1JHE PLANTS OF THE ARAN ISLANDS. 181 



with great rapidity, crowding out its fellow species in a remarkable 

 manner ; or that there is some error in the earlier observations. 



Before proceeding to give the list of our additions, some remarks 

 as to the abundance or otherwise of rare plants recorded by previous 

 observers may not be without interest- The islands are noted for 

 the rayless-flowered form of Senecio Jacobcea, but we, though of 

 course rather early, were unable to find any but the normal forms 

 of it. Helianthem am canum var. vineale was found in fair quantity 

 on the North Island. The glabrous form, variety Andrewsii, of 

 Cerastium arvense still occurs on Aran, and apparently predominates 

 over the pubescent one, all our specimens being glabrous. Er odium 

 moschatum is still to be found on the North Island. A Ulex was 

 recorded by Prof. Balfour in 1852, but we came across no trace of 

 any of the species. Astragalus hypoglottis, whose sole Irish locality 

 is Aran, was reported from there in 1834, but has apparently not 

 been observed smce ; we were successful in finding the plant in one 

 spot, a sandy bank near the shore on the North Island, but did not 

 observe it on either of the other islands. Saxifraga hypnoides var. 

 Sternbergii was found growing plentifully on the North Island. 

 Gentiana verna occurred sparingly throughout the islands. Chlora 

 perfoliate was found in abundance on the South Island, but we did 

 not observe it on the middle one. Menyanthes trifoliata was cer- 

 tainly not growing, at the time of our visit, in the locality given by 

 Mr. Hart; nor could we find any trace of Orobanche Hedera, 

 although recorded by him as being common in all parts of the 

 Great Island. Ajuga pyramidalis is another rare plant we were 

 unable to find. Euphorbia portlandica was growing plentifully on 

 the shore near Kilronan. Allium Babingtonii occurred abundantly 

 on all three islands, and though no doubt a relic of former culti- 

 vation, has fallen out of favour, one of the inhabitants informing us 

 that it was too hot to be eaten. Adiantum Capillus- Veneris is still 



to be found in every crevice of the rock, though subject to the 

 depredations of the very occasional Sunday trippers from Galway. 

 It is to be hoped that the improved means of communication 

 effected by Mr. Balfour, though very desirable for other reasons, 

 may not have the effect of exterminating this lovely fern from 

 another of its British haunts. Of other plants previously recorded, 

 we could find no trace of Ranunculus Lingua, Hippuris vulgaris. 



ifolium, or Arundo Epigejo 



our 



occurrm 



Aran : 



Ranunculus Eicaria L. Near Oghil. 



[Alyssum viaritimum L. Near Kilmurvy Quay. Introduced.] 

 ^!Senebiera didyma Pers. Frequent on all three islands. An escape. 

 [Brassica campestris L. Common at Killeany.] 



Malva rotundifolia L. Kilronan. 



Erodium maritimum L'Herit. Near Kilronan. 

 *Oxalis Acetosella L. Near Oghil. 



Trifolium medium L* and T. striatum L. Near Black Fort. 

 [Medicago sativa L» Near Kilronan*] 



