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Danish scurvy grass by a roadside

Danish scurvy grass

A plant which in recent years has become visible as a white ribbon directly next to roads, usually busy ones. Danish scurvy grass is a plant which can tolerate high levels of salt in the soil where it grows (a halophile).

Winter gritting leaves such salt levels in the edge of verges. It is possible that the seeds also spread in car tyres. So this tiny flower is now becoming common in early spring, often found in a band only a few inches wide.

Most of the patches I’ve seen have been right by very busy A-roads – not comfortable places to stop to photograph. These were on the edge of the small village green at Seisdon.

It was a dull and chilly day when I was there, so the flowers are only half out.

Danish scurvy grass