Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita (Buser) M.E. Bradshaw, a Hairy Lady's-mantle

Native, occasional but possibly under-recorded. European boreal-montane, but also in N America.

1947; MCM & D; laneway near Fardrum Lough.

March to December.

This is the scarcest and most locally occurring of the three Alchemilla species in Fermanagh, with around half the frequency of records and tetrads of A. glabra (Smooth Lady's-mantle) and A. xanthochlora (Intermediate Lady's-mantle). All three of these apomictic perennials occupy rather similar damp, rough grassland habitats, differing ecologically in only minor ways and showing a degree of overlap. It is possible that all three are under-recorded, since many less experienced observers still find distinguishing them quite tricky and, therefore, they tend to ignore them or lump them together.

A. filicaulis contains two subspecies, but only subsp. vestita occurs in Ireland (Garrard & Streeter 1983; An Irish Flora 7th edition). One old record of subsp. filicaulis does exist for Ben Bulbin mountain in Co Sligo (H28), the current status of which is unknown to RHN and the current author (RSF). The New Atlas hectad map shows that subsp. vestita is the most widespread form of any Lady's-mantle in both B & I occupying suitable short, rough grassland throughout the whole latitudinal range of both islands, but with a definite western tendency in the distribution.

In Fermanagh, this subspecies has been recorded well over a hundred times in a total of 63 tetrads, over 11.9% of those in the VC. As the distribution map indicates it is widely scattered across the county, but is most frequent in the west. Eight tetrads have pre-1975 records only, suggesting either a decline in suitable habitats or maybe the identification confusion mentioned above. Local habitats of subsp. vestita include rocky limestone grassland, wayside verges and banks, gravelly watersides, cliff ledges, screes and quarries.