Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Winter 1991/1992
George Hutchinson
Leader: George Hutchinson (National Museum of Wales, Cardiff).
Under a cloudless blue sky, perfect for a field meeting, a minimal party set off from Cydweli Quay to look at the Salicornia (Glasswort) and associated species between the estuaries of the Gwendraeth Fach and Fawr. Around the quay the distinguishing features of the two commonest glassworts in the county were soon established. Salicornia dolichostachya and S. ramosissima grew here with Suaeda maritima (Annual Sea-blite) along the bare muddy slopes of the Gwendraeth Fach.
However, a stout pair of shoes was the only footwear required all afternoon as many of the glassworts could be found close to the dry footpaths and slip at the quay. Only short incursions into the drier parts of the salt-marsh were necessary.
The orange-barked hybrid willow Salix x rubens nothovar. basfordiana forma basfordiana was conspicuous landscaping the treatment works on the way to the eastern salt-marsh. Hordeum jubatum was an interesting find growing in a grassy area near the old canal and making small waves in the cooling easterly breeze. Along the footpath the beaded fruit of Raphanus maritimus (Sea Radish) was much in evidence with the awned variety of Sea Couch, Elymus nycnanthus var. aristatum, tufted shoots of fauciLhina (Hairy Sedge) and , the garden escape Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alison).
A detour to the salt-marsh was made here to find Salicornia pusilla at one of its best sites in the county. Many plants were found growing with S. ramosissima. Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain), Spergularia media (Greater Sea-spurrey) and S. marina (Lesser Sea-spurrey). Near here four tetrads meet, two each in separate 10km squares, so that recording opportunities for the County Flora were maximised. The pale grey lichen Kaman farinacea was abundant on the windswept twigs of the blackthorn shrubs heading out towards the far point near the Gwendraeth Fawr. It favours clean air combined with mineral-rich bark. Tall stands of Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sow-thistle) were a feature here mixed with the coastal oraches Atriplex prostrata (Spear-leaved Orache) and the scarcer Atriplex ,littoralis (Grass-leaved Orache) with some of its narrow leaves dentate towards the apex.
At the point, hawk-eyed Richard Pryce spotted a match-stick sized grass amongst the taller vegetation which included Triglochin maritima (Sea Arrowgrass). This proved to be the curious Parapholis strigosa (Hard-grass) which is easily overlooked and undoubtedly under-recorded. Noteworthy salt-marsh flowers here included Aster tripolium (Sea Aster) dominated by the more aggressive var. discoideus, without ray-florets. Var. tripolium with purple ray-florets was scarce, but intermediate plants were obvious. Low-growing Limonium vulgare (Common Sea-Lavender) with its compact blue-purple inflorescence was in full flower.
Salicornia dolichostachya returned with S. ramosissima on the bare mud of the Gwendraeth Fawr forming large stands in places but being encroached by Spartina anglica (Common Cord-grass). Nearby, a shingle bed disturbed during recent sea-defence work was being colonised by Polygonum arenastrum, (Equal-leaved Knotgrass) P, aviculare (Knotgrass) and Coronopus didymus (Lesser Swine-cress). White-leaved plants of Artemisia absinthium (Sea wormwood) stood out against the dark green swards of Festuca rubra (Red Fescue).
On the return journey Diplolepis Juana (Robin's pincushion gall) was noted on Rosa caning (Dog Rose) with Vicia angustifolia L. (Narrow-leaved Vetch) and Verbena officinalis (Vervain) along the footpath. The canal was crossed at the foot-bridge to gaze across at the new artificial lake and island set off by a pair of Mute Swans. A Lavatera cultivar (Tree Mallow) was in full pink flower on the island. The now reddening leaves of Potamogeton crispus (Curled Pondweed) hung over green patches of the stonewort Chara vulgaris var. longibracteata in the shallows and emergent Alisma plantago-aquatica, (Water-plantain), Veronica anagallis-aquatica (Blue Water-speedwell) and Glyceria maxima (Reed Sweet-grass) were in flower.
The car-park area held Melilotus alba, (White Melilot) Ballota nigra (Black Horkhound) with Lamium album (White Dead-nettle) in its second flowering. Before leaving, the shrubs in the area were not ignored. Near the treatment works a ' Cotoneaster x watereri group' and Cotoneaster bullatus with its five-stoned fruit grew in a hedge. Kidwelly railway station was not to be missed with at least five willows: Salix cinerea x S. viminalis, S. caprea x viminalis, S. viminalis, S. cinerea and S. fragilis, making it a salicologist's garden, and with Senecio viscosus (Sticky Groundsel) in the flower bed.
As it was by now only 4pm the party decided to venture further afield and examine garden throw-outs establishing themselves in Pwll where it was concluded that not all garden throw-outs of Montbretia in Carms. are Tritonia x crocosmiflora or Curtonus paniculatus. After the end of the meeting it was possible for the leader to record for another half hour above the Craig in Burry Port with magnificient views looking down on the Burry Inlet. Here it was like being transported to upland Carmarthenshire. The high banks of the country lane beneath the bracken-covered hill slopes were bedecked with blue clumps of Jasione montana (Sheep's-bit), yellow borders of the hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum ssp. umbellatum with Serratula tinctoria (Saw-won) and Molinia caerulea (Purple Moor-grass) rising above the Rumex acetosella (Sheep's Sorrel). A wizened Prunus domestics ssp. insititia (Bullace) grew with Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) in an old hedge.
Many new records amassed over the afternoon showing the great diversity of plants along the coastal fringe of the county and also demonstrating that a great deal of original botanical recording is still possible, even in this well-recorded area. The plants put on a fine show and a great day was had by all.
