Woolly seablite facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Woolly seablite
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Suaeda
Species:	S. taxifolia
Binomial name
Suaeda taxifolia Standl.
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Suaeda taxifolia, also known as woolly seablite, is a type of flowering plant in the Amaranthaceae family. This plant is special because it can live in very salty places!

You can find woolly seablite growing along the coastlines of southern California and Baja California. It loves salty habitats like salt marshes, beaches, dunes, and scrublands. Each plant can look a little different, making them quite unique!

What it Looks Like

Woolly seablite is usually a shrub or a small bush. It can grow wide or stand tall, reaching up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high. Some plants are smooth, while others can be quite hairy and feel a bit waxy.

Stems and Leaves

The lower parts of the stems are woody, like a tree branch. The upper stems are softer and fleshy, often green, yellowish, or reddish.

The leaves are special because they are succulent, meaning they are thick and can store water, just like a cactus! They are shaped like a spear or are almost oval, growing up to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Their color can change from bluish to green, yellow, or even reddish. You might also notice a small, knobby bump at the bottom of each leaf.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the woolly seablite grow in small groups along the stems, with each group having 1 to 3 flowers. They don't have colorful petals like many flowers. Instead, they have a cup-like part called a calyx, which is made of fleshy, rounded, and sometimes hairy sepals.

After the flowers, the plant produces a tiny fruit called an utricle. This fruit grows safely inside the calyx.