Silvery Clouds

  Mark can be thankful that he is out of town at the moment.  The Sea Myrtle bush is sending up clouds of seeds with the stiff northerly winds that we are feeling these past few days.  He would be sneezing his head off with each pass through the front yard or trek down the pier.  These bushes flank the first part of the pier making a nice passageway most of the summer but come fall, watch out!  The seeds float on the wind much like the familiar dandelion puffs.  Each seed is an allergen causing a fit of sneezing for those affected by them.  Mark occasionally does find some plant, either flowering or seeding, that wreaks havoc on his sinuses.  For some strange reason, I have been fortunate enough to be immune from the effects of the same plants.  (This is one of those "knock on wood" instances, though, as I sure hope I never have that problem!  As much as I wander about the hillside, if allergic, I would be sneezing my head slap off!)

  The Sea Myrtle is one of those plants that goes by a number of names.  It is a small shrub that is often called Consumption Weed, Groundsel, Salt Bush and Silverling.  Sea Myrtle and Salt Bush are names deriving from the fact that it is a coastal plant.  It can survive in brackish waters and marshes. Silverling is a name coming from when the female plant is covered with its white blooms and then it fluffy, white seeds.  At that time, the bush has a shiny, silvery look to it.  Consumption Weed is an old common name given to the bush since it was once used in treating consumption (Tuberculosis).  (This was not necessarily a good thing as the plant is said to be toxic to humans and animals alike.  Perhaps it did cure the consumption but probably caused a whole host of other problems when doing so.)  The true name is Baccharis or Groundsel.  

  Whatever the shrub is called, I like it.  This time of year is usually a bit void of flowering plants and the Sea Myrtle brightens up the area a bit. Its silvery masses can be seen on all shorelines. The sun glints off the bright white fluff making it appear as if a cloud has softly fallen into the marsh. Then a gust of wind whips through and the cloud gently rises and scatters.  Seeds fly everywhere.  To me, this is a pretty sight although I know that every seed has the potential to sprout and form a new bush. Soon the shoreline will be nothing but Groundsel or Sea Myrtle,  The cloud will spread from one end of the property to the other and Mark will continue to have sneezing fits each October.