Seaside Joyweed

Alternanthera maritima var. maritima (Mart.) A. St.-Hillary.

Amaranthaceae, the Pigweed Family

▲ ▼ Plant scrambling along ocean edge at Roatan, Honduras

▲ closer view of flowers, leaves

Seaside Joyweed

Warm-climate perennial in the pigweed family; often found on sandy soils, near salt water (beaches)
Has a much-branched, prostrate growth habit
Leaves opposite, fleshy, oval to near linear, near hairless
Flowers in clusters at tips of stems and in axils of leaves on very short stalks
Individual flowers small, pointed, white, papery textured, persistent

(Posted January 15, 2019)