A saltmarsh is a coastal or estuarine habitat, where the land is subject to frequent or occasional flooding, or otherwise affected by the sea, so that the soils are always salty, and often moist. Regions lowest in elevation, closest to the sea, tend to be permanently muddy, and support only a small number of plant species, while inland, the plant cover becomes steadily greater, and a little more diverse. Most saltmarsh plants are grasses, sedges or herbs that produce only inconspicous flowers, in particular those of the amaranthaceae family. Some saltmarsh species grow only in this habitat, while some are also found in other coastal areas.
