This is a little perennial or biennial plant which can be easily overlooked. In many ways it is very like its annual relative, Hairy Bitter-cress, but it can be distinguished by a few identifying factors; firstly it's taller than its cousin, reaching to 50cm high; then there are the leaves this plant has between 4 and 10 stem leaves as well as its basal rosette whereas Hairy Bitter-cress only has 1 4 stem leaves and a basal rosette. The leaves are pinnately divided and have ovate, rounded lobes. The stems of this plant are as the common name suggests wavy, and they are also quite hairy. However what I find to be the simplest way of differentiating these two little wildflowers is by counting the number of stamens Wavy Bitter-cress has 6 stamens and Hairy Bitter-cress has only 4. These emerge from pretty little white 4-petalled flowers (3-4mm across) which are borne in loose clusters on the hairy, wavy, grooved stems from March to September. The seeds are held in long, narrow seed-pods which barely reach above the flowers. This is a native plant which grows on waste ground, mostly damp and shady, and it belongs to the Brassicaceae family.
I first recorded this little wildflower growing in Inishtioge, Co Kilkenny in 2009 and I photographed it there at that time.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please record your sighting for the 2010 wildflower mapping survey at www.biology.ie
