Caeau Lotwen
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Description
Description In Britain unimproved grasslands containing an abundance of the umbelliferous plant, whorled caraway Carum verticillatum, appear to be concentrated on the Carmarthen Coalfield and its environs.These grasslands vary from wet species-rich types to dry, heathy examples with a somewhat restricted flora. The grassland at this site is intermediate between these two extremes, the soil conditions tending towards the dry side. The fields are usually used as pasture, but some are cut for hay on occasions. The principal grasses are bents Agrostis spp., sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, and because of the drier conditions, sedges are scarce. Noteworthy herbs occurring in the sward are heath-spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. ericetorum, meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum and ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi.
Species mentioned
Show the 6 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 |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| whorled caraway | Carum verticillatum | Not listed in GB list | herb | apiaceae |
| meadow thistle | Cirsium dissectum | EN | herb | asteraceae |
| heath spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. ericetorum | Not listed in GB list | herb | orchidaceae |
| ragged-robin | Silene flos-cuculi | LC | herb | carophyllaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Holcus lanatus |
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.