Geography in Kerry
Botany | Topography | Zoology |
Botany
Lough Derg is the lower of the two great lake-like expansions of the Shannon, the other, Lough Ree, lying further up the river. Save at its southern end, where he lake is embosomed in hills of Silurian slate, the winding shores are. formed of low-lying limestones, and the numerous islands arc composed of the same rock. Botanical interest centres on the low, uncultivated islets and reefs, and on the sloping, stony shores. Here a peculiar flora is developed, as the following list of abundant plants will show :
The rarest plant of the lake shores is Inula salicina, which occurs in many places. Although this species ranges widely in Europe and Asia, it is unknown elsewhere in the British Isles. And other rare plants arc the American Sisyrinchium tingiistifoliiim, which grow in several places, being abundant along the Woodford river. Among bryologists, the name of Killarney is famous as the. home of a wonderfully rich moss flora, rich not only in rare species, but on account of the delightful profusion and luxuriance in which many of them grow. The neighbourhood of Glengariff, lying in Co. Cork, 20 miles to the southward, and like Killarney a sheltered, richly-wooded spot, 
polyphyllus, Campy lostelium saxicola, Bryum fine, B. Mildeanum, Sematophyllum demissum (in Ireland only here ; N. Wales ; Cumberland), S. micans also unknown elsewhere in Ireland ; in Great Britain occurs in Cumberland and the West Highlands), and Hypnum hamulosiim.