Brassicaceae/Cruciferae (Cabbage Family)
Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Violet)
***Garden Escapee*** |
I first found this plant in some ground that had been let grow (kind of) wild very little interference apart from the odd visit from a goose. Apparently it can be both perennial and biennial which could explain why I never saw (or perhaps just didn't notice) the flowers the year before.As one can imagine it was the striking violet flowers that caught my eye. A white flowered form is also found which I later encountered while going for a walk in Causeway, a nearby village and is shown bottom left.
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Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket)
The flowers in themself are the first giveaway that this plant is a crucifer - cross shaped (crucifer) petals. A coastal species well designed forits living conditions of high salinity (note extremely fleshy leaves). Photgraphed: August 2016 Location: Seen both on Ballyheigue and Fenit beach, both times growing near the high tide mark on sandy/rocky substrate |