INTRODUCTION - National Botanic Gardens

6
Paul Green
INTRODUCTION
I first visited Ireland with Penny Austin, Vera Copp, Geraldine Crouch, Ian Green and Di
Maxwell in September 1988 to help with recording for the BSBI Monitoring Scheme. Spending
a week in Co. Waterford and a week in Co. Galway, from then on I fell in love with Ireland.
Even so I did not return again until 1997 when I offered to help the BSBI with recording for
the New Atlas. After that there was no keeping me away from Co. Waterford. Visiting every
year, I moved to New Ross, Co. Wexford in January 2006.
To start with my brother and I decided to record by 5x5km squares (but always keeping to a
1km square or tetrad within these squares) because of the amount of time we would have
recording. It soon became clear that this was too large a unit to record with. In 2002 I started to
record using tetrads, meaning I more or less was starting from scratch again. This meant there
were now twenty-five tetrads per 10km square instead of the four 5x5km squares I had become
used to. It soon proved a much more efficient way of recording. Co. Waterford has 38 10km
squares, comprising of 12 squares that have land in all 25 tetrads (at least at low tide) and 26
part squares of varying number of tetrads. In all there are 544 tetrads in the county. I have
visited all but two of the 544 tetrads at least once since 2002, S01F was only visited in 1998
and S01K I have never visited, (this is only a very small part of a tetrad on the edge of the
Knockmealdown Mountains).
The majority of tetrads have been visited at least twice. Only a few of the part tetrads along the
edge of the Knockmealdown Mountain range have had just one visit. It is unlikely that many
other species would be found at other times of the year in these tetrads. Recording is not even
over the county. The eastern end is probably much better recorded than any other area of the
county. This is partly because I always stayed at this end of the county. It is not the number of
visits to a tetrad that gives it a good species list it is the amount of time spent on the first visit
and the number of habitats visited within the tetrad. The average time spent on a first visit to a
tetrad was two hours. A normal list of species found on this visit would be between 150 and
180. It was rare to find 200 species on the first visit. The number of tetrads visited in any one
day would vary from three to around ten. As I had limited time a normal day in the field would
start around 7a.m. and carry on until it was too dark to see the plants.
All records made for the survey of the county and records extracted from as many sources as
possible have been computerised using Mapmate. By the close of recording at the end October
2007 there were 175,708 records for the county in my database.
During 2005 and 2006 much of the recording done was gap filling for common species which I
felt should be in a tetrad and had just been over-looked on previous visits. This varied from
common species such as Rough Meadow-grass to plants restricted to set habitats like coastal
species. It may seem pointless looking for a common species which you know will be there. On
these gap-filling visits other species were always added and occasionally rare species (like
Rough Horsetail, found when Matt Stribley and I visited Stradbally to look for Sea Plantain). It
was not always possible to find a common species in a tetrad without having to make more
than one visit and then I was not always successful. Efforts were also made to try and add more
tetrads for species that are often difficult to find or fill in tetrads for species growing scattered
along rivers or the coast, e.g. Babington’s Orache, Canadian Waterweed, Frog Rush, Oppositeleaved Pondweed, Perfoliate Pondweed, River Water-dropwort, Sea Spleenwort, Stream
Water-crowfoot, Summer Snowflake, Tunbridge Filmy-fern, etc. I found spring was a good
time to search for Barren Strawberry while it was flowering and before the other vegetation
had overgrown it, many tetrads were added this way. Saltmarshes were visited during the
autumn of 2003 to make sure all the Glassworts were recorded well and to fill in any missing
tetrads for Lax-flowered Sea-lavender. During the spring of 2005 and 2006 all the sites for
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
7
Sweet Violet were visited to see if they could be named to a variety. The white flowered plants
seemed much easier to identify than the purple flowered plants. At first I had named some sites
as variety praecox; visiting all the sites with purple flowers again in 2006 I came to the
decision that they were all variety odorata. All sites for Reflexed and Rock Stonecrop were
rechecked in 2002 to make sure that they were named correctly. Nearly all had been, and in
one case when Declan McGrath said he had found Rock Stonecrop in Ballynaneashagh
Cemetery, Waterford, I was not sure if he was correct as I had recorded Reflexed Stonecrop.
On a visit together we found that they both grew in the cemetery. All sites for Round-leaved
Mint were rechecked to make sure they had been correctly identified as many I had originally
recorded as Apple-mint. As I studied the flora of the county in more depth I started to look at
more than the species, trying to record some species to varieties. As this took place late in the
survey the majority have much more work to be done to give them an even coverage, for
example I did not start looking at the varieties of Corn Spurrey until 2006.
The computerising of records was done between visits and in the winter months. This involved
recording cards used for recording in the field and extracting records from literature and other
sources. I would randomly print out a tetrad and check the list of species with the recording
card. Very few errors were made and when a list of species was printed out for the county in
the autumn of 2005 before I started writing the species accounts only one plant appeared on the
list that shouldn’t have been there, it being Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaster.
Many hours were spent extracting historical records and looking at specimens in herbariums.
The first such visit was when Tim Rich invited me to Cardiff Museum, Cardiff. Many visits
were made to the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin with a few trips to Trinity
College, Dublin and the library at The Royal Irish Academy, Dublin and a single visit to the
University of Cambridge, Botany School, Cambridge. The BSBI also gave me access to the
records used for the 1962 Atlas and the New Atlas. These were wonderful. However, there were
problems. When the records were converted to the national grid used today from that used for
the 1962 Atlas many were placed in the wrong 10km square and in some cases did a
disappearing act altogether and never appeared in the New Atlas. Some coastal species have
been placed in inland squares but by far the worst are the number of species that appear in S21
and X17 that I am sure would never have grown in these two 10km squares. There are a
number of records credited to Co. Waterford for S61, which belong to Co. Kilkenny. A number
of these have specimens in DBN to support the record. There are a number of other individual
records scattered around the county, which are likely to have been placed in the wrong 10km
square. Consequently, care must be taken in interpretation with many pre 1987 records in the
New Atlas. Also, X27 is shown as one of the 10km squares that had no work done in it for the
New Atlas; records made in 1997 were sent in but for some reason never appeared on the maps.
