Halimione portulacoides

Halimione portulacoides or sea purslane (2n=36) is a small greyish-green shrub widely distributed in temperate Eurasia and parts of Africa.[1]

Halimione portulacoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Halimione
Species:
H. portulacoides
Binomial name
Halimione portulacoides

A halophyte, it is found in salt marshes and coastal dunes, and is usually flooded at high tide.

The plant grows to 75 cm. It is evergreen, and in northern temperate climates it flowers from July to September. The flowers are monoecious and are pollinated by wind.

The edible leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a potherb. They are thick and succulent with a crunchy texture and a natural saltiness.[2] The leaves are good for human and animal health as they contain important micronutrients like zinc, iron, copper, and cobalt.[3]

Distribution

Halimione portulacoides occurs at the sea shores of western and southern Europe, and from the Mediterranean Sea to western Asia.[4]

Ireland

Copeland Islands (Co. Down).

Systematics

Botanical synonyms include Atriplex portulacoides L. and Obione portulacoides (L.) Moq. Recent phylogenetic research revealed, that Halimione is a distinct genus and can not be included in Atriplex.[5]

References
  1. "Atriplex portulacoides". The Plant List.
  2. "Halimione portulacoides Sea Purslane PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org.
  3. Zanella L, Vianello F (October 2020). "Functional Food from Endangered Ecosystems: Atriplex portulacoides as a Case Study". Foods. 9 (11): 1533. doi:10.3390/foods9111533. PMC 7692200. PMID 33114436.
  4. Uotila P, Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen (2011). "Chenopodiaceae (pro parte majore)". Euro+Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  5. Kadereit G, Mavrodiev EV, Zacharias EH, Sukhorukov AP (October 2010). "Molecular phylogeny of Atripliceae (Chenopodioideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for systematics, biogeography, flower and fruit evolution, and the origin of C4 photosynthesis". American Journal of Botany. 97 (10): 1664–87. doi:10.3732/ajb.1000169. PMID 21616801.
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