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American Glasswort

(Salicornia virginica

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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38.013, -122.113

Field Notes

Description:

a succulent kind of plant with ringed candlestick like projections.

Habitat:

marina

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (22)

Hurrah! I'm glad you got this one identified. "Glasswort" came pretty easy ... but what kind of glasswort? That was not so easy. In any event, congratulations and thanks for introducing me to a really interesting plant. I've enjoyed reading about it.
Suzanne , I identified this as American Glasswort,http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1110+0089
thanks Marta. This is a Halophyte. only 2 percent are halophytes. Mark you saw halophytes in a marsh once?
This plant is an halophyte. A halophyte is a plant that grows in waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass). Relatively few plant species are halophytes - perhaps only 2% of all plant species. The large majority of plant species are glycophytes, plants which are not salt-tolerant, and are damaged fairly easily by high salinity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halophyte
Think you should go with Suzanne's suggestion --'Beaded Glasswort' -http://fieldnatballarat.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/beaded-glasswort-lures-orange-bellied-parrots/ http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-and-environment/biodiversity/wetlands/victorian-wetlands-resources-for-teachers-and-students/student-research-centre-introductory-wetland-education/student-field-guides
Wow!.. kind of a unique plant! Lovely, Jemma!
Thank you Suzanne,You have been a great help.
Well, this is interesting. My ID suggestion was going to Pacific Glasswort, Sarcocornia pacifica. Which it may very well be, but in looking for a good link, I discovered that there's a Sarcocornia vs. Salicornia question. All of them are salt-tolerant succulents, and several can be found in California. I think you'd be OK if you listed the common name as Glasswort or Saltwort while you research it more or find a local expert, maybe someone on PN!
Yeah, I noticed it was out of range, but thought it might be a place to start. I've found a western U.S. variety that looks more like it. I'll do a suggestion for that one. By the way, I found it by putting "purple worm succulent plant" in Google. Ha-ha!
BTW, Suzanne,you may do an Id suggestion if you wish,
suzanne,looks like it is. It is supposed to be found in Australia and New Zealand. Must be introduced here. Look how pretty it looks under a macro lens. http://www.zardec.net.au/keith/macro.htm
thank you Suzanne, Will look it up .
How about Beaded glasswort, Sarcocornia quinqueflora?
Lovely!! Jemma, Succulents are one of my favorite plants, I do not know what that one is and is one I did not have when in California, hope you get an ID.
Dan, i uploaded more pictures. This was sprawling ground cover in the swamp/marsh/wetlands of the Martinez Marina.
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 29, 2013

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