''Sarcocornia'' is a formerly recognized genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

s in the amaranth family,

Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus '' Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making i ...

. Species are known commonly as samphires, glassworts, or saltworts.

Molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies have shown that when separated from ''

Salicornia ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'', the genus is

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

, since ''Salicornia'' is embedded within it, and ''Sarcocornia'' has now been merged into a more broadly

circumscribed In geometry, the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of a polygon is a circle that passes through all the vertices of the polygon. The center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius. Not every po ...

''Salicornia''. When separated from ''Salicornia'', the genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, and is most diverse in the Cape Floristic Region of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

Description

Species formerly placed in ''Sarcocornia'' are

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbs,

subshrub A subshrub ( Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their ...

s or shrubs. They are taking an erect or prostrate, creeping form. The new stems are fleshy and divided into joint-like segments. Older stems are woody and not segmented. The oppositely arranged leaves are borne on fleshy, knobby petioles, their base decurrent and connate (thus forming the segments), the blades forming small, triangular tips with narrow scarious margin. Sarcocorniapacifica

The terminal or lateral

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

s are spike-like, made up of joint-like segments with tiny paired

cymes An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

emerging from the joints. Each cyme consists of three (rarely five) flowers completely embedded between the bract and immersed in the fleshy tissue of the axis. The flowers of a cyme are arranged in a transverse row, the central flower separating the lateral flowers, with tissue of the axis between them. The hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers are more or less radially symmetric, with a

perianth The perianth (perigonium, perigon or perigone in monocots) is the non-reproductive part of the flower, and structure that forms an envelope surrounding the sexual organs, consisting of the calyx (sepals) and the corolla (petals) or tepals when ca ...

of three or four fleshy

tepal A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very ...

s connate nearly to the apex, one or two

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s, and an ovary with two or three stigmas. The perianth is persistent in fruit. The fruit wall (pericarp) is membranous. The vertical seed is ellipsoid, with light brown, membranous, hairy seed coat, the hairs can be strongly curved, hooked, or conic, straight or slightly curved. The seed contains no perisperm (feeding tissue). The basic

chromosome number Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectiv ...

is x=9. The species are diploid (18 chromosomes), tetraploid (36), hexaploid (54), or octoploid (72).

Taxonomy

The genus ''Sarcocornia'' was first described in 1978 by A J Scott. It separated the perennial species from the closely related annual ''

'' senus stricto, additionally containing some species formerly belonging to the former genus ''Arthrocnemum''. The type species is '' Sarcocornia perennis''. ''Sarcocornia''/''Salicornia'' began to evolve during the middle

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...

from ancestors in

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelag ...

, developing four phylogenetic lineages: the first was the Eurasian ''Sarcocornia'' clade, further diversifying into the American ''Sarcocornia'' clade, then the ''Salicornia'' clade, and the South African/Australian ''Sarcocornia'' clade. When ''Salicornia'' is separated from ''Sarcocornia'' to comprise all the annual, more frost tolerant species, the genus ''Sarcocornia'' is

, since ''Salicornia'' evolved within ''Sarcocornia''. The prostrate, mat-forming growth seems to have evolved several times independently. It is probably advantageous in habitats with prolonged flooding, high tidal movement and frost. A

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study in 2017 confirmed the paraphyly of ''Sarcocornia'', and merged the genus into ''Salicornia''.

Selected former species

Accepted names in ''Salicornia'' are taken from

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants ...

. *''Sarcocornia alpini'' (Lag.) Rivas-Martınez = ''

Salicornia alpini ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia ambigua'' (Michx.) M.A.Alonso & M.B.Crespo = ''

Salicornia ambigua ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia andina'' (Phil.) Freitag, M.A.Alonso & M.B.Crespo = ''

Salicornia andina ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia blackiana'' (Ulbr.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia blackiana ''Salicornia blackiana'', synonym ''Sarcocornia blackiana'', commonly known as thick-head glasswort, is a species of succulent halophytic shrub. It is widespread in southern and western Australia, including Tasmania. Its preferred habitats ...

