed down a local river, then brought to and deposited at Pembrey by sea! On Thursday the party split into groups again, all going to the St.Clears - Whitland area in the west. Mary, Martyn, Bron and Dave discovered Kickxia elatine in some quantity growing on a field headland at Penrhiwgoch Isaf, NE of Whitland Abbey, whilst Margot, Jenny and Kath recorded Vulpia myuros in St Clears. Both, together with several other records made by these two groups, were first post 2000 hectad records. Both Arthurs, Graeme and I were Sedum nicaeense at Pembrey Harbour Photo Graeme Kay joined by Matt Sutton and Stephen Coker at Llanddowror where Graeme spotted Potentilla argentea escaped from a nearby garden, a new VC record. Perhaps more significantly, Circaea x intermedia was found to be locally frequent in several patches by the wooded access track to Little Pale Wood. This is a new hectad record and c.20km west of Tony & Viv Lewis’ Bronwydd plant, the previous westernmost record in the VC which was also about the westernmost record in Wales, the other being in the Arth valley, SN46, Cards). Arthur Chater also sought out a new hectad record for Trichomanes gametophyte in a rock cleft by the Afon Taf whilst Arthur Copping later confirmed pratensis sensu stricto (as opposed to P. humilis which is frequent in Carms.). As the hot weather continued, no-one was very keen to travel a long distance on the final recording day, so the opportunity was taken to visit a couple of nearby parts of Mynydd Du (the Black Mountain) which had no previous high-precision records. Martyn, Bron and Dave explored the Nant Garw valley where, not far from the road, they found a plant of x subspinuligerum ( x palustre), a new VC record, together with a quite extensive population of Sagina subulata, a new hectad record. The latter somewhat puzzled me and cast doubt in my mind as to whether the previous records of S. nodosa from this vicinity were, in fact, S. subulata. However, when later working through Bron’s photographs taken on the day, it was clear that both species are present in discrete populations, maybe 50m from one another! Away from the road, down in they valley they also made several new tetrad records including Phegopteris connectilis, Cystopteris fragilis, Wahlenbergia, Carum, Circaea x intermedia at Little Pale Wood. Photo Richard Pryce Scutellaria minor, etc. The remainder of the party, joined today by Chris, Guy and Tristan, searched a part of the mountain where a small area of Carboniferous Limestone is shown on the map. Starting from a car park from where numerous previous forays had commenced, Graeme quickly discovered a plant of . This is now the third plant to be found in Carms, the first being discovered only about 200m away by Kath and me in 2011 and the second by Martyn, at Banc Wern Wgan, about 2.5km to the SW, during Glynhir week 2013. A small population of Dryopteris carthusiana was discovered, unusually growing from a cliff, whilst Wahlenbergia hederacea, Antennaria dioica and Gentianella amarella were all found in new locations. Having returned to the cars with an hour or two in hand we travelled to a series of calcareous flushes further east along the scarp. I casually mentioned that Pembrey Harbour. Photo Bron Wright Carex dioica had been found in this area by Mrs Vaughan in 1976 and had been searched for on a number of occasions since, without success. Within five minutes, Graeme had found the species and further searching revealed several plants in two separate flushes! Does it therefore still occur in other similar habitat nearby, including about 300m to the west, at the grid reference given by Mrs Vaughan of her original find? A task for next year’s meeting perhaps! There were, of course, many more plant records of interest and we will write a more comprehensive report for BSBI News in due course. We are very grateful to Barry for again doing a trap on the night of 22nd July. His records are also included below: a bumper year as a result of perfect weather, both for and trapping! We have booked next years’ Glynhir week from Saturday 20th to Saturday 27th June 2015 and hope that it will take-on a similar format to this year’s meeting. This is a couple of weeks prior to the Welsh AGM which has been provisionally booked at Plas Tan-y-Bwlch. The meeting will be advertised in BSBI publications in due course but please, in the mean time, feel free to let us know if you wish to make an advanced booking and if you have any comments or suggestions for the future – particularly if we should arrange to visit Pendine or Pembrey dunes.

Once again, thank you very much for your contribution and we look forward to another successful week next year.

With very best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Richard and Kath

Carex dioica: left to right: female, male, forma isogyna (m. with f. at base) Photos Richard Pryce

The party at Llyn-y-fan Fach. Photo Bron Wright

GLYNHIR REVIEW, 2014

Date Observers Site(s) Notable Spp. Saturday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN61U, Cwrtbrynybeirdd Eriophorum latifolium (new tetrad record), Eleocharis 19/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, multicaulis (new tetrad record), Platanthera bifolia R & K Pryce, M O (new hectad record but determination needs Stead, B & D Wright, M confirmation when plants are in flower). Valeriana Godfrey, J Fode dioica, Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum x R. microcarpum, Carex hostiana, Veronica scutellata (new tetrad record), palustris, Triglochin palustris, Pinguicula vulgaris.

Sunday A O Chater, R A Jones, SN53G Hendre Fadog Sibthorpia europea (rediscovery of site found by 20/07/2014 R N Stringer tetrad Alison Baird in 2012), Triticum aestivum (new hectad record), Avena sativa (new tetrad record), Hordeum distichon (new tetrad record), Hieracium umbellatum ssp.umbellatum (new tetrad record), Arrhenatherum elatius var.bulbosum (first post 2000 hectad record), Dryopteris borreri (new tetrad record), Dryopteris affinis (new tetrad record), Geranium x oxoniense (new hectad record), Centaurium debauxii (new tetrad record).

Sunday Paul Green, Mary SN53B Gilfach Meredydd Hypericum x desetangsii (new hectad record) 20/07/2014 Smith, B & D Wright tetrad Sunday Paul Green, Mary SN53G Hendre Fadog Epipactis helleborine, pulchra 20/07/2014 Smith, B & D Wright tetrad Sunday G M Kay, A Copping, SN53C Mynydd Dryopteris cambrensis (new tetrad record) 20/07/2014 Alison Baird Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn tetrad Sunday M Stead, R & K Pryce SN43X Mynydd Sibthorpia europea (new tetrad record and first post 20/07/2014 Trebeddau tetrad 2000 hectad record), Locally abundant Wahlenbergia (new tetrad record) and Carum verticillatum (first post 2000 tetrad record), Dryopteris carthusiana (first post 2000 tetrad record), Scutellaria minor (first post 2000 tetrad record), Eleocharis multicaulis (new tetrad record), Hypericum humifusum (first post 2000 tetrad record), Rorippa islandica (new tetrad record and 2nd hectad record).

Sunday Margot Godfrey, Jenny SN53F Brechfa canadensis (new hectad record) 20/07/2014 Fode Monday A O Chater, G M Kay, Cilycwm James Iliff Agrimonia procera (new post 2000 hectad record) 21/07/2014 R & K Pryce, M O funeral SN73P & SN74K Stead, B & D Wright, Margot Godfrey Monday Paul Green, A Copping, SN31W Blaengwastad - Ruppia maritima (new tetrad record and first post 21/07/2014 Mary Smith, J Fode Coed saltmarsh 2000 hectad record), Elytrigia cf x oliveri, Agrostis (SN3813) stolonifera var. palustris, dioica ssp. galeopsifolia, Eleocharis uniglumis (new post 2000 hectad record) Monday G M Kay, A O Chater, Glynhir grounds SN61H Abundant Rorippa islandica in 2 tetrads (new to 21/07/2014 R A Jones, Paul Green, Glynhir waterfall SN61M SN61M) R & K Pryce

