I am posting this picture on my side album because this is a flower that most people will probably never see, and I thought you might be interested in the story. It is called crambe or sea kale, and it is a rare and protected species in France. There is even a natural reserve which was created especially for this plant 40km from here. I am lucky to have one of the last patches in Brittany growing on the boulder dam just beyond the back of my garden. The plant will grow only on deep shingle or boulders layers with sand underneath, at the upper limit of the tides. It has an impressive pivotal root that can dig several meters deep in between the accumulated stones. It is full of white flowers in May and June, and it has rather large and thick leaves. The whole aerial part is reputed edible and even delicious to eat, but because of the protected status, you can not pick them.
