Flora

Dunkery - dwarf shrub heath is the dominant vegetation type. Common ling (Calluna vulgarisj is he major component forming, in places, almost pure stands, but elsewhere occurring as dominant or co-dominant with other dwarf shrubs such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). western gorse (Ulex gallei) and jell heather (Erica cinerea). Purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and bristle bent (Agrostis setacea) also occur quite extensively. Old heather, i.e. 25 summers or more, represents 29% of the 1290.2 ha of dwarf shrub heath. Other plant species present amongst heather are wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) and jurple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea). both widely distributed and in some quantity, and cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix). deer grass (Trichopborum caespitosum). mat-grass (Nardus stricta) and tormentil   (Potentilla erecta). all very sparse and often quite local in occurrence. The local upland plant, crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) occurs between Chetsford Water and the Kit Barrows. Crowberry occurs only in southern England along the main crest of Exmoor and on Dartmoor.

Mixed heath (heather, bell heather and western gorse) is present on steeper, generally lower, free-draining slopes, mainly with a southerly aspect. Heath grass (Sieglingia decumbens) is a constituent of this vegetation type. Drier heath merges into areas of wet heath and here purple moor-grass becomes co-dominat with Iheather.

Three clubtnosses have in the past been recorded from moorland around Dunkery Beacon. Alpine clubmoss (Diphasiastrum alpinum) has not been reported since 1927 and is presumed extinct (Roe, 1981). Stag's horn clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) has not been recported since 1972 but may well be present. Fir clubmoss (Lycopodium selago) occurs in a wet flushed area on the northern slopes of Dunkery Hill (SS 900426). It is a northern species with very few localities in southern England and only one other Somerset site. Another rare montane plant present in one of its few southern England localities is lesser twayblade (Listera cordata). It was recorded in the early 1970's but has not been reported since.

Heathland bryophytes and lichens have not, as yet, been recorded in detail. The more common bryophytes such as Hypnum cupressiforme. Dicranutn scoparium and Pleurozium schreberi are well represented locally.

Gorse-dominated communities occur widely around the peripheries of the moorland, and locally form extensive stands. Old gorse (Ules europaeus) occurs in large stands particularly south of Brockwell.

Bracken communities (Ptendium aquilinum) occur extensively in open moorland areas, representing 13% of the total vegetation cover. Where bracken occurs with bilberry, wavy hair-grass and heath bedstraw (Galium saxitile) are also generally present. Areas co-dominated by bracken and acidic grasses are characterised by the presence of common bent (Agrostis tenuis). sweet vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratutn), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina). wavy hair-grass, heath bedstraw and tormentil.

Acidic grassland is not a common feature of the open moorland.   It does occur on the property, but mainly within several discrete reclaimed areas on the periphery. These are not covered in the present plan.

Mires and Hushes occur widely over the open moorland. On Exford Common, a particularly rich blanket pog is developed on this flat, high-level plateau.   Purple moor-grass dominates with bog moss (Sphagnum   spp.) in numerous shallow hollows. This locality is one of the few areas in southern Britain where cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) exists. Three localities exist on Exmoor, of which this is the largest population. Together with good colonies of crowberry, other species include hare's-tail cotton grass (Eriophorum   vaginatum). deer grass, heath rush (Juncus squarrosus). bog asphodel (Nartbecium ossifragum). the lichen

Cladonia  impexa  and  the  bryophytes Aulacomnium  palustre.  Odontoschisma  sphagni  and  Lophozia   ventricosa. The western montane moss, Campylopus atrovirens is also likely to be present in small   quantities.   The wet pools support good stands of common cotton grass (Eriophorum augustifolium) and the fairly local round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).   A large area of flushed, north-facing hillslope above Hollow Combe (SS 900426) has an excellent variety of   species, including green-ribbed sedge (Carex binervis). carnation sedge (Carex panicea. common sedge   (Carex  nigra). opposite-leaved   golden   saxifrage   (Chtysosplenium   oppositifolium).   bog  violet   (Viola  p alustris). blinks (Montia fontanaj. bulbous rush (Juncus bulbosus). heath rush (J, squarrosus). sharp   flowered rush (J. acutiflorus). heath milkwort (Polygala seryllifolia). lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica), and,  m ost notably, fir clubmoss (Lycopodium selago).

