Sesuvium maritimum

(Walter) Britton

Prelim. Cat., 20. 1888.

Common names: Annual sea-purslane slender sea-purslane
Basionym: Pharnaceum maritimum Walter Fl. Carol., 117. 1788
Synonyms: Sesuvium pentandrum Elliott
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 80. Mentioned on page 81.

Plants annual, papillate, glabrous. Stems prostrate to ascending, usually copiously branched, 1–4 dm; not rooting at nodes. Leaves: petiole clasping; blade spatulate to ovate, 1–2.5 cm, base tapering. Inflorescences: flowers usually solitary; pedicel usually absent or to 1 mm. Flowers: calyx lobes pink or purple adaxially, with subapical abaxial appendages, ovate, 3 mm; stamens 5; pistil 2–3-carpellate; ovary 2–3-loculed; styles 2–3. Capsules ovoid, 4–5 mm. Seeds 30–50, blackish brown, 1 mm, iridescent, smooth.


Phenology: Flowering summer–fall (year-round in se Tex).
Habitat: Sandy shores, beaches, dune swales, brackish marshes, banks along or near coasts, waste grounds, ballast
Elevation: 0-100 m

Distribution

V4 164-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Del., Fla., Ga., Kans., La., Md., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Okla., Pa., S.C., Tex., Va., West Indies

Discussion

Sesuvium maritimum is often overlooked in coastal environments, perhaps due to the small size of some individuals, particularly in the northern portions of its distribution. Nonetheless, this species appears to be infrequent (and possibly in decline) in coastal environments of northern states (e.g., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York), where development of the coast has impacted sensitive environments. This species is also present in Kansas and Oklahoma but its distribution in those states is currently not well known.

The name Sesuvium sessile Persoon has been misapplied to this species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Sesuvium maritimum"
Wayne R. Ferren Jr. +
(Walter) Britton +
tapering +
Pharnaceum maritimum +
spatulate +  and ovate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
Annual sea-purslane +  and slender sea-purslane +
Ala. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Kans. +, La. +, Md. +, Miss. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Okla. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tex. +, Va. +  and West Indies +
0-100 m +
pedicellate +  and sessile +
inconspicuous +  and showy +
campanulate +  and tubular +
indehiscent +, circumscissile +, dehiscence +, septicidal +  and loculicidal +
ovoid +  and obconic +
Sandy shores, beaches, dune swales, brackish marshes, banks along or near coasts, waste grounds, ballast +
petiolate +  and sessile +
half-inferior +
0 +  and 60 +
connate +  and distinct +
Flowering summer–fall (year-round in se Tex). +
2-3-carpellate +
Prelim. Cat., +
blackish brown +
dull +  and shiny +
rugose +  and smooth +
reniform +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
not rooting +  and branched +
mat-forming +
underground +
prostrate +  and ascending +
adnate +  and free +
connate +  and distinct +
papillate +
Sesuvium pentandrum +
Sesuvium maritimum +
Sesuvium +
species +