Photographs: Toomore, Co. Cork

Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina Cabróis mhara bheag Family: Caryophyllaceae Flowering: May-September. Annual, sometimes biennial. Native. Pink flowers with white centres, the 5 petals shorter than the sepals and 7 or less stamens. Most seeds are without winged borders. The fleshy leaves are semi-cylindrical with short stipules. A glandular-hairy, sprawling plant. Height/spread to 20cm Irish coasts on drier salt-marshes, sea walls and muddy shingle Similar: Greater Sea-spurrey, S. media. Petals longer than sepals

Lesser Sea-spurrey, Spergularia marina, Cabróis mhara bheag