Stace (2010) pg 429/ Rose & O’Reilly (2006) pg172/ BSBI Distribution: http://www.bsbimaps.org.uk/atlas/map_page.php?spid=1149.0

As members of the Plumbaginaceae family, they are perennials, leaves are basal, narrowed to base, simple in shape without stipules. Flowers are in branched cymes (in the lavenders case). The calyx is fused proximally with free scarious lobes distally. Each flower has 5 petals, 5 stamens and 1 celled ovaries (Stace 2010).

Lax flowered Sea-lavender, Limonium humile  is quite similar to Common, Limonium vulgare in appearance (grows erect up to 60cm tall with elliptical leaves, 30cm long ) but spikes are noticibly more lax (Stace 2010). Identification can be difficult between these two sspecies, particularly as they can hybridise:

The inflorescence spikes can be 2-5cm, with 2-3 spikelets branching off. In the field a way to measure for this species are that the lowest 2 spikelets  are 4-10mm apart. Additional information is that this species is monomorphic and self compatible (Stace 2010).

Note that the picture shows plant without petalled corollas. The flowers would be in clusters within keeled, green bracts surrounding the petals.

Petals are lilac (like other Limoniums) but anthers are reddish brown (Rose 2006).