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animal/plant in less than one square kilometre) is attributed to the variety of habitats: cliffs,
boulders, gravel and mud slopes, differences in exposure to the waves and a range of tidal
currents. Peering into the clear water in between bouts of fern hunting, sea anemones and
purple sea urchins were among the abundant sea-life visible.
Walking along the north side of the Lough, we passed stands of bracken and Polystichum
setiferum at the roadside, and clumps of Dryopteris affinis. We were puzzled already – was
it subsp. affinis or subsp. cambrensis, or neither of these? Athyrium filix-femina and
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum grew at the base of the rocky slopes. On the wall around the
Lough was more A. adiantum-nigrum, plus A. ruta-muraria, A. trichomanes subsp.
quadrivalens and diminutive polypods, at least one of which was convincing P. cambricum.
Polystichum setiferum, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata, Asplenium scolopendrium, A. trichomanes
subsp. quadrivalens and A. adiantum-nigrum were recorded on the roadside banks.
The main reason for our visit to Lough Hyne was to see Asplenium onopteris, which used to
be relatively common on roadside banks nearby. Unfortunately, the road appeared to have
been widened and bramble growth had increased. We did, however, add Blechnum spicant,
Dryopteris aemula and D. affinis subsp. borreri to our list, and there were beautiful croziers
of subsp. affinis. Lathyrus vernus (spring pea) and a pink form of Anthyllis vulneraria
(kidney vetch) added colourful interest to the site.
Roadside exploration in the opposite direction revealed more Blechnum and Dryopteris
aemula, as well as an interesting Asplenium. It was not convincing as A. onopteris, but on
the other hand it didn’t match the A. adiantum-nigrum we had seen hitherto. Ken Trewren’s
study of spores/chromosome count later revealed that it was indeed A. onopteris.
Some of us picnicked beside the Lough, making the most of the beautiful setting before the
long drive back to Glengarriff. En route we admired stands of Osmunda regalis along
roadsides and field boundaries.
One of the most noteworthy features of Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve was the midges;
application of insect repellent was imperative. The area is well known for its saxifrages,
including Saxifraga spathularis (St Patrick’s cabbage), but we were more interested in the
filmy ferns growing on the same rocks. At one site (00/919568), where Hymenophyllum
tunbrigense was abundant and H. wilsonii was also present, Ken found putative hybrid
fronds with the colour and habit of H. wilsonii but with toothed indusial valves. These are
the subject of ongoing research.
We did the River Walk, a circular walk through the woods, which were predominantly sessile
oak, with a lot of holly. Dryopteris aemula was abundant, and D. affinis subspp. affinis and
borreri, D. dilatata, D. filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina, Pteridium aquilinum and Blechnum
spicant were all noted. A possible hybrid between Dryopteris dilatata and D. aemula was
found by Ken. Later examination of sporangia revealed many abortive spores but
unfortunately a chromosome count was not achieved; another sample is needed! Polypodium
interjectum was common, both on rocks and as an epiphyte. Osmunda regalis grew near the
bridge over the river. A few more colonies of Hymenophyllum wilsonii were found on rocks by
the river, in some cases with H. tunbrigense growing above it. Asplenium trichomanes subsp.
quadrivalens on the walls leading to a bridge near the car park completed our findings here.
After dinner in Glengarriff we decided to hunt for Blechnum cordatum, which A Catalogue
of Alien Plants in Ireland (2002) cites as naturalised in the area in 1952-3 and 1977. The
B. cordatum eluded us, but the wonderfully ferny lane (north from 00/946567) was home to
Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris affinis, Pteridium aquilinum,
Equisetum arvense, Dryopteris dilatata, D. aemula, D. filix-mas, a large Osmunda regalis,
Asplenium scolopendrium, A. trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens, A. adiantum-nigrum,
Polystichum setiferum and Polypodium interjectum.
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