The writing of the flora started in the autumn of 2005 and finished during the spring of 2007
with additional information added later as new plant records were made during 2007. My
proofreaders were very efficient returning checked pages very soon after I had sent them.
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Paul Green
The number of whole or part days each year I have spent on my own or with other botanists in
the field recording in Co. Waterford since 27 April 1997 to 31 October 2007:
1997 – 31 days
1998 – 15 days
1999 – 1 day
2000 – 19 days
2001 – 28 days
2002 – 32 days
2003 – 76 days
2004 – 39 days
2005 – 55 days
2006 – 56 days
2007 – 17 days
Total number of days = 369
The number of whole or part days I have spent in the field recording in each month on my own
or with other botanists in Co. Waterford since 27 April 1997:
January – 2 days
February – 15 days
March – 18 days
April – 56 days
May – 29 days
June – 60 days
July – 91 days
August – 32 days
September – 28 days
October – 33 days
November – 4 days
December – 1 day
The number of records made in the field each year since 27 April 1997:
1997 – 18,468
1998 – 3080
1999 – 317
2000 – 9588
2001 – 13,217
2002 – 31,154
2003 – 51,230
2004 – 20,245
2005 – 12,764
2006 – 6918
2007 – 1115
The average number of records made per day of recording since 27 April 1997: 456
The total number of species, subspecies, hybrids, varieties and colour forms recorded for Co.
Waterford since 1746 is 1530.
The top twenty highest scoring tetrads, showing the number of species recorded in each since
1746:
X29R – 453
X09P – 428 X17Y – 393 S50W – 389 S50L – 379
S50V – 377
S61F – 375
X49J – 374
S60X – 369
X29X – 367
S60V – 367
S41S – 365
X09Z – 363
X49Z – 361
X08V – 361
S51F – 353
S70B – 351 S12V – 351
S61W – 344 S61K – 343
The average number of species, subspecies, hybrids, varieties and colour forms per tetrad: 219
MAP SHOWING THE TOP TWENTY SCORING TETRADS
2
1
0
9
Tetrad letters
8
E
D
C
B
A
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
J
I
H
G
F
P U
N T
MS
L R
K Q
Z
Y
X
W
V
7
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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NATIONAL GRID 10KM SQUARE IDENTIFICATION AND
THE NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED FOR EACH 10KM SQUARE
R80
194
W89
206
R90
419
W99
518
W98
195
S01
27
S00
458
X09
692
X08
589
S12
469
S11
534
S10
477
X19
662
X18
600
X17
585
S32
467
S31
541
S30
586
X39
634
X38
324
S22
556
S21
466
S20
486
X29
786
X28
621
X27
194
S42
420
S41
587
S40
612
X49
425
S51
649
S50
806
X59
420
S61
682
S60
823
X69
436
S71
276
S70
434
THE NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED PER TETRAD
12 23 32 30 25 25 24 23 16 18
29 26 35 28 18 21 23 21 23 22 21 28 30 30 27 29
27 22 27 20 23 22 21 22 18 18 18 20 19 14 20 23 22
13 28 23 22 05 16 15 09 20 16 20 21 17 21 19 20 22 25 13
22 20 22 22 17 24 17 11 14 21 18 19 21 22 26 22 36 18
16 13
15 22 28 24 19 23 16 15 10 24 23 19 21 18 22 20 21 18 21 04 23 27 33 22
32 34
15 18 20 22 11 08 15 06 23 24 23 23 17 18 17 17 21 27 35 31 29 28 33 37 34 30 27 27
01 02 0
1
09 16 04 02 02 02
15 18 21 20 14 09 10 09 16 23 20 18 19 17 27 24 26 24 28 21 21 27 27 23 28 26 23 24
06 15 11 10 14 13 15 08 13 17 20 18 17 19 21 20 20 07 14 19 20 19 19 29 24 24 16 20 24 24 20 16 21 23 23 27 25 23 25 14
12 20 18 25 17 18 15 20 17 15 22 22 19 19 18 15 21 18 19 15 22 20 20 29 23 24 17 22 18 22 23 24 23 21 21 21 23 24 34 36 08
16 23 23 23 17 22 20 17 19 21 23 20 19 18 20 20 20 23 12 15 24 26 21 22 18 20 18 25 21 19 20 25 37 24 38 29 25 20 23 31 35
19 19 20 19 19 23 17 22 30 23 16 25 16 17 18 21 16 20 21 16 22 21 25 19 24 20 18 23 22 22 22 28 28 21 27 37 17 32 19 20 36 08
20 22 28 22 28 27 24 29 42 29 36 33 19 24 19 21 18 23 22 20 26 22 27 28 21 21 19 37 28 23 36 25 26 25 27 18 29 30 26 26
01
21 06
14 16 21 23 25 26 20 23 31 23 19 23 26 26 24 22 22 23 19 22 25 32 25 21 10
18 29 32 24 22 19 31 20 23 20 23 17 24 26 33 29 36 33 26 20 13
22 22 29 20 24 26 19 21 20 23 29 22 21 31 45 20 26
9
17 18 21 17 24 22 20 18 18 20 17 19 20 22 21 2 09
Tetrad letters
E J P U Z
19 25 19 20 22 21 24 21 19 20 19 18 26 22 30 22 31
16 18 18 22 22 24 18 19 16 19 24 22 21 17 27 15
D I N T Y
C H MS X
22 23 20 28 23 24 22 17 21 27 21 22 20 19
B G L R W
21 25 28 17 24 23 22 22 19 21 21 20 25
A F K Q V
14 22 36 30 30 23 22 18 30 20 22 19
8
18 33 14 16 24 13
21 25 28 23 39 13
2
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The numbers 0 and 2 on the map are the actual number of species recorded for those tetrads.
Otherwise the number for each tetrad is done in multiples of ten.
Example: 01 = 10-19 species, 15 = 150-159 species, 21 = 210-219 species, 39 = 390-399, 42 =
420-429 species.
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Paul Green
EXTINCT NATIVE SPECIES AND ERRORS
The native species, subspecies and varieties listed below were not recorded during the current
survey of the county. Names in bold are those that are likely to be truly extinct in Co.
Waterford. The others are just likely to be over-looked as they are not easy to name. The date
given is the last year that the species was known to have been seen in the county.
Achillea ptarmica – Sneezewort – before 1934
Antennaria dioica – Mountain Everlasting – before 1866
Anthriscus caucalis – Bur Chervil – 1971
Asplenium viride – Green Spleenwort – 1894
Bromus commutatus – Meadow Brome – 1900
Carex acuta – Slender Tufted-sedge – 1882
Carex elata – Tufted-sedge – 1882
Cephalanthera longifolia – Narrow-leaved Helleborine – 1894
Ceratophyllum demersum – Rigid Hornwort – before 1866
Chamaemelum nobile – Chamomile – 1746
Cladium mariscus – Great Fen-sedge – 1954
Cochlearia officinalis x C. danica – 1961
Cuscuta epithymum – Dodder – 1967
Cynoglossum officinale – Hound’s-tongue – 1899
Dactylorhiza purpurella – Northern Marsh-orchid – 1973
Dactylorhiza x venusta – 1973
Epipactis palustris – Marsh Helleborine – 1977
Erophila glabrescens – Glabrous Whitlowgrass – 1964
Erodium maritimum – Sea Stork’s-bill – before 1866
Euphorbia peplis – Purple Spurge – 1839
Euphrasia anglica – Glandular Eyebright – 1952
E. nemorosa – Common Eyebright – 1966
E. rostkoviana subspecies rostkoviana – 1988
Filago vulgaris – Common Cudweed – 1882
Galium boreale – Northern Bedstraw – 1859
Gentianella campestris – Field Gentian – 1882
Gnaphalium sylvaticum – Heath Cudweed – 1900
Gymnadenia conopsea – Fragrant Orchid – 1900
Hieracium argenteum – Killarney Hawkweed – 1882
H. cerinthiforme – Clasping-leaved Hawkweed – 1975
Juncus subnodulosus – Blunt-flowered Rush – 1950s
Lobelia dortmanna – Water Lobelia – 1973
Lycopodium clavatum – Stag’s-horn Clubmoss – 1900
Ononis repens var. horrida – 1882
Ophrys apifera var. chlorantha – 1978
Orchis morio – Green-winged Orchid – 1901
Otanthus maritimus – Cottonweed – 1883
Parentucellia viscosa – Yellow Bartsia – 1880
Parnassia palustris – Grass-of-Parnassus – 1897
Pilosella officinarum subsp. micradenium – 1975
Platanthera bifolia – Lesser Butterfly-orchid – 1973
Platanthera chlorantha – Greater Butterfly-orchid – 1900
Polygonum maritimum – Sea Knotgrass – 1974
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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Potamogeton x nitens – Bright-leaved Pondweed – 1899
Pseudorchis albida – Small-white Orchid – 1891
Puccinellia fasciculata – Borrer’s Saltmarsh-grass – 1925
Radiola linoides – Allseed – before 1866
Ranunculus lingua – Greater Spearwort – 1977
Rhinanthus minor subsp. minor – 1950s
Rubus adenanthoides – 1975
R. aequalidens – 1992
R. asperidens – 1992
R. cinerosiformis – 1992
R. hastiformis – 1992
R. lindleianus – 1984
R. micans – 1984
R. moylei – 1992
R. riddelsdellii – 1965
R. winteri – 1992
Schoenus nigricans – Black Bog-rush – before 1934
Scirpus sylvaticus – Wood Club-rush – 1884
Scutellaria x hybrida – 1871
Stachys officinalis – Betony – 1886
Taraxacum drucei – Druce’s Dandelion – 1985
T. landmarkii – Landmark Dandelion – 1977
T. naevosiforme – Wetland Dandelion – 1985
T. palustre – Fen Dandelion – 1962
Utricularia minor – Lesser Bladderwort – 1962
Utricularia vulgaris – Greater Bladderwort – 1967
Listed below are species that have appeared in print but are errors or likely errors. See species
accounts for full information.
Alcea rosea – Hollyhock
Arctium minus subsp. minus – Lesser Burdock
Asperula cynanchica – Squinancywort
Bromus secalinus – Rye Brome
Callitriche hermaphroditica – Autumnal Water-starwort
Carex viridula subsp. viridula – Small-fruited Yellow-sedge
Convallaria majalis – Lily-of-the-valley
Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii – Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaster
Eleocharis quinqueflora – Few-flowered Spike-rush
Hieracium umbellatum subsp. umbellatum – Umbellate Hawkweed
Isoetes echinospora – Spring Quillwort
Melittis melissophyllum – Bastard Balm
Minuartia verna – Spring Sandwort
Plantago media – Hoary Plantain
Rubus wirralensis
Sisymbrium altissimum – Tall Rocket
Thymus pulegioides – Large Thyme
Tilia cordata – Small-leaved Lime
COUNTY WATERFORD SOILS
12
Paul Green
COUNTY WATERFORD SOLID GEOLOGY
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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Paul Green
TOPOGRAPHY
14
SHOWING THE MOUNTAIN RANGES, THE MAIN HILLS, LITTLE ISLAND,
THE BACK STRAND AND THE DUNES OF CUNNIGAR AND TRAMORE BURROW
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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16
Paul Green
THE COUNTY OF WATERFORD
County Waterford, the smallest county in Munster, is in the southeast of Ireland, bordered by
four counties: Wexford at the east end, separated by the Barrow/Suir estuary, Kilkenny and
Tipperary along the north side and Cork on the west side. The River Suir separates Kilkenny.
Tipperary is also separated by a large length of the River Suir as well as other smaller rivers
and streams and the ridge of the Knockmealdown Mountain range. Cork is separated by short
stretches of the rivers Blackwater, Glenaboy, Tourig River and Glenfinish Stream, otherwise
there are no outstanding features marking the boundary which easily merges into Co. Cork
over low, undulating countryside. The length of the south side of Co. Waterford is washed by
the Celtic Sea/Atlantic Ocean.
The Mountain ranges: Strictly speaking the Comeragh Mountains are two mountain ranges,
though the distinction between the Comeragh Mountains and the Monavullagh Mountains is
not entirely clear. The ‘Comeraghs’ is the name usually applied to both ranges combined. In
this flora they are always referred to as the Comeragh Mountains. The word Comeragh is from
the Irish, Cumarach, meaning “abounding in hollows and river confluences”. This fine
mountain range dominates the entire county, reaching a height of 792 metres. The central
plateau is ringed by a fine series of coums (from the Irish, com, meaning “hollow”), gouged out
during the Ice Age from the Old Red Sandstone rock of the range. Recurved Sandwort is the
only rare species in the range, otherwise only known in Ireland from the Caha Mountains on
the county border of Cork and Kerry. The lower flanks of the mountains have some superb
bogs (unfortunately a few others are now under conifer plantations). Within the county
Common Butterwort, Cranberry, Roseroot, Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Lesser Meadow-rue and
White Beak-sedge are some of the species confined to this mountain range.
Knockmealdown (Choc Mhaoldomhnaigh), rising to 794 metres in the Knockmealdown
Mountains (Sléibhte Choc Mhaoldomhnaigh), is the highest spot in the county. The county
border runs along the ridge with Co. Tipperary on the north side. On a fine day splendid views
can be enjoyed into the counties of Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. Botanically this range is
rather dull compared with the Comeragh Mountains as it is mainly steep sloping heather
moorland with very few streams and little exposed rock, few bogs and no loughs on the Co.
Waterford side. There are no species of plant confined to this mountain range in the county.
The larger rivers: The River Suir (An tSiúir) rises on the east slope of Devil’s Bit in Co.
Tipperary, joining Co. Waterford a little north of Ballymakee Bridge. Running north until
Knocklofty Bridge, it turns east following the top of the county and dividing it from Cos
Tipperary and Kilkenny. It becomes tidal at Carrick-on-Suir from where the banks become
smothered in willow carr or reeds. These are home to large populations of Summer Snowflake
as far as Waterford City. The last few kilometres of the river separates the county from Co.
Wexford before flowing into the sea. The River Blackwater (An Abhainn Mhór) rises on
Knockanefune in Co. Kerry, joining the county at the most westerly point, flowing east past
Ballyduff and Lismore turning south at Cappoquin (the tidal limit of the river) before reaching
the sea at Youghal. In places the scenery is stunning as it flows through some high sided
wooded valleys. Marsh-marigold forms large yellow patches in spring. The River Bride (An
Bhrid), rising below the Nagles Mountains in Co. Cork, reaches the county 2 kilometres west
of Tallowbridge, flowing east until joining the River Blackwater. For much of its length thick
willow carr on both banks makes it hard to see the river. The Licky River (An Luice) rises near
Faha on the Drum Hills, flowing west until it joins the River Blackwater. The upper half of the
river is rather dull and passes through a number of conifer plantations. Once the banks become
steep and wooded they are botanically rich with species like Royal Fern and Marsh Hawk’sbeard. The Araglin River (An Airglinn) rises on Knockclugga, part of the Knockmealdown
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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Mountains flowing south and then west and forming part of the border with Co. Cork until it
leaves the county west of the village of Araglin. The part of the river that flows south is
bounded by moorland; turning west it becomes wooded and is home to much Irish Spurge and
Rhododendron. The Colligan River (Abhainn Choilligeáin) rises on the west side of the
Comeragh Mountains, flowing south through open moorland before reaching wooded valleys
and Dungarvan where it enters the sea in Dungarvan Harbour. Hay-scented Buckler-fern is
common in places. The River Nier (An Uidhir) rises on the west side of the Comeragh
Mountains, flowing west until it joins the River Suir on the border. Much of the river is
wooded, the lower stretches are good for Wood Anemone and on the rocky banks St Patrick’scabbage is frequent. The Clodiagh River (An Chlóideach) rises on the east side of the
Comeragh Mountains and flows east past Portlaw until joining the River Suir. Like many of
the other rivers, large lengths become white when Stream Water-crowfoot is flowering.
The larger water bodies: Belle Lake (Loch Mhilis) is the largest natural water body in the
county found between Dunmore East and Waterford City. The northeast side of the lake is
covered by broad-leaved woodland; here is found Skullcap and Rubus britannicus. The south
end was a marsh but it is now drained and planted with conifers. There is still a large marsh
adjoining part of the west side of the lake; here Bog-myrtle is common and it is the only site in
the county for Grey Alder which is naturalised in the marsh. The water holds the only extant
site for Lesser Bulrush and normally Six-stamened Waterwort and Quillwort can be seen
washed up along the shore line. Ballyscanlan Lough (Loch Bhaile Ui Scanlain) is round in
shape and is a few kilometres west of Tramore. The north and east shores are no longer
accessible because of large stands of Common Reed. Alternate Water-milfoil and Blunt-leaved
Pondweed are found in the water. Monaneea Lake (Loch Mhóin an Fhia) is the only large
water body in the southwest of the county. In 1988 it could be seen from the road, now it is
surrounded by a large conifer plantation. It is the only site for Floating Bur-reed. There is still a
good area of heath at the south end of the lake, Bog Asphodel is common here. Ballinlough is
the least exciting of the water bodies as majority of it is surrounded by Common Reed; there is
only access to the water in one small area. There is a large marshy area adjoining the north end.
