Suaeda nigra

(Raf.) J. F. Macbr.

Desert seepweed, Mojave seablite, Bush seepweed

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds 3,366 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Suaeda nigra, often still known by the former name Suaeda moquinii, is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, known by the vernacular names bush seepweed or Mojave sea-blite.

Description

Annual herb reaching 1.5 m tall with wind-pollinated hermaphrodite flowers blooming August to October. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acidic to basic pH ranges, including saline soils. Requires full sun and moist soil with good maritime exposure tolerance.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and have a salty flavour. They are used as a condiment to add saltiness when cooking other foods.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are boiled and used as a porridge. The leaves are roasted in pits to flavour other foods such as cactus fruits.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It can tolerate salty conditions.

Where It Grows

Caribbean, Mexico, North America, USA,

Propagation

Sow seed in spring, direct in situ.

Other Uses

None known

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Synonyms

Suaeda diffusa S. WatsonSuaeda duripes I. M. Johnst.Suaeda fruticosa S. WatsonSuaeda moquinii (Torr.) GreeneSuaeda nigrescens I. M. Johnst.Suaeda ramosissima (Standl.) M. E. JonesSuaeda torreyana S. WatsonNB Some of these names have changed.

Also Known As

Romerito, Waada

References (9)

Centofanti, T. & Banuelos, G., 2019, Practical uses of Halophytic Plants as Sources of Food and Fodder. CAB International. p 334 (As Suaeda moquinii)
Couture, M. D., 1978, Recent and Contemporary Foraging Practices of the Harney Valley Paiute. Thesis, Portland State University
Coutre, M. D., et al, 1986, Foraging Behaviour of a Contemporary Northern Great Basin Population. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 8(2) pp 150-160 (As Suaeda intermedia)
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 840
Mapes, C. & Basurto, F., 2016, Biodiversity and Edible Plants of Mexico. Chapter 5 in R. Lira, et al. (eds.), Ethnobotany of Mexico, Ethnobiology, Springer. p 111

Show all 9 references

Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 546 (Also as Suaeda moquinii)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 667
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew