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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
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
Sisyrinchium californicum / Californian Golden-Eyed Grass
Iridaceae / Iris Fam.
  County Galway, Lough Corrib
 
Hypericum androsaemum, Tutsan
Hypericum androsaemum / Tutsan
Hypericaceae / St.John's Wort Fam.
 
 
Hypericum androsaemum, Tutsan
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
Fuchsia magellanica / Fuchsia
Onagraceae / Willowherb Fam.
 
Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia
Fuchsia magellanica / Fuchsia
Onagraceae / Willowherb Fam.
 
 
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii, Montbretia
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii / Montbretia
= Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
Iridaceae / Iris Fam.
 
Crocosmia aurea x pottsii, Montbretia
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
Gunnera tinctoria / Dinosaur Food, Giant Rhubarb
Gunneraceae / Gunnera Fam.
 
 
Gunnera tinctoria, Dinosaur Food, Giant Rhubarb
Gunnera tinctoria / Dinosaur Food, Giant Rhubarb
Gunneraceae / Gunnera Fam.
 
Rhododendron ponticum, Pontic Rhododendron
Rhododendron ponticum / Pontic Rhododendron
Ericaceae / Heather Fam.
 
 
Rhododendron ponticum, Pontic Rhododendron
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
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
Geranium oxonianum forma thurstonianum / Thurston’s Oxford Crane's-Bill
Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bill Fam.
 
 
Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Violet
Hesperis matronalis / Dame's Violet
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Violet
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
Cotoneaster microphyllus / Small-Leaved Cotoneaster, Littleleaf Cotoneaster
Rosaceae / Rose Fam.
 
Cotoneaster microphyllus, Small-Leaved Cotoneaster, Littleleaf Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster microphyllus / Small-Leaved Cotoneaster, Littleleaf Cotoneaster
Rosaceae / Rose Fam.
 
 
Gaultheria mucronata, Prickly Heath
Gaultheria mucronata / Prickly Heath
Ericaceae / Heather Fam.
 
 
Gaultheria mucronata, Prickly Heath
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
Ligustrum ovalifolium / California Privet, Oval-Leaved Privet
Oleaceae / Ash Fam.
 
 
Ligustrum ovalifolium, California Privet, Oval-Leaved Privet
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.  
 

 


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6-Jul-2015

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