Flora of New Zealand Series

S. maritima auct. non 

Chenopodium maritimum L. Sp. Pl. 1753, 221.

Salsola fruticosa Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 21 non L. Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1763, 324.

Perennial much-branched subshrub; stems woody, bearing persistent lf-bases, ± ascending, up to 30 cm. or more long; branchlets grooved when dry. Lvs sessile, opp., alt., or fascicled (on same plant), approxi-mate, patent; lamina fleshy, linear to narrow-oblong (occ. narrow- obovate), ± apiculate, 4-12 × 1-2 mm. Fls axillary, (1)-3-(4) together, each subtended by 2 bracteoles. Per. 5-lobed; lobes ovate, erect; stigmas 2-3; seeds horizontal, red-brown, glossy.

DIST.: N., S. Salt marshes and rocky and gravelly coasts within range of high tide, throughout, ± local.

Related to S. maritima (L.) Dum. and S. australis (R. Br.) Moq.  McKay and Chapman (T.R.S.N.Z. 82, 1954, 41) propose the name S. australis (R. Br.) Moq. var. nova zelandica and give a diagnosis in English: "A biennial or perennial differing from the type (Australian) in the smaller size, branches more spreading, shorter, not so stout; leaves smaller, up to 1 cm. long and 1·5 mm. wide, more persistent than in the type, arranged alternately and oppositely ". The N.Z. sp. has the fls in the axils of undifferentiated foliage lvs (us. 1 large, between 2 small). The Australian sp. has a branched infl. with short bract-like lvs and crowded fls (3-6 in each axil, often 3 well-developed) the infl. thus having a ± spike-like appearance.