Günther's Site - Photos of European PlantsSome Neophytes in Western Ireland

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Some Neophytes in Western Ireland


The wet and in coastal areas frost-free climate of Ireland favored the free-running of semi-tropical plants which had formerly been introduced as ornamental plants for gardens and parks. Now you can see them in big numbers e.g. along roads or on wet ground near lakes.
Sisyrinchium bermudiana / Blue-Eyed Grass Iridaceae / Iris Fam. County Kerry, Lough Caragh	At the wet shores of lakes different species of Eye Grasses (Sisyrinchium) are growing. These are not true grasses, but relatives of Irises, which came from North America.	Sisyrinchium californicum / Californian Golden-Eyed Grass Iridaceae / Iris Fam. County Galway, Lough Corrib
Hypericum androsaemum / Tutsan Hypericaceae / St.John's Wort Fam.	Hypericum androsaemum / Tutsan Hypericaceae / St.John's Wort Fam.	Hypericum androsaemum was found at several locations along the small road which goes along Lough Corrib north of Oughterard, County Galway.
Fuchsia which have run wild are often forming a dense wall along roads together with Brambles and several bushes.	Fuchsia magellanica / Fuchsia Onagraceae / Willowherb Fam.	Fuchsia magellanica / Fuchsia Onagraceae / Willowherb Fam.
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii / Montbretia = Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Iridaceae / Iris Fam.	Crocosmia aurea x pottsii / Montbretia = Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Iridaceae / Iris Fam. The Montbretia is a plant similar to Gladiolus or Iris which has spread along many road verges in Western Ireland.
The big leaves of Gunnera tinctoria often attract attention along the roads in Western Ireland. The plant originates from Chile.	Gunnera tinctoria / Dinosaur Food, Giant Rhubarb Gunneraceae / Gunnera Fam.	Gunnera tinctoria / Dinosaur Food, Giant Rhubarb Gunneraceae / Gunnera Fam.
Rhododendron ponticum / Pontic Rhododendron Ericaceae / Heather Fam.	Rhododendron ponticum / Pontic Rhododendron Ericaceae / Heather Fam.	Not only former peat cuttings are colonized by Rhododendron bushes. In woods it can form a dense understorey under which even oak seedlings will perish. This is e.g. the case in parts of the Killarney National Park.
Geranium oxonianum forma thurstonianum / Thurston’s Oxford Crane's-Bill Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bill Fam.	Geranium x oxonianum is the hybrid between Geranium endressii and Geranium versicolor, which has been bred in Oxford by a gardener. From that later plants with narrow petals have been selected which are called ... forma thurstonianum. There are several different cultivars of forma thurstonianum, the shown one with relative dark blossom color is growing very good, I found it run wild near Waterville (County Kerry).	Geranium oxonianum forma thurstonianum / Thurston’s Oxford Crane's-Bill Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bill Fam.
Hesperis matronalis / Dame's Violet Brassicaceae / Crucifers	Hesperis matronalis / Dame's Violet Brassicaceae / Crucifers	Dame's Violet in violet or more often white runs often wild out of gardens.
The most common of several naturalized Cotoneasters in Ireland is the Small-Leaved Cotoneaster with small white blossoms and red berries.	Cotoneaster microphyllus / Small-Leaved Cotoneaster, Littleleaf Cotoneaster Rosaceae / Rose Fam.	Cotoneaster microphyllus / Small-Leaved Cotoneaster, Littleleaf Cotoneaster Rosaceae / Rose Fam.
Gaultheria mucronata / Prickly Heath Ericaceae / Heather Fam.	Gaultheria mucronata / Prickly Heath Ericaceae / Heather Fam.	A bush which also runs wild out of gardens is Gaultheria mucronata of the Heather Family, which can easily be identified by its sharp-tipped leaves. Its native country is Chile.
	Ligustrum ovalifolium / California Privet, Oval-Leaved Privet Oleaceae / Ash Fam.	Ligustrum ovalifolium / California Privet, Oval-Leaved Privet Oleaceae / Ash Fam.
Naturally this list of neophytic plants is not complete, and several plants which are affecting the native flora of other countries have also been introduced and have run wild in Ireland, e.g. knotweeds from Asia.