common glasswort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Glasswort
• chicken-claws
• marsh samphire
• glasswort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Salicornia salsola
• Salicornia biennis
• Salicornia ramosissima var. gracilis
• Salicornia herbacea var. brachystachya
• Salicornia annua
• Salicornia brachystachya var. gracilis
• Salicornia peregrina
• Salicornia appressa
• Salicornia europaea subsp. brachystachya
• Salicornia pusilla
• Salicornia europaea subsp. herbacea
• Salicornia megastachya
• Salicornia herbacea proles annua
• Salicornia europaea var. pachystachya
• Salicornia herbacea var. pachystachya
• Salicornia herbacea var. annua
• Salicornia herbacea var. biennis
• Salicornia herbacea var. radicans
• Salicornia ramosissima
• Salicornia brachystachya
• Salicornia europaea proles annua
• Salicornia herbacea
• Salicornia herbacea var. ramosissima
• Salicornia herbacea var. pusilla
• Salicornia europaea var. herbacea
• Salicornia intermedia
• Salicornia stricta
• Salicornia smithiana
• Salicornia gracillima

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is situated in the family Amaranthaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Salicornia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. In the southern reaches of this area, it can be found growing along the coasts of Denmark. Its presence extends further north into the territories of Norway and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the maritime environments of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the coastal landscapes of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salicornia europaea is defined by its specialized adaptation to extreme saline environments, specifically thriving in saline places and sea-adjacent ecosystems. As a halophyte, it occupies niche habitats such as salt marshes, mudflats, and coastal lagoons where salt concentrations would be lethal to most other vegetation. This species is highly resilient to periodic tidal inundation and high soil salinity, utilizing specialized physiological mechanisms to manage osmotic stress. Its presence is often indicative of transitional zones between terrestrial and marine environments, where it plays a crucial role in stabilizing coastal sediments and contributing to the organic matter cycling within salt-tolerant plant communities.

Habitat :

saline places, sea

Life history

The life history of Salicornia europaea is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it avoids the stresses of its often harsh, saline environments by spending the non-growing season in the form of resistant seeds rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures. This life form strategy allows the plant to colonize shifting coastal or salt marsh habitats effectively, relying on rapid seasonal growth to reach maturity before the onset of unfavorable conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Salicornia europaea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or liana-like tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It typically occupies terrestrial habitats, though it can exist in semiaquatic environments. The plant exhibits a relatively small stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.1525 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.1525 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salicornia europaea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through its root system and photosynthetic tissues rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, the plant exhibits specialized leaf structures with a mean leaf size of 1.065 cm², contributing to its overall structural adaptations. Furthermore, its leaf architecture is defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 33.7 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, providing insight into its resource allocation and photosynthetic capacity within its specific ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

1.065 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

33.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salicornia europaea is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on wind to facilitate fertilization. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. This species does not practice self-fertilization, as the trait is noted as absent. The reproductive structures produce dry fruits classified as achenes, which are indehiscent in nature. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.0004668 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00023 g to a maximum of 0.00095 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is highly consistent, with a measured mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.81 mm³. For the dissemination of its progeny, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Seed mass max:

0.00095 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0004668 g

Seed mass min:

0.00023 g

Seed volume max:

0.81 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Salicornia europaea has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHROMONE, FLAVANONE, Icariside B2, Longifloroside B, Quercetin 3-glucoside.

CHROMONE

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

FLAVANONE

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Icariside B2

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Longifloroside B

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Quercetin 3-glucoside

1. RSC advances

Syringaresinol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

isorhamnetin-3-glucoside

1. RSC advances

Conditions

Salicornia europaea has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Preparations

Salicornia europaea has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include culinary vegetable, salad, traditional medicinal resource.

Culinary vegetable

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Salad

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Traditional medicinal resource

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry