Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima)

Plantago maritima one of several flowering plant species able to survive in the splash zone. The problem for these salt tolerant species (halophytes) in the spalsh zone is lack of soil. They can only grow where a bit a soil has formed in a crack or crevice (as above). This is usually the result of lichens that have become established over many years, eroding the rock and forming small amounts of humus. An example of succession, called a lithosere.