Cork is the largest county in Ireland yet no general account of the flora of this extensive area exists. This work, comprehensive and enjoyable, is an enduring contribution to an understanding of our flora. Beginning with an account of the recording of Cork flora since 1745, the book then describes the floristic features of the county and city. A handsome mix of photography, maps and information, each chapter focuses on a specific habitat.
Modern and historical botanical studies are combined to describe the particular species of each habitat, while plants unique to a habitat are highlighted. Attention is also drawn to species with special features, culinary and medicinal uses, distinctively scented or highly poisonous. Cork City and Cork Harbour are each accorded their own chapter, given their remarkable floral and ecological diversity. Over 200 species are included, both naturalised and native. Technical terms are kept to a minimum and explained in a glossary, while the text is clear and well organised.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii PREFACE viii MAPS xi INTRODUCTION 1 1. THE RECORDING OF THE CORK FLORA:A POTTED HISTORY 7 2. CORK CITY AND ITS ENVIRONS 19 3. CORK HARBOUR 57 4. THE SOUTHWEST PENINSULAS AND ROARINGWATER BAY 93 5. ATLANTIC, MEDITERRANEAN-ATLANTIC AND AMERICAN ELEMENTS IN THE CORK FLORA 117 6. WOODLANDS AND HEDGEBANKS 139 7. THE COAST 173 8. THE RIVERS 201 9. MOUNTAINS AND UPLANDS 253 10. INLAND AND COASTALWETLANDS, PONDS AND LAKELETS 273 11. ORCHIDS 295 12. CORK'S FERN LEGACY: NATIVE AND NATURALISED SPECIES 313 13. ALIEN INFLUX 335 14. NATURALISED MEDICINAL AND CULINARY PLANTS 353 15. NATURE CONSERVATION ISSUES 371 APPENDICES 377 NOTES 397 GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS 415 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 421 INDEXES 423
Tony O'Mahony has been captivated by the wildflowers and wildlife habitats of his native County Cork from childhood. A self-taught botanist, for over forty years he has avidly explored botanical habitats in Cork and the results have been published in natural history journals since 1973. Tony collated the Cork botanical data for the New Atlas of the British & Irish Flora (Preston et al. 2002).
'Of interest to walkers keen to improve their knowledge of the 1,200 plant species to be found in Ireland's largest county' The Irish Times 'Well-bound, well-made, omnibus of information, beautifully and intelligently presented, for a very reasonable price' Irish Examiner 'Magnificent' Irish Naturalists' Journal