Dong Lei / Sandwort (Arenaria bryophylla) Mt Shishapangma, Mt Qomolangma National Park, Qinghai Tibet Plateau, China.

Ingo Arndt / Seabeach Sandwort (Honkenya peploides) growing on beach, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA, June.

Alex Hyde / Leadwort (Minuartia verna) growing on spoil heap next to lead mine. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. June.

Alex Hyde / Leadwort (Minuartia verna) growing on spoil heap next to lead mine. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK, May.

Alex Hyde / Leadwort (Minuartia verna) growing on spoil heap next to lead mine. Magpie Mine, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK, May.

Theo Bosboom / Sea sandwort (Honckenya) in autumn colours, Hvalnes, Iceland, September 2009

Colin Varndell / Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) flowers on Cogden Beach, Dorset, UK May

Paul Harcourt Davies / Rock sandwort (Minuartia rupestris) in flower, above Pordoi pass, Dolomites. Italy, July

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large-flowered Sandwort (Arenaria grandiflora) photo on the route up Mount Vettore, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy, June

Ingo Arndt / Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) growing on beach, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

Robert Thompson / Sea sandwort {Honckenya peploides} Annalong Coastal Path, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, August

Gary K. Smith / Sea Sandwort {Honkenya peploides} growing on shingle beach, Norfolk, UK, June

Nigel Bean / Sea purslane on rocky beach {Honkenya pepliodes} Montrose, Scotland, UK

Mark Moffett / Sandwort (Arenaria kansuensis) arthritis cure is also a popular addition to rock gardens, Sichuan Province, China

Tony Evans / Sea sandwort / purslane {Honkenya pepliodes} UK

Geoff Simpson / Spring sandwort {Minuartia verna} Peak District NP, Derbyshire, UK

Andy Sands / Spring sandwort (Minuartia verna) in flower, Upper Teesdale, England, UK. June.

Ingo Arndt / Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) on black sand beach, Iceland

Philippe Clement / Mountain sandwort (Arenaria montana) in flower, Europe. May.

Philippe Clement / Mountain sandwort (Arenaria montana) in flower, close up, Europe. May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Capillary-leaved sandwort (Cherleria capillacea) flowering on mountainside, Mount Terminillo, Lazio, Italy. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Cherleria (Cherleria capillacea) in flower on limestone high on Mount Terminillo, Lazio, Italy. July.

Nick Upton / Spring sandwort (Minuartia verna) clump flowering among loose rocks on a clifftop, Kynance Cove, The Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, UK. June.

Nick Upton / Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia) clump flowering on coastal sand dunes in spring, Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. May.

Nick Upton / Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia) flowering on coastal sand dunes in spring, Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. May.

Nick Upton / Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) clumps with maturing fruit capsules on sea shore, Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Mossy sandwort (Moehringia muscosa) growing amongst Moss. Dolomites, Italy. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large-flowered sandwort (Arenaria grandiflora). Sella, Dolomites, Italy. June.

Niall Benvie / Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) on black sand beach, Iceland

Linda Pitkin / Thyme-leaved sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia) East of Chilworth and St Martha's Hill, Surrey, England, May.