SUBSECTION 1.2.2.1 Flora (continued)

A series of narrow wet flushes are present on the open, north-facing slopes of Goosemoor Common, [between Aller Combe and Bagley Combe (SS 880421).  Four main flushes are present, the two westernmost re the richest with small areas of bryophyte-rich lawns beside small streams.   The very local western plant Cornish moneywort (Sibthorpia europaea) is present in small quantities.

An area of valley mire is presnt on the northern side of Chetstbrd Water, east of and adjacent to Chetsford Bridge. The area is generally heavily trampled, but small areas have escaped damage and are particularly rich, supporting the fairly local bog pimpernel fAnagailis tenella). bog asphodel, moorland crowfoot (Ranunculus omiophyllus) and devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis). The very local few-flowered spike-rush (Eleocharis quinqueflora) has been reported from this area in 1973 (Roe, 1980) in one of only two recent localities in Somerset. Its exact location is currently not known.

Stream valleys are a major constituent of the open moorland. Here woodland and scattered trees often extend into the moorland and communities unique to the valleys also occur, e.g. the bryophyte communities of the boulders. At Chetsford Water a spars shrub layer of rowan, hawthorn and sallow extends along the valley bottom. The ground flora, though grazed and grass-dominated, has numerous species present, including wood sorrel (Qxalis acetosells). wood violet (Viola riviniana). primrose (Primula vulgaris). lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria). valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium). Ferns present include broad buckler fern (Dryopteris dilatata). scaly male (D. pseudomasj. male fern (D. filix-mas). sweet mountain fern (Qreopteris limbosperma). hard fern [(Blecbnum spicant), lady fern (Atfayrium filix-femina) and common polypody fPolypodium vulgare). Iryophytes are well-developed and include one local species, the western epiphytic moss Neckera pumila.

Mansley Combe and Bin Combe the transition from unenclosed woodland to moorland is particularly valuable.   Of special interest is the presence of good populations of common cow-wheat (Melampyrum

ratense), the food plant for the heath fritillary butterfly.   Rhododendron ponticum is particularly invasive on the lower slopes of Bin Combe and requires eradication.

B. Ley Hill - dwarf shrub heath is the dominant vegetation type, forming the central core of the site. The heath is almost entirely mixed, dominated by heather or western gorse. Bristle bent (Agrostis setacea) is a feature of many areas. One local species, the parasitic lesser dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) is present on the northern slopes of Crawter Hill. Gorse communities and bracken communities tend to occur on the periphery of the site, particularly along the western boundary of Doverhay Down and on the steeper slopes of Ley Hill. There is an excellent semi-natural woodland-open moorland transition approximately 4 miles in length.

C. Selworthy - the major vegetation types of the open moorland are heath and grass-heath and include the species, western gorse, heather, bell heather, bristle bent and gorse. The coastal situation of the site is reflected in the dominant mixed heath. Other species present in this community include heath bedstraw. rcormendl, heath milkwort, sweet vernal-grass, brown bent (Agrostis canina) and sheep's fescue. The local pant, lesser dodder, is found on some of the older European gorse. Maritime heath occurs in Hurlstone Combe and on the western slopes of Bossington Hill. Bell heather is the dominant dwarf shrub, but the vegetation type is characterised by large patches between the shrubs where the ground is covered with lichen fCladonia spp.). Maritime grassland is particularly well-developed on the steep north-facing slopes near Hurlstone Point. The grassland is dominated by sheep's fescue, with thrift (Armeria maritima) also in good quantity. Other species present include English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum). common scurvy grass (Cocblearia officinalis), bucks horn plantain (Plantago coronopus). procumbent pearlwott (Sagina procumbens). wild thyme (Thymus drucei). bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and carline thistle

(Carlina vulgaris).

Bracken-dominated communities are mainly peripheral to the moorland heath, but are quite extensive where they do occur in Church, Lynch, East and Selworthy Combes. Secondary scrub woodland is developing in Lynch Combe (SS 906480), comprising mainly ash, sycamore, oak, hawthorn, holm oak and elder. This woodland is gradually encroaching into open moorland.