the park is perhaps most famous for its oak woodlands, which are about in size. they form the largest area of native woodland remaining in ireland and are a remnant of the woodland that once covered much of ireland. derrycunihy wood is perhaps the most natural sessile oak ("quercus petraea") wood in ireland. most of the oak woodlands are located on the lower slopes of the shehy and tomy mountains, adjacent to lough leane. they are typically dominated by sessile oak, which favours the acidic soils of the sandstone mountains. the woods have annex i status in the eu habitats directive because of their diverse and rich flora, most notably their bryophytes (mosses and liverworts).