Seasonal Wild Flowers

Common Whitlowgrass

Erophila verna

Brassicaceae

January to April

It is patchily distributed throughout the country

See the BSBI distribution map for Common Whitlowgrass

It grows on dry bare ground, trodden coastal pathways,

walls, cracks in pavements, quarries,limestone and shingle.

Common Whitlowgrass is a native, ephemeral, annual herb,

growing up to 10cm.

It is very variable. It is almost prostrate in trampled grassy

paths, but taller and slender when growing on walls.

Flowers are 3 to 5mm across with 4 deeply cleft white

petals.

There are 6 yellow stamens and a single disc-shaped

stigma.

Pods are oval.

Leaves are lanceolate, sometimes toothed and in a

basal rosette.

Common Whitlowgrass on a wall, Dorset

Flowers and emerging capsule/pod

Capsules / pods

Close up of leaves

Shorter form in trampled grass on path