1906. 
267 
VICIA OROBUS IN CO. ANTRIM. 
BY C. J. LII.I.Y. 
In July, 1904, when searching for Gymnadenia albida atTait*s 
Hill, between lyarne and Bally nure, I observed a large tuft of 
a vetch, which I took for Vicia sylvatica, in full bloom on an 
old wall : as K sylvatica is not uncommon on the coast near 
Larne, I took no special notice of this plant, but was rather 
surprised to see it so far inland. During the summer of 1905 
and 1906 I saw the same vetch in considerable abundance in 
a rocky moorland pasture at L,ower Ballygowan Hill, near 
Headwood railway station, about three-quarters of a mile from 
Tait's Hill. On 17th July last I was looking over plants in 
the Belfast Museum with Mr. S. A. Stev/art, and on turning 
up Vicia Orobus — a species hitherto unknown to me — I saw at 
once that it strongly resembled my Ballygowan plant ; I sent 
a specimen accordingly to Mr. Stewart, who identified it as 
V. Orobus. 
Subsequently^ I made further search in the same locality, 
and found two specimens on similar ground at Spennin Hill, 
about one-half mile distant from Ballygowan Hill, which 
appears to be the head-quarters of this interesting plant. Al- 
though it has no tendrils, I observed that in some instances 
it had climbed to the height of two or even three feet among 
stunted hazel bushes, where its large purplish racemes were 
very conspicuous. 
It will be recollected that Vicia Orobus was first found 
in Co. Antrim by Mr. Stewart in July, 1873 — a single plant at 
the Sallagh Braes, about five miles to the north-east of Bally- 
gowan Hill. The latter is an isolated patch of moorland sur- 
rounded by cultivation, and a veritable paradise for the 
botanist in June and July ; the vetch seems to be confined to 
about half an acre of rough bushy pasture and hazel scrub, 
and in the same area I found no less than seven orchids, 
Gymnadenia albida and G. cojiopsea being very abundant, and 
Habenaria viridis frequent, also Pyrola media in great pro- 
fusion, and several other uncommon plants. 
