familyBataceae
genusBatis

Batis maritima

Linnaeus

Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 1289. 1759.

Common names: Vidrillos
Illustrated
Synonyms: Batis californica Torrey
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 187. Mentioned on page 188.

Plants usually less than 1 m. Main stems 2–4 cm diam. at base; branches rooting at nodes and tips. Leaf blades 5–20 × 2–3 mm, apex rounded to acuminate, adaxial surface flattened. Spikes 6 × 4 mm, flowers inconspicuous. Staminate flowers: tepals spatulate or tapered, 3 × 3 mm; filaments 2 mm; anthers 0.7 mm. Pistillate flowers connate at maturity, subsessile, 6 × 4 mm. Syncarps green, 10 × 6–7 mm, spongy. Seeds 3 × 1 mm. 2n = 22.


Phenology: Flowering (Jan-)Apr–Sep [year-round in the tropics].
Habitat: Saline or brackish, often wet, open, maritime shores, salt marshes, dune swales, saline or brackish lagoons, sandy shell plateaus, shore hummocks, muddy or sandy tidal flats, often with mangroves, especially Avicennia
Elevation: 0-10 m

Distribution

V7 241-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Calif., Fla., Ga., La., N.C., S.C., Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands, Hawaii).

Discussion

Batis maritima probably is naturalized in Hawaii (W. Hillebrand 1888). Plants frequently cover large areas in dense, tangled stands and are tolerant of very high salinity and water-logging, including inundation for considerable periods (R. F. Thorne 1954).

The salty leaves and stems of Batis maritima have been eaten in salads, used as potherbs, or pickled (G. K. Rogers 1982c). According to K. D. Perkins and W. W. Payne (1978), when eaten in large quantities by livestock, B. maritima is thought to be poisonous. Like other halophytes, it has been burned for ash. Also, it has been used medicinally to prevent or treat skin problems, ulcers, kidney and bladder stones, and other medicinal problems (Rogers).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Batis maritima"
Robert F. Thorne +
Linnaeus +
Vidrillos +
Ala. +, Calif. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Tex. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, n South America +, Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands +  and Hawaii). +
0-10 m +
Saline or brackish, often wet, open, maritime shores, salt marshes, dune swales, saline or brackish lagoons, sandy shell plateaus, shore hummocks, muddy or sandy tidal flats, often with mangroves, especially Avicennia +
Flowering (Jan-)Apr–Sep [year-round in the tropics]. +
Syst. Nat. ed. +
Illustrated +
Batis californica +
Batis maritima +
species +