Clinopodium vulgare refound for Co. Wexford

Paula O'Meara has just re-found Wild Basil for Co. Wexford at a site where it was last reported in 1889. The only other site for the county was last reported in 1943 by Miss Rawlins. Just goes to show that it is worth going out recording at this time of year. Will have to visit the site myself later in the year to see it flowering.

Galium murale at Rosslare Harbour

I have been trying to find Galium murale at Rosslare Harbour since I found it at Fishguard ferry port (Wales) in 2012. Paul Stanley informed me he found it at Rosslare Harbour in June 2014, I went to look the other day and found the Galium in three sites. At this time of year it looks rather like a non-flowering Sherardia arvensis (Field Madder). This is another new non-native species to be added to the Irish list. At Fishguard there are now 1000s of plants, will be interesting to see how it spreads at Rosslare. 

Erodium moschatum at St Helen's

Musk Stork's-bill is flowering nicely at St Helen's on the golf course. Even though this is the first time I have seen the Stork's-bill here, it has a long history in the area as it was first reported by H.C. Hart in 1882. The Stork's-bill was common over the golf course, also growing with it was Jersey Cudweed and Lesser Chickweed.

Callistemon viminalis at Gorey - a new alien species for Ireland

I stopped at Gorey on my way to Dublin to check a Bottle-brush growing on waste ground I couldn't get to last year. Climbed over the high gate this visit. After much searching on the internet have come to the conclusion it is Callistemon viminalis. This is as far as I can tell a new alien for Ireland. The parent plant was growing in a neighbouring garden. There must of been getting on for a 100 Callistemon self-sown on the waste ground, the tallest getting on for a metre.