Pictured yesterday at Kippagh is a Large Flowered Butterworth, currently in bloom in the hills around Millstreet. It is a native of the upland acid bogs of Cork and Kerry. While it has beautiful flowers, the leaves below are carnivorous!! Insects walk or fly onto the leaves, which roll at their edges to prevent escape – an unlikely occurrence – since butterworts possess the strongest natural glues known. These leaves exude enzymes which digest certain parts of the insect’s body, the plant absorbing essential nourishment. After digestion the dry insect husk blows away. Butterworts overwinter as rootless resting buds. (You can see the insects on the leaves above 💀) [1] [read more …] “The Large Flowered Butterworth”
Tag: Kippagh Lake
Kippagh Mountain Lake
The skylark sing above the bracken hill
That voice once heard one never can mistake
And sunlight down the silent mountain steal
And light the dark waters of Kippagh lake.
The lake trout to the shallow waters swim
They like to feel the warmth of the sun
And tiny rill that has spring as it’s source
Down from the mountain through the bracken run.
In centuries gone i heard old woman say
The Gaelic bards to Kippagh mountain came
And found the inspiration for their songs
In land too wild and [read more …] “Kippagh Mountain Lake”
