BATACEAE

SALTWORT FAMILY

William J. Stone

Shrub, low, bushy, maritime, dioecious or monoecious
Leaves opposite, simple, narrow, fleshy; stipules minute
Inflorescence: spike, cone-like, small, axillary, ± sessile; stipules minute
Flowers unisexual
Staminate flowers 8–12; flower initially enclosed in sac-like organ which may be sepals or pair of bractlets, splitting with age; perianth parts 4, alternate stamens; stamens 4, anthers opening by longitudinal slits
Pistillate flowers 4–12, not enclosed; perianth 0; ovary superior, fleshy, chambers 4, ovule 1 per chamber, stigmas 2, head-like, sessile
Fruit drupe-like, water dispersed
Seeds 1–4, hard-walled
Chromosomes: 2n=18,22
Genera in family: 1 genus, 2 species: tropical, subtropical Am., Pacific, Australia
Etymology: (Greek: name of some seashore plant)
Perianth parts in staminate flowers also interpreted as staminodes.

BATIS

The only genus
Species in genus: 2 species: (B. argillicola P. Royen of New Guinea, ne Australia is monoecious)

Native

B. maritima L.

SALTWORT, BEACHWORT

Dioecious
Stems prostrate to ascending, < 1.5 m; base woody
Leaf 1–2 cm, ± cylindric, linear-oblanceolate
Inflorescence: staminate 5–10 mm, ovoid-cylindric, bractlets rounded; pistillate < 1 cm in fruit, short peduncled
Staminate flower: perianth parts white, triangular; stamens exserted
Ecology: Salt marshes along coast
Elevation: < 10 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast
Distribution outside California: to se US, Caribbean, n S.America, Hawaii
Horticultural information: WET: 24; salt marsh STBL.