SUAEDA VERA

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Names:- Shrubby seablite

Synonyms:- Chenopodina vera, Salsola vera, Schoberia vera, Suaeda

fruticosa subsp. vera.

Meaning:- Suaeda (L) From the Arabic, suwed-mullah, for Suaeda baccata.

Vera (L) Meaning uncertain.

General description:- Small hairless shrub.

Stem:-

a) up to 120 cm.

Leaves:-

a) 5-18 x (0·8-)1-2·5 mm.

b) semi-cylindrical, usually ending in an abrupt, short point (apiculate).

c) stalked (sessile).

d) covered with a waxy bloom (glaucous).

Flowers:-

1) Cymes:

a) dense, shorter than the bracts.

2) Stigmas:

a) 0·2-0·4 mm, united at the base, flat, lobed, forming a complex peltate (round

and attached at or near the centre) or head-shape (capitate) structure.

3) Fruiting perianth:

a) not inflated.

b) usually green.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds:

a) smooth.

b) usually vertical.

Key features:-

1) Longest leaves usually less than 18 mm.

2) Stigmas 3; 0·2-0·4 mm, united at base, flat, or lobed, forming complex, peltate or

capitate. structure.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats and rocky hillslopes close to the coast.

Distribution:- Kasos, Karpathos, W. And S Europe. Sporadic occurrence on Crete.

Flowering time:- Oct-May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis