Arthroceras subterminale
(Parish) Piirainen & G. Kadereit
Glasswort
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Summary
Source: WikipediaArthroceras subterminale is a species of flowering plant in the Amaranth family known by the common name Parish's glasswort. It is the only species in the genus Arthroceras. This coastal and inland California native plant is a shrub that is found southerly into northern Mexico, also in both coastal and inland areas, including salt marshes, alkali flats, and other habitats with saline soils. As a halophyte, capable of growing in substrates with high salt concentrations, this glasswort is a perennial herb or subshrub growing in low clumps up to a meter wide mature plants having woody bases branching into fleshy, jointed green stems. The leaves appear as fused rings around stem, the tip of each individual blade narrowing to a point. The inflorescence is a fleshy, sticklike spike of minute flowers, each flower just a pocket made up of the joined sepals; there are no petals.
Description
A small succulent shrub. It has many branches. The younger fleshy joints form a sheath. The flowers are in spikes that can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches.
Edible Uses
The leaves are eaten fresh, and the seeds are ground and consumed.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are ground and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a Mediterranean climate plant.
Where It Grows
Mexico, North America, USA,
Notes
There are 7 Arthrocnemum species which grow in salty marshes. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Synonyms
References (5)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994) (As Arthrocnemum subterminale)
- Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 42 (As Arthrocnemum subterminale)
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 92 (As Arthrocnemum subterminale)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Arthrocnemum subterminale)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
