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Galapagos Islands plants
Sesuvium spp. (Aizoaceae)
 Perennial
herb with fleshy leaves. Colour varies from green through yellow to red with
changing seasons. Small star-shaped flowers (purplish-S. portulacastrum,
whitish-S. edmonstonei (endemic). The two species of Sesuvium in the
Galapagos are
typical drought and salt-tolerant, fleshy plants.
Towards the end of the dry
season these two species form bright red mats in areas near the shore (Plate
22). When moisture is available the plants become greener. Like those of the
saltbush, the leaves of Sesuvium are salty.
Beach morning glory; Ipomoea pes-caprae (Convolvulaceae):
 Creeping
perennial with stout stems to 10 m long. Bitter milky sap. Funnel-like
purplish-mauve flower (2.5 cm diameter). This creeping vine is common on
most dune areas.
The morning-glory flowers are amongst the largest in
the Galapagos
Islands. This species is important in stabilising sand dunes. There are other species of morning glory in the genus Ipomoea that have
similar-shaped flowers.
| Scorpionweed;
Heliotropium curassavicum (Boraginaceae):
Low dense matted herb. Leaves long, greyish to blue-green.
White flowers on long curled stalk. Common on saline soils.
Salt sage; Atriplex peruviana (Chenopodiaceae):
 Small
perennial herb, usually forming mats, but occasionally forming small shrubs.
Leathery pale wrinkled leaves.
Small yellow-brown flowers in clusters at
ends of branches. Common at Punta Suarez,
Española.
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