1 1 The Irish Natiiralist. 



Stachys ambigua, Smith (S. sylvalica x palustris).— Shady roadside 

 north of Balscaddan, close to the county boundary. Appears to be the 

 true S. ambigua; as remarked in Hooker's "Student's Flora," other hybrids 

 nearer to S. palustris are more common. 



Stachys arvensis, L. — About the railway at Foxrock. Howth 



{Flor. Howth) is the only previous Dublin record. 



Polygonum aviculare, L. var. arenastrum {fide A. Bennett). — 

 Sandy shore north of Balbriggan, with P. Raii. 



Ophrys apifcra, Huds. — In some abundance in meadows by the sea 

 between Ballybrack and Bray, R. LI. P. 13th July, 1886. (This is the 

 only note which does not refer to the past season.) 



Carex riparia, Curt. — In a pool by the railway between Clontarf 

 and Raheny. 



It may not be out of place to refer here to a scheme recently 

 set on foot for the compilation of a Cryptogamic Flora of County 

 Dublin. The cryptogams are so numerous, and most of them 

 are so minute, and require such careful study, that the pro- 

 posed cryptogamic survey of the county can be carried out only 

 by the combined investigations of a number of botanists. We 

 are fortunate in having in Dublin naturalists well qualified for 

 the work, and whose active interest in the Irish flora is already 

 well known. Mr. Greenwood Pirn and Dr. M'Weeney, who 

 have already done so much for Irish mycology, have under- 

 taken the Fungi. The mosses and hepatics will be in the hands 

 of Mr. M'Ardle. The marine Algae will be well looked after 

 by Prof. Johnson, and Mr. F. W. Moore has kindly promised 

 assistance in the difficult group of the fresh-water Algae. No 

 doubt fresh recruits will come forward as the work proceeds ; 

 and with the addition of the information that has been already 

 placed on record, it is hoped that in a few years time it will be 

 possible to publish at least a first contribution to a Cryptogamic 

 Flora of Dublin. In the meantime, any of the gentlemen 

 named, or the present writer, will be very pleased to hear from 

 any one who is willing to assist in the large amount of field 

 work which still remains to be accomplished. 



