Rathlin Island - Kinramer South
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Basalt
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Rathlin Island-Kinramer South Pyramidal bugle The area is of special scientific interest because it contains a vigorous population of pyramidal bugle Ajuga pyramidalis. This plant is very rare in the British Isles, and has a markedly north-western distribution. On Rathlin, the species shows a preference for unimproved acid grassland pasture which occurs at the base of basalt rock outcrops usually in association with such grasses as sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Other associates include ling Calluna vulgaris, devils-bit scabious Succissa pratensis and tormentil Potentilla erecta. Where it grows in a shorter turf, associated species include ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, field woodrush Luzula campestris and birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Within the rest of Ireland, it is confined to a few locations in Counties Galway and Clare; the Rathlin population is the only one known in Northern Ireland. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/kinramer-south-assi
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| pyramidal bugle | Ajuga pyramidalis | NT | herb | lamiaceae |
| English sticky eyebright | Euphrasia officinalis | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| ribwort plantain | Plantago lanceolata | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| field wood rush | Luzula campestris | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh moth Athetis pallustris |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Lotus corniculatus |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Plantago lanceolata |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Plantago spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| 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.
Plant communities
U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland
Matches 8 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Euphrasia officinalis, Festuca ovina, Lotus corniculatus, Luzula campestris, Plantago lanceolata, Potentilla erecta
Show 82 indicator speciesCalluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta
U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland
Matches 6 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Luzula campestris, Plantago lanceolata, Potentilla erecta
Show 79 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant
M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland
Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire
Matches 5 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Luzula campestris, Potentilla erecta
Show 85 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis
U3 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland
Agrostis curtisii grassland
Matches 5 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Luzula campestris, Potentilla erecta
Show 34 indicator speciesCalluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Hypochaeris radicata, Teucrium scorodonia, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum
U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland
Deschampsia flexuosa grassland
Matches 4 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Potentilla erecta
Show 40 indicator speciesBetula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum