PLUMBAGINACEJE LEADWORT FAMILY 



Limonium: carolinianum, (Walt.) Britton. 



Lavender Sea Lavender, 



Marsh Rosemary, 



August-October Lavender-thrift, 



A merican-thrift, 

 Canker-root. 



Limonium: ancient name of the wild beet. 

 Carolinianum: Latin for Carolinian. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: salt marshes. 



THE PLANT: from thick, underground rooting stems. 



THE LEAVES: basal; oblanceolate; three inches to ten 

 inches long; obtuse or acutish and crowned with an abrupt 

 tip at the apex; narrowed into petioles; entire or slightly 

 wavy-margined; the mid-vein prominent, the lateral veins 

 very obscure. 



THE FLOWERS: usually solitary but clustered in spikes 

 w T hich grow practically on only one side of the branches; 

 corolla of five nearly or quite distinct petals with a tooth 

 or claw between each of the lobes ; the calyx funnel-form, 

 dry membranous, persistent. 



THE FRUIT: is called an utricle; it is enclosed by the calyx. 



One of the few plants that grow only in the salt marshes. 

 In the fall its feathery clusters of tiny lavender flowers on 

 the numerous spreading branches add a low-toned soft 

 touch of the colour to the marsh, already red with the 

 stiff spikes of samphire. The only leaves, basal, are large 

 and usually withered. 



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