Salicornia pacifica

Salicornia pacifica, also known as pickleweed, sea asparagus,[1] Pacific swampfire, or glasswort, is a species of low-growing perennial succulent halophyte in the genus Salicornia found in the Pacific coast of North America and California.

Salicornia pacifica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Salicornia
Species:
S. pacifica
Binomial name
Salicornia pacifica
Synonyms
  • Sarcocornia pacifica (Standl.) A.J.Scott

Description

S. pacifica grows as erect shrubs possessing a well-developed primary central root system with few or no adventitious roots.[2][3] It tends to flower between July and November.

Distribution

The species is native to salt marshes and alkaline soils throughout coastal California. It is occasionally found in Alaska and the East Coast. It occurs below 100 meters (330 feet) elevation. The genus is distributed globally.[4]

Ecology

Pickleweed is specially adapted to use saltwater as its main source of water. When the saltwater is taken up, the salt is removed and stored in specialized vacuoles in the terminal segments. As the vacuoles become full of brine, they turn red and drop off the plant, removing the salt. Although pickleweed can withstand short periods of flooding, it will die under prolonged immersion, as when the estuary mouth closes and the salt marsh floods.[4]

Pickleweed is an important nesting habitat for migrating birds.[4] It is also an important food source for the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.[5]

Uses

Pickleweed is edible and has a salty flavor.

[1]

Species range

References
  1. "Sea asparagus • Salicornia pacifica". Biodiversity of the Central Coast. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  2. "Salicornia pacifica". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  3. Steffen, Simone; Ball, Peter; Mucina, Ladislav; Kadereit, Gudrun (2015-01-23). "Phylogeny, biogeography and ecological diversification of Sarcocornia (Salicornioideae, Amaranthaceae)". Annals of Botany. 115 (3): 353–368. doi:10.1093/aob/mcu260. ISSN 0305-7364. PMC 4332613. PMID 25617410.
  4. "Pickleweed". Nature Collective. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  5. "Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
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