Chatley Heath Flora and Fauna
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Chatley Heath Flora and Fauna
Introduction
Some of the flora and fauna seen on my visit of 25 September 2010. I shall top this page up on future visits.
Invertibrates
Harvestman (Phalangium opilio). These look like spiders (have 8 legs) but in fact are not spiders. They have a non-segmented body and only two eyes which are placed in the centre of the head and face outwards.
This specimen was found on the upright of the noticeboard at the entrance to the Semaphore Tower.
Ichneumon Wasp (Ophion luteus). A parasitoid wasp which was flying from plant to plant seeking out its victim.
Apterous (wingless) aphid. Several of these aphids had made a tree stump their home. I found them by carefully removing some bark. The white object on its back is an egg.
Beetle Larvae (Probably a click beetle) found under the bark of the same tree trunk. Look to the left of the larvae and you will see another, deeper in the bark.
Flowers
Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris).A low-growing perennial shrub (20 to 50 centimetres tall). Commonly found on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. Flowering, late July-November.
Bell Heather (Erica cinerea).Native to western and central Europe. A low shrub growing to 15–60 centimetres tall, with fine needle-like leaves 4–8 millimetres long arranged in whorls of three. The flowers appear mid-late Summer.
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). An invasive species which can normally be found along river banks. In this case, these plants were found in a woodland clearing. Control of these plants is very difficult and they out-compete native species. The bees however love the flowers.
Fungi
Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus).A poisonous basidiomycete fungus, previously considered edible and eaten widely in Eastern and Central Europe.
Tawny Grisette (Amanita fulva).Amanita fulva is edible and has a pleasant taste, but it can cause stomach problems when consumed raw. It is not recommended to pick these for the table as they can easily be confused for poisonous species in the genus Amanita.