Forum Topic

  1. Saltmarsh species to ID - Batis sp?

  2. I have been unable to find any reference to a plant that looks like this one that I have found on the saltmarsh of the Fleming River at Tautuku, Otago. I had not noticed it until late January and only found a few specimens of it when I did see it. It was in flower: they are single flowers, on the stem in the leaf node. Only stamens/ stigma show above a 4 part globular structure (fused sepals?) approx 1mm diam. Buds, flowers & wilted were present along the stem length. The nearest I can find online is Batis maritima - it is like a very much smaller version of this with only single flowers not long groups. Any suggestions? I feel it ought to be easy to id so am surprised I am not getting anywhere with it!

  3. Hi Catriona what I think you have there is Suaeda novae-zelandiaehttp://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1312

  4. Thank you John!

    'Sea Blite' is that supposed to be 'blight' and is it a problem plant even if endemic?

  5. No Ive seen it described as Sea Blite not only here and as far as I know its not a 'problem' plant.Why its called blite I have no idea.

  6. Suaeda novae-zelandiae is, as the name implies endemic. What is interesting is that is is a scarce species in northern New Zealand, and that it becomes more common as one heads south of Auckland. Puzzled as to why I once asked Dr Trevor Partridge (formerly DSIR Ecology Division), and he explained that is an extreme halophyte, so it does best in very salty conditions. in northern New Zealand estuaries tend to contain more clay, which traps salt so stopping it being available to plants, thus in those sites Suaeda competes poorly. Further south less clay, more salt, more Suaeda. This seems to make sense.

  7. Thanks for the interesting information Peter. It possibly also explains why I saw a few similar looking plants in WA on very salty areas last year.

  8. Indeed. If you are interested Dr Kelly Shepherd at the Western Australian Herbarium (Perth) is a useful contact for all matters relating to Australian chenopods - especially the halophytic ones.

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