INTEODUCTION. 



Ixiii 



outcrop in Clai-e, East Galway, and the Aran Islands. TMs forma- 

 tion rises to a height of 1075 feet in Slieve Carran in the Burren 

 district of Clare, but much of it is quite low-level and disposed in 

 the characteristic form of tabular and deeply crevassed masses of 

 almost naied rock, locally known as " crags." In the south-east, 

 Carrig-na-binnian and Thumpadour, at the western extremity of the 

 Graltee mountain group, rise to 2712 and 2570 feet respectively. 

 The west shore of Lough Derg and the greater part of the east 

 shore of Lough Corrib belong to this district, which lies almost 

 altogether in the basin of the Shannon, and smaller lakes are 

 frequent in Clare and East Galway. The flora is rich in rare plants, 

 some of which, notably Gentiana verna and Dry as oetopetala occur 

 in great profusion, while caloieole, or limestone species, are 

 numerous and abundant. No less than six plants are peculiar to 

 the district, and three of these, Astragalus hypoglottis, Ajuga pyra- 

 midalis, and Potamogeton laneeolatus are among the rarest in Ireland. 

 There are 7 Hieracia and 8 plants of the Highland type. 



Characteristic or Rare Plants. 



Mathiola sinuata. 

 Helianthemum vineale. 

 Viola hirta. 

 V. stagnina. 

 Cerastium arvense. 

 Arenaria verna. 

 Geianium sanguineum. 

 Shamnus catharticus. 

 E. Frangula. 

 Astragalus hypoglottis, 

 Spiraa Filipendula. 

 Dryas oetopetala. 

 Potentilla fruticosa. 

 Poterium Sanguisorba. 

 Saxifraga hypnoides. 

 Comus sanguinea. 

 Rubia peregrina. 



Galium sylvestre. 

 G. boreale. 

 Asperula oynanohioa. 

 Inula salicina. 

 Artemisia maritima. 

 Carlina vulgaris. 

 Carduus nutans. 

 Centaurea Scabiosa. 

 Sieraciitm Gibsoni. 

 Arctostaphylos TJva-ursi. 

 Pyrola media. 

 Hypopithys multiflora. 

 Chlora perfoliata. 

 Gentiana verna. 

 Limosella aquatica. 

 Euphrasia Salisburgensis. 

 Orobanqbe rubra. 



Teucrium Scordium. 



Ajuga pyramidalis. 



Euphorbia hiberna. 



Spiranthes autumnalis. 



Epipactis atro-rubens. 



Eabenaria intacta. 

 tSisyrinchium angusti- 



folium. 

 JAUium Babingtonii. 



Fotamogeton laneeolatus, 



Ehynchospora fusca. 



Calamagrostis Epigeios. 



Sesleria cserulea. 



Adiantum CapiUus-Vene- 

 ris. 



Chara tomentosa. 



Nitella tenuissima. 



DISTEICT VII. TTPPEE SHANNON. 



Worth Tipperary, king's County, Westmeath, Longford. 



Area, 2700 square miles. — Flora, 624 species and sub-species. 



Inland : the only one of the twelve botanical districts absolutely 

 cut off from the sea. Lowland for the most part, with extensive 