'' *''Sarcocornia capensis'' (Moss) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia capensis ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia carinata'' (Fuente, Rufo & Sánchez Mata) Fuente, Rufo & Sánchez Mata = ''

'' subsp. ''carinata'' *''Sarcocornia decumbens'' (Tölken) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia decumbens ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia decussata'' S.Steffen, Mucina & G.Kadereit = ''

Salicornia decussata ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia dunensis'' (Moss) S.Steffen, Mucina & G.Kadereit = ''

Salicornia dunensis ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia freitagii'' S. Steffen, Mucina & G.Kadereit = ''

Salicornia helmutii ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia fruticosa'' (L.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia fruticosa ''Salicornia fruticosa'', synonym ''Sarcocornia fruticosa'', is a species of glasswort in the family Amaranthaceae (pigweeds). It is native to southern Europe, north Africa, Western Asia and Yemen. It is a halophyte A halophyte is a salt-tol ...

'' *''Sarcocornia globosa'' P.G. Wilson = ''

Salicornia globosa ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia hispanica'' Fuente, Rufo & Sánchez-Mata = ''

Salicornia hispanica ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia lagascae'' Fuente, Rufo & Sánchez Mata = ''

Salicornia lagascae ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia littorea'' (Moss) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia littorea ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia magellanica'' (Phil.) M.A.Alonso & M.B.Crespo = ''

Salicornia magellanica ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia mossambicensis'' Brenan = ''

Salicornia mossambicensis ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia mossiana'' (Tölken) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia mossiana ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central ...

'' *''Sarcocornia natalensis'' (Bunge ex Ung.-Sternb.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia natalensis ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia neei'' (Lag.) M.A.Alonso & M.B.Crespo = ''

Salicornia neei ''Salicornia neei'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus '' Amaranthus''. It includes the former goose ...

'' *''Sarcocornia obclavata'' Yaprak = ''

Salicornia obclavata ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia pacifica'' (Standl.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia pacifica ''Salicornia pacifica'', also known as pickleweed, sea asparagus, Pacific swampfire, or glasswort, is a species of low-growing perennial succulent halophyte in the genus ''Salicornia'' found in the Pacific coast of North America and California. ...

'' *''Sarcocornia perennis'' (Miller) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia perennis ''Salicornia perennis'', synonym ''Sarcocornia perennis'', otherwise known as perennial glasswort, is a species of halophytic perennial plant within the family Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the a ...

'' *''Sarcocornia pillansii'' (Moss) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia pillansii ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia pruinosa'' Fuente, Rufo & Sánchez-Mata = ''

Salicornia pruinosa ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia ...

'' *''Sarcocornia pulvinata'' (R.E.Fr.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia pulvinata ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia quinqueflora'' (Bunge ex Ung.-Sternb.) A.J. Scott = ''

Salicornia quinqueflora ''Salicornia quinqueflora'', synonym ''Sarcocornia quinqueflora'', commonly known as beaded samphire, bead weed, beaded glasswort or glasswort, is a species of succulent halophytic coastal shrub. It occurs in wetter coastal areas of Australia a ...

'' *''Sarcocornia tegetaria'' S.Steffen, Mucina & G.Kadereit = ''

Salicornia tegetaria ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia terminalis'' (Tölken) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia terminalis ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia utahensis'' (Tidestr.) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia utahensis ''Salicornia utahensis'', synonym ''Sarcocornia utahensis'', is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name Utah swampfire. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it can be found in desert habitat, ...

'' *''Sarcocornia xerophila'' (Tölken) A.J.Scott = ''

Salicornia xerophila ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, Central Asia, ...

'' Sarcocornia fruticosa781.jpg, ''

'' (syn. ''Sarcocornia fruticosa'') Arthrocnemum perenne.jpg, ''

'' (syn. ''Sarcocornia perennis'') Sarcocornia neei.jpg, ''

'' (syn. ''Sarcocornia neei'') CSIRO ScienceImage 11694 Beaded glasswort Leschenault Inlet WA.jpg, ''

'' (syn. ''Sarcocornia quinqueflora'')

References

Ball, Peter W. (2004).
''Sarcocornia''.
in ''Flora of North America: North of Mexic
Volume 4: Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1
', Editorial Committee of the ''Flora of North America'' (Oxford University Press, 2004). .. ''Sarcocornia''.
PlantNET. National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney.

External links

* *
''Sarcocornia''.
Red List of South African Plants. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). {{Taxonbar, from=Q2712967 Historically recognized angiosperm genera Amaranthaceae Halophytes