SARCOCORNIA PERENNIS

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Names:- Perennial glasswort

Synonyms:- Salicornia perennis.

Meaning:- Sarcocornia (L) Fleshy-horned (reference to the fleshy leaves).

Perennis (L) Continuing, perennial, throughout the year.

General description:- Shrub or perennial herb.

Stem:-

a) creeping rooting at the nodes and forming mats.

b) short, erect, sterile or flowering stems 100-500 x 3-5 mm.

c) dull to shiny green, often yellow or reddish-brown with age.

Leaves:-

a) 1-2 mm.

b) with scarious margins.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) 1-6 cm.

b) tapering in flower, cylindrical in fruit.

2) Perianth segments:

a) truncate, c. 2 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Seed:

a) brown, with minute curved or uncinate hairs

Key features:-

1) Main stems often dull to shiny green turning yellow or reddish-brown, prostrate,

rooting at the nodes.

2) Seeds with minute curved or uncinate hairs.

Habitat:- Wet sand, salines near the coast, inundated depressions and flats, river

mouths, near harbours, at sea level.

Distribution:- Widespread along Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal shores. Rare

with limited distribution around the coastal areas of Crete.

Flowering time:- Late July-Aug

Photos by:- A N Other