Spergularia marina, commonly known as salt marsh sand spurrey, is a small flowering plant belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. Native to the coastal regions of Europe and North America, this plant thrives in salt marshes, sandy beaches, and other coastal habitats.
This plant exhibits a prostrate growth habit with slender stems that can extend up to 30 cm in length. Its leaves are small, linear, and have pointed tips. The flowers, featuring five deeply notched petals, are either pink or white.
Spergularia marina plays a vital role in stabilizing sand dunes and preventing coastal erosion. Additionally, it provides a food source for various insects, including bees, butterflies, and moths.
In traditional medicine, Spergularia marina has been used as a diuretic to treat urinary tract infections, thanks to its high potassium content. It also contains flavonoids, which possess antioxidant properties.
Overall, Spergularia marina is a crucial component of coastal ecosystems, offering both ecological benefits and medicinal properties. This makes it a fascinating subject for ecological and medical research alike.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Annual, Biennial, Perennial
- Genus
- Spergularia
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 5-9
- Mature Height
- 5 cm to 20 cm
- Mature Spread
- 10 cm to 30 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- Pink, White
- Flower Size
- 0.76 cm
- Bloom Time
- Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Summer, Early fall
- Native Area
- Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Austria, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Morocco, Yemen, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Russia, Iraq, Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Romania, Latvia, South Korea, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, France, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Mauritania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Poland, Armenia, Greece, Ukraine, Serbia, Chad, Lebanon, Norway, China, Afghanistan, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Japan, Mongolia, Finland, Iran, Albania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Kuwait, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan
Other names.
