Clegir Mawr
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Description
Description This site is designated for its botanical interest. The most noteworthy feature is the presence of a large population of the nationally rare annual rockrose Tuberaria Guttata growing in one of its nine known British localities. This is the only extant site on the main island of Anglesey, seven of the remainder being on Holy Island with one in the Lleyn Peninsula. Tuberaria Guttata is associated with thin acidic soils on rocky ridgelines or steep slopes. The more frequent associated species include sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris, squirrel-tail fescue Vulpia bromoides, early hair-grass Aira praecox, heather Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica Cinerea, western gorse Ulex gallii, spring squill Scilla verna and English stonecrop Sedum anglicum. Other notable plant species present include the nationally uncommon golden-samphire Inula Crithmoides on the sea cliffs, and the locally uncommon prickly sedge Carex Muricata subsp. Lamprocarpa and dodder Cuscuta epithymum.
Species mentioned
Show the 9 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 |
| early hair grass | Aira praecox | VU | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| squirrel tail fescue | Vulpia bromoides | LC | grass | poaceae |
| common dodder | Cuscuta epithymum | LC | herb | convolvulaceae |
| spring squill | Scilla verna | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| English stonecrop | Sedum anglicum | LC | herb | crassulaceae |
| western gorse | Ulex gallii | LC | shrub | leguminosae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Aira praecox, Festuca ovina |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Ulex spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
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.