Photographs: Co. Cork and Co. Waterford

Golden-samphire Limbarda crithmoides (Inula crithmoides) Ailleann Pheadair Family: Asteraceae Flowering time: July-September. Perennial. Native. Clusters of flowers with golden-yellow rays surrounding a centre of orange disc-florets. The fleshy, alternate leaves are linear, stalkless and either untoothed or with 3 apex teeth. Erect and tufted with branched stems that can become woody. Height 15-80cm. A rare plant on Irish coasts, found at the edge of shingle beaches and on sea-cliffs and dry salt-marshes.

Golden Samphire, Limbarda crithmoides (Inula crithmoides), Ailleann Pheadair