West Highland Flora

Suaeda maritima

Photo © Carl Farmer
14 Jul 2003 Portree, Skye

Frequent on the shore, in saltmarsh, mud, shingle or sand, sometimes below tideline.

Flower diameter c 1-2 mm.  Leaves c 1-2 mm wide.

ID: Leaves fleshy, semi-cylindrical in cross-section.  Flowers 1-3 together in axils of upper leaves, each with 5 green triangular sepals, no petals, and 5 pale yellow stamens.

Other features: Variable in habit and leaf shape, our plants seem to have more blunt-tipped leaves than is usual.  Sometimes turns purple in autumn.

Photo © Carl Farmer
14 Jul 2003 Portree, Skye
Leaf pointing to right from flower = 5.5 mm long

Photo © Carl Farmer
20 Aug 2002 Portree, Skye

Photo © Carl Farmer
(12 Sep 2003 Dunbar)