It was decided to focus on aquatic habitats in Offaly in 2021 with the emphasis on recording Chara species. The season started on 2/5/2021 with a visit to Tobar na bPearla, the Well of the Pearls, near Birr, beside the Silver River, once an area of eskers and now a disused sandpit with a pond. The principal finds were the charophytes Chara aculeolata, C. vulgaris and Tolypella glomerata, as well as Potamogeton coloratus (Fen Pondweed), Mercurialis perennis (Dog’s Mercury), Rosa agrestis (Small-leaved Sweet-briar) and a nice colony of Orphys apifera (Bee Orchid). Other charophyte records in 2021 include, C. curta, C. hispida, C. glomerata, C. vulgaris and Nitella flexilis on the Grand Canal, Ballyshane, Cloghan (15/8/21) and C. hispida and C. contraria at Mcarthney's Aqueduct, Ferbane (16/8/21). A note from Stephen Heery (ecologist and author of ‘The Shannon Floodlands') to say he found Viola canina (Heath Dog-violet), in the callows at Kilmeecheron, near Banagher, prompted a visit to the site at the end of May. This added to the list Anacamptis morio (Green-winged Orchid), Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. incarnata and subsp. pulchella (Early Marsh-orchid) and Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue). Stephen also recorded Groenlandia densa (Opposite-leaved Pondweed), near its original site at Shannon Harbour. Mullinroe, Moystown, an area of bog and callows near the River Shannon was visited in mid-July and yielded Carex pseudocyperus (Cyperus Sedge), Frangula alnus (Alder Buckthorn), Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit) and Rumex hydrolapathum (Water Dock). A walk from Victoria Lock to the new walkway across the River Shannon at Meelick on the Galway border at the end of July produced Potamogeton x angustifolius (Long-leaved Pondweed), a New County Record, with Sium latifolium (Greater Waterparsnip) and Butomus umbellatus (Flowering-rush). On the first of August a trip to Shannonbridge to check on Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea), was successful and Sium latifolium was also recorded. The Grand Canal at Gallen, Ferbane (15/8/2021) proved to be an exciting site with Parnassia palustris (Grass-of-Parnassus), Selaginella selaginoides (Lesser Clubmoss) and Gentianella amarella (Autumn Gentian), and the highlight of the day was finding a good population of Nitella tenuissima greatly extending its distribution across H18. The final visit of the year to L. Finnamore at the end of September yielded Chara aculeolata, C. rudis, C. curta, C. virgata, C. contraria and over a thousand plants of Gentianella amarella. Special thanks to Nick Stewart for his determination of the charophyte species and Potamogeton x angustifolius. ----------
Further records of Rubus L. subgenus Rubus in Ireland Margaret Norton, Tinode, Manor Kilbride, Blessington, Co. Wicklow Email: kilnorbot200@gmail.com PAGE 50
