Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali
Prickly Saltwort (Salsola kali) is a distinctive, spiny-leaved annual of sandy beaches and the upper strand line, where it colonises bare sand amongst driftwood and other tideline debris. Its bushy, sprawling growth is unmistakable at close range, and its fleshy, salt-tolerant leaves reflect its harsh coastal environment. In Suffolk, it is a characteristic species of shingle and sandy beaches along the North Sea coast, recorded regularly from Lowestoft south to Felixstowe. Populations can vary year to year depending on disturbance and sand movement. Trampling and coastal management activities on beaches can adversely affect this species. Image: © Doughdee, iNaturalist.
Find out more: iNaturalist, Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora
Suffolk’s Priority Fern and Flowering Plant Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
