Arabis hirsuta - Hairy Rock-cress
Hairy Rock-cress is restricted to calcareous habitats and is therefore almost totally confined to the shell-rich, north-coast sand dunes of Cornwall. Recent records include Phillack Towans (SW53U, 1983, R.J.Murphy), Gwithian Common (SW54V, 1996, C.N.French), Godrevy Towans (SW54V, 1994, D.T.Holyoak), Reen Sands near Perranporth (SW75S, 1984, R.J.Murphy), Mount Field near Penhale Sands (SW75Y, 1998, M.Tempest), Rushy Green near Crantock (SW76V, 1992, H.M.Meredith), Porthcothan valley (SW87Q, 1980), Brea Hill by Rock Dunes (SW97I, 1993, M.Atkinson) and Watch House Field, Rame peninsula (SX44J, 1996, A.Barton). There is an old record for sand-affected grassland inland of Sennen Cove (SW32S, 1970, B.M.Sturdy) but none from the large expanse of Penhale Sands within MOD jurisdiction (SW75T and SW75U, fide L.J.Margetts).
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.