British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry
1m
Upright annual of bare coastal ground. FLOWERS Small, greenish, in spikes with small leaves (July–Sep). FRUITS Greenish, toothed, warty. LEAVES Long and narrow, sometimes with shallow teeth. STATUS Locally common.
Sea Beet
Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima HEIGHT to 1m
Sprawling, clump-forming perennial of cliffs, shingle beaches and other coastal habitats. FLOWERS Green, in dense, leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Spiky; often sticking together in a clump. LEAVES Dark green, glossy and leathery with reddish stems; shape varying from oval to triangular. STATUS Locally common.
Sea Purslane with Common Sea-lavender
Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides HEIGHT to 1m
Spreading, mealy perennial that sometimes forms rounded clumps. Entirely coastal, and restricted to the drier reaches of saltmarshes. FLOWERS Yellowish, in spikes (July–Oct). FRUITS Lobed. LEAVES Grey-green, oval at the base but narrow further up the stem. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Common Glasswort
Common Glasswort Salicornia europaea HEIGHT to 30cm
Fleshy, yellowish-green annual; fancifully recalls a tiny cactus. Often appears segmented. Entirely coastal. A classic saltmarsh plant that tolerates tidal immersion in sea water. FLOWERS Tiny; appearing at stem junctions, of equal size and in 3s (Aug–Sep). FRUITS Minute seeds. LEAVES Small, paired, fleshy. STATUS Locally abundant.
Perennial Glasswort flowers
Perennial Glasswort
Perennial Glasswort Sarcocornia perennis
Branched and patch-forming succulent perennial with woody lower stems that turn orange with age. Entirely coastal; restricted to drier reaches of saltmarshes. FLOWERS Small, yellow, appearing at stem junctions, in 3s, the central one largest (Aug–Oct). FRUITS Minute. LEAVES Small, paired, fleshy. STATUS Local in S and E England, and S Wales.
Prickly Saltwort flowers
Prickly Saltwort
Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali HEIGHT to 50cm
Spiky-looking, prickly annual that is typical of sandy beaches, usually growing near the strandline. Occasionally found beside regularly salted roads inland. FLOWERS Tiny, yellowish; appearing at leaf bases (July–Oct). FRUITS Similar to flowers. LEAVES Swollen, flattened-cylindrical, spiny-tipped. STATUS Locally common.
Annual Sea-blite
Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHT to 50cm
Much-branched annual of saltmarshes. Forms small clumps that vary from yellowish green to reddish. FLOWERS Tiny, green; 1–3 appearing in axils of upper leaves (Aug–Oct). FRUITS Producing dark, flattish seeds. LEAVES Succulent, cylindrical, pointed. STATUS Widespread and locally common on all suitable coasts.
Shrubby Sea-blite
Shrubby Sea-blite Suaeda vera (Chenopodiaceae)
Much-branched, evergreen perennial with woody stems. Restricted to coastal shingle and upper saltmarshes. FLOWERS Tiny, yellowish green; 1–3 appearing in leaf axils (June–Oct). FRUITS Producing rounded, black seeds. LEAVES Succulent, bluish green, blunt and almost semicircular in cross-section. STATUS Locally common in SE England.
Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia (Caryophyllaceae) USUALLY PROSTRATE
Downy, grey-green annual of dry, bare soils. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5–7mm across (May–Sep); green sepals shorter than petals. FRUITS Pear-shaped. LEAVES Oval; in opposite pairs on slender stems. STATUS Widespread and common.
Three-nerved Sandwort
Three-nerved Sandwort
Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinervia (Caryophyllaceae) HEIGHT to 40cm
Straggly, downy annual of undisturbed woodlands. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5–6mm across; on long stalks (Apr–July). White-margined green sepals are twice as long as the petals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, with 3–5 obvious veins beneath. STATUS Widespread and locally common.