"Sweet alyssum" redirects here. For the 1915 American film, see Sweet Alyssum (film).
Lobularia maritima (syn.Alyssum maritimum) is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. Its common name is sweet alyssum or sweet alison,[1] also commonly referred to as just alyssum (from the genus Alyssum in which it was formerly classified).
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.[2]
Descriptionedit
Lobularia maritima is an annual plant (rarely a short-lived perennial plant)[3] 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 cm 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. yellow and lilac[3]) 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) as its sweet honey-like fragrance is attractive to bees, flower flies, stingless wasps and butterflies.[4] The fruits are numerous elongated seedpods rather hairy, oval to rounded, each containing two seeds. The dispersal of seed is affected by the wind (anemochory).
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.
Cultivationedit
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.[3] 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.[citation needed]Lobularia maritima has high drought and heat resistance.
^Nyerges, Christopher (2016). Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 15. ISBN978-1-4930-1499-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lobularia maritima.
Jepson Manual Treatment
USDA Plants Profile
Kemper Garden Center
Photo gallery
December 29, 2023
lobularia, maritima, sweet, alyssum, redirects, here, 1915, american, film, sweet, alyssum, film, alyssum, maritimum, species, growing, flowering, plant, family, brassicaceae, common, name, sweet, alyssum, sweet, alison, also, commonly, referred, just, alyssum. Sweet alyssum redirects here For the 1915 American film see Sweet Alyssum film Lobularia maritima syn Alyssum maritimum is a species of low growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae Its common name is sweet alyssum or sweet alison 1 also commonly referred to as just alyssum from the genus Alyssum in which it was formerly classified Lobularia maritimaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder BrassicalesFamily BrassicaceaeGenus LobulariaSpecies L maritimaBinomial nameLobularia maritima L Desv Cultivar White Alyssum Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Distribution 4 Habitat 5 Cultivation 5 1 Cultivars 6 Uses 7 Gallery 8 Synonyms 9 References 10 External linksEtymology editThe 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 2 Description editLobularia maritima is an annual plant rarely a short lived perennial plant 3 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 cm 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 yellow and lilac 3 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 as its sweet honey like fragrance is attractive to bees flower flies stingless wasps and butterflies 4 The fruits are numerous elongated seedpods rather hairy oval to rounded each containing two seeds The dispersal of seed is affected by the wind anemochory Distribution editThis plant is native to the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesia region Canary Islands Madeira Cape Verde It is widely naturalized elsewhere in the temperate world including the United States There is an endemic subspecies in the local flora of the Columbretes Islands of the western Mediterranean 5 Habitat editIt 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 editLobularia 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 3 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 citation needed Lobularia maritima has high drought and heat resistance Cultivars edit Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 6 Snow Cloth white Royal Carpet purple Benthamii Carpet of Snow Easter Bonnet Violet Golf Series agm 7 Little Dorrit Navy Blue New Carpet of Snow Oriental Nights Rosie O Day agm 8 Snow Crystals Snowdrift agm 9 Sweet White Tiny Tim 10 Violet Queen agm 11 Wonderland Copper Wonderland White agm 12 Uses editThe petals leaves and tender stems of the plant can be eaten raw or cooked 13 Gallery edit nbsp Plants of Lobularia maritima nbsp Flowers of Lobularia maritima nbsp Flowers of Lobularia maritima nbsp L maritima Osaka Japan nbsp Leaf of Lobularia maritimaSynonyms editAlyssum 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 amp Foucaud Alyssum maritimum var genuinum Rouy amp 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 amp 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 amp Lange Ptilotrichum strigulosum KunzeReferences edit RHS Plantfinder Lobularia maritima Retrieved 30 April 2018 Coombes Allen J 2012 The A to Z of plant names USA Timber Press pp 312 ISBN 9781604691962 a b c 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 Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima Wisconsin Horticulture Retrieved 2023 10 01 Paratype of Lobularia maritima L Desv subsp columbretensis R Fern AGM Plants Ornamental PDF Royal Horticultural Society July 2017 p 61 Retrieved 25 March 2018 RHS Plant Selector Lobularia maritima Golf Series Retrieved 29 October 2020 RHS Plant Selector Lobularia maritima Rosie O Day Retrieved 2 October 2020 RHS Plant Selector Lobularia maritima Snowdrift Retrieved 2 October 2020 Alyssum Sweet Tiny Tim Seeds RHS Plant Selector Lobularia maritima Viollet Queen Retrieved 2 October 2020 RHS Plant Selector Lobularia maritima Wonderland White Retrieved 29 October 2020 Nyerges Christopher 2016 Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature s Edibles Rowman amp Littlefield p 15 ISBN 978 1 4930 1499 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lobularia maritima Jepson Manual Treatment USDA Plants Profile Kemper Garden Center Photo gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lobularia maritima amp oldid 1178144383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
