Limonium humile   Lax-flowered Sea-lavender R DD N

Limonium humile whole Limonium humile close

Distinguishing this from Limonium vulgare is very tricky when they grow near each other. According to The Plant Crib it's very hard! Only with a microscope, practice and a study of the cross section and structure of both pollen and stigma can you be really sure. The two species (Limonium vulgare and Limonium humile) hybridise then there there is introgression (back-crossing) which gives every possible shape and size between the parents.

At this known site for Limonium humile, this one represents the most lax plant I could find but it is possible that it could be a hybrid with a high percentage of Limonium humile present.

It has a peculiar distribution with dense pockets in a few places in England and Wales of which Anglesey is one. It doesn't grow in Scotland but is much commoner in Ireland being dotted around 70% of the coast.

Rhosneigr marshes, Anglesey 3rd August 2006

Added on 3rd August 2006, updated Se3 30th June 2010, updated 16th Nov 2014