1904- Praegkr. — The Flora of A chill Island, 273 



offer an opinion. On more elevated ground the surface be. 

 comes smoother. Where the underlying .peat is deep and 

 wet, the Cotton grass-moor type is sometimes well developed; 

 and either Scirpus caspilosus or Narthecium ossifragum may 

 also be dominant species. On well-drained slopes, or where 

 deep peat is absent, Calhma asserts itself absolutely, with an 

 intermingling of Erica ci7ierea and E. Tetralix. On the slopes 

 of the Meenawn range peat is absent, and exposure reaches 

 a maximum. Here the vegetation consists of very stunted 

 Calhma, with an abundant intermingling of Arctostaphylos 

 Uva-U7^si and Jimiperus nana ; and Salix herbacea puts in an 

 appearance as low down as 1,200 feet. This remarkable asso- 

 ciation was excellently described by Edward Newman sixty- 

 five years ago. "There is an extent of miles covered with a 

 dense net-work of vegetation, every twig of which leans away 

 from the ocean ; this net- work or mat springs beneath the 

 feet with great elasticity : it is principally composed of Salix 

 he7'bacea, Salix repens^ Arbuttis Uva-ursi, Jtmiperus naiius^ 

 Calluna vulgaris^ Erica cinerea^ and a variety of Carices." {Loc. 



f^ii . P- 573)- 



The summit-flora of the two high peaks of Achill is similar. 



The ground is similar in each case — a narrow, stony ridge. 



Slievemore summit (2,204 ^^^^) is occupied by a dry, close felt 



of Calluna and mosses {Hylocovmim squar7'OSU7n and A7iti\ 



trichia cu7'tipe7idula predominating). The full list is as 



follows : — 



CAiyivUNA vui^GARis, v.c. Solidago Virgaurea. 



Juncus squarrosus, c. Vaccinium Myrtillus. 



Eriophorum vaginatum,/. Rumex Acetosa. 



E- angustifoHum,/ Empetrum nigrum. 



Empetrum nigrum,/. Luzula maxima. 



Cerastium triviale. Carex rigida. 



Potentilla Tormentilla. Agrostis vulgaris. 



Saxifraga umbrosa. Deschampsia flexuosa. 



Galium saxatile. Festuca ovina, / vivipara. 



Croaghaun summit (2,192 feet) exhibits a rocky mossy ridge 

 of stunted Calhaia with much Saxif7'aga u77ibrosa, Vacci7iiu7n 

 Myrtillus J and Ltizula viaxi77ia. The full list is : — 



Cai,IvUNA vui,GARis, v.c. Rumex Acetosa,/. 



Saxifraga umbrosa, c. Empetrum nigrum,/. 



Vaccinium Myrtillus, r. Carex rigida, /. 



l/uzula maxima, c. Festuca ovina f. vivipara, / 



