| Calendula maritima Sea Marigold |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Calenduleae |
| Genus: | Calendula |
| Species: | C. maritima |
| Binomial name | |
| Calendula maritima Guss. (Giovanni Gussone) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Calendula suffruticosa subsp. maritima (Guss.) Meikle |
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Calendula maritima, known as the Sea Marigold and Trailing Calendula, is a very rare species from the family of Asteraceae. Some scientists regarded it as subspecies Calendula suffruticosa subsp. maritima.
The halophyte plant is endemic to the western part of Sicily in small coastal habitats, and is a critically endangered species. [1]
Contents |
Calendula maritima, the Sea Marigold, occurs only on the Sicilian coast: on the island mainland between Marsala and the Monte Cofano; and on the two nearby islets Isola Grande dello Stagnone and Isola La Formica, in the Province of Trapani. [2] The most significant population is in a small 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) nature reserve area, within the Riserva Naturale Saline di Trapani e Paceco.
It is on the IUCN Red List Critically Endangered plant species. [3]
This perennial plant reaches a height between 20–40 centimetres (7.9–16 in). The stems which can easily lignified on the underparts and the leaves are covered with short sticky hairs. The young stems are first erected, later they began to hang and spread on the soil.
In contrast to Calendula officinalis (Pot marigold), the leaves are fleshy and have a strong smell. The form of the leaves vary from egg-shaped to linear depending on their placement on the stems.
The basket-shaped blossoms consists of pale to bright yellow single-standing petals, and have a diameter between 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in). The main flowering period is from May to June.
The Calendula maritima habitat outside the nature reserve is under serious threat of destruction due to urban development, such as expansion of the Marsala harbour. In addition other threats and reasons for its rarity include: air pollution in the nature reserve from the nearby salt-works; and the competition of invasive species, such as the Hottentot fig 'ice plant' (Carbobrotus edulis), in all native locations. The exact number of the remaining native plants is currently unknown.
Calendula maritima, the Sea Marigold or Trailing Calendula, is cultivated as an ornamental plant, used as a flowering groundcover and container plant. There are cultivars, such as the yellow flowering "Skyfire" and "Summerlovers Skyfire Yellow", which are commonly planted in: gardens, parks, and street and highway median plantings; and in flower pots on patios and balconies.
The flowers are nectar source attracting bees and butterflies, and so used in butterfly gardening, and wildlife gardens—backyard wildlife habitats. [4]