Lobularia maritima

Lobularia maritima
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lobularia
Species: L. maritima
Binomial name
Lobularia maritima
(L.) Desv.

Lobularia maritima syn. Alyssum maritimum, common name sweet alyssum or sweet alison, also commonly referred to as just alyssum (from the genus Alyssum in which it was formerly classified) is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.

Etymology

The genus name Lobularia comes from a Greek word meaning "small pod", referring to the shape of the fruits. The name of the species maritima refers to its preferred coastal habitat.[1]

Description

Close-up on flowers of Lobularia maritima

It is an annual plant (rarely a short-lived perennial plant)[2] growing to 5–30 cm (2–12 in) tall by 20–30 cm (8–12 in) broad. The stem is very branched, with dense clusters of small flowers. The leaves are 1–4 mm long and 3–5 mm, broad, alternate, sessile, quite hairy, oval to lanceolate, with an entire margin.

The flowers are about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in diameter, sweet-smelling, with an aroma similar to that of honey, with four white rounded petals (or pink, rose-red, violet and lilac[2]) and four sepals. The six stamens have yellow anthers. The flowers are produced throughout the growing season, or year-round in areas free of frost. They are pollinated by insects (entomophily). The fruits are numerous elongated seedpods rather hairy, oval to rounded, each containing two seeds. The dispersal of seed is effected by the wind (anemochory)

Distribution

This plant is native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Azores) and in France in the Bay of Biscay. It is widely naturalized elsewhere in the temperate world. There is an endemic subspecies in the local flora of the Columbretes Islands.[3]

Habitat

It is common on sandy beaches and dunes, but can also grow on cultivated fields, walls, slopes and waste ground, preferably on calcareous soil, at an altitude of 0–300 metres (0–984 ft) above sea level.

Cultivation

Lobularia maritima is cultivated in gardens, with many horticultural varieties with purple or pink flowers. The plant is best planted in early spring, but requires little maintenance when growing. Although an annual, it may reseed in temperate climates.[2] It will flower more profusely if spent blooms are trimmed. When grown in gardens, it is typically used as groundcover, as it rarely grows higher than 20 cm (8 in) tall. It is also grown in cracks in paving and walls, and is especially associated with coastal locations. It prefers partial shade, and is resistant to heat and drought. Plants with darker-colored flowers do better in cooler temperatures. Lobularia maritima is exceptional among annual plants as it has unparalleled drought and heat-resistance properties. No wonder that it is now thriving in wide regions and has become naturalized in the United States too. A member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), this plant fares well in milder climates, and is capable of self sowing.[4]

Cultivars

  • 'Snow Cloth' (white)
  • 'Royal Carpet' (purple)      
  • 'Benthamii'
  • 'Carpet of Snow'
  • 'Easter Bonnet Violet'
  • Golf Series[5]
  • 'Little Dorrit'
  • 'Navy Blue'
  • 'New Carpet of Snow'      
  • 'Oriental Nights'
  • 'Rosie O’Day'[6]
  • 'Snow Crystals'
  • 'Snow Drift'[7]
  • 'Sweet White'
  • 'Tiny Tim' [8]
  • 'Violettkönigin' ('Violet Queen')[9]
  • 'Wonderland Copper'
  • 'Wonderland White'[10]

Synonyms

  • Alyssum maritimum f. argentatum Font Quer
  • Alyssum maritimum f. crassifolium Font Quer
  • Alyssum maritimum f. densiflorum (Lange) Briq.
  • Alyssum maritimum f. densiflorum (Lange) Samp.
  • Alyssum maritimum f. virescens Font Quer
  • Alyssum maritimum var. densiflorum (Lange) Rouy & Foucaud
  • Alyssum maritimum var. genuinum Rouy & Foucaud
  • Alyssum maritimum var. lepidoides Ball
  • Alyssum maritimum var. macrophyllum Pau
  • Alyssum maritimum (L.) Lam.
  • Alyssum murcicum Sennen
  • Alyssum odoratum hort.
  • Alyssum strigulosum (Kuntze) Amo
  • Clypeola maritima L.
  • Koniga maritima var. densiflora (Lange) Rouy
  • Koniga maritima var. genuina Rouy
  • Koniga maritima var. strigulosa (Kuntze) Rouy
  • Koniga maritima (L.) R. Br. in Denham & Clapperton
  • Koniga strigulosa (Kuntze) Nyman
  • Lobularia maritima f. densiflora (Lange) Maire
  • Lobularia maritima subsp. columbretensis R. Fern.
  • Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. subsp. maritima (L.) Desv.
  • Lobularia maritima var. densiflora Lange
  • Lobularia strigulosa (Kuntze) Willk. in Willk. & Lange
  • Ptilotrichum strigulosum Kunze

References

  1. ↑ Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of plant names. USA: Timber Press. p. 312. ISBN 9781604691962.
  2. 1 2 3 Bruce Asakawa; Sharon Asakawa (3 September 2001). California Gardener's Guide. Cool Springs Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-930604-47-6. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Paratype of Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. subsp. columbretensis R. Fern.
  4. ↑ Sweet Alyssum Flower Archived July 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Lobularia maritima Golf Series". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Lobularia maritima 'Rosie O'Day'". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Lobularia maritima 'Snow Drift'". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Alyssum Sweet Tiny Tim Seeds".
  9. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Lobularia maritima 'Violettkönigin'". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Lobularia maritima 'Wonderland White'". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
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