Limerick Ireland

The Shannon becomes tidal at Limerick, and, widening into a great estuary, enters the Atlantic 60 miles further on, its mouth being 10 miles wide. The upper reaches are river-like and muddy. Here Scirpus triqneter grows in abundance, a very rare plant, un- known elsewhere in Ireland, and in England found only in three southern estuaries. It is accompanied by Nasiuriium sylvestre, Cochlearia anglica, Typha an- gustifolia (all very local in Ireland), Scirpus Taber- nasmoniani, S. mariiimus and Piragmifes communis. The adjoining marshy meadows yield Allium vmeale, Leucojum csstivum, Carex riparia, Hordeum secalinnm, md other plants in abundance. The middle parts of the estuary are island-studded, with gravelly or muddy shores. Here we find quantities of Glyceria festucae- formis, a Mediterranean grass elsewhere known only Tom Co. Down, and G. Fonecudi, found elsewhere only in S.E. England and France ; also such plants as Apium graveolens, (Enanlhe Lachenalii, Artemisia mari- oima, Sfatice rariflora, Beta maritima. The lower part )f the estuary assumes the form of an open sea-inlet with rocky and sandy shores, yielding Glaucinm flavum, Raphanus maritimzis, Spergnlaria rupestris, Crithmum naritimum, Euphorbia porilandica, and other species of similar habitat.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Botany. Tags: Atlantic, England, Ireland, Limerick, plants, Shannon. Comments: None