Salicornia bigelovii Torrey   Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)   Native   Pickleweed     Bigelow's Glasswort

                               August Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Erect annual with succulent leafless jointed stems, simple stemmed or with strongly ascending branches mostly from base, 1-5 dm. high, the joints 1-2.5 cm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, mostly thicker than long; spikes 2-10 cm. long, 4-6 mm. thick; scales of spike triangular-ovate, sharply mucronate; middle fl. half higher than the lateral and reaching nearly to summit of joint; seed pubescent.

Habitat:  Coastal Salt Marsh; Los Angeles Co. to San Diego; Atlantic Coast.  July-Nov.

Name:  Greek, sal, salt, and cornu, a horn, being saline plants with hornlike branches.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 367).  Bigelovii is in honor of Jacob Bigelow, 1787-1879, Massachusetts.  (Bailey 40).

General:  Occasional in the study area, not nearly so common as S. subterminalis  (Arthrocnemum subterminale) and S. virginica.   Photographed on the salt marsh at the northerly end of Eastbluff and in the tidal zone going from North Star Beach to Mariner's Dr.; also at Shellmaker. One of the native halophytes found in the Upper Newport Bay. For a complete list of these halophytes see Spartina foliosa. (my comments).        Zedler has determined that more than 70% of the plants in this species will be between 4.6 and 5.8 ft. above MLLW. (Zedler 17).      Annual pickleweed, Salicornia bigelovii, is one of the few annuals found in California marshes, and its distribution is not extensive.  It often coexists with saltwort, Batis maritima, in areas of poor drainage and occurs on creek banks where another species provide only sparse canopies.  (Zedler 26).        Salicornia species have been known to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller).      For additional information on the genus Salicornia, see S. subterminalis and S. virginica.  (my comments).       About 10 species of saline places; worldwide.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 367).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 512; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 368;  Roberts 19.

Photo Ref:  April-May 85 # 6; Aug 5 85 # 4,5; Sept 97 #3A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  May 1985.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 225.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 6/7/04..

                                         September Photo