New Zealand Spinach (Tetragon tetragonoides), photographed at the base of some cliffs along the south end of Greyhound Rock Beach in coastal Santa Cruz County. There are four shots in this set.

The lead shot shows the entire plant in situ, with scree and other debris from the cliff above having fallen down around it. Falling debris isn't the only hazard it must endure, however; here, at the edge of the beach, it must face salt spray, salty air, and stiff, dessicating winds. It's tough, leathery leaves and low, spreading habit have allowed it to succeed and even thrive in this environment - so much so that it has become a common and well-recognized fixture of our beaches.

The second shot provides a closer look at the plant's tough, almost leathery leaves. Each leaf is triangular to ovate in shape, with a truncated base, entire (untoothed) margins, and a winged petiole. They are fairly thick and covered with tiny papillae on both the upper and lower surfaces.

The third shot shows a closeup of the stems and flowers of this non-native. The stems are thick, not woody, and - like the leaves - covered in minute papillae. If the lighting is right, these papillae can look like infinitessimal water droplets clinging to the surface of the stems and leaves. What the plant does lack is hairs; the surface of its leaves and stems may be papillate, but they are also glabrous.

In the axils between the stems and the individidual leaves, the plant's non-descript flowers appear. The flowers are tiny (~5mm long), sessile, and subtended by ovate, leaf-like bracts having entire margins. The flowers themselves have four yellowish sepals, but no actual petals. Like the rest of the plant, the sepals and subtending bracts are papillate but glabrous.

Finally, the fourth shot shows the papillate surface and heavy veination on the undersurface of the leaves.