Suaeda maritima

Suaeda maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names herbaceous seepweed[1] and annual seablite.

Description

Suaeda maritima
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Suaeda
Species:
S. maritima
Binomial name
Suaeda maritima
Synonyms[2]

It is a yellow-green shrub with fleshy, succulent leaves and green flowers. It grows to about 35 cm in salt marshes.[3] It is edible as a leaf vegetable, and due to its high salt content it can be used in combination with other foods as a seasoning. It is found worldwide, but in North America it is primarily located on the northern east coast.

Habitat

This plant resides in aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland habitats. [4]But mainly in salt marshes and sea shores, usually below the high water mark. Additionally, Suaeda maritima is able to catch mud and help build up the marshes.[5]

Development

The leaves are simple and arranged alternatively, with one leaf per node along the stem. Their leaves also absorb large amounts of salt and will turn red when oversaturated.[5] [6]The flower can be either radially symmetrical or bilaterally symmetrical.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Suaeda maritima is known to be mainly annually. This plant will perform its entire life cycle from seed to flower then back to a seed within a single growing season. All roots, stems and leaves of the Suaeda maritima plant will die and the only thing that can bridge the gap between each generation is a dormant seed.

Medicine

There are currently no known medical sources that the Suaeda maritima plant is used for.

Food

The young leaves of sea blite can be consumed raw or cooked. [7]Although it has a strong salty flavor. The seeds can also be consumed raw or cooked. The ashes of the sea blite have been used to create a material used in making soap and glass.

References
  1. "Suaeda maritima". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. "Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. "Annual seablite Suaeda maritima". wildflowerfinder.org.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  4. "Plants Profile for Suaeda maritima (herbaceous seepweed)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  5. "Suaeda maritima : Annual Sea-blite | NBN Atlas". species.nbnatlas.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  6. "Suaeda maritima (herbaceous sea-blite): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  7. "Suaeda maritima (Sea Blite) - Practical Plants". practicalplants.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
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