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A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. The word derives from Ancient Greek ἅλας (halas) 'salt' and φυτόν (phyton) 'plant'. Halophytes have different anatomy, physiology and biochemistry than glycophytes.[1] An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass). Relatively few plant species are halophytes—perhaps only 2% of all plant species. Information about many of the earth's halophytes can be found in the halophyte database.
The large majority of plant species are glycophytes, which are not salt-tolerant and are damaged fairly easily by high salinity.[2]
- ^ Physiology of halophytes, T. J. FLOWERS, Plant and Soil 89, 41-56 (1985)
- ^ Glenn, E. P.; et al. (1999). "Salt tolerance and crop potential of halophytes". Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences. 18 (2): 227–55. Bibcode:1999CRvPS..18..227G. doi:10.1080/07352689991309207.