Oysterleaf
Also called oyster plant
- Iñupiaq name: Unavailable
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Scientific name: Mertensia maritima
- Distinguishing characteristics: Fleshy blue green stems and oval shaped leaves delicately trailing low to the ground. Small blue flowers in clusters at the ends of stems.
- Similar species: Oysterleaf does not closely resemble any other plant growing on the North Slope. The small blue flowers and chalk-like cast on the leaves are a sure giveaway!
- Habitat: Sandy, gravelly beaches along the coastal areas of the North Slope.
- Best time to harvest: The leaves can be harvested from spring to fall.
- Uses: Leaves can be eaten raw. Some foragers say they taste like oysters, others say the mucilaginous texture is reminiscent of the beloved mollusk.
Photo courtesy of the GVSU Arctic Ecology Program
Photo courtesy of the GVSU Arctic Ecology Program
Photo via Flora of Svalbard