2021 County Report for Montgomeryshire

Dr Kate Thorne and Gill Foulkes

2021 was a quieter year for recording with about 7,700 records submitted to the Ddb. The Flora Group had six outings, with numbers restricted on the first two. See this Report of Flora Group Outings in 2021  for details. Various ID tips/cribs were circulated to the Flora Group and the VCRs spent time checking records from BIS as well as producing an article for the BIS Recorders Newsletter.

Kate Thorne and Sue Southam (local recorder) surveyed Stellaria palustris (Marsh Stitchwort) at an unprotected site in the east of the County with a report being sent to NRW.

Thanks to all who have submitted records in 2021 and to the BSBI referees for their help with identification.

Agastache rugosa (Korean Mint)

– found growing at the base of a wall in Machynlleth by David Elias (confirmed by Matthew Berry); the first record in Wales and one of many new neophyte records made by David in SH70K.

Dactylorhiza × grandis (D. fuchsia × praetermissa)

– a single flowering spike by a garden pond/willow waste-water filtration bed near White Grit Meadows (but outside the SSSI).  Recorded by Isobel Griffiths (NRW), Ken and Grace Dowley and identified by Ian Denholm. A  first county record.

Euphrasia × difformis (E. arctica × micrantha)

– found in upland grassland on the western slopes of Trannon Moor by Gill and Peter Foulkes (confirmed by Chris Metherell). A first county record.

Viola × bavarica (V. reichenbachiana × riviniana)

– several dozen flowering plants found on a bank in Montgomery by Lizzie Beare and identified by Mike Porter.  A first county record.

Alopecurus aequalis (Orange Foxtail)

– abundant in a man-made pool on a local nature reserve at Llanfyllin; recorded by Ruth Dawes and the first county record since 1991.

Cephalanthera longifolia (Narrow-leaved Helleborine)

– 62 flowering spikes of this endangered species (Wales Red List) recorded by John Clayfield near Kerry.

Platanthera bifolia (Lesser Butterfly-orchid)

– two flowering spikes found near Llanerfyl by Isobel Griffith (NRW) (confirmed by Ian Denholm). This is probably now the only site in the County for this priority species in Wales.