INTRODUCTION. xlvii 
VIL. Tue Vertican Rance or THE SPECIES. 
The vertical range of the species in a county possessing the 
highest mountains in Ireland is a subject of more than local 
interest, and it is one that has received attention from several 
observers for some years past. Chief amongst these must be 
mentioned Mr. H. C. Hart whose Reports on the Macgillycuddy 
and Brandon Ranges, &c., form the foundation on which much 
subsequent work has been done. Fascinating as this investi- 
gation is to all who appreciate mountain work, a day among 
the Kerry cooms and cliffs but too often leaves a sense of 
surprise and disappointment that such tempting gullies and 
imposing rocks should be so poor in botanical interest. While 
this applies chiefly to Watson’s Scottish and Highland Type 
plants, their poverty will be less surprising when it is remem- 
bered that the Kerry mountains although they include at 
least half a dozen separate summits exceeding 3,000 feet, 
owing to their latitude only reach the lowest of Watson’s 
three Arctic zones ; in fact as before stated in this Introduction, 
both by their latitude and proximity to the ocean, these 
mountains produce but a minimum of alpine conditions so 
far at least as temperature is concerned, and in spite of their 
great extent of elevated cliffs furnish, with but few exceptions, 
a meagre list of alpine plants. 
Taking the Kerry flora as numbering 762 species, it will be 
seen from the following list that only 17 of them can be con- 
sidered truly alpine in the county ; to these, however, may be 
added the alpine forms of Cochlearia officinalis and Deschampsia 
cespitosa which have not been found below 1,550 feet. 
VerticaL Rance or ALPINE PLants In KERRY. 
Thalictrum alpinum at about 2,000 feet. 
Draba incana from 2,380 to 2,550 ,, 
Cochlearia alpina >» 1,550 ,, 3,100 ,, 
Sagina subulata 3 15 ,, 2,300 ,, 
Alchemilla alpina » 2,050 ,, 2,800 ,, 
Saxifraga stellaris a 450 ,, 3,400 ,, 
8. hypnoides (agg.) >» 1,500 ,, 3,150 ,, 
Sedum Rhodiola 35 25 ,, 3,150 ,, 
Saussurea alpina » 1,250 ,, 2,800 ,, 
Polygonum viviparum at about 2,380 ,, 
Oxyria digyna from 550 ,, 3,150 ,, 
Salix herbacea » 13800 ,, 3,050 ,, 
Carex rigida » 2,020 ,, 3,414 ,, 
Deschampsia alpina ‘9 2,000 to 3,100 ,, 
Poa alpina at about 3,100 ,, 
Asplenium viride from 1,250 ,, 3,150 ,, 
Cystopteris fragilis 3 50 ,, 3,150 ,, 
Aspidium Lonchitis - » 1,400 ,, 2,800 ,, 
Lycopodium alpinum =- at about 2,650 ,, 
