Neottia nidus-avis and Atropa belladonna in Co. OffalyAuthor(s): Henry LambSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Jul., 1974), p. 95Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25537762 .

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95

METOECUS PARADOXUS L. IN CO. DUBLIN

In the Irish Naturalists Journal 2: 197, Mr. Stelfox reported the first, and I believe the only, Irish specimen of this curious heetle whose appearance is as unusual as its life history which is set out in Mr Stelfox's note. The specimen was captured by Miss G. Scott in Powerscourt Demesne, County Wicklow, on 13th October 1928. On the 6th October 1962 in the grounds of "Llanmawr" in Corbawn Lane I followed what at first I thought was a slow-flying Sawfly, then a Hemipteron, and only after catching it and close examination did I realise it was a beetle. The illustration on p. 40 of Volume IV, part I, of the Handbooks for the IdentiGcation of British Insects showed it was Metoecus paradoxus L. and Mr Stelfox subsequently confirmed this identification.

R. C. FARIS Dunsandle, Corbawn Lane, Shankill, Co. Dublin.

BOTANICAL NOTES

POLYGONUM MARITIMUM L. NEW TO IRELAND

On the second of July 1973 we found Polygonum maritimum L. on sandy shingle at the east end of the beach at Tramore, Co. Waterford (S 620002). This appears to be the first record of the species for Ireland.

The specimen collected is in flower and more closely resembles Mediterranean

plants than those from Britain, when compared with specimens in the Kew herbarium, in having smaller leaves and a very compact habit but the very large and conspicuous

ochreae are typical of P. maritimum.

The species is probably a casual and is not an unexpected record as single

plants are found from time to time in southwest Britain. We are grateful to Dr B. T. Styles (Oxford) for confirming our identification.

Specimen is in Herbarium DBN. T. K. FERGUSON

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. L. F. FERGUSON

OENOTHERA ERYTHROSEPALA BORBAS AT DONABATE, CO. DUBLIN

In August 1969 I was walking on sandhills at Corballis Golfcourse, Donabate, Co. Dublin (H 21), Grid O 2447 when I noticed 3 or 4 plants of Oenothera. The species was determined by Dr B. D. Morley as Oenothera erythfosepala Borbas, a plant locally common in W and C Europe, introduced and naturalised in dunes in Ireland. An old specimen in DBN from County Dublin, labelled "Oenothera biennis, grassy place at

edge of sandhills, Malahide, about 12 plants, June 1873, R. M. Barrington", is now referred to as O. erythrosepala.

Donabate is about 24- miles north of Malahide. The only specimen of Oenothera recorded for Ireland in Atlas of the British

Flora (1962) is O. stricta Ledeb from Rosslare H 12. Oenothera biennis L. (Evening Primrose) is recorded in Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland (1972) from botanic divisions HI, H6, HI2, H19, H21, H39.

The Corballis plant is now in the Herbarium, National Botanic Gardens DBN. AIDAN BRADY

National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

NEOTTIA NIDUS-AVIS AND ATROPA BELLADONNA IN CO. OFFALY

Neottia nidus-avis, the Bird's Nest Orchid, was found growing in woodland 1| miles SE Ballynahown, Co. Offaly on 7th July 1973, 34 flowering spikes were present in the main patch, with another three plants in flower about 100 yards away. The wood is mainly hazel, with only occasional beech trees growing on a calcareous esker ridge.

Mercurialis perennis was also growing in quantity. The location is likely to be cleared within the next few years.

Atropa belladonna was found growing in the hedgerows near the same locality. Neither of these two plants have been recorded for County Offaly before.

HENRY LAMB.

Ballykilty, Malahide, Co. Dublin.

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