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On the Distribution of the Erica Mediterranea, var. Hibernica, and 

 some other Plants^ in Ireland. By David Moore, Esq.* 



Having lately made ajoumey to the West of Ireland, for the pur- 

 pose of collecting some of the rare plants which grow and flower there 

 at this early part of the year, I am afforded this opportunity to 

 communicate a few observations in connexion with this subject 

 which I have been enabled to make. It is admitted by botanists 

 that one of the most interesting additions which have been made to 

 the Irish Flora for many years was that of the Mediterranean heath 

 {Erica Mediterranea, var. Hibernica), which was first discovered by 

 Dr. Mackay, in the county Galway, growing near the base of Urris- 

 beg Mountain. Thence it has been observed by subsequent bo- 

 tanists along the coast to the Barony of Erris, county Mayo, where 

 I recently obtained it in abundance. C. Vernon, Esq., of Clon- 

 tarf Castle, first called my attention to this locality, in the spring of 

 1830, when he sent me specimens which he found growing on his 

 shooting-grounds among the Ballycroy Mountains. These specimens 

 were all of dwarf habit, with much darker coloured flowers than any 

 I had previously seen, — characters which greatly enhanced their value 

 in a floricultural point of view, and showed they belonged to a variety 

 which it would be desirable to obtain for cultivation in the garden. 

 They appear also botanically interesting when compared with those 

 of our early-flowering garden-heath [Erica carnea), from which they 

 were scarcely to be distinguished. I was therefore more anxious to 

 see the plants growing naturally in Erris, and to bring some for culti- 

 vation along with specimens for distribution. Favoured by the late 

 fine weather, I was enabled to examine a portion of that wild moun- 

 tainous district, and after considerable labour was rewarded by seeing 

 one of the grandest sights I ever beheld in the way of indigenous 

 plants. To find a district of at least a quarter of a million of acres in 

 extent covered with this lovely heath, in full bloom, during the second 

 week in April, forms perhaps the most remarkable botanical feature 

 the British Islands can afi'ord. What appeared further remarkable 

 was its taking full possession of the ground, to the almost total 

 exclusion of the other kinds of common heaths. The flowers were 

 generally of a deep pink colour, and the plants grew from six inches to 

 a foot high. On seeing, so much of it together, and knowing that 



* Bead before tlic Royal Dublin Society, April 30, 1852. 



