Guide to Plants of Blanket Bog

There is a useful photo guide to plants of blanket bog in the Spring 2020 issue of Peatland News, published by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Some of the species are included in our flowerspotting checklist for Clongawny. Below are some of those that aren't on that checklist.

With the current restrictions, some people who live in Marlinstown are within 2km of the west part of Clongawny and can check what you can see beyond the gates into boggy fields. If you live in Baltrasna, you are permitted to walk to the far side of the woods in Clongawny and can look at a very accessible patch of bog before a gateway.

Not all of the featured plants are found in Clongawny but it's worth checking as there has been very little study of the nature there.


These low-growing berry bushes belong to the Heather family (Ericaceae).

Bilberry

Cranberry

Crowberry

 

 
















Sundews are carnivorous plants.

Long-leaved Sundew

Round-leaved Sundew

Intermediate Sundew

The bog-mosses are of a species called Sphagnum.

Austin’s Bog-moss

Slender Cow-horn Bog-moss

Soft Bog-moss

Red Bog-moss

Feathery Bog-moss

Lustrous Bog-moss

Magellanic Bog-moss

Papillose Bog-moss

 

Rusty Bog-moss

  
 There are also a few other mosses.

Bristly Swan-neck Moss

Woolly Fringe-moss

Heath Plait-feather Moss

Large White Moss

 Liverworts are flowerless plants that are similar to mosses.

Purple Spoonwort

 
Sedges are similar to grasses.

Deer Sedge

Carnation Sedge

White Beak-sedge

 

The lichens could be growing on trees, rocks or other surfaces.

Antler-horn Lichen

Pixie-cup Lichen

Bearded Lichen

Matchstick Lichen

The other plants featured on the poster in Peatland News are Common Butterwort, Bladderwort, Bog Myrtle, Marsh Clubmoss, Purple Moor-grass, Common Cottongrass, Hare’s-tail Cottongrass, Black Bog-rush, Lousewort, Saint Dabeoc’s Heath, Ling Heather, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Tormentil, Bogbean, Heath-spotted Orchid, Bog Asphodel and Milkwort.