- Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray - Oysterplant
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© Neville McKee
© Neville McKee
© Graham Day
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(Map updated: March 2008)
A northern species reaching its southern limit in Europe in Ireland. Now rarer than a century ago - perhaps the result of warming of the climate.
There are good populations still to be seen in the north of Co. Antrim and in Co. Down near Annalong. The plant grows on upper parts of shingle beaches where there is some supply of freshwater from the land behind and some protection from the worst storms.
All names: Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray; Pneumaria maritima (L.) Hill