Coed Allt Lan-las
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Habitats
Description
Description A semi-natural broadleaved woodland on a south-facing slope running down to the river Aeron. The canopy is mainly dominated by mature sessile oak Quercus Petraea with a good shrub understorey of hazel Corylus avellana, holly Ilex aquifolium, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Towards its eastern extremity, due to the heavier clay soil, the woodland is rather more mixed, with ash Fraxinus excelsior and beech Fagus sylvatica, bearing a calcicolous ground flora of early-purple orchid Orchis mascula, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and primrose Primula vulgaris. Along the bottom of the slope wych elm Ulmus glabra and small-leaved lime Tilia cordata are locally abundant. This is an outstanding example of a mature sessile oakwood typical of those previously widespread throughout the southern half of Ceredigion.
Species mentioned
Show the 11 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| honeysuckle | Lonicera periclymenum | LC | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| primrose | Primula vulgaris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus agg. | Not listed in GB list | herb | rosaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| lime small leaved | Tilia cordata | LC | tree | malvaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula vulgaris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Lonicera periclymenum, Ulmus spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Tilia spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula |
Near Threatened | Tilia cordata |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Plant communities
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa