Sea lettuce, scientifically known as Astydamia latifolia, is a plant that often goes unnoticed despite its notable ecological, medicinal and cultural value. Its preferred habitat is in the rocky coastlines and sandy of the north of Africa, Canary Islands and Savage Islands makes it one of the most emblematic species of coastal ecosystems, playing a key role in the biodiversity and local life of these regions. Its popular names, such as sea ​​chard, napkin o napkin holder, already anticipate the versatility of its use both at a culinary level and in popular natural medicine.
What is Astydamia latifolia and what is its origin?
Astydamia latifolia It is a herbaceous plant of the family apiaceae, and represents the only species of the genus Astydamia. Its natural distribution area covers the north of Africa, the entire coastal strip of the Canary Islands and nearby areas of the Savage Islands, characterized by their constant proximity to the sea and their tolerance to the presence of salt in the environment (halophily). To learn more about the species that inhabit saline areas, we recommend consulting our section on sea ​​plants.
The names "sea lettuce" and "sea chard" derive from the resemblance of their leaves to those vegetables, while "napkin" or "napkin holder" allude to the traditional use of their leaves as a natural substitute for hand and mouth hygiene before the arrival of manufactured products, thanks to their fleshy, wide, and flexible texture.
The botanical description was made by the French botanist Henri Ernest Baillon. The name latifolia means "broad-leaved" in Latin, and Astydamia It refers to the mythological nymph daughter of Oceanus, in allusion to the frequent coastal location of this plant.
Presence and abundance in the Canary IslandsThe plant is common on all the islands, although it is especially abundant in Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and El Hierro. It grows on rocky and sandy soils, or even on sea walls, where the swell and the friction of the waves favor its growth. It can also appear on sand deposited on rock, forming part of the characteristic coastal halophilous scrub.
- Iconic sites of Fuerteventura: Tostón lighthouse, beaches of Puerto Lajas, between El Cotillo and Corralejo and the western coast of JandÃa, always under the influence of sea spray.
- On other islands, it predominates in cliffs and areas open to the sea.
Detailed botanical description
Astydamia latifolia is a biennial or perennial herbaceous, which can reach up to 50 cm in height and form dense clumps. Its stems are fleshy, cylindrical, and longitudinally furrowed, lying or slightly erect.
- LeavesLarge, succulent, alternate, light green to glaucous green, very smooth, lobed, and widely and irregularly toothed. The petiole is thick and widens at the base to partially embrace the stem (amplexicaule). They can grow to over 20–30 cm in length.
- Root: Powerful, deep, irregularly shaped, with a dark brown outer tuber and white inner tuber, adapted to poor, saline soils. To learn more about halophytic plant roots, see our section on stem.
- Flores: Small, yellowish to yellowish-green, grouped in umbellate inflorescences with up to 15 rays and between 6 and 15 cm in diameter.
- Fruits: Ovoid, short, and thick, with a corky texture when ripe, turning from yellowish-green to reddish-brown, with three veins and a swollen edge. Inside, they contain intensely aromatic black seeds.
During the summer, the above-ground part may disappear due to high temperatures and dryness, quickly sprouting from buds at ground level with the first rains. To accelerate these processes, you can apply seed germination techniques, such as the seed germination method. germination in 24 hours.
Easy recognition: Its large, toothed flowers and leaves, along with the fleshy texture of the entire plant and its presence in coastal areas, make it easily identifiable in nature.
Habitat, ecology and plant associations
La Astydamia latifolia is an essential part of the coastal halophilous scrub, being in many cases a species dominant on walls, sandy areas, and rocks exposed to the sea. It is able to survive salinity and lack of fresh water, thanks to adaptations such as its fleshy tissues and deep roots. It can also be found in humid areas related to wetlands.
- It coexists with species of marked maritime character such as the sea ​​parsley (Crithmum maritime), sea ​​everlasting (Limonium pectinatum) And the sea ​​heather (Frankenia laevis).
- It withstands sea spray (suspended marine spray), strong winds and soils poor in organic matter.
- Its dispersal capacity is favored by the buoyancy of its seeds, which can be transported long distances by ocean currents.
Properties and traditional uses of Astydamia latifolia
Along the centuries, Sea lettuce has been valued both as a food and for its medicinal benefits.In times of scarcity, especially in the Canary Islands and coastal areas of Africa, its leaves and tender stems were harvested to be eaten fresh in salads or cooked. It has also found applications in folk medicine and everyday hygiene thanks to its physical characteristics.
Culinary uses
- Salads and fresh consumption: The tender stems and leaves can be eaten raw, providing a pleasant and refreshing flavor. Its succulent texture and mild flavor have made it popular where fresh vegetables were scarce.
- Infusions: They are traditionally prepared with the leaves and stems to take advantage of their carminative, diuretic and stomachic properties.
- Its name as "rustic cumin": In some areas, for its particular aroma and flavor.
Medicinal uses and health benefits
- Antiscorbutic: Rich in Vitamin C, was used to combat scurvy, especially among sailors and coastal populations, and to strengthen the immune system.
- Carminative and digestive: It facilitates digestion, prevents and reduces gas formation, and acts as a natural stomach stimulant.
- Diuretic: It helps eliminate fluids and toxins, and combat fluid retention.
- Menstrual regulator (emmenagogue): Its apiol content helps regulate menstruation and its use has been documented to mitigate symptoms associated with menstrual disorders.
Its main active ingredients are apiol, myristicin and essential oils, which give it a relevant therapeutic action. In traditional use, infusions of Astydamia latifolia They have been recommended to treat digestive disorders, vitamin C deficiency states and menstrual cycle problems.
Traditional hygienic and cultural applications
- Its name "napkin" comes from the use of the leaves as natural substitutes for hand and mouth hygiene, taking advantage of its size and texture.
- The flexible, rolled shape of its leaves is reminiscent of a folded napkin, hence the tradition that is still maintained in some rural settings.
reproduction and life cycle
- Flowering: It occurs from winter to spring, and in very favorable environments it can even extend into summer.
- Fructification: After flowering, its fruits ripen and the leaves wither, beginning a period of dormancy until the first autumn rains.
- Dispersion: The seeds, although many may be sterile, have the ideal structure and lightness to float in salt water and colonize new coastal enclaves.
Ecological importance
- Astydamia latifolia Act like nurse species on the coastal strip, promoting soil retention and protection against erosion caused by wind and tidal waves.
- Their presence is an indicator of well-preserved halophilic ecosystems and contributes to floral diversity alongside species adapted to the coast.
- It provides shelter and food for pollinating insects and other species associated with these extreme environments.
