234 



The Irish Naturalist. 



November, 



mentioned above. Ruppia rostellata occurs, in addition to 

 brackish pools in several places, over a large area of tidal 

 sands on the Portnafranka inlet. 



Spergularia rupestris^ Crithnium, Beta^ Carex extensa, and 

 Asple7iium marimim are concentrated on rocks at the northern 

 and southern extremities of the peninsula. A few non- 

 maritime plants find on the northern seaclifFs their sole refuge ; 

 such are the Tvy and Honeysuckle ; and on the same seacliffs 

 in the north, Sedtim Rhodiola has its home, and in some spots 

 forms a very conspicuous feature. 



The Dunes 



The area occupied by blown sand is very extensive, and the 

 dunes are large, the highest of them rising to i88 feet above 

 O.S. datum. On the sandy beaches, in addition to Oraches, 

 the only plants are Arenaria peploides^ Agropyron jimceuyn, 

 Salsola Kali, and Polygonu?n Rati. On the dunes, the seaward 

 part is in many places being denuded, and vegetation is almost 

 nil. Behind that lie the high dunes, with Psam?na in undis- 

 puted sway. Further inland, a close mossy vegetation comes 

 in, with enormous quantities of Galium veruin, Thytnus 

 Serpyllujn, and Salix iepe7is ; and often behind that again lies 

 low smooth ground of damper sand, with a flora characterized 

 by Sagina nodosa, Parnassia, Pinguicula vulgaris, and 

 Selagi?iella. Ery^igium iuaritinum, which grows abundantly 

 and very luxuriantly on the dunes, extends over all these belts 

 except the last, and may be found more than a quarter of a 

 mile from the sea margin. Heracleu7n often occurs in remark- 

 able abundance. Senecio Jacobc&a, which over the rest of the 

 Mullet is usiially replaced by kS, aquaticus. is abundant on the 

 dunes, var. flosculosus being as abundant as the type, accom- 

 panied by every intermediate stage. Ca^npanula rotundifolia 

 is present in charming profusion, with quantities of Cerastiu?n 

 tct7'a7idrum, Leo7itodo7i hirttis, and Kceleria cristata. Phleum 

 arcnariimi is frequent ; and also Festuca rottboelhoides, especially 

 on stony sands. The extensive dunes west of Belmullet 

 formed the only habitat noted for Arabis hirsuta (a rare plant 

 in West Mayo), Ge7itiana Amarella, and G. catnpestfiSy and the 

 curious var. liitoralis Parnell of Catabrosa aquatica ; while the 



