Rhos Gargoed
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Description
Description An upland area of unimproved herb-rich grassland situated on a south-facing slope in the upper Teifi valley at an altitude of 290 metres. In the main the sward consists of a grass-sedge community containing sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea as the dominant grasses. Also present is the scarce quaking-grass Briza media. The site is notable for its abundance of globe-flower Trollius europaeus which according to Salter (1935) was once ‘frequent in Cardiganshire, principally in the hill district of the county towards the mountains’. The forbs include saw-wort Serratula tinctoria, heath spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. ericetorum, sheep’s-bit Jasione montana, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and heath milkwort Polygala serpyllifolia.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| purple moor grass | Molinia caerulea | LC | grass | poaceae |
| heath spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza maculata | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| sheep's bit | Jasione montana | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| heath milkwort | Polygala serpyllifolia | LC | herb | polygalaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| saw wort | Serratula tinctoria | VU | herb | asteraceae |
| globe flower | Trollius europaeus | VU | herb | ranunculaceae |
| cross leaved heath | Erica tetralix | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reddish buff Acosmetia caliginosa |
Critically Endangered | Serratula tinctoria |
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Molinia caerulea |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Erica tetralix |
| Golden plusia Polychrysia moneta |
Endangered | Trollius europaeus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Serratula tinctoria |
| Large heath Coenonympha tullia |
Vulnerable | Molinia caerulea |
| Beetle Cryptocephalus biguttatus |
Vulnerable | Erica tetralix |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Erica tetralix, Rhinanthus minor |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Erica tetralix |
| The anomalous Stilbia anomala |
Vulnerable | Molinia caerulea |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Silver barred Deltote bankiana |
Near Threatened | Molinia caerulea |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Erica tetralix |
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.