Salicornia L.

Chenopodiaceae, J. P. M. Brenan. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1954

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs, or sometimes small shrubs, glabrous, seemingly leafless, apparently built up of numerous, superposed, more or less tubular segments which are green to reddish and succulent, and ultimately shrivel; each segment at apex forming a little cup, usually with two short teeth, embracing the base of the next higher segment

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Fertile segments aggregated into spikes at ends of stem and lateral branches, latter often very short; spikes not disarticulating

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers minute, hermaphrodite, usually in threes, more or less connate, a pair of threes to each fertile segment, the threes on opposite sides and immersed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx normally flattened at apex into the shape of a kite (i.e. cuneate with ± rounded top), in whose middle is a 3–4-denticulate opening through which stamens and stigmas project

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens mostly 2, sometimes 1, per flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits with pericarp soft below, hardened in upper part

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Endosperm none or almost absent. Embryo filling the whole seed, shaped like a closed inverted U, the cotyledons large, and the radicle pointing downwards Seeds “vertical” (i.e. laterally compressed); testa thinly coriaceous, minutely hairy

Chenopodiaceae, J. P. M. Brenan. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1954

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs or thinly woody shrubs, erect or decumbent, glabrous, seemingly leafless, apparently built up of numerous, superposed, more or less tubular segments which are green and succulent and ultimately shrivel and fall away from the stem; each segment at apex forming a little cup, usually with two short teeth, embracing the base of the next higher segment

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Fertile segments aggregated into spikes at ends of stem and lateral branches, latter often very short; spikes ultimately disarticulating or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers minute, hermaphrodite or unisexual, normally in threes, free or nearly so, a pair of threes to each fertile segment, the threes on opposite sides and immersed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx irregularly toothed or lobed and obtusely pyramidal at apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 1, rarely 2, per flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits with membranous or horny pericarp

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Endosperm well-developed, lateral. Embryo along one side of the seed, slightly curved or shaped like a comma, the radicle pointing downwards Seeds “vertical” (i.e. laterally compressed); testa membranous or hard, glabrous, papillose or smooth

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, glabrous throughout

Morphology Stem

Stems woody when old; articulated, apparently leafless – made up of cylindrical fleshy segments formed from almost completely fused leaf pairs which cover each internode with the free tips forming a short cupule with opposite points at the tip

Morphology General

Leaf- and bark-tissue with sclerids

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, spike-like, with 3-flowered cymules sessile in axils of paired bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers of equal height, central flower bisexual, lateral flowers sometimes male, embedded in inflorescence axis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments completely fused, with truncate top, obscurely 3–4-lobed Perianth spongy in fruit; pericarp hyaline or woody

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen 1(–2), adaxial

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ovate to orbicular; testa crustaceous, granular or smooth; embryo straight or U-shaped, endosperm present.

Distribution

Two species, the other in Mediterranean North America.

Note

Most of the seven species included in this genus by Scott were subsequently removed to Halosarcia by Wilson.

Chenopodiaceae, J. P. M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs or shrubs, glabrous, seemingly leafless, apparently built up of numerous, superposed, more or less tubular segments succulent and usually green or greenish to reddish, ultimately shrivelling and falling away from the stem; each segment at apex forming a little cup, usually with two short teeth or lobes, embracing the base of the next higher segment.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes persistent or breaking up irregularly, not regularly disarticulating. Fertile segments aggregated into spikes at ends of stem and lateral branches.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers minute 3 (7–12) together in a cluster (cymule), a pair of clusters to each fertile segment, the clusters on opposite sides and flush with the segments.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth minutely and irregularly 3-lobed at apex, or more usually on a truncate flattened lateral shield.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens usually 1–2 per flower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Endosperm absent. Embryo folded so that radicle and cotyledonous point downwards. Seeds with soft membranous testa, minutely hairy or papillose.