shoreline purslane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sea-purslane
• Sea Purslane
• Shoreline Purslane
• shoreline sea-purslane
• Shoreline Seapurslane
• common carpetweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Portulaca portulacastrum
• Halimus portulacastrum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is further categorized into the family Aizoaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sesuvium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions within the North African and Macaronesian territories. In North Africa, it can be found growing in Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Its range extends further into the Macaronesian islands, specifically inhabiting the Canary Islands. Additionally, the species is documented to grow in the Cape Verde archipelago. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's presence across diverse coastal and island environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sesuvium portulacastrum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of environments, spanning from sea level to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. It demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, colonizing various habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strict sensu), open grasslands (Campo Limpo), Carrasco, and coastal restinga ecosystems. This broad distribution allows the species to adapt to both disturbed human-influenced landscapes and specialized natural formations, ranging from coastal sandy soils to inland scrublands.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Carrasco, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Sesuvium portulacastrum are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that reflects significant evolutionary plasticity. Cytogenetic studies have identified varying chromosome numbers within the species, specifically documented at 16, 36, 48, and 48, suggesting a history of genome restructuring or polyploidization events. Despite this diversity in total chromosome counts, the plant is fundamentally classified with a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid nature in its core genomic state. This combination of fluctuating chromosome numbers and a baseline diploidy highlights the species' ability to undergo chromosomal rearrangements, which may contribute to its adaptability in diverse saline environments.

Chromosome number :

16, 36, 48, 48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Sesuvium portulacastrum is characterized by a versatile and resilient growth strategy, primarily functioning as a perennial organism that can exhibit variable lifecycles depending on environmental stability. In terms of its structural life form, the plant demonstrates complex adaptations, manifesting as both a chamaephyte, where the buds are located near or just above the soil surface, and as a therophyte, allowing it to complete its life cycle through seeds in more seasonal or ephemeral conditions. This dual capacity for survival enables the species to persist in harsh, saline habitats by balancing long-term perennial establishment with the rapid, opportunistic reproductive cycles typical of annual life forms.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sesuvium portulacastrum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. The plant displays an ascending shoot orientation and maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, averaging approximately 0.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sesuvium portulacastrum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features elliptic-shaped leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, maintaining an average length of 3.25 cm. These leaves possess a width that fluctuates between a minimum of 0.1 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm. Despite its adaptation to various environments, the plant does not exhibit succulence and lacks the physiological capacity to function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sesuvium portulacastrum is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that begins in June and concludes in September. The plant produces small, green flowers that typically range in length from 0.4 cm to 1 cm and in width from 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type. These capsules are relatively small, measuring between 0.4 cm and 0.7 cm in length and reaching a maximum width of 0.3 cm. Each fruit contains a significant number of seeds, typically ranging from 11 to 100 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are minute, with a maximum length of 1.2 mm and a maximum width of 0.8 mm, resulting in a maximum seed volume of 0.46 mm³. The mass of the seeds is highly fine, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00053025 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.000391 g to a maximum of 0.00067 g. Dispersal of the seeds is primarily hydrochorous, utilizing water as the main mechanism for spreading to new habitats.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

1 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flower width max:

0.6 cm

Flower width min:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Seed length max:

1.2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00067 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00053025 g

Seed mass min:

0.000391 g

Seed volume max:

0.46 mm³

Seed width max:

0.8 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sesuvium portulacastrum 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. Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry

Chemicals

Sesuvium portulacastrum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phenols, Steroids, Tannins, Terpenoids, na.

Phenols

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Steroids

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Tannins

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Terpenoids

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

na

1. Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)

Activities

Sesuvium portulacastrum has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Antioxidant

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Medicinal Uses

Sesuvium portulacastrum has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, antioxidant, postprandial hyperglycemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations