Alchemilla xanthochlora (Intermediate Lady's-mantle) new native for Co. Wexford

 Margaret Bradshaw the BSBI Referee for Alchemilla has confirmed the specimen of Alchemilla xanthochlora I sent her from a road side at Ballymaclare, 6km south of New Ross. This is a new native species for Wexford, the nearest site in Ireland is c. 80km away. Almost went unnoticed as I put down Alchemilla mollis (Garden Lady's-mantle) on my recording card at the first patch I saw, still didn't cross my mind it wasn't A. mollis when I walked past the second population along the road verge. It wasn't until I was having a cuppa in the car that I thought to myself there is a lot of Lady's-mantle for a garden escape. Took another look, realising the leaves were more or less hairless, I knew it couldn't be A. mollis as that has very hairy leaves.

 Below, one of the verges the Alchemilla xanthochlora (Intermediate Lady's-mantle) was growing along.

Viola tricolor subsp. tricolor (Wild Pansy) at Curracloe

 Came across a stubble field blue with Wild Pansy, never seen so much before. Very good year for weedy stubble fields

Cotoneaster splendens (Showy Cotoneaster) new species for county

 Cotoneasters are one of the few non-native species that I normally look the other way when I see them as I find them almost impossible to ID. Showy Cotoneaster is the first record for Wexford and is also new for Ireland. Sent a pressed specimen to J. Fryer the BSBI Cotoneaster Referee to see what it was. The reply said most likely C. splendens, but need more mature fruits and photos to show correct colour of fruit. It was a 8km round trip to collect a 2nd specimen as it grows at the very end of The Raven. There are two bushes, most likely bird sown.

 Showing whole bush

The two bushes are on the slope below the trees

Misopates orontium (Weasel's-snout) a very rare species in Wexford

Paula O'Meara found Weasel's-snout at Dunganstown on 27th Oct, just one in stubble field. This is the first record for this part of the county. This is the first county record since 2002 as a weed of a stubble field. The only other extant site is as a weed in a veg plot.