Tuesday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN72V Llyn-y-fan Fach Potamogeton alpinus (first record for this site since 22/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, west 1905), peltatus, Callitriche hamulata, C. R A Jones, R & K SN82A Llyn-y-fan Fach brutia (first records for both hectads SN72 & SN82), Pryce, M O Stead, B & east boreale, Thalictrum minus, Silene uniflora, D Wright, S & A Coker SN82B Filter Beds Sedum roseum, Saxifraga hypnoides, Nitella flexilis, Litorella uniflora. Huperzia selago, Euphrasia ?rivularis. Asplenium viride ? (if confirmed this will be a new hectad record) Wednesday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN40M Ffos Las Eleocharis uniglumis (new tetrad record). Lotus 23/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, glaber, Spergularia rubra, Medicago sativa R A Jones, R & K nothosubsp. varia (NCR) Pryce, M O Stead, B & D Wright, S & A Coker, R N Stringer, Margot Godfrey, Jenny Fode Wednesday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN40F Pembrey Harbour Sedum nicaeense (NCR), Asperula cynanchica, 23/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, & Shoreline Dunes Knautia arvensis, Anisantha diandra (4th VCR, 2nd R A Jones, R & K for SN40), Parthenocyssus inserta (new hectad, 3rd Pryce, M O Stead, B & VCR) D Wright, R N Stringer, Margot Godfrey, Jenny Fode Thursday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN21M Llanddowror - Potentilla argentea (NCR), tetrasperma (1st post 24/07/2014 A Copping, R D Pryce, Little Pale tetrad 2000 hectad record), Both vars of Persicaria M Sutton, S & A Coker lapathifolia (nodosa & lapathifolia). Circaea x intermedia (locally frequent in several patches by the woodland track to Little Pale Wood, a new hectad record and c.20km west of the previous westernmost record in the VC which was also the westernmost record in Wales, Senecio x ostenfeldii (new hectad record), Trichomanes gametophyte (new hectad record), Mentha x verticillata (new hectad record), Chenopodium polyspermum (1st post 2000 hectad record), Spergula arvensis (1st post 2000 hectad record), Verbascum thapsus (1st post 2000 hectad record), Vulpia myuros (1st post 2000 hectad record), Polygonum monspeliense, ss. x viminalis (= S. x sericans) (new hectad record), armenaicus 'Himalayan Giant' (new hectad record).

Thursday M O Stead, Mary SN21E Maesyrawel area, x viminalis (= S. x smithiana) (1st post 24/07/2014 Smith, B & D Wright nr. Whitland 2000 hectad record) Thursday M O Stead, Mary SN21J Travellers Rest Kickxia elatine (1st post 2000 hectad record), 24/07/2014 Smith, B & D Wright Llangynyn tetrad Knautia arvensis (1st post 2000 hectad record),

Thursday M Godfrey, J Fode, K SN21T St Clears Vulpia myuros (first post 2000 hectad record), 24/07/2014 Pryce Pseudofumaria lutea (first post 2000 hectad record), parviflorum (new tetrad record), Polygonum chamaechiton

Thursday R A Jones Crychan 24/07/2014 Friday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN71E Banc Melyn Cirsium acaule (3rd VCR), lanceolata var. 25/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, sphaerocephala (NCR for var.), Dryopteris R & K Pryce, S Coker, carthusiana (new hectad record), Huperzia selago R N Stringer, C (first post 2000 tetrad record), Antennaria dioica, Cheffings, G & T Moss Gentianella amarella, Wahlenbergia hederacea (new tetrad record), Isolepis setacea (new tetrad record), Anagallis tenella (new tetrad record).

Friday Margot Godfrey, Jenny SN71E Banc Melyn Gentianella amarella, 25/07/2014 Fode Friday A O Chater, G M Kay, SN71J Tro'rgwcw Carex dioica (1st post 2000 hectad record, 2nd post 25/07/2014 A Copping, Mary Smith, 2000 VC record). R & K Pryce, S Coker, R N Stringer, C Cheffings, G & T Moss Friday M O Stead, B & D SN71D Sagina subulata (new tetrad record) 25/07/2014 Wright Friday M O Stead, B & D SN71I Cwm Nant Garw Cirsium x subspinuligerum (Cirsium vulgare x 25/07/2014 Wright palustre) (NCR), Sagina subulata (new hectad record), Trifolium micranthum (new tetrad record), Wahlenbergia hederacea (new tetrad record), Carum verticillatum (new tetrad record), Carex rostrata (first post 1986 hectad record and new tetrad record), Hypericum humifusum (new tetrad record), Phegopteris connectilis (new tetrad record), Cystopteris fragilis (new tetrad record), Scutellaria minor (new tetrad record), Campanula rotundifolia (new tetrad record).

