This little native perennial is not widespread across Ireland, mainly found in the South-west and Connemara with just a few records showing it scattered across the north of the country. It tends to grow in dry, sandy soil, on heaths and short grass. It only grows to about 8-10cm tall, with small, white, five-petalled flowers. These are barely 4-5mm across and behind the petals, five glandular hairy sepals can be seen, about the same length as those petals. The dark-green leaves have short, bristly, pointed tips. The plant is mat-forming with some of its shoots being non-flowering, others bearing the little flowers on long, erect stems. It flowers from May to August. This flowering species belongs to the Campion and Chickweed/Caryophyllaceae family.
I found this little species growing on Dursey Island off the coast of County Cork at the end of May, 2018. It was an incredibly hot day and I had only brought a lightweight camera with me so the images are not the best.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
