Wildlife Review 2024: Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens, Fungi & Algae

Plants

A total of 456 species were recorded during the year, (cf. 458 in 2023, 440 in 2022 & 438 in 2021), including four species new to the Recording Area flora. These were a mix of native, Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula; possibly native Twiggy Mullein Verbascum virgatum; an archaeophyte (non-native, arrived before AD1500) Many-seeded Goosefoot Lipandra polysperma; and a recent introduction from New Zealand, Toothed Fireweed Senecio minimus. The latter was the first Devon record and just the fourth UK record away from the Isles of Scilly, where it was discovered in 2000. 

Toothed Fireweed Senecio minimus 11th Oct - Kevin Rylands

Many-seeded Goosefoot Lipandra polysperma 7th August - Kevin Rylands

Three species were recorded for the first time in at least five years, Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata, Bristle Clubrush Isolepis setacea and Flowering Tobacco Nicotiana alata. 

Sand Crocus Romulea columnae first emerged on 18th Mar, (cf. 25th Mar 23 & 22nd Mar 22) but numbers flowering were much reduced this year in the grey spring conditions. Last year’s DBRC survey on the Golf Course recorded stable or slightly increasing numbers with a potential maximum in excess of 10,000 plants. 

Sand Crocus Romulea columnae (a dark varient) 21st March - Alan Keatley

Populations of Mossy Stonecrop Crassula tillea around the Golf Course and Buffer Zone continued to expand, with Small Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum azoricum another notable species in good numbers. The wet spring providing ideal germination conditions for many species, including Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia although the reappearance of Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes in the access tunnel was due to the repaired lighting.

 Small Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum azoricum 29th April - Kevin Rylands

Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia 8th June - Kevin Rylands

The weather unfortunately boosted the invasive evening primroses Oenothera sp., Hare’s-tail Lagurus ovatus and other grasses to the detriment of many of the small clovers and other bare ground and short turf specialists.

Strawberry Clover Trifolium fragiferum 11th August - Kevin Rylands

Wild Onion Allium vineale 24th June - Kevin Rylands

The continuing erosion breached parts of Warren Point, washing away most of the Warren’s Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, but providing a new refuge for strandline plants, such as Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali suffering from a loss of available habitat along the beach. 

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis 22nd June - Alan Keatley

It wasn’t all bad news for orchids with the Warren’s first Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula found in Greenland Lake on 14th Apr with a second emerging nearby on 27th, the ninth Orchid species recorded on site.

Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula 20th April - Kevin Rylands

Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio had another good year, first emerging on 23rd Mar with all four of last year's plants flowering including the one on Warren Point, where just with two Pyramidal Orchid survived the winter storms. 

Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio 18th April - Kevin Rylands

Hundreds of Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa were in flower in late May, with several hybrid Common Spotted x Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza x grandis a reminder of a lost species, the other Common Twayblade Neottia ovata. 

It was a record year for Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera with over 50 spikes recorded around the Dune Pond. The last orchids of the year, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris and Autumn Ladies-tresses Spiranthes spiralis were out in numbers across Greenland Lake. The 2017 work on the beach aims to return the 'lake' to a tidal creek, with the vast majority of these disappearing under the tide so enjoy them whilst you can.

Autumn Ladies-tresses Spiranthes spiralis 5th August - Alan Keatley

Dawlish Warren Flora

Mosses & Liverworts

Work to protect the declining Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii population saw plants translocated under licence from Greenland Lake to the edge of the Entrance Bushes. The species requires damp open areas benefiting from trampling which helps keep the sward open. 

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii 28th April - Kevin Rylands

Two other nationally rare liverworts Micheli's Balloonwort Sphaerocarpos michelii and Blue Crystalwort Riccia crystallina maintained their populations on bare areas around the Go-karts and car park, although some of the latter were lost under the summer Ferris wheel. The Recording Area is one of two Devon locations, with the other just the mainland side of the Railway Tunnel. 

Two of the 31 species noted had not been recorded for at least five years, Common Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and Knieff's Hook-moss Drepanocladus aduncus.

Common Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha 24th August - Kevin Rylands

Lichens

A total of 34 species were noted.

The extensive erosion of Warren Point saw the majority of the population of scarce dog-lichen Peltigera neckeri lost to the sea. The clump below was rescued from the tideline and relocated only to be washed away a few weeks later. The population found last year on the Dune Ridge is safer from erosion but could not be found this year under the increased vegetation growth.

Peltigera neckeri 17th March - Kevin Rylands

Ramalina fraxinia - Kevin Rylands A good population of this species of International Responsibility remains on the open trunks of Sycamores, especially around the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Fungi

A total of 187 species were recorded, 13 of which were new for the Recording Area. 

New species included Uromyces anthyllidis, a rust on Kidney Vetch, also new for Devon; Greyshank Bolete Leccinum cyaneobasileucum, Peronospora affinis, a downy mildew on fumitories, Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa, Spring Cavalier Melanoleuca cognata, Corticifraga fuckelii, a lichenicolous fungi on dog-lichens, and Micropodia pteridina, a small disc on Bracken. 

Uromyces anthyllidis 27th April - Kevin Rylands

Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa 7th October - Alan Keatley

Other records included Nectriopsis lecanodes still at Langstone Rock, one of only four English sites, and Grape Hyacinth Anther Smut Antherospora hortensis, one of two Devon sites. The wet autumn saw good numbers of fruiting parasols, puffballs and waxcaps in the grasslands with Dune Cup Peziza ammophila, Dune Brittlestem Psathyrella ammophila, Sandy Mushroom Agaricus devoniensis, Yellow Stainer A. xanthodermus and Marasmius anomalus amongst the Marram.

Hairy Parachute Crinipellis scabella 22/10 - Alan Keatley

Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea 19/10 - Kevin Rylands

Algae

A total of 24 seaweeds were identified during the year, including two new for the Recording Area, taking the audit to 68 species. The new species were Devil's Tongue Weed Grateloupia turuturu and Pom-pom Weed Caulacanthus okamurae, both sadly invasive non-natives from the west Pacific.