Pickleweed (genus Salicornia), also known as glasswort, picklegrass and marsh samphire, is a group of salt-tolerant succulent plants native to salt marshes and alkaline soils throughout coastal California. This gray-green plant is a low-growing perennial with barrel shaped stems. The older portions of the stems turn red, especially in late summer and fall.
Pickleweed has special adaptations that allow it to use seawater as a primary source of water. Saltwater is taken up through the roots and stored as concentrated brine in special chambers called vacuoles. When the vacuoles become full, the segment becomes red and drops off the plant.
Pickleweed is a key part of the wetland habitat type, providing essential cover and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife, including the endangered salt-marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris). Wetlands are an incredibly important part of the California landscape, providing a barrier against flooding caused by rising sea levels. Wetland conservation projects often include planting pickleweed for habitat restoration and tidal circulation improvement.
Where to find: Ravenswood Open Space Preserve and Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area