Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita Hairy Lady's-mantle

This is the most widspread of the native Lady's-mantles in Britain. It is a plant of unimproved grasslands which are not too acidic, such as hay meadows and grassy roadside verges. It is not common in West Glamorgan where it is largely confined to upland grassland, particularly those that fringe forest roads in the conifer plantations of Neath Port Talbot. Our native Lady's Mantles are apomictic and make up one of the critical species groups in the British Flora. Technically, they might be better viewed as a collection of microspecies (as with Hawkweeds). Careful observation is required for their identification but the availablility of good identification guides (e.g. BSBI Handbook No. 24, by Mark Lynes and Barabara Hogarth's field guide to the Lady's-mantles of the British Isles) makes this task considerably easier. The distinguishing features of Hairy Lady's-mantle include its general hairyness. Both leaf stalks, leaves and inflorescences are hairy as well as the stems, particularly at the base. Importantly, the upper leaf surface is typically covered with patent hairs, although hairyness is reported to be variable in some specimens. This is an important character which helps to separate it from Pale Lady's-mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora) whose leaves are glabrous on the upper surface. Rosette leaves usually have 7 rounded lobes with 9-13 teeth. Garden Lady's-mantle (Alchemilla mollis), which is an alien in the British Flora, is much more common than Hairy Lady's-mantle in West Glamorgan and is much more hairy (see description of that species).

Native