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Crithmum maritimum

Kingdom : Plantae / النّباتات

Division : Spermaphyta / البذريات

Clade : Magnoliophyta or Angiospermae / مستورات البذور

Class : Eudicotyledoneae / ذات الفلقتين

Order : Apiales  / رتبة الخيميات

Family : Apiaceae [Umbelliferae] /الفصيلة الكرفسيّة

Genus : Crithmum

species : maritimum

Chromosomes: 2n=20

Photos: Merchaoui Henda © DR

Protologue

  • L., Sp. Pl., ed. 1, 246 (1753)
  • Synonyms

  • Cachrys maritima (L.) Spreng.
  • Crithmum canariense Cav.
  • Common names

    Tunisia Arabic English French Tamazight

    بسباس لبحر

    قرثمن بحري
    شمر بحري

    Samphire
    Rock samphire
    Sea fennel

    Criste marine
    Crithme maritime
    Fenouil marin
    Perce-pierre
    Casse-pierre

    Chemeret el behrya

    Toxic

  • no
  • Edible

  • yes
  • Latex

  • no
  • Botanic description

    Genus description

    "

    Species description

    "Plant with bushy, slippery, glabrous, glaucous, fleshy habit.

    Stems from 10-30 cm, upright or ascending, striated, simple or little branching.
    Leaves fleshy 1-2 times pennatized, with acute lanceolate-linear segments.
    Flowers hermaphrodites of a greenish white. Chalice without limb. Whole petals. Erect styles, shorter than the stylopode.
    Inflorescence umbels of umbellules briefly pedunculate, with many thick rays. Involucre and involucelle with lanceolate-acute bracts.
    Fruits ovoid achene, glabrous, with keeled, projecting ribs.
    Seeds brown, elliptical, reticulated integument.

    Botanic References

  • Pottier-Alapetite G. (1981). Flore de la Tunisie Angiospermes –Dicotylédones (Apétales- Dialypétale , Première partie). Imprimerie Officielle de la République Tunisienne (Eds),599 p.
  • Edouard LE FLOC’H, Loutfy BOULOS et Errol VELA. (2010). Catalogue synonymique commenté de la FLORE DE TUNISIE. République Tunisienne, Ministère de l’Environnement et du développement durable, Banque Nationale de Gènes. 500 p
  • Biology

    Life form perennial
    Type form Thérophyte
    Photosynthesis C3

    Phenology

    Blooming
    JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
    Fruiting
    JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

    Map Localization

    Ecology

    Adaptation A halophilic plant, its presence marks the zone in which the spray is lethal to the continental plants. In addition to its resistance to salt, rock samphire is also very resistant to drought. It draws water deep and then store it in its fleshy leaves. It grows on the cliffs and rocks of the seaside. It is one of the few plants able to survive on rocks regularly hit by the waves and to bloom in summer.
    Salt bladder yes
    Invasive no

    Geographical distribution

    Localization Biocimatic stage Annuel pluviometry (mm) GPS
    Monastir (Sidi Ghedamssi, Déc 2014; Fév 2016)Inferior semi-arid33135°47'8.11"N / 10°50'3.65"E
    Cap Bon (Kélibia, Fév.2016)Superior semi-arid44436°50'2.63"N / 11° 7'0.99"E

    General uses

  • It is used as a condiment, most often prepared with white vinegar as gherkins. Its fleshy leaves are edible, they have an aniseed taste close to fennel. Its essential oil has shown significant insecticidal activity and a good repellent effect against ants.
  • Medicinal uses

  • "It is renowned for its antiscorbutic properties for its high vitamin C. An essential oil is extracted from its umbels and diakenes used in aromatherapy as a wormer. The entire plant is eaten raw for its purifying qualities. The infusion of the leaves promotes the diuretic properties associated with its rich seeniode and it helps with a slimming diet. In Algeria the root powder which is drunk as soup causes menstruation. An aromatic ether is now recommended against parasitosis, demineralization, minor hepatic insufficiency, goiter, hepatitis, hypothyroidism, inflammation of the glands, oedemas and scurvy. The essential oil issue is used in cosmetology associated with other plants, it is part of the composition of various products (cream, gel, lotion and soap) for its toning properties, depurative, draining and firming. Often it is prescribed to treat skin problems, those related to obesity or cellulite.

