A delightful delicate little plant, Legousia falcata, is a short-lived plant of springtime. They are found amongst the abundant green sword which covers the island in spring, often along the roadside.

It has small bright purple flowers encircled by bright green narrow pointed bracts, which resemble tiny curved swords, giving the species name falcata. The English name of the genus Venus’s looking gass is from the more flamboyant Legousia speculum-veneris.