Summary ²

Sea purslane is a sprawling perennial herb that forms mats that are an important and primary function in dune creation. Salt tolerant, it grows on the ocean side of the dunes down to the high tide mark. Profusely branched, fleshy, thick, reddish-green stems that spreads up to 3 feet long. Glossy, smooth, fleshy, green leaves that are linear and approximately 0.5-2-in. long, and arranged opposite/sub-opposite. Flowers are smalls,bright pink,and star-like with 5-pointed, petal-like sepals. The flowers arise on stalks from leaf axils. Flowers year-round, but each flower opens for only a few hours each day. The leaves are high in vitamin C and are salty in taste, therefore, it has been used to treat scurvy and is often added to salads. In some locations, the pulverized leaves are also used to soothe wounds caused by the spines of venomous fish.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) t_kok, all rights reserved
2. (c) t_kok, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
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• Atlas of Living Australia
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