Batis
1096524
220597633
2008-06-20T17:04:57Z
Eugene van der Pijll
22016
{{For|the bird genus of the same name|Batis (bird)}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Batis''
| image = Batis maritima male.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Male flowers on ''Batis maritima''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Brassicales]]
| familia = '''Bataceae'''
| genus = '''''Batis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''B. argillicola''<br/>
''B. maritima''
}}
{{otheruses}}
'''''Batis''''' ('''Turtleweed''', '''Saltwort''', '''Beachwort''', or '''Pickleweed''') is a genus of two species of [[flowering plant]]s, the only genus in the family '''Bataceae'''. They are [[halophyte|halophytic]] (salt tolerant) plants, native to the coastal [[saltmarsh]]es of warm temperate and tropical [[Americas|America]] (''B. maritima'') and tropical [[Australasia]] (''B. argillicola'').
Both species are [[evergreen]] low [[shrub]]s growing to 10-70 cm tall, prostrate where colonizing new mud, but once rooted, growing bushy. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are small, swollen, fleshy and narrowly club-shaped. They are bright green, but can also take on a reddish color. The [[flower]]s are small, produced in nonshowy spikes, flowering from mid summer to fall. The American species is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], while the Austalasian species is [[plant sexuality|monoecious]].
Some [[botanist]]s divide ''B. maritima'' into five species, with ''B. californica'', ''B. fruticosa'', ''B. spinosa'' and ''B. vermiculatus'' split off, but this interpretation is not widely followed.
''Batis'' has the ability to live in [[sodium chloride|salty]] environments. When other plants are exposed to salty soil or water, they lose most of their stored water, but ''Batis'' has adapted to this environment and does not have these problems. To help it survive in this salty habitat, its fleshy leaves are covered with very fine hairs that reduce the amount of water the plant loses to the air.
Not many animals can eat it because it is too salty, but [[White-tailed Deer]] eat ''B. maritima'' as part of their diet. Eastern Pygmy-Blue butterflies collect the [[nectar]] from its flowers. ''B. maritima'' is becoming rare in some areas, and some scientists think it should be added to the [[United States]] [[endangered species]] list, though it has also become an [[invasive species]] in [[Hawaii]] after accidental introduction there.
The genus ''[[Salsola]]'' is also sometimes known as Saltwort, but is unrelated to salsola.
===Uses===
''B. maritima'' was used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] as a food, the [[root]]s were chewed (like [[sugar cane]]) or boiled into a beverage while the stems and leaves were eaten raw, cooked or pickled. ''B. argillicola'' is also eaten as a [[greens (vegetable)|green vegetable]].
Saltwort has unexpectedly turned out to be a nutritious food source. An analysis of its peppercorn-sized [[seed]]s has revealed that they are extremely nutritious, having high quantities of [[protein]]s, oils and [[starch]]es [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/ns-sto092502.php]. According to Massimo Marco from an article published by [[New Scientist]], the [[seed]]s are extremely edible, having a nutty taste, and they can be added to [[salad]]s, toasted, or even made into miniature [[popcorn]]. The oil is almost identical to [[safflower oil]], which is used for cooking and in salad dressings, as well as for making [[margarine]]. The seeds also contain beneficial antioxidants such as tocopherols, which are thought to fight cancer.
==References ==
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BAMA5 ''Batis maritima'' USDA plant profile]
*[http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=081&level=s&id=1743 ''Batis argillicola'' in Flora of Western Australia]
*[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/ns-sto092502.php Article on the studies done on Saltwort by Massimo Marcone]. It was originally published at newscientist.com: [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg17523622.000]
*[http://www.biosalinity.org/salt-tolerant_plants.htm Listing of Halophytes & Salt-Tolerant Plants]
[[Category:Brassicales]]
[[Category:Halophytes and salt tolerant plants]]
[[es:Batidaceae]]
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[[zh:藜木科]]