Edible plant - novice Season - Summer Common names Sea Purslane, Shoreline purslane
Scientific name meaning: Halimione is from the Greek Halimos, meaning belonging to the sea. Portulacoides is Latin and means with the form of Portulaca - purslane
Habitat
Found in estuaries, mudflats and salt marshes, and on sand dunes, all around the UK
Overall structure
A low growing and quite straggly plant
Leaves
Grey-green when young with an iridescent shine to them. Lance-shaped and become more elongated with age and towards the tips of the plant. They have a sturdy feel to them and appear in opposing pairs up the stem
Stems
Smooth and grey-green, becoming woody with age
Flower
Red yellow then, more yellow and appearing in spikes
Possible lookalikes
Only likely to be confused when young with Sea Blite, which is also edible
Use as a food Eaten raw or cooked, it is very salty. Good steamed or fried, and added to soups for its saltiness.
It can also be pickled. Hazards When collecting from shorelines, be aware of any pollution such as sewage outlets. Also, most of the UK coastline is designated SSSI, so ensure you are allowed or have permission to forage
Use in herbal medicine None known. If you known of any, please let us know. If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner Other uses None known Importance to other species The seeds are eaten by wading birds
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!