Ixii INTEODUCTION 



Eare or characteristic plants are numerous : — 



Coiydalis claviciilata, 5. Ligustrum viilgare, 3, 



Fumaria densiflora, 4. Scrophularia umbrosa, 2. 



Sisymbrium Irio, 1. Lamium Galeobdolon, 3. 



Viola hirta, 5. Atriplex farinosa, 5. 



Viola lutea, 5. S cilia verna, 6. 



Hypericum birsutum, 4. Carex divisa, 2. 



Trigonella ornithopodioides, 5. Carex axillaris, 4. 



Medicago sylvestris, 1. Glyceria Borreri, 2. 



Trifolium scabrum, 4. Festuca uniglumis, 5. 



Ornitbopus perpusillus, 3. Elymus arenarius, 5. 



Inula crithmoides, 5. Tolypella prolifera, 1. 



Senecio erucifolius, 5. Tolypella intricata, 1. 



22. Meath. 



Eastern. Area 906 square miles. Maritime to the extent of 

 7 miles of sandy beach fronting the Irish sea, and 6 miles of estu- 

 arine waters at the mouth of the Boyne. Almost the whole county 

 consists of well-drained fertile land, over drift-covered limestone. 

 In the north, the southern extremity of the great area of Silurian 

 rocks that characterises the NE. of Ireland projects into the county, 

 and is accountable for the rising lands of Slieve Bregh (753 feet), 

 and adjoining hills. The only other break in the undulating surface 

 is found in the extreme west, where the limestone hills of Slieve-na- 

 calliagh reach an elevation of 904 feet. Almost the entire county 

 is drained by the Boyne and its tributaries ; in its lower reaches the 

 Boyne is an imposing stream. The lakes of the county consist of a 

 few small loughs in the north and west, and a slice of Lough Sheelin 

 in the extreme west. Some of the typical Central Plain bogs put in 

 an appearance in the west. The Eoyal Canal fringes the county on 

 the south. A low-level grass country. As much as 97 per cent, 

 of the surface is of less than 500 feet elevation ; 73 per cent, is 

 under grass, and 20 per cent, under crops. Barren mountain land 

 is absent, and marsh almost so. Singularly little was known of the 

 botany of Meath until I listed its flora for the purposes of the 

 present work ; but many plants still remain to be added, though no 

 large portion of the surface is quite unexplored. 



Flora 612 species. On the strip of shore a good many East 

 Coast species occur. Otherwise the flora is without marked features, 

 except perhaps for the singular rarity of plants of uplands and rough 



