Common WhitlowgrassScientific Name: Draba verna syn. Erophila verna |
Not really a problem, infact it can be missed as it is so small and usually in gravelly areas unless the plants are in a large group when the flowers are more noticeable. It has been used in the past as a herbal remedy for whitlow, an inflammation of the finger or toe nail - hence some of the common names.
The lanceolate leaves grow from a small basal rosette about 2cm in diameter and have hairs arising from raised 'pimples'. They may or may not have toothed edges.
The small, white flowers are grouped atop a leafless stem arising from the basal rosette and start to appear in April. They open in the morning with four, deeply notched petals and close in the evening.
After self-pollination the seeds are ripe by the end of May contained in the green, flattened, oval pods.
Weedkillers to use:-
A residual herbicide should prevent germination on paths.
Paraquat, Diquat contact action gives an immediate knock-down, so it should not have time to set seed, if caught in time.
The basal rosette is similar to that of Thale Cress
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