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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Sea-milkwort
Glaux maritima L.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Primrose (Primulaceae)
Flowering: May-July
Field Marks: This small, succulent perennial is distinguished by its solitary axillary, sessile flowers with 5 petal-like sepals and no petals.
Habitat: Salt marshes.
Habit: Perennial herb with slender rootstocks.
Stems: Upright, branched or unbranched, succulent, up to 8 inches tall, smooth.
Leaves: Opposite, simple, fleshy, linear to oblong, up to 1/2 inch long, pointed or rounded at the tip, tapering to the sessile base, smooth, without teeth.
Flowers: Solitary in the axils of the leaves, sessile.
Sepals: 5, united below, lavender to white, up to 1/6 inch long.
Petals: 0.
Stamens: 5.
Pistils: Ovary superior, smooth.
Fruits: Capsules ovoid to nearly spherical, up to 1/8 inch long, smooth, with several flattened, brown, pitted seeds.

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URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/7/glaumari.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:27:10 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww54]