Saturday R & K Pryce, B & D Glynhir grounds SN61H 26/07/2014 Wright & SN61M

GLYNHIR MOTH TRAP RESULTS, 22nd July 2014 (Three Robinson/Skinner traps) Barry Stewart

Code Taxon Vernacular Hemiptera 44 Iassus lanio 365 Oncotylus viridiflavus 555 Pentatoma rufipes Red-legged Shieldbug Trichoptera 81 Hydropsyche instabilis a caddisfly 82 Hydropsyche pellucidula a caddisfly 101 Lepidostoma hirtum a caddisfly 106 Drusus annulatus a caddisfly 157 Potamophylax rotundipennis a caddisfly 166 Odontocerum albicorne a caddisfly 171 Athripsodes albifrons a caddisfly 173 Athripsodes bilineatus a caddisfly 411 Argyresthia goedartella 424 Yponomeuta evonymella Bird-cherry Ermine 0425z Yponomeuta malinellus/cagnagella Yponomeuta malinellus/cagnagella sp. 428 Yponomeuta rorrella Ermine 461 Ypsolopha ustella 464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 472 Digitivalva pulicariae 658 Carcina quercana 787 Bryotropha terrella 802a Gelechia sororculella 866 Brachmia blandella 937 Agapeta hamana 954 angustana 969 Pandemis corylana Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 971 Pandemis cinnamomeana 989 Aphelia paleana Timothy Tortrix 1076 Celypha lacunana 1099 marginana 1111 Bactra lancealana 1126 badiana 1201 1260 Cydia splendana 1272 Pammene aurana 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 1294 pascuella 1302 Crambus perlella 1303 selasella 1304 Agriphila straminella 1305 Agriphila tristella 1313 Catoptria pinella 1314 Catoptria margaritella Pearl-band Grass Veneer 1316 Catoptria falsella 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 1343 Eudonia delunella 1344 Eudonia mercurella 1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1365 despicata 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 1385 Ebulea crocealis 1390 Udea prunalis 1392 Udea olivalis 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 1433 Cryptoblabes bistriga 1640 Euthrix potatoria Drinker 1646 Watsonalla binaria Hook-tip 1647 Watsonalla cultraria Barred Hook-tip 1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 1652 Thyatira batis Peach Blossom 1653 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 1666 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 1669 Hemithea aestivaria Common Emerald 1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1713 Idaea aversata 1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1754 Eulithis prunata Phoenix 1758 Eulithis pyraliata Barred Straw 1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1766 Plemyria rubiginata rubiginata Blue-bordered Carpet 1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1789 undulata Shell 1803 Perizoma alchemillata Small Rivulet 1804 Perizoma bifaciata Barred Rivulet 1811 Eupithecia tenuiata Slender Pug 1826 Eupithecia trisignaria Triple-spotted Pug 1832 Eupithecia assimilata Currant Pug 1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug 1872 Discoloxia blomeri Blomer's Rivulet 1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1884 Abraxas grossulariata Magpie Moth 1885 Abraxas sylvata Clouded Magpie 1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1893 Macaria liturata Tawny-barred Angle 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1940 Deileptenia ribeata Satin Beauty 1945 Cleorodes lichenaria Brussels Lace 1947x Ectropis bistortata/crepuscularia Engrailed/Small Engrailed 1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1994 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 2003 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 2008 Ptilodon capucina Coxcomb Prominent 2011 Pterostoma palpina Pale Prominent 2033 Lymantria monacha Black Arches 2037 Miltochrista miniata Rosy Footman 2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 2049 Eilema depressa Buff Footman 2051 Lithosia quadra Four-spotted Footman 2064 Ruby Tiger 2089 Agrotis exclamationis 2098 Flame 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2109 Noctua comes 2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 2122 Diarsia brunnea Purple Clay 2127 Xestia ditrapezium Triple-spotted Clay 2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 2130 Xestia baja Dotted Clay 2138 Anaplectoides prasina Green Arches 2150 nebulosa Grey Arches 2155 Melanchra persicariae 2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 2191 Mythimna turca Double Line 2193 Mythimna ferrago Clay 2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 2280 Acronicta leporina Miller 2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 2291 Craniophora ligustri Coronet 2293 Cryphia domestica Marbled Beauty 2298 Amphipyra berbera svenssoni Svensson's Copper Underwing 2305 lucipara Small 2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 2326 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 2335 Apamea scolopacina Slender Brindle 2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2340 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 2379 Coenobia rufa Small Rufous 2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 2443 Autographa jota Plain Golden Y 2449 triplasia Dark Spectacle 2450 Spectacle 2469 Scoliopteryx libatrix Herald 2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis Fan-foot 2492 Herminia grisealis Small Fan-foot Coleoptera 2220 Stenagostus rhombeus 2963 Lagria hirta