Sea asparagus
Sarcocornia pacifica
Range: Common along the coast in BC; N to SE AK and S to CA and MX, also along the Atlantic and Gulf of MX coasts
Description: Fleshy, matted, perennial herb from a branching rhizome; stems prostrate, jointed, freely branched, up to 1 m long. Leaves are essentially absent as they are reduced tiny, opposite scales. Flowers sunken in depressions of the joints just above the axils and opposite fused bracts, the joints of the spike mostly 0.5-2.5 mm long and about as thick as the spikes; flowers in groups of 3.
Ecology: Wet salt marshes and beaches, generally absent in areas with strong wave action or surf.
Notes: Also known as American glasswort.
Sources:- Eflora
- Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon. 1994. Plants of coastal British Columbia: including Washington, Oregon & Alaska. Lone Pine Publishing. Vancouver. 528 p.
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