Kilmaloo Lough (Loch Chill Molua) is in the far southwest of the county halfway between
Clashmore and Kinsalebag. The lough has silted up since I first visited it in 1997 when it was
covered in Common Duckweed, and now only has water in the winter. Common Cottongrass,
Marsh Cinquefoil and Purple-loosestrife are some of the species that grow over the silted
substrate. There are a total of thirteen loughs in the Comeragh Mountains often referred to as
Nine Lakes. The reason for this is they are single loughs or in groups of loughs making a total
of nine areas, Tay Lough being the smallest and Coumshingaun Lough (Loch Chom Seangán)
the largest. There are three large reservoirs: Ballyshonock is the largest of the three, being
divided by a road. The part on the west side of the road is the best with Water-purslane and
Orange Foxtail. Knockaderry has damp woodland at the south end and can only be walked
around completely in years when the water level drops sufficiently. Carrickavrantry is
botanically good along the north end and west side, rafts of Marsh St John’s-wort float along
the water’s edge. Water Dock is fairly common, as is Marsh Cinquefoil. Reservoir margins can
be better places for aquatic plants than natural occurring water bodies as it is almost guaranteed
that the water level will drop in the summer leaving exposed bare mud for many of the annuals
like Corn Spurrey and Red Goosefoot to grow. The largest populations in the county for
Shoreweed is now from the three large reservoirs.
1-Kilmaloo Lough
2-Monaneea Lake
3-Lough Coumfea
4-Coumalocha
5-Sgilloge Loughs
6-Coumduala Lough
7-Lough Mohra
8-Coum Iarthar Lough
9-Coumshingaun Lough
10-Crotty’s Lough
11-Ballinlough
12-Ballyshonock Reservoir
13-Knockaderry Reservoir
14-Ballyscanlan Lough
15-Carrickavrantry Reservoir
16-Belle Lake
Lakes, Loughs and Reservoirs:
- - - - County borderline not defined by a river or
stream
Key:
THE MAIN RIVERS, STREAMS, LAKES, LOUGHS AND
RESERVOIRS OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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Paul Green
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
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The coast: The Waterford coastline is 170 kilometres long which is 2.5% of the total Irish
coastline. Vertical cliffs dominate the majority of the coastline interspersed with small coves
and beaches. Creadan Head (Creann Chréadáin) which stretches out into Waterford Harbour
on the east coast between Passage East and Dunmore East is much overgrown with scrub and
bracken. The south coast has a number of headlands. Brownstown Head is a large flattish wellgrazed grass treeless area dominated by a beacon tower. It has good views across Tramore Bay
to Tramore and Great Newton Head where there are three beacon towers; these were erected in
1821, one being famous for its statue of a Metal Man on top. Ballyvoyle Head (Ceann Bhaile
Ui Bhaoill) has an enormous population of Wood Vetch on its east side. From here the cliffs
drop to a few metres high to Ballynacourty Point (An Rinn Bhán). On the opposite side to the
entrance to Dungarvan Bay is Helvick Head (Ceann Heilbhic). Rising to 72 metres, it is the
most outstanding headland. The shore line is virtually impossible to get to between here and
Mine Head (Mionn Ard) apart from-with difficultly-at Muggort’s Bay (An Mheá) where
Slender Club-rush and Dotted Sedge are frequent. The cliffs slowly drop as they curve round to
Ardmore Bay (Cuan Airde Móire) and climb again to Ardmore Head (Ceann Airde Móire),
Hare’s-foot Clover is found on the cliff tops here. The coast continues onto Ferry Point
opposite Youghal, Co. Cork where the River Blackwater joins the sea.
There are few dunes along the coast. Tramore Burrow (An Dumhach) is the largest area of sand
in the county, at the highest point rising to 26 metres, juts across Tramore Bay with a narrow
gap at the end allowing the sea to flow in at high tide to flood the Back Strand (An Chúltrá).
This is the only site for Spring Vetch on the south coast of Ireland. Cunnigar (An Coinigéar), a
long narrow strip of sand, stretches across Dungarvan Harbour and is home to an abundance of
Sharp Rush. There is a small dune system at Bunmahon (Bun Machan), Carline Thistles are
frequent and Dotted Sedge grows on the cliffs at the west end. Fornaght Strand (An Cúillín) is
sheltered between Creadan Head and Knockavelish Head (Ceann Chnoc Mhílis). Behind the
dunes lies a large marsh where there are many large clumps of Royal Fern. Woodstown Strand
(Trá Mhíllis) is on the north side of Knockavelish Head, a narrow strip of sand covered in
Marram. Passage East has dunes which have a large population of Pale Flax and a number of
clumps of Fennel.
Marshes, bogs and reedbeds (swamps): marshes and bogs are disappearing at an alarming
rate. Over half of the ones I have visited since 1997 are now drained and turned into pasture,
drained and planted with conifers, have been in-filled with rubbish or (the latest fashion)
planted with alder trees. Even in 2006 a number have been destroyed or ruined. It is not just the
small ones that have gone or been ruined. The largest bog in the county and by far the best was
northeast of Carrickavrantry Reservoir. It was drained and planted with conifers, very few of
these trees took and now it is an area of deep drainage channels and not much else. There are a
number of very large reed swamps (referred to as reedbeds in the flora) in the east of the
county. These can normally only be viewed from their margins as they are too wet and difficult
to walk in. Some drainage and dumping had taken place up to a few years ago. This has now
ceased and hopefully these are safe for the future.
Waste ground and rubbish tips: a habitat that can be very rewarding for finding alien
species, but it is not just these that colonise this type of habitat. Native species also seem to
arrive on the bare soil. The moving about and dumping of soil certainly aids the spread of
species. This is very noticeable in the more remote areas of the county. Common Couch and
Bulbiliferous Celandine have been found for a number of tetrads only where soil has been
dumped.
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Paul Green
Cities, towns and villages: these are often far better botanically than one would expect,
especially the older parts. Lawns are often full of native species like Cuckooflower and Cat’sear. Waste ground and industrial estates can be good places to look for many of the alien weed
species. Walls are a host for the small native ferns and the best places to find Cotoneasters selfsown. Tetrads that have towns in them generally have a much higher total of species than any
of the surrounding tetrads. This is because they have many of the native species but have the
extra bonus of all the alien species to boost their total. Nine out of the top ten scoring tetrads in
the county have towns or cities in all or part of them. Dungarvan (X29R) the highest with 453
species, this tetrad has many habitats: saltmarshes, dunes, river banks, walls, lawns, waste
ground, disused railway, etc. Little-robin is found on some of the walls of the town. Lismore
(X09P) the second highest scoring tetrad with 428 species has rich river banks, native broadleaved woods, walls, lawns, etc. Mexican Fleabane is common on some of the walls of the
town.
CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES AND SOME OF THE TOWNLANDS
OF COUNTY WATERFORD
Clonmel
(Co. Tipperary)
Carrick-on-Suir
Kilsheelan
(Co. Tipperary)
Carrickbeg
Kilmanahan
Waterford
Rathgormuck
Ballymacarbry
Clonea
Portlaw
Fews
Liss
Logleagh
Mocollop
Ballyduff
Lismore
Tooraneena
Kilbrien
Kilrossanty
Mountmelleray
Lemybrien
Millstreet
Stradbally
Modelligo
Cappoquin
Kilgobnet
Tallowbridge
Tallow
Dungarvan
Villierstown
Ballynacourty
Aglish
Ring
Knockanore
Helvick
Clashmore
Glendine
Kinsalebeg
Youghal
(Co. Cork)
Curragh
Ardmore
Kilmacthomas
Kill
Cheekpoint
Passage East
Kilmeadan
Dunhill
Woodstown
Tramore
Annestown Fenor
Bunmahon
Knockboy Crooke
Garrarus
Dunmore East
Portally
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FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
21
Broad-leaved woods and conifer plantations: all the natural areas of broad-leaved woods are
generally now confined to steep-sided river valleys; these are often rocky and are good places
to look for Tunbridge Filmy-fern. The Curraghmore estate has the largest and best broadleaved woods in the county, unfortunately these are private. Many areas marked on the maps as
broad-leaved woods are now conifer plantations. There are vast areas under conifers in the
county, the largest plantation (southeast of Clonmel) is 9 kilometres long and 3 kilometres
wide. Even though the planting of conifers seems to cause so much destruction to natural
habitats it also has benefits for some of the native flora which would not otherwise grow in
these areas of the county. A number of small species seem to colonise the gravel rides, Ferngrass is often found along them and it is now the main habitat in the county to find Fairy Flax
away from the mountain ranges. Two alien species, New Zealand Willowherb and Slender
Rush, are common in this habitat. The only other advantage of plantations is that they can be
good places to walk when the weather is unfavourable. The drainage and planting of conifers
and alders at Ross in 2006/2007 on the best bog in the Comeragh Mountains will see the lost of
Common Butterwort in a few years, the only extant site in the county.
Road banks, verges and hedges: walking along the numerous byways is one of the best ways
of surveying many areas of the county. A few tetrads are so drab botanically that the only
habitats in them that are worth looking at are the banks, verges and hedges that are along the
roads. Thrift is probably more common on the banks of the coastal roads than it is on sea-cliffs
giving a stunning show of pink. Lady’s Bedstraw is another species that is common on coastal
road banks. Bluebells are often found on hedge and road banks, while Smooth Meadow-grass
and Field Wood-rush are found on grassy road and field banks. Many hedges are a blaze of red
in summer and autumn from the flowers of Fuchsia. In the far west of the county Irish Spurge
is occasionally found on the side of hedge and road banks. Dwarf Cherry is almost confined to
hedges. Away from the coast and the Comeragh Mountains Sheep’s-bit is only seen on bare
open areas on hedge and road banks. The sowing of foreign grass seed has added alien species
to the county road verges, some of these becoming established such as Lotus corniculatus
variety sativus.
Walls: a surprisingly rich habitat, a host to a large number of species native and alien. Coastal
species often grow abundantly on harbour walls. Rock Sea-spurrey is very frequently found on
coastal walls. Some of the small ferns such as Wall-rue and Rustyback would be very rare in
the county if it was not for this habitat. Wood Anemone, Early-purple Orchid and St Patrick’scabbage have been found on a few walls and Wood Meadow-grass is only known from walls in
the county. Ivy Broomrape is often very common on walls. Alien species also do well on walls,
this being the most popular place to find Ivy-leaved Toadflax.
Crop fields: Field Pansy and Corn Spurrey are often common weeds of crop fields. Corn
Marigold is still found commonly in arable fields in the southwest corner of the county. Some
species seem to benefit from the growing of crops and this is helping them to increase. Figleaved Goosefoot and Black Nightshade can almost be guaranteed to be found as a weed of
maize fields. Common Ramping-fumitory is often an abundant weed of root crop fields.
22
Paul Green
MAP OF IRISH COUNTIES
Londonderry
Donegal
Antrim
Tyrone
Fermanagh
Armagh
Down
Monaghan
Sligo
Leitrim Cavan
Mayo
Louth
Roscommon Longford
Meath
Galway
Westmeath
Offaly
Kildare
Laois
Dublin
Wicklow
Clare
Carlow
Kilkenny
Limerick
Tipperary
Waterford
Kerry
Cork
Wexford
`
FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
23
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WATERFORD BOTANISTS
AND VISITING BOTANISTS
Listed below are all botanists I have been able to trace who were born in the county or who
resided in the county for a while, and some of the visiting botanists who have made important
contributions to recording the flora of the county since 1746.
Thomas Allin (d.? 1909) – born at Midleton, Co. Cork. He took the B.D. degree at Dublin
University in 1859, and, entering the church, held curacies in turn in Cos Galway, Carlow and
Cork between 1864 and 1877. He subsequently lived at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. In 1883
he issued a little book The Flowering Plants and Ferns of County Cork, published at Westonsuper-Mare. Allin made a number of records for Co. Waterford in or before 1872, four of these
being the first county records: Autumn Lady’s-tresses, Broad-fruited Cornsalad (the only
county record), Marsh Hawk’s-beard and Round-leaved Mint.
