XX 



INTRODUCTION. 



in many places by extensive bogs, preyaUs throughout ilearly the 

 whole central plain. 



The flora of Ireland is chiefly remarkable for the occurrence of a 

 few plants characteristic of the west and south of Europe, which 

 range, under an exceptional climate, to a higher northern latitude 

 than on the continent. Such are — 



Dabeocia polifolia, 

 Pinguicula grandiflora, 

 Trichomanes radicans, 

 Adiantum Capillus- Veneris, 

 Simethis bicolor. 

 Euphorbia hybema, 

 Sibthorpia europsea. 



Helianthemum guttatum, 

 Saxifraga Geum, 

 Saxifraga hirsuta, 

 Saxifraga umbrosa, 

 Erica mediterranea. 

 Erica Mackaiana, 

 Erica ciliaris, 

 Arbutus Unedo, 



A few species seem to point to a former connexion with North 

 America : — 



Neottia gemmipara, Naias flexilis, 



Sisyrhinchium anceps, Eriocaulon septangulare. 



Almost equally characteristic is the group of plants classed by 

 Mr. Watson under his Atlantic Type, of which the following occur 

 in Ireland, being 41 out of 70 : — 



Meconopsis cambrica, 

 Coronopus didyma, 

 Matthiola sinuata, 

 Brassica oleracea, 

 Baphanus maritimns, 

 Viola Curtisii, 

 Linum angostifolium, 

 Lavatera arborea, 

 Erodium maritimum, 

 Erodium moschatum, 

 Sedum anglicum, 

 ■Cotyledon Umbilicus, 

 Carum verticillatum, 

 Crithmum maritimum, 

 Daucus maritimus, 

 Rubia peregrina, 



Sibthorpia europsea, 

 Orobanche Hederse, 

 Pinguicula lusitanica, 

 Statice ocddentalis, 

 Euphorbia Peplis, 

 Euphorbia hybema. 

 Euphorbia Faralias, 

 Euphorbia portlandica, 

 Scilla vema, 

 Asparagus officinalis, 

 Alisma natans, 

 Rhynchospora fusca, 

 Scirpus Savii, 

 ?Briza minor (if native), 

 Bromus madritensis, 

 Lastrea semula, 



