Are halophytic plants poisonous to humans?

Answer 1

A halophytic plant is one which grows at high salt concentrations such as on sea shores. They deal with the high level of salt, which would be damaging to most plants, by either excreting the excess salt into balloon-like structures attached to hairs on their leaves, which then rupture and release their contents, or by storing it in large vacuoles (sacs of fluid within cells) in their leaves, which then drop of naturally, again releasing the salt without it coming into contact with cellular structures which it might damage. I would suggest that the majority of the plant would be safe to eat (excluding any other possible toxicities), but that the leaves should be avoided. You'd probably have to eat quite a bit to actually get salt poisoning (hypernatremia), but it certainly would not be pleasent.

Answer 2

In Israel they planted potatoes in an area that had been drained of sea. The potatoes were able to live and soak up the salt so that other things could be planted later. And you got presalted french fries