Sesuvium maritimum is an annual herbaceous plant native to southeastern North America in the family Aizoaceae.[1] This species is commonly known as the annual or slender sea purslane or Puerto Rico Sea-purslane.[2] It can be found on sandy beaches, salt marshes, or other coastal regions.[3]
Sesuvium maritimum is a succulent herb that can grow up to 30 cm tall, with smooth, glabrous leaves and white or pink inflorescences.[2] Its leaves are covered with dozens of fleshy projections known as papillae.[4] They are commonly found along the southeastern coast of North America from as far north as Rhode Island to southern regions of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other surrounding islands.[1] [3] It has an opposite or sub-opposite leaf arrangement composed of simple, oblanceolate or linear fleshy leaves that are about 1-2.5 cm long and 1–5 mm wide.[3] Furthermore, the leaves are known to be glabrous or rarely minutely papillose, the apex are rounded, acute, or obtuse with margins of the leaves being entire.[2] Flowers are actinomorphic and normally composed of 4–5 fused petals that form a cup-like structure.[5] Within the flower are 5 stamens, usually with a pink coloration, and a partially inferior ovary.[6] Sepals are 2-3 mm long and attached near the top of the calyx tube.
They form a pyxis (dry dehiscent capsules) around 4–5 mm in length that appear soon after flowering and persist until September. Upon maturity the capsules will spit open.[5] [7] The seeds produced are typically smooth and vary in color from black to brown, as well as, the amount produced can be between 30–50.
This plant is commonly present within costal regions of eastern US (Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas).[2] They reach far down as, southern regions of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other surrounding islands.[1] Furthermore, it was found to be present in Kansas and Oklahoma.[7]
The Sesuvium genus was named after the Gallic tribe Sesuvii, who resided in the Atlantic maritime region of France from around 58–50 BC.[8]
The slender sea purslane is currently endangered in New York state, Maryland, North Carolina, Kansas, and Southern Florida.[9] [10] It is also considered vulnerable in the state of Virginia. Globally, Sesuvium maritimum has a conservation status of G5 (globally secure).[11]
In the past, sea purslane were once used as medicine to treat scurvy and venomous wounds.[12] In addition, it's one of several plants that aid in the prevention of coastal erosion.[13]