Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
Foodplant / feeds on
erumpent pycnidium of Phoma coelomycetous anamorph of Phoma suaedae feeds on branch of Suaeda maritima
Remarks: season: 8
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Fungus / saprobe
scattered, immersed pycnidium of Stagonospora coelomycetous anamorph of Stagonospora suaedae is saprobic on dead, dry leaf of Suaeda maritima
Remarks: season: 7
Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Uromyces chenopodii parasitises live Suaeda maritima
Brief Summary
provided by Ecomare
Annual seablite is an excellent plant for salty areas, such as salt marshes. Its family member salicornia is the first land plant to grow in the lowest part of the tidal zone; annual seablite is the next plant just a bit higher up. These two plants have a lot in common. They both catch mud and help build up the marsh. And their leaves absorb a lot of salt and eventually turn red when oversaturated. Should you extract the salt in the leaves of either plant and let it dry, it turns black. This explains annual seablite's latin name Suaeda, which comes from Arabic and means black salt.
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Comments
provided by eFloras
Suaeda maritima is a polymorphic taxon with a worldwide distribution, including native and naturalized populations. Many varieties and subspecies have been described, mostly distinguished by seed size and growth habit (J. Boucaud 1962; I. J. Bassett and C. Crompton 1978). Small, procumbent, mat-forming plants from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia with seeds 1-1.5 mm in diameter have been called subsp. richii, whereas subsp. maritima has seeds 1.5-2 mm in diameter (I. J. Bassett and C. W. Crompton 1978). Seed dimorphism has been reported from populations in Europe (D. Metzing 1996) and may also exist in some North American populations.
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Description
provided by eFloras
Herbs, annual, prostrate to ascending, occasionally erect, sometimes forming mats, glaucous or green, 0.5-10 dm. Stems prostrate, decumbent, or erect, usually light brown, simple or branched, sometimes slightly woody at base; main branches arising from proximal part of plant. Leaves ascending or spreading; blade linear, usually subterete, sometimes flat, 10-50 × 0.8-1.7 mm, apex blunt to acute. Glomes on main stem and lateral branches, not crowded into compound, distal spikes, 1-4-flowered; proximal bracts resembling leaves, distal bracts gradually reduced, 3-12 mm, slightly wider at the base. Flowers bisexual; perianth actinomorphic to slightly irregular with segments subequal, 2-3.3 mm diam.; perianth segments thin to abaxially rounded and occasionally distally hooded at maturity, without appendages, apex obtuse; stigmas 2-3(-5). Seeds monomorphic, lenticular, 1-2.2 mm diam.; seed coat reddish brown or black, reticulate. 2n = 36.
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Distribution
provided by eFloras
Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., P.E.I., Que.; Conn., Maine, Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., Va.; Europe; Asia (Arabia); Africa; Pacific Islands (Japan, New Zealand).
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Flowering/Fruiting
provided by eFloras
Flowering late summer-fall.
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Habitat
provided by eFloras
Coastal salt marshes, ballast; 0-10m.
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Synonym
provided by eFloras
Chenopodium maritimum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 221. 1753; Suaeda fernaldii (Standley) Standley; S. maritima subsp. richii (Fernald) Bassett & Crompton; S. richii Fernald
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Suaeda maritima
provided by wikipedia EN
Suaeda maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names herbaceous seepweed[2] and annual seablite.
Description
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,[4] but in North America it is primarily located on the northern east coast: in New England, S. maritima ssp. maritima is introduced, while the native species is S. maritima ssp. richii.
Habitat
This plant resides in aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland habitats.[5] 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.[6]
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.[6][7] 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, [8] 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
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Suaeda maritima: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Suaeda maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names herbaceous seepweed and annual seablite.
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