Calendula maritima

Sea beach Marigold

The sea beach Marigold (. Calendula suffruticosa subsp maritima ( Guss. ) Meikle, basionym: . Calendula maritima cast ) is a rare subspecies of Halbstrauchigen marigold (Calendula suffruticosa ) from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). It is endemic to Sicily. Your cultivated forms are called by some gardeners hanging marigold.

Description

This herbaceous plant reaches a height of 20 to 40 cm. The stems, which can easily become woody at the bottom, and their leaves are covered with short sticky hairs. The young stems are initially upright, later they spread out and hang to the floor. In contrast to the marigold the leaves are fleshy and have a strong odor. The shape of the leaves ranges from ovate to linear, depending on their placement on the stem: the upper ones are oblong; they are to the base getting wider up to an egg-shaped form.

The cups have a diameter of 3 to 5 cm and are made of lemon-yellow single flowers. The main flowering season extends from May to June.

Habitat

The sea beach Marigold growing on nitrogen-rich soils near the sea.

Status

The species is threatened with extinction and occurs worldwide in only two limited areas in Sicily before: in the Reserve Riserva naturale Saline di Trapani e Paceco between Marsala and Monte Cofano in the province of Trapani in western Sicily, and in the reserve Isole dello Stagnone di Marsala. Your site is greatly zersplittet and seriously threatened by urban development, which includes for example the extension of the port of Marsala, from destruction. Another threat comes from the competition and displacement by invasive species such as the Edible ice plant ( Carpobrotus edulis) from. The number of their collections and population sizes are unknown.

Use

The sea beach Marigold exists in cultivated form. It takes as bedding and balcony plant use. Most important species is the yellow ' Skyfire ', a compact growing and hanging new breed. It is suitable for beds, hanging baskets, tubs and as ground cover. It needs a sunny location and slightly acidic soils.