Photographs: Co. Cork and Co. Kerry

Sea Rocket Cakile maritima Cearrbhacán mara Family: Brassicaceae Flowering time: June-September. Annual. Native. Pale mauve or white flowers with erect sepals in elongating racemes. Fruit spindle-shaped with 2 seeds. Spreading branches with alternate fleshy leaves, pinnately lobed or entire. A bushy, hairless plant to 50cm Grows on sand, shingle and among rocks on most Irish coasts Related: Sea Kale, Crambe maritima. A cabbage-like plant with panicles of white flowers and large waxy-green leaves. Rare, mainly on shingle beaches in the east, south-east and south of Ireland.

Sea Rocket, Cakile maritima, Cearrbhacán mara