  • NOTE : This website is not that of herbal medicine and assumes no responsibility for the negative effects of the use of plants. Seek advice from a professional before using a medicinal plant.

    Systems / Organs / Effects

  • Digestive System
  • Urinary System
  • Mouth / Teeth
  • Dispersion mode

    • Barochore (gravity)

    Germination

    Duration

    Image

    Description of the seeds

    Form elliptic
    External structure any
    Ornamentation ribs
    Type of seed
    Average length of 10 seeds 1.1 ± 0.1(mm)
    Average width of 10 seeds 0.4 ± 0.1 (mm)
    Average thickness of 10 seeds 0.25 ± 0.01 (mm)
    Average mass of 100 seeds (g)

    Test results

    TPC DPPH ABTS+ FRAP Year
    mg GAE g-1 MS CI50 g ml-1 CI50 g ml-1 CE50 g ml-1
    22,70± 1,38154,88± 3,97233,01± 56,98697,58± 14,332016
    Total Phenols content(TPC), Anti-radical potentialities against (DPPH, ABTS), Ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP)

    Molecules : ADN / Proteins

    Chromosomes : 20 Uniprot NCBI

    Chemical composition

    Name
    Fatty acid Oleic acid link
    Palmitic acid link
    Linoleic acid link
    Stearic acid link
    Polyunsaturated fat
    Terpene Essentiel oils
    Phenolic compounds Polyphenols
    Other compouds Falcarindiol
    Saponin
    Vitamins Vitamin C link

    Tunisian references

  • Atia A, Debez A, Rabhi M, Smaoui A and Abdelly C (2009) INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF SALINITY, NITRATE, LIGHT, AND SEED WEIGHT ON THE GERMINATION OF THE HALOPHYTE CRITHMUM MARITIMUM. Acta Biologica Hungarica. 60, 4, 433-439.

  • Atia A, Debez A, Rabhi M, Athar HUR and Abdelly C (2006) Alleviation of salt-induced seed dormancy in the perennial halophyte Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 38, 5,
  • Atia A, Debez A, Barhoumi Z, Smaoui A and Abdelly C (2009) ABA, GA(3), and nitrate may control seed germination of Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) under saline conditions. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 332, 8, 704-710.
  • Atia A, Debez A, Barhoumi Z, Smaoui A and Abdelly C (2011) Effects of different salts and mannitol on seed imbibition, germination and ion content of Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae). Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki. 15, 37-45.
  • Atia A, Debez A, Barhoumi Z, Abdelly C and Smaoui A (2010) Localization and composition of seed oils of Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae). African Journal of Biotechnology. 9, 39, 6482-6485.
  • Atia A, Debez A, Barhoumi Z, Pacini E, Abdelly C and Smaoui A (2010) The mericarp of the halophyte Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae): structural features, germination, and salt distribution. Biologia. 65, 3, 489-495.
  • Ben Amor N, Ben Hamed K, Debez A, Grignon C and Abdelly C (2005) Physiological and antioxidant responses of the perennial halophyte Crithmum maritimum to salinity. Plant Science. 168, 4, 889-899.
  • Ben Hamed K, Magné C, Abdelly C (2012). Antioxidant Enzyme Activities as a Tool to Discriminate Ecotypes of Crithmum maritimum L. Differing in Their Capacity to Withstand Salinity Water Stress, Prof. Ismail Md. Mofizur Rahman (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-963-9, InTech.
  • Jallali I, Zaouali Y, Missaoui I, Smaoui A, Abdelly C, Ksouri R (2014). Variability of antioxidant and antibacterial effects of essential oils and acetonic extracts of two edible halophytes: Crithmum maritimum L. and Inula crithmoïdes L. Food Chemistry 145, 1031–1038.
  • Jallali I, Megdiche W, Hamdi M, Oueslati BS, Smaoui A, Abdelly C, Ksouri R.(2012). Changes in phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of the edible halophyte Crithmum maritimum L. with physiological stage and extraction method Acta Physiol Plant. 34:1451–1459.
  • Zarrouk M, El Almi H, Ben Youssef N, Sleimi N, Smaoui A,. Ben Miled D, Abdelly C. (2003). Lipid composition of seeds of local halophytes: Cakile maritima, Zygophyllum album and Crithmum maritimum.Cash Crop Halophytes: Recent Studies pp 121-124.
  • Other references

  • Halophytes from the same family