Great Orme April 19th 2006
Viola hirta(Hairy Violet)
Rhamnus alaternus(Mediterranean Buckthorn)
Hypochaeris maculata (Spotted Cat's-ear)
Veronica hederifolia ssp lucorum (Ivy-leaved Speedwell)
Arbutus unedo(Strawberry Tree)
Sorbus rupicola (Whitebeam later in the year)
Afternoon: Hillside overlooking Llandudno
On a limestone covered hillside Wendy showed us our last few flowering plants of the day. There were many plants of Cerastium pumilum (Dwarf mouse-ear) in full flower with their distinctive reddish stems. The last of Viola hirta (Hairy violet) was in flower and Wendy explained that the sequence of violet flowering in these parts was: Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) sometimes in flower in January or February, Viola hirta (Hairy Violet), Viola reichenbachiana (Early Dog violet) and then the commonest violet: Viola riviniana (Common Dog-violet). Some where in that sequence goes Viola canina (Heath Dog-violet) and if you find some by the seaside it seems to flower earlier than V. riviniana.
On that hillside we also found Scilla verna (Spring Squill), a rosette of one of the Great Orme’s specialties: Hypochaeris maculata (Spotted Cat's-ear) and on the way to this last site there were several trees of Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) with colourful strawberry fruits. This last introduction is regarded as a a bit invasive on the Great Orme. Another Mediterranean shrub which has taken hold all over the Great Orme is Rhamnus alaternus (Mediterranean Buckthorn). It flowers very early sometimes in February and there were the last of the flowers to be seen in April.
The Sorbus rupicola (Rock Whitebeam) was not even in leaf on the 19th of April but returning later in Spring the photo opposite was taken.
This was an excellent meeting which gave a taste of the many wonderful plants which can bee seen at this special site and we thanked Wendy for her efforts and expertise.
Peter Llewellyn July 2006