Some plants tolerate seawater better than others.
Most plants do not tolerate seawater well. Exposure to saltwater will promote dehydration, damaging the plant structures from the cellular level on up. Some plants, such as sea oats, a grass that grows in coastal areas, can tolerate seawater. The rugose rose, also grown in coastal areas, suffers little effect from exposure to seawater.
Root Damage
Even if the plants are not surrounded by seawater, the ground can be saturated with left-over salts after seawater has evaporated. In that case, plants can still be affected. Roots have a membrane that allows water in but keeps salt out. Soils that have heavy concentrations of salt make it difficult for water to pass through this membrane. It is even possible for the salt, at very high concentrations, to pull water from the plant, causing dehydration.
Above Ground Damage
Plants exposed to seawater or soils that have heavy concentrations of salt often show signs of stress on their above-ground structures. The entire plant’s growth might be stunted. Leaves might turn brown and die. Buds might not open, preventing the plant from reproducing. Entire branches can dry out and drop away.
Salt Spray
Salt spray, droplets of wind-driven seawater, can cause damage to a plant’s foliage. If the damage is severe enough, the plant will die because it will no longer be able to photosynthesize sufficient food for survival. The salt eats away the leaves, which is where the chlorophyll, the green substance that plants need to convert water and carbon dioxide to sugars, is located. Many shoreline plants show evidence of salt spray damage after storms. Trees often will show signs of damage, such as brown or decreased foliage, on the sides facing the ocean.
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