Biological Flora of the British Isles: Sarcocornia perennis (Miller) A.J. Scott

Abstract

Summary1 This account reviews information on all aspects of the biology of Sarcocornia perennis that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles : distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation. Sarcocornia perennis is a spreading, jointed-stemmed, halophyte that differs from the closely related Salicornia in being a shrubby perennial and in aspects of inflorescence structure. In Britain, it is found mainly on the coasts of south-east England, on gravelly or sandy foreshores, and well-drained sediments of tidal salt marshes. 3 Sarcocornia perennis occurs relatively low in the tidal frame but only in well-drained situations, as seedling establishment and long-term survival are intolerant of highly reducing surface sediments. It has a role in the early stages of salt-marsh succession, sometimes as the primary colonist on sandy substrates. In southern Europe, its invasion may be facilitated by the raised clonal tussocks of Spartina maritima , a primary colonist; subsequently, S. perennis dominates the tussocks and supports their rapid radial and upward growth by trapping silt. Pollen flow from the high marsh species Sarcocornia fruticosa may allow invasion by hybrids between the two species. 4 Hybridization between the diploid S. perennis and octaploid S. fruticosa in southwest Spain has been confirmed by analysis of random amplified DNA (RAPDs). This has also clarified the relationship between the two subspecies present there (the widely distributed ssp. perennis and the more upright, rigid Iberian endemic ssp. alpini (Lag.) Castroviejo). 5 Sarcocornia perennis maintains low water potentials and a positive carbon balance under highly saline conditions. Salinity treatment had no effect on the efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm). Total germination was also unaffected by salinity up to 2%, although above this it was progressively inhibited; the reduction in germination at Correspondence: A.J. Davy (e-mail a.davy@uea.ac.uk) *Abbreviated references are used for many standard works: see Journal of Ecology (1975), 63, 335-344. Nomenclature of vascular plants follows Flora Europaea and, where different, Stace (1997).

NUTRITIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WILD AND CULTIVATED Sarcocornia neei GROWN IN CHILE

“…Due to the limited number of studies related to the nutritional and functional potential of Sarcocornia, it is often compared or associated with Salicornia. These two genera present similar morphological characteristics and mainly differ in the growth habit, e.g., perennial vs. annual for Sarcocornia and Salicornia, respectively (Davy et al, 2006). Important amounts of crude protein (21.5-24% DW), ascorbic acid (6 mg 100 g -1 FW) and β-carotene (15.96 mg 100 g -1 FW) comparable with the amounts present in leafy vegetables such as spinach (Proteggente et al, 2002) have been reported for Salicornia by Lu et al (2010).…”

Pollen production in halophytic species of the Chenopodiaceae in a Mediterranean marsh

“…In agreement with their relatively low pollen production, the Sarcocornia species grow in highly restricted habitats with extensive coverage and little diversity (Fernández-Illescas et al, 2010a). Sarcocornia perennis occupies the lower levels of the salt marshes, where it acts as a coloniser (Davy et al, 2006) and dominates the Pucinellio maritimae-Arthrocnemetum perennis (RivasMartínez et al, 1980) community. Sarcocornia fruticosa occupies a mid-position in communities of Cistancho phelipaeae-Arthrocnemetum fruticosi in high coverage and dominating together with Halimione portulacoides (Rivas-Martínez et al, 1980).…”

Three new species of Sarcocornia (Chenopodiaceae) from South Africa

“…A. J. Scott, a species well-known from Eurasia (e.g. Moss 1954;Tölken 1967;O'Callaghan 1992;Davy et al 2006). Despite its morphological and ecological similarity to the Eurasian S. perennis, detailed morphological investigations revealed differences, mainly in seed morphology.…”