Page 254 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

252 PLANT LIFE

ORDER PLUMBAGINALES in Wales, while others are only found ORDER PAPAVERALES
in parts of Sicily or Corsica. Varieties
Common Sea of sea lavender, often called statice, are Yellow
grown commercially as “everlasting”
Lavender flowers. The colored, papery “flowers” Horned-poppy
are actually what remains after the
true flowers have fallen.
Limonium vulgare Glaucium flavum
TYPE TYPE Biennial or
Perennial perennial
HEIGHT HEIGHT 20–36 in
8–20 in (20–50 cm) (50–90 cm)
HABITAT HABITAT Shingle,
Muddy salt marshes sometimes sand
DISTRIBUTION Coasts of western Europe, DISTRIBUTION Coasts of western Europe,
Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Red Sea Mediterranean, and Black Sea

This showy plant, which flowers Also known as yellowhorn poppy, this
in late summer, often forms dense plant has leaves covered in a waxy
colonies in salt marshes, particularly coating to protect it from salt spray
along the sides of muddy creeks. and reduce water loss. Its taproot
Several closely related species of sea penetrates deep into shingle in search
lavender are highly localized in their of water beneath. It blooms through
distribution. For example, two species most of the summer, producing flowers
are confined to two rocky peninsulas that are up to 3/2 in (9 cm) across.
1

ORDER POLEMONIALES ORDER MYRTALES The aerial roots of Pacific stilt-
mangroves arch down from the main
Beach Pacific trunk, with secondary roots coming
off the primary ones before they reach
Morning-glory Stilt-mangrove the ground to form a tangle of roots
growing in all directions. When the
Ipomoea imperati Rhizophora stylosa
tide is in, these form a sheltered refuge
TYPE Perennial HABIT Woody perennial for many small fish. This species of
LENGTH Up to 16 ft HEIGHT Commonly 5–8 mangrove can tolerate a wide range
(5 m) m (16–26 ft), but can be of soils, but thrives best in the fine,
up to 40m (130 ft)
HABITAT Coastal muddy sediments of river estuaries.
beaches and grasslands HABITAT Intertidal Its roots absorb water selectively, so
mudflats
much of the damaging salt is not
DISTRIBUTION Widespread on many coasts and DISTRIBUTION Coasts of northern Australia, taken up, but it still has to excrete
islands with tropical or warm temperate climates Southeast Asia, and South Pacific islands
some salt through the leaves.
This pioneer plant helps to stabilize
coastal sands, creating a habitat into
which other species move. It can
endure low nutrient levels, high soil
temperatures, abrasion and burial by
blown sand, and occasional frosts, but
not hurricanes, according to studies
in Texas. It also grows occasionally
on disturbed ground inland. Beach
morning-glory is recorded on six
continents and many isolated islands.

PROFILE CAPPARALES The thick, fleshy leaves of this coastal
plant help it to store water in an
Scurvy-grass environment where fresh water soon
drains away (scurvy-grass plants found
Cochlearia officinalis on mountains have thinner leaves and
HABIT Biennial or may belong to a different species).
perennial Scurvy-grass leaves are rich in vitamin
HEIGHT 4–16 in C. They were once eaten, or pulped
(10–40 cm) and drunk, to prevent scurvy—a
HABITAT Coastal rocks disease caused by vitamin C deficiency
and salt marshes to which sailors were prone
DISTRIBUTION Coasts of northern Europe and Asia (“grass” is Old English for
and northern North America any green plant).

OCEAN LIFE