Glasswort/Pickleweed/Salicornia
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Conservation Status: No Current Status Rank in Maine
Photo Credit: USFWS Northeast Region/Creative Commons
Facts: When the days get cooler in the fall, itβs fun to look out across the marsh and watch as the once lush green turns a fire red. To those who spend time along the marsh, that is one sign that autumn has arrived. One plant that is responsible for this change is glasswort, also known as pickleweed, sea pickle, salicornia and samphire. This salt tolerant succulent blooms from late August until November, creating that dark red color you may have come to associate with autumn on the refuge. Up close, this plant is small and has segmented stems much like an asparagus. The stems can hold a lot of water, which is helpful in the harsh, salty environment where it is found. In fact, these plants are so salt tolerant, they are often one of the first plants to colonize when there is a bare patch of salt marsh because another plant is not needed to adjust the environment for it to survive in the salty ecosystem. As a pioneer species, it is important in stabilizing the mud and delivering oxygen through its roots, which allows other species to follow.
Fun Facts: The sea pickle is a food source for many animals, including Canada Geese, but did you know that it was also used for cattle? When Cattle used to graze in the salt marsh, they would eat the sea pickle for the taste of salt. That isnβt all it was used for! There is also a long history of use by humans for both food and medicine. People even used to use it in the soap making process.
Sources: http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/plants/glass.htm, https://eflora.neocities.org/Salicornia%20Sp.html