Sweet alison
Latin name: Lobularia maritima
©Jenny SeawrightSweet alison
Latin name: Lobularia maritima
©Jenny Seawright
Sweet alison:
The delicate-looking sweet alison plant is actually very hardy! It has adapted well to growing in rocky, barren, mountainous regions and can happily survive on only a thin layer of soil. It spreads its roots out wide so it can gather nutrients from all around it. It is also very resistant to heat and drought.
Sheep's bit
©Zoë Devlin www.wildflowersofireland.net
©Zoë DevlinSheep's bit
©Zoë Devlin www.wildflowersofireland.net
©Zoë Devlin
Sheep's bit:
This is a biennial plant with soft, rounded blue flower-heads. It likes to grow in rocky places, such as mountains or cliffs, though it can also be found in meadows and dry, sandy conditions. The leaves of the sheep's bit have waxy edges and can be hairy, which helps it to retain water when the weather is very dry.
Saxifrages:
Saxifrage plants are also known as 'stone-breakers', as this is the direct translation from the Latin saxifraga. Some species of saxifrage grow up through cracks in rocks and can eventually cause them to split. Many saxifrages like the exposed mountainous habitats, although some prefer the damp conditions of woodlands e.g. kidney saxifrage.
Large-flowered butterwort (leith uisce)
The large-flowered butterwort is part of the Lusitanian Flora. To help them survive in habitats that are low in nutrients, like bogs, butterworts trap insects on their leaves with a sticky substance they produce. The insects provide them with nutrients.
©Jenny SeawrightLarge-flowered butterwort (leith uisce)
The large-flowered butterwort is part of the Lusitanian Flora. To help them survive in habitats that are low in nutrients, like bogs, butterworts trap insects on their leaves with a sticky substance they produce. The insects provide them with nutrients.
©Jenny SeawrightButterwort:
The butterwort plant traps insects on a sticky substance it produces. Enzymes help to break down the insects and absorb it into the plant. In some species of butterwort, the edges of the leaves roll inwards to help stop the prey from escaping.
Mountain sorrel:
The stalks and leaves of the mountain sorrel are a reddish colour. The fleshy leaves help to store water in dry weather and are shaped like tiny kidneys.