Golden samphire facts for kids
The golden samphire (Limbarda crithmoides) is a special plant that grows near the sea. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. You can find it growing on salt marshes or sea cliffs in western and southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea.
Golden samphire plants often grow in clumps and can reach up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. They have thin, fleshy leaves that are green to yellow-green. Their flowers are large and bright yellow, with six petals called ray florets that can be up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide.
These flowers can pollinate themselves, but bees, flies, and beetles also help them spread their pollen. They bloom from June to October and sometimes smell like shoe polish!
Quick facts for kids Golden samphire |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Limbarda
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| Species: |
crithmoides
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Contents
About the Golden Samphire Plant
This plant was first described by a famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus in 1753. He called it Inula crithmoides. Later, in 1827, another scientist, Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier, changed its name to Limbarda crithmoides when the plant's group (genus) was updated.
The United States Department of Agriculture confirmed its name in 2015.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of golden samphire:
- Limbarda crithmoides subsp. crithmoides
- Limbarda crithmoides subsp. longifolia
Where Golden Samphire Grows
Golden samphire is native to many parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe where the weather is not too hot or too cold.
Countries Where It's Found
In Africa, you can find it in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
In Asia, it grows in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.
In Europe, it's found in Ireland and the United Kingdom (especially on the Isle of Sheppey). It also grows in southern European countries like Albania, Croatia, Greece (including Crete), Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Malta, Montenegro, and Slovenia. You can also see it in France (including Corsica), Portugal, and Spain (including the Baleares).
How People Use Golden Samphire
The young leaves of golden samphire can be eaten! You can eat them raw or cook them like other leaf vegetables. In the past, people in London used to sell golden samphire in markets to make pickles.
Scientists in Lebanon have also studied this plant to see if it could be used for farming in salty areas.
See also
- In Spanish: Limbarda crithmoides para niños
