Killymackan Lough, a satellite lake of Lough Erne, is a large inter-drumlin lough with a species rich assemblage of aquatic plants. The margins of the lough consist of a narrow fringe of swamp and fen with sparse carr woodland or fen meadow.
The aquatic vegetation is dominated by extensive beds of pondweed. In fact this site is one of only three in Northern Ireland with eight species of pondweed. There are also submerged beds of stoneworts, including the nationally rare pointed stonewort. Yellow water lily and spiked water-milfoil are also common in the open waters. The emergent vegetation of the lough is dominated by water horse tail and common club-rush.
The swamp vegetation is dominated by bottle sedge and common reed. This is often backed by species rich fen in which tufted sedge is dominant.
There are also a number of plant species with a restricted distribution in the British Isles including cowbane, lesser pond-sedge and needle spike-rush.
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