WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Stace 4:

Limonium vulgare Mill. - Common Sea-lavender.

Stems erect to ascending, to 40(60)cm; leaves dying in autumn or winter, ≤20(30)cm, elliptic to oblanceolate, strongly pinnately veined; spikes 1-2cm, dense, with 5-8 spikelets in lowest cm, the lowest 2 spikelets 1.5-3mm apart; dimorphic, self-incompatible; 2n=36. Native; muddy saltmarshes, rarely on rocky shores; locally common around coasts of Channel Islands and Britiain North to South Scotland, not in Ireland.

Key:

• Leaves acute to obtuse (and mucronate) at apex, in very loose rosette, dying in late autumn or winter; saltmarshes
• Spikes mostly 1-2cm, with >4 spikelets / cm; outer bract 1.7-3mm; anthers yellow