Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen

Spice Fruit In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: CHENOPODIACEAE

Genus: Halimione

Sinònims: Obione portulacoides (L.) Moq. Atriplex portulacoides L.

Catalan common name: Verdolaga marina.

Spanish common name: Cenizo blanco. Obione. Sabonera. Sayón.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Rocky coastlines. Marshes and salt marshes.

Characteristics: A shrub found in brackish waters and along the coast; it is a very branched plant with a dense, impenetrable appearance; the leaves are whitish and this is the general colour of the plant. The leaves are slightly fleshy and lanceolate in shape with a base that gradually becomes thinner, which makes it possible to distinguish it from the species of Atriplex which live in the same habitats and have a similar appearance since all of them have leaves with a more or less wide, hastate base; Another characteristic is the fact that the leaves are opposite and not alternate as in the other species which are similar to it. The flowers are grouped in long inflorescences at the top of the branches; they are not very eye-catching, they have some triangular pieces. It flowers in summer and in autumn as happens in many plants in moist areas.