Botany. 107 



Down and Antrim rank among the best-known counties 

 so far as plant-geogra[)hy is concerned. This is mainly the 

 result of the researches of S. A. Stewart, who for forty years 

 has studied the local flora. Among other botanists whose 

 researches have contributed chiefly to the sum of our know- 

 ledge should be mentioned John Templeton, Ralph Tate, 

 George Dickie, David Moore, and T. H. Corry. 



It should at once be pointed out that Down and Antrim 

 do not f(jrm a natural botanical province. The Eocene 

 basalt plateau of .Antrim and East Derry has a flora of its 

 own, including certain alpine and Scottish species, and also 

 some calcicole plants. The low grounds, formed of Silurian 

 slates, which on the other hand prevail over the greater part 

 of Down, are poorer in these groups; the Down flora is 

 allied to that of Armagh and Monaghan, where a similar 

 surface and similar rocks prevail. The most remarkable 

 phyto-geological feature of Ireland as a whole is the great 

 area of limestone which occupies the middle parts of the 

 island. In Down and Antrim we are beyond the range of 

 this rock. Down is devoid of calcareous rocks, while in 

 Antrim the small exposures of hard Chalk do not much 

 affect the flora ; but the basalt provides for some species a 

 substitute. 



The total number of Plowering Plants and Higher Crypto- 

 gams found in Down and Antrim is 820,^ as compared with 

 1,020 species in Ireland. These figures, and others which 

 follow, do not include segrates, such as the Brambles or Eye- 

 brights. Analyzing this total according to the " types of 

 distribution" adopted by H. C. Watson to express geographic 

 range in Great Britain, we find that the bulk of the flora is 

 made up of plants of " British " type — species which range 

 throughout Great Britain. Of " English " type plants, Ire- 

 land possesses 91 undoubtedly native species. Of these, 46 

 occur in Down and 47 in Antrim, the average number in 

 an Irish county-division (according to present knowledge) 

 being 37. This apparent richness in " English " plants is, 



^ The list of Irish plants which is adopted as a standard in the matter 

 which follows is that given in Irish Topographical Botariy. The statistics 

 are derived from the same source, brought up to date, sub-species being not 

 reckoned. 



