Flora of Wales
The flora of Wales refers to the plant life in Wales.
Trees
The sessile oak (Quercus petraea), one of Wales' most common species, can be found across the region. English holly (Ilex aquifolium), one of the few native evergreen trees, can be found in southern Wales. The wych elm (Ulmus glabra), a native species, suffers from disease and competition introduced by exotic species.[1]
Flowers
The cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis), a herbaceous perennial, can be found throughout Wales. Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), a small flowering shrub, can be found in central Wales. Within the British Isles, the Snowdon lily (Gagea serotina) is found only on the slopes of Snowdon.[2]
Important Plant Areas
Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in Wales are areas of "the highest botanical importance" as determined by Plantlife.[3]
| County / Histori\320c county | Species | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Anglesey / Sir Fon | Spotted rock-rose (Tuberaria guttata) | Dry, rocky places |
| Brecknockshire / Sir Frycheiniog | Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) | Wet grassland and pond margins |
| Caernarvonshire / Sir Gaernarfon | Snowdon lily (Gagea serotina) | Mountain rocks |
| Cardiff / Caerdydd | Wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum) | Sandy and rocky places near the sea |
| Cardiganshire / Ceredigion | Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) | Mid-Wales |
| Carmarthenshire / Sir Gaerfyddin | Whorled caraway (Carum verticillatum) | Damp meadows |
| Denbighshire / Sir Ddinbych | Limestone woundwort (Stachys alpina) | Roadsides and hedges |
| Flintshire / Sir Fflint | Bell heather (Erica cinerea) | Heaths and moors |
| Glamorgan / Morgannwg | Yellow whitlow-grass (Draba aizoides) | Rocks and old walls |
| Merioneth / Merionnydd | Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) | Damp, shady rocks |
| Monmouthshire / Sir Fynwy | Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) | Woodland clearings, heaths and banks |
| Montgomeryshire / Sir Drefaldwyn | Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata) | Limestone rocks |
| Pembrokeshire / Sir Benfro | Thrift (Armeria maritima) | Coastal cliffs or astride craggy islands |
| Radnorshire / Sir Faesyfed | Radnor lily (Gagea bohemica) | Limestone rocks |
References
- John White, "Trees: A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe", 2005.
- R. G. Ellis, "Flowering Plants of Wales", 1993.
- Important Plant Areas (Wales) Archived 27 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine Plantlife, Retrieved 26 September 2012.