The Burren is located south of Galway in County Clare, Ireland. The name Burren is
comes from the
Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation rests unspoiled
since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area
in western Europe.
This area is approximately 300 square kilometers and can appear very bleak with significant glacial soil loss. It does, however, have
sufficient soil to grow a wide variety of the unusual and rare plants.
Alpines and
Mediterranean species grow together in this limestone. The Burren
is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay and is in the
Northwest corner of Clare.
Alpine and Mediterranean Plants found in County Clare
Flowers of the Burren
The flowers below are
not unique to
The Burren, but nowhere else are these rare plants found in such an
abundance or growing together in the same area. Typically they
are found in much different habitat, ranging from the mountains of
Europe to the shores of the Mediterranean.
