. THE IRISH CAREX RHYNCHOPHYSA. 277 
The alleged discovery of this plant in Ireland was therefore 
an interesting fact in phyto-geography, as one would rather have 
expected it to be found in the northern and eastern parts of 
Scotland than in the central part of Northern Ireland; unless, 
indeed, it belonged to that abnormal group which comprises 
Inula salicina and Carex fusca ( Buxbaumii), which are almost 
inexplicable outliers from their ordinary range of distribution. 
Mr. Praeger's original gathering consisted, as has been said, 
of a single specimen, but he found it in one or two additional 
places at Mullaghmore in succeeding seasons. Last August, 
having to attend a conference at Belfast, I resolved to search 
for this rare and interesting Sedge, and with only the details 
given in the ‘ Journal of Botany’ to assist me in the quest; but 
after a careful examination of some Finland specimens, and the 
figure and description in the ‘ Journal of Botany,’ I set out 
from Belfast to the remote locality indicated, very near to Lough 
Swilly Station, not far from which I came upon the Lough. 
Notwithstanding the dry season, the water in the marshes at the 
head was rather higher than was formerly the case, owing, as I 
was informed, to the drains at the outlet being overgrown with 
vegetation. I commenced a search for the Sedge, which lasted 
between three and four hours. In this comparatively thorough 
investigation I could not help admiring the magnificent tufts of 
Cicuta, and in addition Potamogeton obtusifolius and Utricularia 
major were noticed; but the plant of the marshy borders of the 
Lough was Carex restrata, which I had never previously seen so 
luxuriant, nor, indeed, so variable in size. 
In what I took to be Mr. Praeger’s locality, I found a tuft of 
a broad glaucous-lcaved Sedge which answer. d to my recollection 
of the figure in the ‘Journal of Botany. The thicker spikelets, 
large fruits, and very broad leaves, in some cases nearly j inch 
broad, with thick spongy stem, measuring in the submerged 
part between 3 and 4 inches round, appearing very different from 
Carex rostrata as seen in our Midland bogs; and yet it was diffi- 
cult to see any sharp line of demarcation between these specimens 
and others which grew in shallower water, or again between the 
latter and plants growing in the marsh itself. Even in the 
marsh the leaves of plants having the spikes and fruits of 
ordinary rostrata had the leaves somewhat broader than our 
usual English form, and they were decidedly glaucous. None of 
