Sarcocornia perennis
Sarcocornia utahensis
chickenclaws, Pacific swampfire, pickleweed, woody glasswort, woody saltwort
Utah swampfire
1.1–1.3 mm, pubescent;
hairs strongly curved or hooked, most exceeding 1 mm, slender.
1.3–1.5 mm, smooth except for straight conic papillae on edge;
papillae 0.6–0.9 mm.
stems prostrate to procumbent, creeping and usually rooting, often forming mats to 1 m diam.;
with numerous, erect stems, simple or sparingly branched, 10–20(–30) cm, larger fleshy segments 10–25 × 2–3 mm.
stems procumbent to erect, rhizomatous (rhizomes often long creeping), 10–30 cm;
young branches with fleshy segments 5–20 × 2–3 mm.
spikes: larger with 7–14 fertile segments, 10–25 mm.
spikes: larger ones with 3–20 fertile segments, 10–40 mm.
segments: larger ones 1.6–3.1 × 2.9–4.4 mm;
central flowers 1.3–2.8 × 1.3–2.7 mm;
anthers 0.8–1 mm.
segments: larger 2.5–4 × 2.5–4 mm;
central flowers 1.5–2.7 × 2.2–3.5 mm;
anthers 0.9–1.8 mm.
= 18.
Sarcocornia perennis
Sarcocornia utahensis
Sarcocornia perennis has also been reported from the coasts of the northeastern United States, but most of these plants appear to be depauperate individuals of S. pacifica. However it is possible that some plants from New England are S. perennis, and further study is needed to determine the precise distinction between S. perennis and S. pacifica.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Sarcocornia utahensis has also been reported from Arizona and eastern California. No specimens have been seen from these states but it might be expected to occur in both. A vegetative specimen seen from se Oregon is probably S. utahensis.
P. C. Standley (1916) reported the European species Sarcocornia fruticosa (Linnaeus) A. J. Scott [as Salicornia fruticosa Linnaeus] from Louisiana, but no specimens of this species have been seen from North America. The seeds of S. fruticosa are most similar to those of S. utahensis, so it seems possible that Standley mistook a Louisiana collection of S. utahensis for S. fruticosa. Reports of Salicornia virginica and S. perennis from the coast of Texas are mostly referable to Sarcocornia utahensis, so it is probable that S. utahensis occurs more widely on the Gulf of Mexico.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
OR
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
