Flora of Wales explained

The flora of Wales is the assemblage of 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 / Historic countySpeciesHabitat
Spotted rock-rose (Tuberaria guttata) Dry, rocky places
Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)Wet grassland and pond margins
Snowdon lily (Gagea serotina) Mountain rocks
Wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum) Sandy and rocky places near the sea
Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) Mid-Wales
Whorled caraway (Carum verticillatum) Damp meadows
Limestone woundwort (Stachys alpina) Roadsides and hedges
Bell heather (Erica cinerea) Heaths and moors
Yellow whitlow-grass (Draba aizoides) Rocks and old walls
Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) Damp, shady rocks
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Woodland clearings, heaths and banks
Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata) Limestone rocks
Thrift (Armeria maritima) Coastal cliffs or astride craggy islands
Radnor lily (Gagea bohemica) Limestone rocks

Notes and References

  1. John White, "Trees: A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe", 2005.
  2. R. G. Ellis, "Flowering Plants of Wales", 1993.
  3. http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wales/wild_plants/important_plant_areas_wales/ Important Plant Areas (Wales)