2024 County Report for Anglesey

Nigel Brown and Ian Bonner

Though Anglesey is blessed with some outstanding coastal and wetland habitats the majority of new finds came from built-up areas of the county which can provide year round botanising potential. The New Year Plant Hunt in Menai Bridge for example produced 30 species in flower and an excursion by the Anglesey Flora Group in early February to coastal Beaumaris resulted in 50 new monad records including a new v.c. record (Oxalis incarnata (Pale-pink Sorrel) and a record 18 clumps of Viscum album (Mistle-toe). An excursion to Holyhead in mid October produced 5 new county records and 20 new hectad records and highlighted the spread of introduced species of disturbed ground such as Erigeron floribundus and E. sumatrensis (Bilbao's and Guernsey Fleabanes, respectively).

AFG members helped monitor populations of Anglesey's County Flower, Tuberaria guttata (Spotted Rock-rose) and surveyed several sites for agencies and private landowners. Species totals for all the Island's 800+ monads were sent out to highlight under-recorded areas. Species of concern such as Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed) and Clinopodium ascendens (Calamint) were the subject of focussed field trips.

In total, there were 11 new taxa added to the v.c. list in 2024 of which just one, Poa infirma (Early Meadow-grass) is native. The Red Data species, Juncus capitatus (Dwarf Rush) was discovered at a new site on the W coast of the island. New hectad records involved 67 taxa of which 17 are native.

Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting)

Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting) is restricted to just 4 small populations on Anglesey and at only one, Cors Goch North Wales Wildlife Trust Reserve, are both sexes of this dioecious species present. Image by Terry Instone.

Carduus nutans (Musk Thistle)

Very local on Anglesey and mainly found on farmland near the SW coast. This year an estimated 1300 flowering plants brightened a field alongside Aberffraw Dunes. Image by Richard Jones.

Cruciata laevipes (Crosswort)

A rarity on Anglesey, this strong colony has recently appeared by the entrance to a Water Treatment Works near Gaerwen in SH4672. Image by Richard Birch.

Cirsium × celakovskianum (Cirsium palustre × C. arvense)

A hybrid Thistle. First county record. Rhiwlas, Pentraeth. Image by Charles Aron.

Orobanche minor ssp minor (Common Broomrape)

Scarce on Anglesey and mainly found in the west. A thriving colony was found, still flowering in mid October, on waste ground in Holyhead Port. Host plants available included not only Trifolium repens (White Clover) but also Wild Carrot Daucus carota (Wild Carrot) raising the possibility of this being O. minor ssp. maritimum. Image by Terry Instone.

Selaginella kraussiana (Mossy Clubmoss)

Selaginella kraussiana (Mossy Clubmoss) is now naturalised in a few west coast sites on Anglesey. Images by Mari Roberts.