Montia fontana subsp. amporitana
Sennen, a form of Blinks
Account Summary
A solitary record exists from the outlet stream of Glencreawan Lough, in the Lough Navar Forest Park.
Montia fontana subsp. chondrosperma (Fenzl) S.M. Walters (= subsp. minor W.R. Hayw.), a form of Blinks
Four records exist, although the first by R.Ll. Praeger dating from 1902 has no specific site. The details of the other three by MCM & D are: Lough Lea, Knocks Td, ENE of Lisnaskea; Mullylusty Td, Lurgan River Glen; and Meenagleragh Lough, NE of Little Dog mountain, in Big Dog Forest.
Names
The genus name 'Montia' is named after Giuseppe Monti, Professor of Botany at Bologna University, Italy (Gilbert-Carter 1964). The Latin specific epithet 'fontana' is from 'fons', 'fontis', a spring or fountain, and thus means 'growing in springs or fountains' (Gilbert-Carter 1964). The English common name 'Blinks', or 'Blinking-Chickweed', is so called from its half-closed little white flowers peering from the axils of the upper leaves, as if afraid of the light (Prior 1879). It is sometimes also called 'Water Chickweed', or 'Water Blinks' (Prior 1879; Britten & Holland 1886), which makes the habitat more obvious.