SUvEDA FRUTICOSA 103 In England Suceda fruticosa grows characteristically on maritime shingle, and preferably on such zones as are covered at the spring tides. The plant is consequently a halophyte. It is also able to maintain itself perfectly where salt marsh turf has overlaid the shingle to a depth of 1 or 2 feet. Occasionally it is found sporadically on salt marshes, apparently quite inde- Fig-. 24.—a, Diagram of prostrated branch of Suceda fruticosa rejuvenating in the shingle from lateral buds, b, Twig with leaves and flowers, nat. size. pendent of any shingly substratum, and also on clay sea-walls. It prospers on sand dunes1 when continuous supplies of fresh sand are brought by the wind; its range of habitat is thus considerable. In ordinary garden soil, and even in a London window-box, it flourishes amazingly. When better known, Suaeda will doubtless be cultivated as an ornamental shrub. Here we are concerned with Suceda fruticosa as a shingle 1 Doubtless occurring as an anarhizophyte originally established on shingle.