Image

Sea Thrift

Identifier

Armeria Maritima

Date of Entry

28/08/2010

Coordinates

54.870777, -1.354662

Location Description

Marshy lowland near Ryhope

Author

Marie Cole

Author Notes

N/A

Source

N/A
Image

Fairy Cushion

Identifier

Armeria Maritima

Date of Entry

14/08/2018

Coordinates

55.675634, -1.781104

Location Description

Holy Island Cliffs

Author

John Seymour

Author Notes

N/A

Source

N/A
Image

Sea Pink

Identifier

Armeria Maritima

Date of Entry

02/04/2024

Coordinates

54.753832, -1.282239

Location Description

Cliffs near Peterlee

Author

Katherine Watts

Author Notes

N/A

Source

N/A
Image

Rock Rose

Identifier

Armeria Maritima

Date of Entry

06/07/2019

Coordinates

54.845290, -1.334959

Location Description

Rocky Pile in Seaham

Author

Sean James

Author Notes

N/A

Source

N/A
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Image

Sea Pink 

Text

Drawing completed on Mackintosh‘s honeymoon with Margaret Macdonald to Lindisfarne in 1901. The work depicts the plant in different stages of growth and decomposition.

Date of Entry

1901

Author

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Dimenions

145 mm x 180 mm

Medium

Watercolour and Pencil on Paper

Source

https://museums.eu/collection/object/150469/sea-pink-holy-island-july-1901
Image

Sea Pink (Detail)

Text

Drawing completed on Mackintosh‘s honeymoon with Margaret Macdonald to Lindisfarne in 1901. The work depicts the plant in different stages of growth and decomposition.

Date of Entry

1901

Author

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Dimenions

145 mm x 180 mm

Medium

Watercolour and Pencil on Paper

Source

https://museums.eu/collection/object/150469/sea-pink-holy-island-july-1901
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Image

Thrifty 

Text

The Sea Thrift adorned one side of the Threepence coin until 1971, when the decimal system was introduced across British currency. 

The plant’s connection to small coinage originates with the Old English word thrift (rooted in the Old Norse þrift), meaning frugality or prosperity. As a symbol of modesty and prudence, it was chosen to appear on one of the smallest denominations of change.

The origin of the plant name itself also shares the same seed, as the Sea Thrift was known across the North East of England for its resourcesfullness when conserving water.

The coin was forged from brass, an alloy of copper and zinc - minerals found in the soils where the Sea Thrift flourishes.

Date  of Entry

1948

Author

Royal Mint
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Image

Metallophyte

Text

Armeria maritima flourish within metal-rich soils, particularly those containing copper, and can tolerate concentrations exceeding 6,000 mg/kg of Cu. As a result, it is often found on coastlands and rocky outcrops near sites of mineral extraction and processing.

While heavy metals are typically toxic to most plants, the Sea Thrift has developed an exceptional resistance and intimacy with these virulent minerals, sequestering copper, but also cadmium, mercury, zinc, nickel, iron, and manganese, in its cells.

Copper, absorbed through the subsurface rhizome, is stored in both roots and leaves, where it becomes bound within protein chains. As concentrations rise, the accumulated metal can seep from the cells, crystallising as a visible precipitate on the leaf surface — patinating verdigris upon verdure.   
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Image

Dried Flowers

Text

The dessicated flowers of the Thrift have antibiotic properties and have been traditionally used to treat infections and as a diuretic.

Dessicated leaves have also long been utilised as a garnish for soups in coastal villages, adding a characteristically salty flavour.

Date of Entry

1597

Author

John Gerard 

Sources
John Gerard, Generall Historie of Plantes, 1597.
https://archive.org/details/mobot31753000817749/page/703/mode/1up?view=theater
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Image

Halophyte

Text
   
The Sea Thrift is most commonly associated with coastal outcrops, salt marshes, and littoral shingle. These highly saline conditions are tolerated by the plant as its leaves possess glands which can secrete excess sodium and chlorine.

As levels of salt increase, the leaves produce amino acids and proteins - proline and belatains repsectively - that protect cells. They also pigment the leaves and petals with pink-red-yellow hues.

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Image

Thrift

Author
   
Robert Macfarlane

Narrators (In order or appearance)

Jackie Hagan
Marina Poppa
Glen Greaves
Phedra Broch
Clare Ibberson-John
Clare Shaw

Sound Editing

JasmineGreaves

Sources

Here




 
Sea Thrift