Erophila verna - Common Whitlowgrass
Common Whitlowgrass is present in Cornwall as two varieties
. E. verna var.
praecox (Steven) Diklic, (listed in Margetts and David, 1981 and in Margetts and Spurgin, 1991 as ssp.
spathulata (A.F.Lang) Walters) has been recorded on sand dunes. These include Gwithian Towans (SW54), Kennack Sands (SW71), Penhale Sands (SW75) and Constantine Bay (SW87). Plants of this variety can be found at these localities growing both on the dunes and on nearby hedgebanks affected by blown sand.
E. verna var.
verna occurs on the Lizard and is scattered elsewhere, growing on open dry ground around low rocky outcrops, on paths and tracks, as well as on walls and station platforms. The accompanying map includes records for both varieties.
Click here to see Aphotoflora images by David Fenwick
Source:
French, C.N., Murphy, R.J. & Atkinson, M. 1999. Flora of Cornwall. Wheal Seton Press, Camborne.