Althaea officinalis – Marsh mallow
Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) is the plant that marshmallows came from. It is an introduced perennial that can be found in marshes and wetlands. Marsh mallow can be identified by its velvety leaves and pale flowers with five petals. Flowers become green, wheel-shaped fruits in early fall. The entire plant is edible, but extremely mucilaginous. […]
Lathyrus japonicus – Beach Pea
Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) is a native perennial with edible pods that are similar to cultivated peas. Beach pea can be found along beaches in New England. The beach pea can be identified by its compound leaves and purple flowers that become pods in late summer. Pods are purplish at first, ripening to green. Shoots […]
Salicornia spp. – Glasswort
Glasswort (Salicornia spp.) is a native, edible plant with salty, succulent stems. It can be found in salt marshes and coastal areas. Glasswort, also called samphire or sea bean, can be identified by its cylindrical stems that are greenish in the summer, turning reddish in the fall. The tender tips of the stems can be […]
Suaeda maritima – Sea blite
Sea blite (Suaeda maritima) is an edible plant that can be found along beaches and salt marshes. The subspecies that grows in CT is considered non-native. Sea blite can be identified by its fleshy, almost cylindrical leaves. It produces pale green flowers late summer-fall. Sea blite is edible raw or cooked. It has a salty […]
Atriplex prostrata – Triangle Orache
Triangle orache (Atriplex prostrata) is an edible plant that can be found along the coast and in salty soil. Saltbush/orache (Atriplex spp.) is a group of 200+ species. No Atriplex species are toxic, but not all are palatable. Triangle orache can be identified by its spear-shaped leaves with toothed edges and a white bloom. It […]
Ulva spp. – Sea lettuce
Sea lettuce (Ulva spp.) is an edible green alga that can be found in inter-tidal zones. There are both native and non-native species of sea lettuce in Connecticut that can be difficult to differentiate without a microscope. Sea lettuce produces vibrant green, translucent sheets that are two cells thick. They attach to rocks and shells. […]
Codium fragile – Dead Man’s Fingers
Dead Man’s Fingers (Codium fragile) is an edible and invasive species of seaweed that originated in Japan. Dead man’s fingers can be found along the coastline during low tide. Seaweed can be harvested year-round. The plant is named for its finger-like fronds that hang from rocks. Dead man’s fingers can be a nuisance to […]