halofyte

Halophyte, occasionally spelled halofyte, refers to a plant adapted to growing in environments with high salinity. Halophytes are distinct from glycophytes, which are salt-sensitive. They can be categorised as obligate halophytes, which require saline conditions for growth or reproduction, and facultative halophytes, which tolerate salt but can complete their life cycle in non-saline soils.

Adaptations enabling salt tolerance include salt exclusion at the roots, salt sequestration or compartmentalization of ions in vacuoles, salt secretion through specialized leaf glands, and tissue succulence to dilute internal salt. Some species also exhibit reduced leaf area, and other morphological or physiological traits to limit water loss under saline stress.

Typical habitats are coastal salt marshes, tidal flats, saline inland soils, and desert margins affected by occasional flooding with saltwater. Representative halophytes include Salicornia europaea (common glasswort), Spartina alterniflora (cordgrass), Avicennia marina and Avicennia germinans (mangroves), and Suaeda species (seepweed).

Ecological and practical significance: Halophytes contribute to shoreline stabilization, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision in saline ecosystems. They are of interest for phytoremediation and for developing salt-tolerant crops or forage species for marginal lands, as well as in restoration projects of degraded saline sites.