Black Saltwort, Sea milkwort

Glaux maritima

Physical Characteristics

Glaux maritima is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

Coasts and inland saline areas in most parts of the northern temperate zone, including Britain.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Shoots Edible Uses: Young shoots - raw or pickled[46, 61, 105]. Roots - cooked[256]. (This report refers to the sub-species G. maritima obtusifolia[256].) The roots can be harvested at almost any time of the year. The North American Indians would boil them for a long time before eating them. Even so, eating the roots was considered to make one sleepy and eating too many of them could make one nauseous[256].

Medicinal Uses

Sedative Some native North American Indians ate the boiled roots to induce sleep[222, 257].

Known Hazards

None known