xxviii INTRODUCTION 



In districts where limestone rocks are absent, calcicole plants 

 may find a congenial home on maritime sands of which commi- 

 nuted shells form a proportion. Thus, in the north-east, Carlina 

 and Orchis loyramidalis have their only stations (excepting one 

 on Chalk rocks for the latter) on the sand-dunes. Asperula 

 cynancMca, in Connemara and Kerry, likewise furnishes a good 

 example. 



It may be useful to give a list of a few of the more prominent 

 lime-loving and lime-avoiding plants. In order that the groups 

 may be the better contrasted, the names are printed in parallel 

 coliunns. 



Chaeacteeistic Calcicole axd Calclfuge Plants. 



CaICICOLE. CALCIFrGE. 



Geranium lucidum. Cji;isus scopaiius. 



Poterium Sanguisorba. Ulex Gallii. 



Centaurea Scabiosa. Galium saxatile. 



Carlina vulgaris. Jasione montana. 



Leontodon Mspidus. Yaccinium. MjrrtiUus. 



Chlora perfoUata. Erica cinerea. 



Gentiana Amarella. Digitalis purpurea. 



Calamintba officinalis. Eumes Acetosella. 



Origanum vulgare. Juncus squarrosus. 



OrcMs pyramidalis. Cares binervis. 



Spiranthes autumnalis. Descbampsia iiexuosa. 



Juncus glaucus. Nardus stricta. 



Avena pubescens. Elecbnum Spicant. 



Ceteracb officinarum. Atbyrium Filix-fcemina. 



It is to be noted that, in our flora, calcifuge species are much 

 greater in number than calcicole species. In other words, the 

 number of plants which exhibit a dislike to lime considerably 

 overtops the number of those which show a marked preference 

 for a limy soil. 



Plants of the Sea-coast. — The sea-coast flora may conveniently 

 be divided into three groups : — 



(1). Salt-marsh plants, such as Spergularia salina, Apium graveo- 

 lens, Statice rariflora, Atriplex portulacoides, Salicomia herbacea, 

 Triglochin maritimum, Juncus Gerardi, Scirpus mantimus. 



