62 The Irish Naturalist. March, 



IRISH LIVERWORTS. 



A List Of Irish Hepatlcae. By David M'Ardi^e;. Proc. R. I. Acad., 

 xxiv., B., 1.3. 1904. 



This is a more important work than its title would imply, and consists 

 of over TOO pages. It is stated to be " an attempt to give a full and re- 

 liable list of the Hepaticae of Ireland, as they are known at the present 

 time. It is intended to form Part II. of Cybele Hibernica, and is based on 

 exactly the same lines." 



The year 1876 was an epoch in the study of Irish Liverworts, when Dr. 

 David Moore published his "Report on Irish Hepaticae"; 137 species 

 were then described and localised. Since his death in 1879, ^^r* M'Ardle 

 has devoted himself enthusiastically to the study of this group of plants, 

 and searched for them in many parts of Ireland, and added largely to our 

 knowledge of the Irish species. The present Ivist is a summary of what 

 has been done since that time, worked out for the 12 botanical provinces 

 of " Cybele Hibernica" in the manner of that work. The 137 species of 

 Moore's Report has been increased to 172 in the present List, not a bad 

 result considering the paucity of workers. 



After a short Introduction, with remarks on physical features, climate, 

 rainfall, and peculiarities of the Hepatic flora, a table is given of distri- 

 bution through the districts, and a bibliography, followed by the detailed 

 account of species and localities throughout the botanical provinces of 

 Ireland. 



Much space is taken up in this list by synonyms, which seem out of 

 place in a work of the kind ; space which might have been profitabl}- 

 devoted to notes on the habitats, season of fruiting, and similar obser- 

 vations which would have been of interest and importance in regard to 

 these little known plants from one so familiar with their habits in their 

 favourite haunts in the south-west of Ireland. 



Mr. M'Ardle gives much space to varieties, no less than 63 of which 

 are recorded. Several of these are described here for the first time, such 

 as the var. e7-ecta of Lejeimea patens, Lindb., and var. viinor of Radula com- 

 planata, L. For the curious proliferous states described in certain species 

 (interesting illustrations of which appeared some time since in the Irish 

 Naturalist), it would have been better to adopt the i^rva forma than variety, 

 as is done by Limpricht. 



The most important feature of the work is the detailed account of all 

 that is at present known of the distribution of the species and varieties 

 of Hepaticae throughout Ireland. The result is a most useful compilation. 

 It can now be seen at a glance what has been done and what remains to 

 be effected, and how rich the Irish scale-moss flora is, as might be ex- 

 pected from the moist and equable climate of the Emerald Isle. Every 

 page shows how largely Mr. M'Ardle has contributed himself to the 

 result (while at the same time the work of others is fully recorded), and 

 how successfully he has followed in Dr. Moore's steps in extending our 

 knowledge of this portion of the Irish flora. 



