Perennial species, with strong woody roots. It is found on beaches and primary dunes, always in places with loose soils where there is a continuous supply of organic matter by the tides. It is one of the first species to appear in the process of primary succession of the new emerged zones. Plant with prostrate stems (up to 80 cm) branched from the base. The leaves are alternate, elliptical, fleshy, revolute and ash green color that characterizes the species. It is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, the entire European coast and the Mediterranean.