Sea purslane

Florida Forest Plants

Sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum)

Sea purslane, also called sea pickle, is a member of the carpetweed family and a common inhabitant of the mangroves in south Florida. The stems and leaves of this fleshy herb are edible with a salty flavor. In Asia, it is grown as a vegetable and sold at markets. Medicinal uses include a treatment for scurvy and kidney disorders.		Stems, leaves, and flower
Sea purslane blooms all year long throughout much of its southern range. The tiny, star-shaped, solitary flowers have no petals but have greenish sepals and a pink interior, which gives them a delicate appearance. Sea purslane is found on beaches and dunes along coastal plains southern New York to Florida and west to Mississippi.

Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:	Sea purslane is a fleshy, perennial, herbaceous plant with a creeping form. It spreads and creeps along the ground by rooting from its joints to form mats of branches 6' long.
Leaves:	The narrow, simple, opposite leaves resemble the shape of a spoon or paddle. They are ½" to 2" inches long with a fleshy texture and smooth surfaces. Leaf color is green with some occasional red and leaf bases are winged.
Fruit:	The fruit is a small, ovoid, 3/8" capsule with numerous, shiny, black seeds.
Stem:	The fleshy, reddish stems are 8" to 20" long. The branches coming off the stems are sparingly placed.
Habitat:	Sea purslane grows in damp, sandy locations such as mangroves, beaches, dunes, salt flats, and marsh edges.