Suaeda maritima
herbaceous sea-blite, herbaceous seepweed, white sea-blite
prostrate, decumbent, or erect, usually light brown, simple or branched, sometimes slightly woody at base;
main branches arising from proximal part of plant.
ascending or spreading;
blade linear, usually subterete, sometimes flat, 10–50 × 0.8–1.7 mm, apex blunt to acute.
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).
monomorphic, lenticular, 1–2.2 mm diam.;
seed coat reddish brown or black, reticulate.
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.
= 36.
Suaeda maritima
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.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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