The Burren, Co. Clare. © Patrick Slavin

Hairy Rockcress Arabis hirsuta Gas caillí giobach Family: Brassicaceae Flowering: May-August. Biennial or perennial. Native. Terminal clusters of small white flowers with 4-petals are followed by erect fruit, close-pressed to stem. The basal rosettes have oval-oblong, more/less un-toothed leaves, stem leaves are smaller, lanceolate and clasp the stem. A more/less hairy plant. Height 10-50cm. Widespread but decreasing on dry, sunny limestone ledges, walls and in short base-rich grassland. Now mainly found in the west and north-west of Ireland.

Hairy Rockcress, Arabis hirsuta, Gas caillí giobach