WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
the stem is 1-2 feet high, much branched, woody, sometimes erect, sometimes low and spreading ; 
and the leaves are strap-shaped (linear), blunt, semi-cylindrical, and fleshy. 
Rare. On sandy and shingly sea-shores, on the south and east coasts of England. July — October. 
Perennial. 
2. Annual Sea Blite. (Suseda marit'ima. Dumort.) — A very similar species differing in 
the flowers having only 2 styles, and in the leaves being more pointed. The plant often turns red 
or purple in the autumn. [Plate 40. 
Common. On sandy sea-shores and salt marshes ; generally distributed along the coasts of 
England, Scotland, and Ireland. July — October. Annual. 
VI. SALTWORT. (SAL'SOLA. Linn.) — Flowers small, stalkless (sessile), in the axils of the 
leaves. Perianth 5- rarely 4-lobed, each lobe ultimately having a small appendage on the back 
which forms a star-like wing round the fruit, free from though remaining with the fruit ; stamens 5, 
inserted on a ring below the seedcase (hypogynous ) ; carpels 2 or 3, with the same number of 
styles and stigmas ; fruit seed-like, enveloped in the perianth. Maritime herbs with semi-cylindrical, 
fleshy, usually prickly leaves. 
Prickly Saltwort. (Sal'sola Kali. Linn.)— The only British species. As just 
described. The flowers are solitary or 2 or 3 together in the leaf-axils and are clustered in spikes 
terminating the stem and branches ; the stem is 3 inches to 1 foot long, procumbent or ascending, 
angular and striped ; with the leaves fleshy, alternate, semi-cylindrical ending in a spine, and with 
the margins hairy. The whole plant is fleshy, with a slight bloom (glaucous), and more or less 
hairy. [. Plate 40. 
Common. On sandy sea-shores ; generally distributed round the coasts of England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. July — August. Annual. 
