Salicornia pusilla, J. Woods

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 102

4. S. pusilla J. Woods , Bot. Gaz. (London) 3: 30 (1851).

Plants up to 25 cm, erect or procumbent, usually much-branched, yellowish-green becoming brownish- or pinkish-yellow. Terminal spike up to 6(-15)m m, disarticulating in fruit; fertile segments 2-4(-12), with convex sides. Cymes 1-flowered. Flowers almost orbicular; stamens usually one. 2n= 18. Uppermost parts o fsalt- marshes and shores o f estuaries. • C. & S. Britain, S. Ireland, N.W. France; very probably elsewhere in W. Europe. Br G a Hb. Intermediates, presumably of hybrid origin, between this sp. and 2 occur sometimes when the two species grow together. (5-7). S. procumbens group. Plants usually not pink or purple; uppermost primary branches curving upwards; terminal spike with (4-)6-30 fertile segments; fertile segments usually more or less cylindrical, the lateral flowers of each cyme almost as large as the central flower; flowers chasmogamous; stamens 1-2; anthers 0-6-1 mm, dehiscing after exsertion; seeds 1-4-2-2 mm. 5. procumbens Sm. in Sowerby, Engl. Bot. t. 2475 (1813) must be identical with either 6 or 7 but information at present available does not permit of a decision.

1 Lower fertile segments of the terminal spike with a minimum diameter 2-3-5 mm; plant usually becoming light brownish-

or orange-purple 5. nitens 1 Lower fertile segments of the terminal spike with a minimum diameter usually exceeding 3-5 mm; plant usually without purple coloration, rarely pale red or purple 2 Terminal spikes with 6-15(-22) fertile segments, ± cylindrical;

spikes of the primary lateral branches cylindrical; plant dull green to yellowish-green, often becoming bright yellow in fruit 6. fragilis 2 Terminal spikes with 12-30 fertile segments, distinctly tapering towards the apex; spike of the primary lateral branches tapering; plant dark, dull green becoming paler or dull yellow in fruit 7. dolichostachya