floscuculi

Floscuculi is a small, monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, native to coastal regions of the western Mediterranean. It contains a single species, Floscuculi maritimus. The genus was established in a 2010 revision of Mediterranean Campanulaceae by botanists Elena Vico and colleagues, who noted its distinctive floral morphology.

Floscuculi maritimus is a herbaceous perennial, typically 25–50 cm tall. It has slender, erect stems, opposite lanceolate leaves, and a loose raceme of tubular blue to violet flowers, about 1.5–2 cm long. Each flower has five lobes, with a narrow limb and a delicate, lightly scented corolla. The fruit is a small capsule containing several seeds.

Distribution is restricted to coastal dunes and saline wetlands from southern France through western Italy to Corsica and Sardinia. It favors sunny, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils and shows tolerance to wind and salt spray, but is sensitive to prolonged freshwater inundation and habitat disturbance.

Ecology and use: Pollination is largely by bees and hoverflies. Seed dispersal is primarily by wind and gravity. Floscuculi maritimus is occasionally cultivated for ornamental use in coastal gardens, where it requires well-drained soil and protection from frost. Propagation is by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. The name derives from flos (flower) and a diminutive suffix, alluding to the plant's small but conspicuous blossoms.