Friday 29 April 2016

Hedera algeriensis

Hugh McAllister says:

Alison Rutherford has grown on your collections of Hedera algeriensis and says that are similar to Paula O'Meary's collection from Wexford, suggesting that they are probably all the same clone which may have been spread around Ireland. It is quite different from the common very glossy leaved, large leaved clone common on the mainland of the UK.

The above is very interesting, as it is very easy to over look this form of H. algeriensis. Looks a bit like a large leaved form of H. hibernica. I only noticed it just down the road from my house, must of walked past it a good 20 time. Was in the car when I saw it. We now have 11 monads for this ivy. 

Thursday 28 April 2016

Leucojum aestivum subsp. aestivum (Summer Snowflake) on bank of River Slaney

 Found Summer Snowflake on the east bank of the River Slaney near Oilgate today. This is the first record for this side of the river. The first county record was made back in 1897 by Rev. E.S. Marshall on the other side of the river, where it can still be found. At both sites where it grows is wet woodland. There was only 5 clumps in this new site.


Monday 11 April 2016

A new site for Bird's-nest Orchid

 I visited a wood a couple miles north of Wexford Town yesterday. It was one of the hardest walks I have done for some time. The inner part of the wood had been planted with conifer. Luckily a wide strip around the edge had been left of broad-leaved trees, mainly oak. One of the good fines was a dead spike of Bird's-nest Orchid. This is only the third site for the county. There was also Goldilocks Buttercup in the wood, another rare species in the county. The Common Dog-violets were looking lovely on a bank outside the wood.

Saturday 9 April 2016

Selaginella kraussiana (Krauss's Clubmoss) from a second site in Wexford

Krauss's Clubmoss from Clonevin churchyard, amongst daisies. This is the 2nd record for the county. Otherwise only known from lawns at Johnstown Castle, where it was first found in 1961.