Annual seablite

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• herbaceous seepweed
• white sea-blite
• Annual Sea-Blite
• Common Seablite
• Sea blite
• annual-seablite

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Schoeberia ramosa
• Suaeda macrocarpa
• Cochliospermum cavanillesii
• Suaeda littoralis
• Suaeda bacciformis
• Chenopodina maritima var. vulgaris
• Schoberia maritima var. flexilis
• Suaeda maritima var. cavanillesiana
• Schoberia maritima var. prostrata
• Suaeda filiformis
• Suaeda indica
• Suaeda maritima var. flexilis
• Suaeda jacquinii
• Suaeda aestuaria
• Suaeda maritima var. prostrata
• Suaeda maritima var. humifusa
• Schoberia tortuosa
• Suaeda maritima var. purpurascens
• Schoberia indica
• Schoberia maritima
• Schoberia crassifolia
• Suaeda richii
• Suaeda tortuosa
• Chenopodium macrocarpum
• Chenopodium maritimum
• Chenopodium hostii
• Chenopodium jacquinii
• Chenopodium filiforme
• Chenopodina sativa
• Chenopodina spicata
• Chenopodina maritima
• Chenopodina maritima var. erecta
• Chenopodina filiformis
• Chenopodina bacciformis
• Chenopodina aestuaria
• Chenopodium spicatum
• Dondia fernaldii
• Lerchia maritima
• Suaeda fernaldii
• Suaeda cavanillesiana
• Salsola maritima
• Dondia maritima
• Suaeda maritima var. aestuaria
• Suaeda maritima subsp. jacquinii
• Suaeda maritima subsp. richii
• Dondia richii
• Suaeda maritima var. bacciformis
• Suaeda maritima var. erecta
• Suaeda maritima var. macrocarpa
• Schoeberia complanata
• Chenopodium maritimum var. filiforme
• Suaeda maritima subsp. asiatica
• Suaeda maritima var. perennans
• Chenopodina tortuosa
• Salsola succulenta
• Schoberia macrocarpa
• Salsola carnosa
• Salsola hostii
• Salsola marina
• Salsola sedoides
• Salsola scabra

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 and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Caryophyllales and belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Suaeda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across the northern regions of Europe. Within Northern Europe, its presence is clearly documented in Denmark. It can also be found growing in the coastal areas of Finland. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical reach extends to the northern territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Suaeda maritima is defined by its specialized niche within halophytic vegetation, where it thrives in environments characterized by high salinity and periodic waterlogging. As a pioneer species in coastal ecosystems, it is predominantly found in salt marshes, mudflats, and the upper reaches of intertidal zones. Its presence is strictly dictated by saline soil conditions, allowing it to outcompete non-halophytic species that cannot tolerate the osmotic stress of its habitat. The plant occupies a specific successional stage in salt marsh communities, often colonizing bare, salty substrates and contributing to the stabilization of coastal sediments. Its physiological adaptations to these saline conditions allow it to maintain metabolic functions in shifting tidal landscapes, making it a fundamental component of the biodiversity found in saline coastal habitats.

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Suaeda maritima is characterized by its existence as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on completing its life cycle rapidly and persisting through unfavorable conditions primarily in the form of seeds. This life form is further categorized by its deciduous nature, as the plant sheds its foliage as it reaches the end of its seasonal cycle. This combination of an annual lifecycle and a therophytic life form allows the species to effectively exploit temporary favorable conditions in its saline habitats before retreating into a dormant seed stage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Suaeda maritima is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and functions as an independent organism, rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.16 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.16 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Suaeda maritima is characterized by a specialized suite of adaptations suited for saline environments, most notably its pronounced succulence. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by relatively small, specialized leaves, with a mean leaf size of 0.3225 cm² and leaf lengths that typically range from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 114.3 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in water storage and tissue density, which is consistent with its succulent nature.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.3225 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

114.3 cm²/g

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Suaeda maritima is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and continues through September. The pollination syndrome is classified as abiotic, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. Once fertilization occurs—a process facilitated by the presence of self-fertilization—the plant develops dry, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00084 g and a consistent seed volume of approximately 0.14 mm³. In terms of dimensions, the seeds exhibit a width ranging from a minimum of 1 mm to a maximum of 1.5 mm. Following maturity, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on the wind to distribute its seeds across the environment.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.00084 g

Seed volume max:

0.14 mm³

Seed width max:

1.5 mm

Seed width min:

1 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Suaeda maritima has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, STIGMASTEROL, Tannins, Triterpenes, VITAMIN E.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

STIGMASTEROL

1. ACS omega

Tannins

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Triterpenes

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

VITAMIN E

1. ACS omega

octadecadienoic acid

1. ACS omega

Activities

Suaeda maritima has 15 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, AntiHIV, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant.

Antioxidant

1. ACS omega
2. Indian journal of experimental biology

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. ACS omega

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Suaeda maritima has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, diabetes mellitus, diseases, hepatitis, leukemia.

Cancer

1. ACS omega

Diabetes mellitus

1. ACS omega

Diseases

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Hepatitis

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Leukemia

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology