Saltwort [probably from Greek via Latin for another coastal plant, or possibly Greek batos, bramble]

Plants relatively low, sprawling. Leaf blades obovoid to oblanceoloid. Spikes subsessile, ellipsoid, subglobose, or turbinate [lax, bracteate, flowers solitary]. Flowers anemophilous; filaments slender, or sometimes winged; anthers versatile, dorsifixed; stigmas sessile, papillate. Syncarps each with 1-4 seeds (pyrenes). Seeds narrow, flattened; coats thin. x = 11.

Species 2 (1 in the flora): s North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, s New Guinea), Australia.

Lower Taxon

• Batis maritima Linnaeus