FLOWERS OF THE SEA-COAST 



The maritime flora is composed of halophytes, which require a 

 certain amount of salts, such as common salt, gypsum, magnesium 

 chloride, in which to grow, making a saline soil. Such plants are little 

 affected by altitude, and are cosmopolitan, e.g. Salsola Kali, Glaux 

 mantima. Salsola also occurs in cornfields as a weed. 



The flora is poor and open. The plants are xerophytes, for 

 saline soil is physiologically dry : that is to say, the water, though 

 abundant, is not available for absorption. They are unusually succu- 

 lent, and have thick palisade-tissue to prevent transpiration being 

 too free. They are at first dark -green, then yellowish, as a salt 

 solution is not compatible with chlorophyll being made in the tissues. 

 They have waxy coats, hairy coverings, thick, leathery, glossy leaves, 

 assisting them to resist intense light, drought, &c. Doubtless the 

 halophytic characteristics are counteracted by the xerophytic tendency, 

 too much salt being deleterious even to halophytes. The rate of the 

 absorption of water is slow owing to the saline matter in the soil. 

 Transpiration is checked by the xerophytic character of the leaves and 

 stem. The amount of water passing through the plant is thus limited, 

 and the necessity for a reduction of surface and other adaptations to 

 drought is thus clear. Halophytes may be situated on a rock soil, a 

 sand soil, a clay soil, or they may be marsh plants as well. 



Lithophilous Halophytes are Samphire, Sea Lavender, Thrift, &c. 



Sea Kale, Saltwort, and other plants grow on sand soil, which is 

 periodically saturated with sea water. Many have bluish-white stems, 

 such as Rushy Wheat Grass, Sea Rocket, Yellow Horned Poppy, Sea 

 Holly. 



One may recognize zones which form radical associations from the 

 sea to the shore. They have been called after the chief plants in 

 each zone: 



1. Salicornietum, Salicornia herbacea. 



2. Atriplicetum, with Atriplex, Suceda uiaritima. 



