Batis (plant) - Range and Habitat

Range and Habitat

Batis has the ability to live in salty environments. When other plants are exposed to salty soil or water, they lose most of their stored water, but Batis has adapted to this environment and does not have these problems. To help it survive in this salty habitat, its fleshy leaves are covered with very fine hairs that reduce the amount of water the plant loses to the air.

An example habitat of occurrence of Batis maritima is in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion of the Yucatán.

Not many animals can eat it because it is too salty, but White-tailed Deer eat B. maritima as part of their diet. Eastern Pygmy-Blue butterflies collect the nectar from its flowers. B. maritima is becoming rare in some areas, and some scientists think it should be added to the United States endangered species list, though it has also become an invasive species in Hawaii after accidental introduction there.