Glassworts, Saltworts & Allies

Amaranth Family - Amaranthaceae

Glaucous Glasswort Arthrocaulon macrostachyum

(Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Salicornia macrostachya) Native to saltmarsh habitats from the Canary Islands, through the Mediterranean Region to the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and tropical Africa. Information on how to tell this species from Shrubby Glasswort is incomplete and poorly explained in most literatures. According to Flora Europaea, Glaucous Glasswort should have flowers of each cyme falling to leave an undivided hollow in the stem segment; seeds black; testa hard, tuberculate. Stems glaucous, becoming yellowish or reddish.


Habit	Habit	Habit	Stems

Flowers	Flowers	Flowers	Seedheads

Perennial Glasswort Salicornia perennis

(Arthrocnemum perenne, Sarcocornia perennis) Native to saltmarsh habitats throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast of Europe as well as southern Africa and both North and South America. This species forms solid mats of green stems (often becoming reddish or orange-brown), arising from creeping, woody bases. Seeds covered with curved or hooked hairs.


Habit	Habit	Non-flowering stem	Stem close-up

Shrubby Glasswort Salicornia fruticosa

(Arthrocnemum fruticosum, Sarcocornia fruticosa) Native to saltmarsh habitats from the Canary Islands, through the Mediterranean Region to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Information on how to tell this species from Glaucous Glasswort is incomplete and poorly explained in most literatures. According to Flora Europaea, Shrubby Glasswort (along with Perennial Glasswort) should have flowers of each cyme falling to leave a tripartite hollow in the stem segment; seeds greenish-brown to greyish; testa thin, membranous, covered with short conical or curved hairs. Shrubby Glasswort is further told from Perennial Glasswort by its lack of creeping, subterranean stems, glaucous colour and seeds covered with more or less conical hairs.


Habit	Habit	Stems	Stems

Stems	Stems	Flowers	Flowers

Southern Glasswort Salicornia perennans

Native to saltmarsh habitats throughout much of warm-temperate Eurasia and North Africa.


Habit	Stems	Stems

Mediterranean Sea-blite Suaeda splendens

Native to coastal habitats of the Mediterranean region. Seed coat more or less smooth. Leaves with a pointed tip that falls off when the leaves are young.


Habit	Habit	Stem and leaves	Seed capsules

Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima

A widespread species, native to coastal habitats throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, eastern North America and parts of southern Asia. Flowers July to September. The petalless flowers are carried in small whorls at the bases of the linear, blunt-tipped, succulent leaves. Seed coat with a distinct fine pattern.


Habit	Habit	Habit	Flower

Leaf	Seed capsules

Spineless Saltwort Soda inermis

(Salsola soda) Native to salt-rich habitats throughout the Mediterranean Region and eastwards into Central Asia.


Habit	Flower	Stems	Stem and leaves

Leaves	Leaves	Seed capsules

Thorny Saltwort Noaea mucronata

Native to coastal habitats across North Africa and the Middle East to the Aegean region, Arabian Peninsula and east to Western Asia. A woody, spiny shrub with succulent leaves. Reddish, petal-like bracts develop after flowering and as the seeds develop.


Habit	Stem and leaves	Old stems

Young stems	Flower-like fruits	Flower-like fruits	Flower-like fruits

Other related species recorded on Lesvos

Amaranth Family - Amaranthaceae

Halocnemum strobilaceum

Caroxylon inerme

Flora of Lesvos An Identification Guide