Mertensia maritima

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 110

1. M. maritima (L.) S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. PI. 2: 354 (1821).

Glabrous, glaucous; stems up to 60 cm, leafy, purple, pruinose, erect or decumbent, sometimes cushion-forming. Leaves 0-5-6 cm, spathulate, obovate or lanceolate, obtuse or apiculate, the lower petiolate, the upper sessile; upper surface papillose. Racemes often branched, with leaf-like bracts. Pedicels 2-10 mm, often recurved in fruit. Calyx-lobes c. 6 mm, ovate. Corolla c. 6 mm in diameter, pink, becoming blue and pink, with invaginations in the throat; limb campanulate, divided to c. £ into ovate-triangular lobes. Nutlets c. 6 mm, flattened; outer coat fleshy, becoming papery. In = 24. Maritime sands and shingle. Coasts o f N. Europe, southwards to 54° (formerly 52° 30' N.) in Britain and Ireland, but not in the Baltic region. Br D a Fa Hb Is No Rs (N) Sb Su.