Fens and Dunes

Went out on 18th June with Drs Hipkin and Forman's Ecology course to Crymlyn Burrows, Pant y Sais Fen and Kenfig to explore more plants of fixed and mobile dunes as well as another wet place. At the fen we saw Marsh bedstraw (Gallium pallustre), Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua), Ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla pallustris) and Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris). We also saw the impressive Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) and Giant dock (Rumex pallustris). On the shore and the mobile dunes of Crymlyn Burrows we viewed Sea sandwort (Honkenya peploides), Prostate orache (Atriplex prostrata), Sea bindweed (Calystegia soldanalia), Large Flowered Evening primrose (Oenothera erythrosepaia), Rest-harrow (Ononis repens), Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) and Lady's bedstraw (Gallium verum). There was also much Sharp rush (Juncus acutus) and Common clubrush (Scirpus lacustris). The fixed dunes of Kenfig also had Rest-harrow, Sea bindweed, Sea holly and Lady's bedstraw but in addition had Biting stonecrop (Sedum acre), Burnet rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia), Germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedryas), Lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), Meadow thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare), Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneralaria), Stinking iris (Iris foetidissima), Marsh helleborine (Epipactis pallustre), Early purple orchid (Orchia masula), Southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza pratermissa) and Pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis).