The Flora and Fauna of the Lizard

A talk by Paul Gainey

28.01.2025

Camel Barn, Rosuick Farm

Paul Gainey treated 35 people to a delightful tour of the Lizard peninsula, looking at its spectacular flora and fauna and how it relates to the unique geology. We started at Loe Pool and Loe Bar, which is the best place (of anywhere) to see the Yellow Horn Poppy. In Gunwalloe we see Golden Samphire and Sea Lavender. We learned how nutrient poor soils support certain species, particularly when enriched by minerals such as iron, magnesium, silica, cobalt, nickel and chromium. Over millions of years, plants have adapted to certain soils and conditions. In Mullion Cove there are 9 species of orchid, for example the green winged orchid, only found on the Lizard and Rosemullion Head. Our plants like basic soils (i.e not acid). Our ancient cart tracks support nationally scarce plants which have evolved to tolerate being submerged in the winter and hard baked in the summer.

These include the Yellow Centaury. Some plants found in other parts of the country have developed a prostrate form here. This includes the Prostrate asparagus found on Asparagus Island off Kynance Cove. 98% of the British population of this plant grows on the Lizard.

Most of us are already familiar with our Cornish Heath, Erica Vagrans, which is almost unique to the Lizard, growing on serpentine, It is basophilic, unlike other heathers which grow on acid soils.

Then there are exceptions, such as the Heath Spotted Orchid which grows around Kyanace Cove. It is an acidophile. But it can flourish because the top layer of soil is essentially humus, and the plant’s roots are shallow. If they were deeper they would the basic soil to be incompatible with growth.

In Lizard village we see the tallest tree mallow recorded, and also a vare rare fumitory Fumaria Occidentalis which is endemic to Cornwall. It loves disturbed soil. On Black Head can be seen Autumn Ladies Tresses Orchid, which is basophilic and whose roots penetrate down into the soil where the mycorrhizal relationship with hyphae in the soil is vital.

The Pale Butterwort is one of two insectiverous plants found on the Lizard. It can be found on Goonhilly Downs.

Paul added interest by including some biographical descriptions of various botanists who have described the flora of the Lizard over the centuries. In 1838 William Borrer descibed the twin headed clover, where the flowers occur only in pairs. These are found only on the Lizard and in the Mediterranean. In 1847 C.A.Johns highlighted the Lizard as a special place for botany. Professor Babington gave his name to the Babington leek though it was a local botanist who showed it to him in 1870, growing at Poltesco.

Apart from plants, we heard about lichen, fungi, birds, insects and fish. There are about 750 species of lichen on the Lizard, and 15 are found nowhere else in the British Isles. There are so many species of fungi, and Paul showed us just a few. The Eyelash Fungus is red and just 1 cm in diameter. At Trelowarren the ancient lawn above the house has never been treated with pesticides or fertilisers. It is home to rare fungi such as the Ballerina Wax Cap and the Splendid Wax Cap. Fly Garrick is found in the woods towards Gweek. It has a mycorrhizal association with the Birch trees. Porcelain Fungus is found on dead and dying beech. Death Cap is here, one of the 10 most poisonous fungi in the world, so beware!

The chough returned to the Lizard in 2001. Three birds were seen at Pedn Olver, 2 males and a female. They had come from Ireland. Since then they have re-established themselves here after 90 years absence – they were persecuted in the past. Now there are about 400 chough in Cornwall. The Death’s Head Hawk Moth blows with the wind as a migrant every 2 or 3 years. Britain’s only aquatic spider has been seen at Kynance and in the quarry at Porthoustock.

Bass and red mullet live in the Helford. Giant ghobi are found there, measuring 9-10”, where most ghobi around the British Isles are between one and four inches. The Giant Ghobi is a Mediterranean species, also found on Scilly, Portscatho and in the estuary at Plymouth, but mostly in the Helford. In 1967 a new species of Goby was described, Couch’s Goby, named after the famous Cornish geologist. The Tompot Blenny is also found in the Helford and the rare short snouted sea horse are occasionally seen.

Flora and Fauna on the Lizard

A talk by Paul Gainey

'Six Inches of Soil'