Plas Machen Wood
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Habitats
Description
Description A Woodland of tall coppice dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa with some oak Quercus petraea standards over a diverse ground flora. A number of streams and waterlogged areas support an interesting flora that includes plants such as tussock sedge Carex paniculata and yellow flag Iris pseudacorus which are of rare or local distribution in the County.
Species mentioned
Show the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yellow iris or flag | Iris pseudacorus | LC | herb | iridaceae |
| greater tussock sedge | Carex paniculata | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Iris pseudacorus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Iris pseudacorus |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
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.