Hallucinogenic drug

Halimione portulacoides, also known as Sea Purslane, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It is native to the coasts of western and southern Europe and North Africa, where it grows in salt marshes and other saline habitats.

Description

Halimione portulacoides is a small, woody, perennial shrub, typically growing to a height of 30-60 cm. The leaves are small, fleshy and grey-green in color, and are covered in tiny, salt-excreting glands. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish and borne in small clusters in the leaf axils.

Distribution and habitat

Halimione portulacoides is found along the coasts of western and southern Europe, from the British Isles south to Morocco and east to the Black Sea. It is also found along the Atlantic coast of North Africa. It grows in a variety of saline habitats, including salt marshes, sandy beaches, and coastal dunes.

Ecology

Halimione portulacoides plays a crucial role in the ecology of coastal salt marshes. It is a pioneer species, colonizing bare mud and helping to stabilize it, thus allowing other species to become established. It is also an important food source for a variety of birds and insects.

Uses

Historically, Halimione portulacoides has been used in traditional medicine for its purported diuretic and antiscorbutic properties. It has also been used as a source of tannins for leather tanning.

Conservation

While Halimione portulacoides is not currently considered threatened, it is vulnerable to habitat loss due to coastal development and sea level rise associated with climate change.

See also

• Salt marsh
• Amaranthaceae
• Pioneer species

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