halophytes
Halophytes are plants that thrive in high-salinity environments, typically in soils or waters where salt concentrations exceed those of ordinary terrestrial habitats. They are common in coastal salt marshes and mangrove swamps, as well as inland saline soils, salt flats, and brackish waterways. The ability to tolerate or require salt arises from a suite of adaptations that maintain cellular function under osmotic stress and limit ion toxicity. Key strategies include osmotic adjustment through compatible solutes, selective uptake and compartmentalization of sodium and chloride ions, and the use of salt glands, bladders, or other excretory features. Many halophytes also employ succulence or reduced leaf area to minimize water loss, and their roots often exhibit structural or physiological traits that favor salt exclusion or sequestration. Halophytes are typically categorized as obligate halophytes, which require saline conditions to complete their life cycle, or facultative halophytes, which can tolerate salinity but also grow in less saline environments.
Prominent examples include Salicornia (glassworts), Spartina (cordgrass), Atriplex (saltbush), and Suaeda; tropical and subtropical mangroves such