rock samphire

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rock Samphire
• samphire
• sea-fennel
• sea fennel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cachrys maritima
• Crithmum canariense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, it is a member of the family Apiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Crithmum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations throughout the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is established within Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found in both Germany and the Netherlands. Its distribution also extends to Southwestern Europe, specifically reaching the Baleares. Consequently, this medicinal plant thrives across various climatic zones from the north to the south.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crithmum maritimum is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often harsh environments, ranging from coastal regions to higher altitudes. It is typically found inhabiting mountains, sandy areas, sea shores, and stony places, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability to varied substrates. In terms of its altitudinal distribution, the species occupies an elevational range starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and extending up to a maximum of 200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains, sand, sea, shores, stony places

Life history

The life history of Crithmum maritimum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons within its coastal habitats. In terms of its structural life form, it exhibits a dual classification, functioning as both a chamaephyte and a hemicryptophyte. As a chamaephyte, its buds are located close to the ground level, often protected by the substrate or low-growing foliage, while its status as a hemicryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are positioned at or just above the soil surface, typically protected by leaf litter or seasonal debris. This combination of life history traits enables the species to survive the harsh, saline, and wind-swept conditions typical of its ecological niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Critmum maritimum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a relatively low profile, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.225 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.225 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Critmum maritimum is characterized by specialized adaptations to its environment, most notably through its C3 photosynthetic pathway. The plant exhibits distinct succulent qualities, a physiological trait that aids in moisture retention. Its foliage is morphologically defined by a linear leaf form, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. The width of these leaves is relatively narrow, measuring between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 2.68 cm². Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 92.25 cm²/g, reflecting its structural density and leaf thickness. In terms of nutritional strategy, the species is strictly non-carnivorous.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

2.68 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

92.25 cm²/g

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Critrhum maritimum is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through October. The flowers are white in color and are arranged in an umbel inflorescence. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically involving insects. Following successful pollination, the plant develops yellow fruits that range in length from 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm and in width from 0.15 cm to 0.35 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.003062889 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00289 g to a maximum of 0.00395 g. Self-fertilization is absent in this species, and the dispersal syndrome is hydrochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed via water.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit width max:

0.35 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00395 g

Seed mass mean:

0.003062889 g

Seed mass min:

0.00289 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crithmum maritimum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Chemicals

Crithmum maritimum has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Falcarindiol, Dillapiole, Flavonoids, LIMONENE, P-CYMENE.

Falcarindiol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Journal of natural products

Dillapiole

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Flavonoids

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

LIMONENE

1. Die Nahrung
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

P-CYMENE

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Die Nahrung

Thymol methyl ether

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

(Z)-BETA-OCIMENE

1. Die Nahrung

BETA-PHELLANDRENE

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Carvacrol methyl ether

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Coumarins

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Activities

Crithmum maritimum has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cytotoxic

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Conditions

Crithmum maritimum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Chagas disease, salinity stress.

Chagas disease

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Salinity stress

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Crithmum maritimum has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, chloroformic extract, lipid extract.

Essential oils

1. Scientific reports
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Microorganisms
4. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Chloroformic extract

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Lipid extract

1. Journal of natural products