pickle-weed
Salicornia subterminalis

Family: Chenopodiaceae.

Type: Perennial herbaceous plant.

Leaves: Greatly reduced in size.

Twig: Stems are succulent and segmented, like a cactus; high salt can produce a similar effect to low water, where even though rainfall and fog are present, the salt and the coarsely textured soils makes water difficult to obtain. Red portions of the pickleweed are red due to anthocyanins, indicating a dry environment that limits photosynthesis. Green pigments have been withdrawn to protect from sun damage, as seen before in other plants. In the winter, when water is more available, the whole plant will be green; it changes its color seasonally depending upon water availability and insolation.

Fruit & Flower: Not discussed.

Miscellaneous:Pickeweed is highly salt-tolerant and can live in salt marshes. It hyperaccumulates salt it its stem tissues. Pickleweed accumulates salt in the tips of its branches and then drops them; this is the reason for the shriveled tips of some branches.