BOTANICAL FEATUEES OF lEELAND xxxi 



Bog near Killashee, Co. Longford. 



Rhynchospora alba, v. c. Drosera rotundifolia. 



Calluna vulgaris, v. c. D. angHca. 



Narthecium ossifragum, v. c. Carex glauca. 



Ehynchospora fusca, c. Andromeda Polifolia. 



Erica Tetialix. Scirpus csespitosus. 



Eriophorum angustifolium. Lycopodium Selago. 



The smoothness of the surface, and abundance of R. alba, were 

 peculiar features of this bog. 



Bog near Frankford, King's Co. 



Calluna vulgaris. Eriophorum angustifolium. 



Scirpus Ccespitosus. Narthecium ossifragum. 



Erica Tetralix, Drosera rotundifolia. 



Eriophorum vaginatum. Ehynchospora alba. 



This was a bog with a poor and stunted flora, which appeared to 

 be dying out. 



As we approach the centre of Ireland from the east, several 

 plants, which are either very rare in, or absent from the bogs of the 

 tract we have traversed, make their appearance — Drosera intermedia, 

 Wiyncliospora fusca, Carex limosa — and these, increasing westward, 

 are characteristic of the bogs of the west coast. Andromeda Polifolia 

 and Vaccinium Oxycoccus, on the other hand, become very rare in the 

 west. 



The black or mountain bogs possess a flora less constant than 

 that of the red bogs, on account of the varying conditions depending 

 on slope, water supply, and depth of deposit. In general, it may be 

 said that the most characteristic plants of the red bogs, such as 

 Drosera anglica, Andromeda Polifolia, Vaccinium Oxycoccus, and 

 Rhynchospora alba, do not occur except where a level tract furnishes 

 a habitat with a steady and copious water-supply ; and in place of 

 these, other species are found, of which Juncus squarrosus, Molinia 

 caridea, and in drier places E'n'ca cinerea, Carex binervis, and Nardus 

 stricta, will serve as examples. 



"Whereas the red bogs and their flora have usually sharply defined 

 limits, the mountain bogs graduate by diminution of water-supply 



