Landscape Uses:
	Groundcover in open, coastal areas.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
	An important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes which can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water.
Availability:
	Native plant nurseries.
Description:
	Small prostrate herb.
Height:
	About 3-8 inches in height. Spreading and forming large patches much broader than tal.
Growth Rate:
	Moderate to fast.
Range:
	Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and Old World.
Habitats:
	Beach dunes and brackish coastal areas.
Soils:
	Wet to moist, periodically inundated brackish or saline soils, with or without organic or humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
	Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
	High; tolerates flooding by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
	Pioneer; grows in unconsolidated substrate in direct salt wind and spray.
Drought Tolerance:
	High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
	Full sun.
Flower Color:
	Sepals green on the outside, pink to pinkish-purple on the inside.
Flower Characteristics:
	Semi-showy. The petals are absent.
Flowering Season:
	All year.
Fruit:
	Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
	Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) butterflies.
Horticultural Notes:
	Can be grown from seed and cuttings.
Comments:
	The succulent leaves are edible (although very salty) and have been used as a source of vitamin C. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.