1904. 265 



THE FLORA OF ACHILL ISI.AND. 



BY R. LLOYD PRAEGER. 



Although Acliill Island has been visited at one time or 

 another by most of our Irish botanists, and by many English 

 botanists also, no serious survey of its flora has ever been 

 undertaken. The limited and stunted character of its sparse 

 vegetation has a deterring influence, and does not offer to 

 repay a laborious scrutin3\ Thus we find A. G. More writing 

 to S. A. Stewart in 18S3 : — '' I have been in Achill, and I can 

 tell you it has hardly a rare plaiit. I only recollect Eriocaulon 

 and Erica inediterranea. Also H. C Hart has been there and 

 found very little."^ And indeed, were the finding of rare 

 plants the only object of botanical field-work, Achill would 

 have no special claims on the investigator. But on such an 

 remote outpost of the Old World, the occurrence or non- 

 occurrence of a7iy plant has an interest for the student of 

 botanical geography ; and it is to the phytogeographer, rather 

 than to the rarity-hunter, that I offer the following sketch of 

 the vegetation of Achill. 



Regarding the history of Achill botanj^, little has to be said. 

 The first explorer who left any account of his impressions 

 seems to have been Edward Newman^, who spent three days 

 on the island during a walking tour in 1839. He visited most 

 parts of the island, noted the peculiar flora of Meenawn (see 

 p. 273 below), found Osvmnda and a few common plants, and 

 also what at the time was taken for Ei ica Mackaii. He wonders 

 at the houses, " which a good deal resemble those of the 

 Esquimaux Indians," and especially praises the extraordinary 

 scenery at Bunnafreva lyough West. 



Prof. Babington"' spent three days on x\chill in 1840, and ex- 

 plored the greater part of the island, but does not seem to have 

 noted in his journal anyplants of interest ; two species, however, 

 Erodram Dioschatum and Callitriche platycai-pa, eventually 

 made their appearance (Ann. Mag. N. //., vol. vi., 328, 1841; 

 and Cyb. Hib., ed. ii.) as found on this trip. 



^ Life and Letters of A. G. More, p. 301. 



2 Notes on Irish Natural History, especially Ferns. Mag. of Nat. Hist.y 

 N.S., vol. iii., pp. 571-574- 1839. 



3 Memorials, &.C., of C C. Babington, p. 93. 1897. 



