Golden samphire

Golden samphire
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Limbarda
Species:
L. crithmoides
Binomial name
Limbarda crithmoides
Synonyms[1]
  • Eritheis maritima Gray
  • Inula crithmoides L.
  • Jacobaea crithmoides (L.) Merino
  • Inula acutifolia Pasq., syn of subsp. longifolia

The golden samphire (Limbarda crithmoides) is a perennial coastal species, which may be found growing on salt marsh or sea cliffs across western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean.[2][3][4][5][6]

Golden samphire has a tufted habit, and the plant may grow up to 1 m tall. It has narrow fleshy green to yellow green leaves and large flower heads, with six yellow ray florets which may be up to 1.5–2.5 cm (1–1 in) across. The flowers are self-fertile (able to pollinate themselves) and may also be pollinated by bees, flies and beetles. They bloom between June and October and can smell like shoe polish.[7]

  1. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Inule fausse criste, Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. with photo and French distribution map". Tela Botanica (in French). Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Flora Italiana, Enula bacicci, Golden Samphire, Limbarda crithmoides (includes photos and European distribution map)". Altervista (in Italian). Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Comprehensive profile for Inula crithmoides". Malta Wild Plants. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Limbarda crithmoides, Inula crithmoides, Jacobaea crithmoides, Eritheis maritima, Golden samphire, בן-טיון בשרני , طيون ملحيطيون ملحي". Flowers in Israel. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Inula crithmoides L. [Golden-samphire]] includes links plus distribution map for United Kingdom and Irish Republic". National Biodiversity Network, Natural History Museum, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  7. ^ Chris Gibson Seashore: A Unique Photographic Guide to the Coastal Wildlife of Britain and Europe (2008), p. 14, at Google Books ISBN 9781405328623