Richard M. Barrington (1849-1915) – born at the family residence of Fassaroe, Co. Wicklow.
He took degrees – M.A., LL.B. – at Dublin University, and was called to the Bar, but preferred
the open-air life that he got as a land valuer and farmer. While still an undergraduate he came
under the influence of A.G. More, which led to his reports on the flora of Lough Ree, Lough
Erne, Ben Bulben, Tory Island and the Blaskets (all published by the Royal Irish Academy).
All but one record used for this flora are from herbarium specimens and all but five of the
specimens were collected from the eastern end of the county during 1870 and 1871. He is the
only botanist to have recorded Scutellaria x hybrida in the county.
Isaac Carroll (1828-1880) – born at Aghaha, Co. Cork. He became a very good all-round
botanist, studying and collecting flowering plants, mosses, lichens and algae. At the time of his
death he was collaborating with Rev. T. Allin in the production of a general Flora of County
Cork. Carroll made a number of good discoveries in Co. Waterford, Black Horehound and
Mountain Everlasting being only reported by him.
Frances ‘Fanny’ W. Currey (1848-1917) – born at Lismore. A woman of many
accomplishments, proficient in riding, shooting and fishing, a watercolourist, besides being
clever with her pencil. A keen gardener, she grew plants at the Warren Gardens, Lismore,
raising a number of daffodil cultivars (she ran a bulb growing business). From the glens north
of Lismore in c. 1900 she collected two colour forms of Wood Anemone, ‘Lismore Blue’ and
‘Lismore Pink’, which are still in cultivation today. She noticed that the blue forms of the
Wood Anemone always grew in the immediate neighbourhood of water, within about twenty
yards. The only record for Yellow Bartsia in the county was seen by Currey. She is buried in
the graveyard of Lismore Cathedral.
I. Keith Ferguson – of Tramore, Waterford left the county in 1955 to attend Albert College,
Glasnevin on a scholarship as a Horticultural Student. From there he went to work at Kew.
Keith was BSBI vice-county recorder for the county from 1962 until he handed it over to me in
2001. He kept a card index for the county. Keith made the first county records for: Mediumflowered Winter-cress, Flax, Field Maple, Blunt-leaved Pondweed, Butterfly-bush, Irish
Whitebeam, etc.
William W. Flemyng (1850-1921) – of Coolfinn, Co. Waterford. The majority of his records
were made from around the Portlaw area. He found the only county site for Narrow-leaved
Helleborine and Greater Butterfly-orchid at Curraghmore, both long since extinct. The first
county records for Green-winged Orchid and Marsh Helleborine were made by Flemyng.
Ian P. Green – my twin brother! Co-author of The Atlas Flora of Somerset. Ian first visited the
county in 1988 to help with recording for the BSBI Monitoring Scheme. He spent a week in
September that year, not returning until April 1997 with me his twin brother to record for the
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Paul Green
New Atlas. He visited again in 2000, 2001 and 2002 to help with recording for this flora. We
would often park on the edge of a tetrad and do one each, arranging a time to meet up again.
Ian always covered a tetrad well and very little work would need doing again in that square. Ian
has contributed 6371 sole records, 24,464 made with myself and a further 878 records with
myself and other botanists. Ian has found many new species to the county including: Rough
Horsetail, Smooth Brome and Small Water-pepper.
A.M. Greenwood – from Waterford City. Published a list of plants seen flowering between
22nd October and 22nd November 1898 within a few miles of the city. There are 69 species on
this list of which 11 are the earliest records for the county. Among these are Sharp-leaved
Fluellen and Dwarf Spurge, the latter is only one of two records known from the county.
Susanna Grubb – of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Grubb added many important records to the
county between 1850 and 1900. She found Compact Brome at Carrick-on-Suir on the old castle
in c. 1854 and also on the Waterford side of the River Suir in 1864 where it is still found today.
The only record for Northern Bedstraw was made by her in 1859 from Croan Marsh.
Henry C. Hart (1847-1908) – born in Dublin of a Donegal family, his father being Sir Andrew
S. Hart, Vice-Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. He took his degree (B.A.) at Dublin
University in experimental and natural science. Hart was the author of the Flora of the County
Donegal and The flora of Howth. He was a man of magnificent physique, a daring climber and
a tireless walker, and though his pace was usually too fast for exhaustive work, he missed little,
and penetrated to places where very few have followed him. He walked the length of the Co.
Waterford coast from 1st-5th August 1882. His report of this walk gives many first records for
the county. Wood Vetch is described as growing abundantly on the east side of Ballyvoyle
Head, where it still grows today. Species seen along the coastal areas but not seen in the county
since are: Common Cudweed, Field Gentian, Slender Tufted-sedge, Stinking Chamomile and
Tufted-sedge. He explored the Comeragh Mountains in 1882, many of the species said to be
common by Hart are now quite rare on this mountain range. He walked parts of the River
Blackwater in 1885, Field Gromwell being seen then, the only record for the county.
John R. Kinahan (1828-1863) – born in Dublin. He obtained the M.D. degree at Dublin
University, lectured under the Science and Art Department on botany and zoology and was
Secretary of the Natural History Society of Dublin. Kinahan was very keen on ferns, 14 species
being the first record I have traced for the county. These include: Hart’s-tongue, Sea
Spleenwort, Southern Polypody and Tunbridge Filmy-fern.
Alan C. Leslie – originally from Guildford, Surrey, moved to Cambridge in 2005 where he is
now one of the BSBI vice-county recorders. Alan is a botanist working for the Royal
Horticultural Society. He visited the county with me in 2004, 2005 and 2006. We collected a
few bramble specimens in 2004 and since I have been hooked on them. Seven of the brambles
we collected were first county records. We added 4924 records to the database. Alan added six
new species to the county: Calystegia silvatica subspecies silvatica, Canterbury-bells, Chinese
Hollygrape, Italian Alder, Long-leaved Lacebark and Peach-leaved Bellflower.
