This plant is often prostrate so you could easily miss and walk all over it. It has rough evergreen stems and can be branched at the base. The distinctive feature is the prominent black band just below the teeth. It also has prominent ridges.

It is often found on the coast in dune slacks in Wales but is quite uncommon in central, eastern and southern England but commoner in the central highlands of Scotland. In Ireland it is most often found in a belt across the centre of the island.

LHS: Teesdale, Cronkly Bridge 22nd June 2005 Midle and RHS: Spey Bay, Scotland 14th May 2007

Added on October 26th 2005, updated 1st January 2009, updated 29th March 2010