G. verna is restricted in Britain to the Teesdale area of N. England and the area round Galway Bay in W. Ireland. Maps of the Teesdale, British and world distributions are given. The sp. is a rare native of limestone grassland and calcareous glacial drift. Soil analyses show that G. verna is restricted to soils of high base status. Floristic lists are given for a range of British sites. Cytological material from England and Ireland has 2n = 28, meiosis being regular. Data are also given of the morphology, phenology, floral biology, s eed production and germination of British plants.