Suaeda maritima

(L.) Dumort.

Annual Sea Blite, Indian saltwort

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Flower 6,162 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Suaeda maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names herbaceous seepweed and annual seablite.

Description

A low shrubby herb. It is an annual plant. It grows 7-50 cm high. It is branched from the base. The leaves are succulent and narrow. They are alternate. They can be green, red or purple. The flowers are small. They are green and occur in clusters.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a pleasant salty flavour, making a nice addition to salads in small quantities. They are often combined with other vegetables to moderate their saltiness. Young shoots can be pickled in vinegar and eaten on their own or used as a relish. The seeds are also edible raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The shoots and leaves are eaten as a vegetable in times of scarcity. The are cooked and used as a pot herb. The salty leaves can be added to other foods to season them. Young shoots are pickled in vinegar.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A temperate plant. It grows on salt flats near the sea. It can be used to reclaim salty land. It also grows in the tropics in Java. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ireland, Korea, Mediterranean, SE Asia, Tasmania, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring, direct in situ.

Other Uses

The ashes of the plant yield a soda used in the production of glass and soap.

Notes

Chemical composition (after Hooper): Water = 83.70% (fresh). Fat = 2.58% (dry). Albumenoids = 11.10% (dry). Carbohydrates = 38.80% (dry). Fibre = 10.17% (dry). Ash = 18.13% (dry). Nitrogen = 1.77% (dry). Phosphoric acid = .55% (dry). Silicates = 1.89% (dry). Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Synonyms

Suaeda diffusa Willd.Suaeda nudiflora Moq.Salsola indica Willd.

Also Known As

Alur, Geria, Haehongnamul, Ilakoora, Kayey-kaseeray-keray, Khari lani, Kodee-kasseray-kura, Kodee kasseery kura, Koyey kasseray keeray, Lana lani, Lani, Lano, Moras, Nariumari, Phidiep bien, Ravakada, Uppukeerai, Vellakeerai, Vellakora, Yella keeray, Yella kura

References (26)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 608
Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 46
Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 40
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 957
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 2146

Show all 26 references

Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 2. p 213
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 77
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 637
Heyne, K., 1927, p 604
HOOPER,
Irving, M., 2009, The Forager Handbook, A Guide to the Edible Plants of Britain. Ebury Press p 194
Kim, H. & Song, M., 2013, Ethnobotanical analysis for traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in North Jeolla Province (Korea). Genetic. Resour. Crop Evol. (2013) 60:1571-1585
Maisuthisakul, P., 2012, Phenolic Constituents and Antioxidant Properties of some Thai Plants. Chp. 9 in Book Phytochemicals - A Global Perspective of Their Role in Nutrition and Health
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 182
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 182 (As Suaeda nudiflora)
McMakin, P.D., 2000, Flowering Plants of Thailand. A Field Guide. White Lotus. p 73
Ochse, J.J. et al, 1931, Vegetables of the Dutch East Indies. Asher reprint. p 105
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
READ,
SHORTT, (As Salsola indica and Suaeda indica)
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 37
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 37 (As Suaeda nudiflora)
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 22
WATT, (As Suaeda nudiflora)
WATT,
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew