Clare Island Survey — Phanerogamia. 10 5 



Comparison of the Floras of Clare Island, Inishturk, 

 and inishbofin. 



These three adjoining islands are, on the whole, so similar as regards 

 position and physical conditions that it is interesting to note some points of 

 similarity and dissimilarity in their floras, and we now possess the materials 

 for such a comparison. As regards Clare Island, the list of the flora is now 

 very full. Inishturk I explored pretty thoroughly in 1906, so much so that 

 two additional days spent on the island in 1911 added only one plant {Thymus 

 Chamaedrys) to the flora. The Bonn flora was examined by A. G. More and 

 R. M. Barrington in 1875. To their list of 303 plants I added 82 during a 

 three days' visit in 1911, and the Bonn list may now also be regarded as 

 fairly complete. The relative size, elevation, and total floras of the three 

 islands have been given above (p. 3). They are all mainly or wholly 

 composed of Silurian slates. It may be added that Bonn is better supplied 

 with lakelets and with sandy shores than the other two, and that Clare 

 Island is conspicuous on account of its high hill. 



We find, in the first place, 274 species common to the three islands. This 

 represents -f-rs-j or 54 per cent., of the combined flora of the three. These 

 plants are all found on adjoining areas, and most of them are common plants 

 . in Ireland ; but a few of the more interesting may be listed : — 



Cochlearia groenlandica. Juniperus nana. 



Spergularia rupestris. Empetrum nigrum. 



Eadiola linoides. Sparganium affine. 



Saxifraga umbrosa. Carex limosa. 



Sedum Bhodiola. Festuca rottboellioides. 



Matricaria discoidea. Asplenium marinum. 



Myosotis repens. Lasfcrea aemula. 



Pinguicula lusitanica. Osmunda regalis. 



Thymus Chamaedrys. Ophioglossum vulgatum. 



Lamium intermedium. Selaginella selaginoides. 



If we now compile lists showing the species which are confined to each 

 of the three islands, and those which are absent from one of the three only, 

 we shall have carried the comparison sufficiently far. I shall leave out 

 of account a few non-naturalized introductions recorded from the several 

 islands. 



