Austral Seablite

Scientific Name:	Suaeda australis	Austral Seablite - plant Photo: A J Brown
Common Name:	Redweed
Status:	Native to all Australian states.
Plant Description:	Straggly to compact, perennial shrub which can grow up to 1 m tall but is often only about 20 cm tall. Small narrow succulent leaves 1-4 cm long, on long upright stems and branches. Leaves are light green or purplish-red. Short, slender, leafy spikes or branches bearing clusters of small flowers and later the round fruit. Flowers in summer and autumn. Succulent fruiting body 1.5-2 mm diameter with 5 lobes covering the seed.
Habitat:	Usually saline clay soils. Found in saline situations. Along drainage areas and on the edge of temporary lakes, once the water level has dropped. Common in irrigation-induced saline areas. A widespread undershrub of salt marshes.
Habitat and Notes:	Seldom grazed. A very similar species to Austral seablite and also growing in saline environments is the Russian, Berry Seablite (Suaeda baccifera). An annual or short-lived perennial, Berry Seablite tends to form less dense a shrub as Austral Seablite, has leaves to 2 cm long only and unlike Austral Seablite which has flowers confined to the upper parts of the plant, has flower-heads at least as long as the plant itself.

Austral Seablite - plant Photo: R Clark	Austral Seablite - large population Photo: A J Brown	Austral Seablite - plants Photo: A J Brown
Austral Seablite - plant Photo: ex-Matters & Bozon