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MOSSES AND HEPATICS OF KILLARNEY. 

 By D. A. Jones, F.L.S. 



Much has been written about the mosses and hepatics of 

 Killarney from time to time by such ardent botanists as Moore, 

 Carrington, McArdle, and Canon Lett, and it is difficult to add 

 anything new to what has been published. However, a short 

 account of the distribution of the rarer species up to the present 

 time may prove of some interest and assistance, especially to those 

 botanists who may visit this charming and rich spot at some 

 future time. 



During the last seven years the district has been visited by 

 Messrs. J. Wilson, J. B. Duncan, S. J. Owen, and the writer on 

 three separate occasions. We made our headquarters at Muckross, 

 which is a very convenient centre from which to work the richest 

 ground. The weather favoured us each time, and we were able 

 to see the country at its best. The wealth of vegetation and the 

 variety of rare species that abound, both in the higher and lower 

 ground, cannot fail to attract the attention of the botanist who 

 visits this wonderful locality. Every rock and tree seems to form 

 the habitat of some rare mosses or hepatics, and it is amazing to 

 find the number of minute rarities that a small tuft of vegetation 

 from these places yields. Merionethshire, with its numerous 

 deep and sheltered glens, is very rich in its cryptogamic flora, but 

 we must admit that our county seldom approaches this favoured 

 spot in profusion and luxuriance. Tore Glen, the locus classicus 

 of the older botanists for these plants, continues to yield a fair 

 number of rarities. Eagle's Nest compares very favourably with 

 it for mosses and hepatics, and in some respects is even richer. 

 Cromaglown produces some species in profusion, while the woods 

 near the Old Weir Bridge and O' Sullivan's Cascade form a very 

 interesting hunting-ground. The rocks, loughs, and streams in 

 Horse's Glen and Mangerton Mountain abound in some of the 

 most coveted species. The higher ground about Mangerton was 

 only visited by us on three occasions. It is a rich part, where 

 Mastigophora Woodsii grows, and it would well repay further 

 investigation. Scapania nimbosa and ornithopodioides, which 

 accompany the former in other places along the west coast of 

 Ireland, should be looked for. 



It is gratifying to know that all the rare species are well distri- 

 buted throughout the district, grow in fair profusion, and appear to 

 be well able to hold their own without much danger of extinction. 



I will now enumerate some of the most interesting mosses and 

 hepatics, and mention a few of the localities in which they grow. 



Polytrichum gracile Dicks. Bog near Eagle's Nest. 



Campylopus Schwarzii Schp. Abundant in the upper part of 

 Horse's Glen. — C. setifolius Wils. Fine on Cromaglown and 

 Eagle's Nest. Mangerton. — C. fragilis B. & S. Tore Mt. ; 

 fruiting freely. — C. introflexus Brid. Low-lying rocks near 

 Eagle's Nest. 



Journal of Botany. — Vol. 51. [June, 1913.] p 