Cynthia Longfield (1896-1991) – was a member of the Anglo-Irish Longfield family of Castle
Mary, Cloyne, Co. Cork. She worked from 1928 to 1956 at the Natural History Museum,
London. Cynthia recorded in the Lismore area in the 1950s for the 1962 Atlas. She contributed
255 records for that atlas for Co. Waterford. Thirty of these were new county records,
including: Hybrid Woundwort, Indian Balsam, Italian Rye-grass and Russian Comfrey.
Úna McDermott – born in Dublin, moved to Co. Waterford in 2001. Una joined the BSBI in
2006 and offered to help record for this flora, doing her home tetrad where she added many
good and interesting species. Adder’s-tongue grows in her garden and Rubus dentatifolius in
`
FLORA OF COUNTY WATERFORD
25
the hedge around it. Úna found Black Nightshade on the roadside near her cottage, a rare plant
in that part of the county. She also found Fragrant Agrimony growing on the roadside in the
tetrad and an unusual find was a very fine form (variety babartii) of Common Figwort which
has yellow flowers instead of the normal reddish/brown.
Declan McGrath – born in Waterford, mainly a bird watcher. Declan has produced three
excellent books; A guide to the Comeragh Mountains, A guide to Tramore Bay, Dunes and
Backstrand and A Guide to Wildlife in Waterford City. They have a large section on the flora
with first-rate pictures of plants. Declan has contributed 937 sole records for this flora and
1345 with myself and other botanists. He has added five species to the county: Mimulus x
hybridus, Oregon-grape, Phacelia, Rock Crane’s-bill and Rosemary.
Tony O’Mahony – BSBI vice-county recorder for the three Cork vice-counties has provided
records made in Co. Waterford since 1967, mainly in the Dungarvan area and along the River
Bride. He made the only record for Carex x emmae in the county. Tony was the first to record a
number of species in the county including: Bushy Mint, Des Etangs’ St John’s-wort, Fairy
Foxglove and Small-leaved Sweet-briar.
Joheph Neale – of Waterford. Neale collected specimens of plants found flowering in the
county in the spring of the years between 1877 and 1885 and sent his box of specimens to the
editor of The Natural History Journal. The details were published and give the first records for
34 of the generally commoner species of the county. It is not clear in the publications where all
were found, but it seems likely that they were collected from around Waterford City. He did
also visit the Comeragh Mountains, where he found Water Avens flowering in May 1878. He
also collected a few specimens with H.R. Clark.
Robert A. Phillips (1866-1945) – from Cork. Phillips had eight first records for the county.
His Heath False-brome from Tramore Burrow was the first confirmed record from Ireland. The
only county records for Meadow Brome and Fragrant Orchid were made by him. Wall Lettuce,
which he found at Lismore in 1933, is still abundant about the town. After road improvements
of the N25 by Youghal Bridge during 2004, Round-leaved Crane’s-bill turned out to be
frequent along the roadsides where he found it in 1900.
Robert L. Praeger (1865-1953) – born at Holywood near Belfast, the son of W.E. Praeger. He
took his degree in engineering in the Royal University. Ireland’s most famous botanist! He
visited the county a number of times. During 1897 and 1899 he made lists of species seen,
marking the routes taken on a map of the county. This map is the base I used to work out where
he saw many of the plants. Praeger is credited for many of the first records, especially the
common species. He was the first botanist to make a comprehensive list of plants seen in the
county. There are 1099 records by Praeger in my database.
Charles Smith – carried out a general survey of Co. Waterford in 1746. His publication has
the first references to any plants I have been able to trace for the county. Some of these are the
only county records: Caraway, Chamomile, Dittander, Green Hellebore, Jacob’s-ladder and
Masterwort.
Mike L. Stephens – a native of Cornwall. First came over to the county with me to help record
for the New Atlas in 1999 when we spent one day in Co. Waterford before recording in Co.
Cork for three weeks. Mike has helped me with recording also in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and
2006. We produced 11,402 records. He added Summer Jasmine to the county. Mike being an
avid gardener has helped with naming many of the garden escapes.
Matt J. Stribley – a native of Truro, Cornwall. Helped with recording in 2005 and 2006. On
his two visits we added 1265 records to the database. Being very keen on ferns, Matt came to
look for hybrid Polypody. This proved much harder than had been expected and we found only
26
Paul Green
five sites. Even though we often found two or all three species growing together hybrids were
just not there. This was a surprise to Matt as Polypodium x mantoniae seems a reasonably easy
hybrid to find in Cornwall. We found Musk new to the county.
Richard P. Vowell (d. 1911) – visited the county several times during the 1880s. The majority
of his records are drawn from herbarium specimens and collected in the west of the county.
Seventeen of these records are first county records. They include: Black-bindweed, Hybrid
Yellow-cress, Lesser Stitchwort and Winter-cress.
John C. Wallace – born in Waterford. Joined the BSBI in 2003 and since has been coming out
in the field with me. John has added 1043 sole records to the flora and a further 5182 made
with me. John added Spergula arvensis variety arvensis and Wild Leek to the county.
David A. Webb (1912-1994) – born in Dublin. He went on to Charterhouse in Godalming,
Surrey, where he became a foundation and Senior Scholar. He graduated in Natural Sciences at
Trinity College, Dublin in 1935. In 1937 he obtained a PhD from Trinity and in 1939 a PhD
from the University of Cambridge. He joined Trinity as a full-time Assistant Lecturer in
Botany. By 1943 Webb had put together a first edition of his handbook on Irish plants, An Irish
Flora. In 1950 he was appointed Professor of Plant Biology and, four years later, University
Professor of Botany. For two generations he was not only the leading taxonomic botanist in
Ireland but the best known and respected Irish botanist in international circles, with his major
contributions to Flora Europaea and the genus Saxifraga. Webb added a number of new
species to the county including: Himalayan Cotoneaster, American Willowherb, Garden
Yellow Archangel, etc. He is the only person to have recorded Druce’s Dandelion, Lavendercotton, Large-flowered Pink-sorrel and Wetland Dandelion in the county.