Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - October 2001 - No 67
George Hutchinson

Leader George Hutchinson

Nine members met on the south side of the roundabout near the WAM works, Machynys (SS512983) on a dry, sunny day with a light north-easterly breeze. The party continued southwards from the start of the blocked–off road past the east side of Machynys Ponds. Much of the area covered was a transient landscape, it being prepared for yet another golf-course in Carmarthenshire.

Initially, the area to the west side of the trackway was inspected as it contained large shallow puddles. Brackish Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus baudotii) was in full flower showing rigid submerged leaves and a few floating lobed leaves. Celery-leaved Buttercup (R. sceleratus) was an associated species. The grass verge on the east side of the road contained species typical of cultivated and waste ground including Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle) and Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica).  Bare sandy silt behind had Long-headed Poppy (Papaver dubium), with Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill (Geranium dissectum) in leaf only. The road here is marked with an ‘H’ for helipad.

Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) were compared, the latter having leaflets with a tiny terminal point (an apical apiculus). The ditch at the base of the road embankment was choked mostly with Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), which sheltered an early Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

Bird life was much in evidence with a pair of Mute Swans flying across Machynys Ponds with the sound of the larks ascending. The scratchy Sedge Warbler song was heard coming from Bulrush (Typha latifolia). Care was taken not to disturb nesting birds such as Mute Swan way to the east on an islet in a newly created lagoon.

Some time was spent climbing over mounds of dumped tarmacadam. Bright yellow flowers sighted were easily shown to be Wall-rocket (Diplotaxis sp.) as the leaves had a strong aroma, which gives it the sometimes used common name of ‘Burnt-rubber plant’. Emerging rosettes of an umbellifer were later shown to be Wild Carrot (Daucus carota ssp. carota). Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), by now in fruit, and Hare’s-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense) were also noted.

After clambering back to the track, the next mountain was a large sand-castle recently created to the west of the route. Beach plants were in evidence at the base including Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) and Sea Aster (Aster tripolium). Marsh Foxtail (Alopecurus geniculatus) was in flower in shallow muddy puddles nearby. At the south end of the sand-castle the steep descent was halted by Tony Lewis spotting Golden Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’) on the ‘upper slopes’. There is a good illustration of this plant in Roger Phillips & Nicky Foy’s Herbs (1990). While we watched the ants being attracted to the plant, the long use of the species as a medicinal herb was discussed.

The pond edge in this area just had tufts of waterlogged Hard Rush (Juncus inflexus).  From here the party returned initially to the east of the trackway, walking over areas of almost bare white mud which had dried to make walking easy. The surprise was a pair of Ringed Plover, perhaps nesting on the mud. A solitary Shelduck and a pair of Lapwing were noted at the distant lagoon with the nesting swans. Botanical interest was restored when Spotted Medick (Medicago arabica) was found, the species having a distinct central black blotch to most leaflets. Immature False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae), later confirmed by Arthur Chater, was also recorded here. A pool adjoining the road and fringed with Bulrush was dominated by Mare’s-tail (Hippuris vulgaris) and there was a tiny area of Pond Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus) in the drainage ditch leading to this pool from the south.

The road was finally reached by cautiously crossing the ditch dominated by Water Cress.  Bog Stitchwort (Stellaria uliginosa), and the emerging leaves of Common Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and False Fox-sedge grew alongside. Rape (Brassica napus) in flower along the west side of the road ended recording. Fairly early in the season it was not possible for some emergent plants to be identified to species, but the Golden Feverfew proved to be a first record for the vice-county.