Mappp.co - Caeau Cwm-Ffrwd

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Description

Description This site comprises a series of small fields situated on gently sloping ground at the head of a west-facing valley near Llandinam. They support a type of species-rich plant community typical of traditionally managed hay meadows associated with the free draining neutral soils of the upland fringe. Such meadows are now rare in mid- Wales as a result of agricultural intensification. Much of the sward is dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dogs-tail Cynosurus cristatus and red fescue Festuca rubra, with frequent common knapweed Centaurea nigra, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, common birds-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, common sorrel Rumex acetosella and red clover Trifolium pratense. Other associated species include perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne, pignut Conopodium majus, heath spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. Ericetorum, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor and tufted vetch Vicia cracca. Near the farm buildings nutrient enrichment and poaching has occurred. The sward here is characterised by an abundance of perennial rye-grass and crested dogs-tail, along with species such as creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and white clover Trifolium repens.

Species mentioned

Show the 22 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
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
sweet vernal grass	Anthoxanthum odoratum	LC	grass	poaceae
crested dog's tail	Cynosurus cristatus	LC	grass	poaceae
red fescue	Festuca rubra	LC	grass	poaceae
perennial rye-grass	Lolium perenne	LC	grass	poaceae
black knapweed	Centaurea nigra	LC	herb	asteraceae
pignut	Conopodium majus	LC	herb	apiaceae
heath spotted orchid	Dactylorhiza maculata	LC	herb	orchidaceae
English sticky eyebright	Euphrasia officinalis	LC	herb	orobanchaceae
rough hawkbit	Leontodon hispidus	LC	herb	asteraceae
oxeye daisy	Leucanthemum vulgare	LC	herb	asteraceae
birdsfoot trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	LC	herb	fabaceae
ribwort plantain	Plantago lanceolata	LC	herb	plantaginaceae
meadow buttercup	Ranunculus acris	DD	herb	ranunculaceae
bulbous buttercup	Ranunculus bulbosus	LC	herb	ranunculaceae
creeping buttercup	Ranunculus repens	LC	herb	ranunculaceae
yellow-rattle	Rhinanthus minor	DD	herb	orobanchaceae
sheep's sorrel	Rumex acetosella	NT	herb	polygonaceae
greater hawkbit	Scorzoneroides autumnalis	LC	herb	asteraceae
red clover	Trifolium pratense	LC	herb	fabaceae
white clover	Trifolium repens	LC	herb	fabaceae
tufted vetch	Vicia cracca	LC	herb	fabaceae

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
Black-veined moth Siona lineata	Critically Endangered	Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus
New forest Zygaena viciae	Critically Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Marsh moth Athetis pallustris	Endangered	Plantago lanceolata
Wood white Leptidea sinapis	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus, Vicia cracca
Scarce blackneck Lygephila craccae	Endangered	Vicia cracca
Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia	Endangered	Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia	Endangered	Plantago lanceolata
Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis	Endangered	Rumex acetosella
Slender scotch Zygaena loti	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Rumex spp.
Dingy skipper Erynnis tages	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Plantago spp.
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Centaurea spp., Rhinanthus minor
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Plantago spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca rubra
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Ranunculus spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp.
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Plantago lanceolata, Rumex spp.
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata	Near Threatened	Trifolium repens, Trifolium spp., Vicia cracca
The sallow Cirrhia icteritia	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp.
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Centaurea spp.
Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae	Near Threatened	Centaurea nigra
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp.
The blackneck Lygephila pastinum	Near Threatened	Vicia cracca
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.

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.