92 The Irish Naturalist May, 
considerable area. Birch seedlings in different stages of 
growth were frequent, some up to three inches in height, 
but it was not possible, as it was in the case of the equally 
numerous Sycamore seedlings, to decide whether any of 
these had sprung from seed which had reached the burnt 
ground after the fire. 
Before proceeding to sum up the results of the observa- 
tions just recorded and discussed, it will be convenient to 
arrange here in one view, roughly in the order of their 
mass or dominance and without reference to their origin, 
the species which were found to play any important part 
in re -clothing the burnt ground at the opening of this 
year. Out of the total renascence flora of 64 species, only 
the following 14 deserve mention in this connection : — 
Barbula fallax. Poa annua. 
Funaria hygrometrica. Ulex europaeus. 
Holcus mollis. Senecio sylvaticus. 
Anthoxanthum odoratum. Rumex Acetosella. 
Lolium perenne. Senecio vulgaris. 
Sedum anglicum. Sonchus oleraceus. 
Air a praecox. Carex binervis. 
On a general survey of this new flora perhaps the most 
salient fact which emerges is the conflict between its higher 
and lower elements, between the phanerogams and the 
cryptogams. Relatively few^ in species though they be, 
only 9 out of a total of 64, the lower plants are yet con- 
spicuously dominant, one -half of the total vegetable clothing 
of the burnt ground being contributed by the two mosses 
which stand at the head of the above list. So far, these species 
have kept in check the much more varied phanerogamic 
flora ; they have probably killed off the seedling gorse, and, 
for a time at least, have secured unmistakeable dominance. 
Is this dominance of the cryptogamic element likely to be 
permanent ? And if not, in what manner is the competing 
phanerogamic element likely to assert its predominance ? 
Which of its species will increase and which decrease or 
disappear as the struggle for existence goes on ? What, 
