Sea Purslane

Description:

Sesuvium portulacastrum is a sprawling perennial herb that grows in coastal areas throughout much of the world. It is commonly known as Shoreline Purslane, Sea Purslane and Seaside Purslane, and is a wetland indicator species (see notes). A salt-tolerant succulent, it can grow up to 30 centimetres high, has thick, smooth stems up to 1 metre long, and smooth, fleshy, glossy green leaves that are linear or lanceolate. Small flowers usually pink or purple, although white flowers such as this spotting also occur, albeit less frequently. Compared to the mass it has the potential to grow to, this was only a tiny specimen. The link provides images of larger specimens and an astounding list of common names used worldwide - http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCU...

Habitat:

Grows in sandy clay, coastal limestone and sandstone, tidal flats and salt marshes, throughout much of the world. It is native to Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America, and has naturalised in many places where it is not indigenous. This spotting found in grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) at Wynnum North Reserve, on Brisbane's Moreton Bay. This area forms part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Sunny, exposed aspect, in salt water.

Notes:

The Flora Wetland Indicator Species List (WISL) has been compiled to support the determination of whether a site is a wetland. The Wetland Indicator Species (WIS) in WISL have adapted to living in wetlands and are dependent on them. The presence of a WIS at a site does not, in itself, confirm the site to be a wetland, but is one line of evidence towards determining the wetland status of a site. https://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetla...