Salicornia virginicus. (virginia pickleweed, sea pickle, poor man's asparagus, sea asparagus, chicken-claws, common glasswort, marsh samphire, yan jiao cao) Synonyms: Salicornia europaea var. herbacea L., Salicornia herbacea (L.) L., Salicornia depressa, Salicornia europea. Family - Chenopodiaceae

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y

1

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y

1

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

-2

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n

0

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n

0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n

0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

y

2

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y

1

4.05

Toxic to animals

n

0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

n

0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

n

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

n

0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y

1

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y

1

5.01

Aquatic

n

0

5.02

Grass

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y

1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

2

0

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

n

-1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

n

-1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y

1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

n

-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

n

-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

n

-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y

1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

Total score:

4

Notes

Reference

1.01

No evidence

1.02

"… in Hawaii formerly sparingly naturalized on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals. … The population was destroyed when the Island was inundated during a storm in 1969." [Besides this no evidence of naturaization].

Wagner, W. L. Herbst, D. L. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

"Native to North America, the West Indies, Europe and northern Africa."

Wagner, W. L. Herbst, D. L. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu.

2.02

Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Baja California, e US, Caribbean, Mediterranean

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3196,3201

2.03

(1)USDA zones 6 to 10. (2)Habitat: Coastal salt marsh and nearby alkaline flats. (3)Salt marshes and beaches

(1)http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/1169.htm (2)http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/virginiapickleweed.html (3)http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Salicornia+virginica

2.04

"Native to North America, the West Indies, Europe and northern Africa."

Wagner, W. L. Herbst, D. L. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu.

2.05

(1)"...this genus is a major component of salt marshes worldwide" (2)Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Baja California, e US, Caribbean, Mediterranean

(1)http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/1169.htm (2)http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3196,3201

3.01

"… in Hawaii formerly sparingly naturalized on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals. … The population was destroyed when the Island was inundated during a storm in 1969." [Besides this no evidence of naturaization].

Wagner, W. L. Herbst, D. L. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Salicornia quinqueflora is listed as a common weed in Australia.

Homs et al 1997. An Electronic Atlas of Weeds. CD-ROM database.

4.01

No evidence of such traits.

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3196,3201

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Probabl yes - a salt marsh plant.

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/salvir.html

4.05

Probaby not - no evidence. Also the rew leaves are edible.

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Salicornia+virginica

4.06

The following fungi species were listed to be associated with S. virginica: Camarosporium palliatum: North Carolina - 3075
Decorospora gaudefroyi: Canada, British Columbia - 37286
Puccinia aristidae: California - 25284
Uromyces peckianus: California - 25284 ; Washington - 44
[No evidence that any of the above are economically important pests].

4.07

Probably not - leaves edible.

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Salicornia+virginica

4.08

Probably not - a salt march plant.

4.09

"It can tolerate shade."

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Salicornia+virginica

4.1

"The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil."

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Salicornia+virginica

4.11

No evidence

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/salvir.html

4.12

(10"Perennial herbs, main stem hard or becoming woody, prostrate, rooting at the nodes and forming mats …" (2)" ...Salicornia virginica is a perennial that forms dense stands from Baja California to Washington State (Boyer et al. 2001). Salicornia virginica also has the widest distribution in coastal salt marshes, being found in all marsh elevations. It is most abundant, however, in the lower and middle marsh elevations (Zedler 1982). ..."

(1)Wagner, W. L. Herbst, D. L. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu. (2) Ralph, Yvette; Manley, Steven L. Spatial and temporal variation in tissue halide levels of Salicornia virginica Wetlands 26 (1) : 97-106 MAR 2006

5.01

Salt marsh species. [A wetland speceis. Can also grow terestrially - hence 'no'].

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/salvir.html

5.02

5.03

No evidence

5.04

6.01

6.02

Abundant in salt marsh in San Francisco Bay - producing seeds.

American Journal of Botany 71 (3) : 348-355 1984

6.03

Dont know - No evidence regarding hybridization in S. virginicus. "Abstract: The Salicornieae is represented in southern Africa by three genera: Sarcocornia A.J. Scott (nine species), Salicornia L. (four species) and Halosarcia P.G. Wilson (one species). Approximately 500 specimens of this tribe from the four major herbaria in South Africa (STE, BOL, NBG, PRE), as well as living populations, were examined. The peculiar anatomy, morphology, habitat and ecological features are discussed. Keys based on morphological and habitat characters are presented to facilitate identification. Many of the specimens were previously incorrectly identified and a relatively high proportion were hybrids."

South African Journal of Botany 58 (6) : 430-439 1992

6.04

No evidence regarding compatability.

6.05

No evidence regarding pollination.

6.06

"Stem: axis generally creeping, rooting at nodes …"

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3196,3201

6.07

Perennial succulent marsh plant - prostrate, ascending 1 - 3 dm long - probably begins to reproduce in 2 years.

7.01

No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment - no evidence that it is grown in heavily trafficked areas.

7.02

"In summer it is harvested for its tender green tips that are used fresh in salads, cooked like green beans or pickled like gherkins. It belongs to the same plant family as beets, spinach, and Swiss chard. "

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/fg/pickleweed/pickleweed.html

7.03

Probably not - a salt marsh plant.

7.04

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules hava adaptations for wind dispersal.

7.05

Probably yes - a salt marsh plant.

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/salvir.html

7.06

Probably not - other than roosting no evidence that the migratory water birds feed on the seeds. "The pickleweed flats provide nesting areas for some birds and roosting areas for others. Migratory birds that feed in the mud flats, move to the salt marsh at high tide. If you come to watch pickleweed at the high high tide when the water gently laps the roots, you will see, also, if you are ever so still, the shorebirds resting amongst its tangled thickets. "

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/fg/pickleweed/pickleweed.html

7.07

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

No evidence of ingestion by birds or mammals.

8.01

Probably yes - seeds relatively small - 0.5 to 1 mm in length. [But no evidence on seed output].

American Journal of Botany 71 (3) : 348-355 1984

8.02

"Our salt marsh was dominated by seven perennials and tow annuals and in contrast to Miltons's salt marsh study, the seed bank corresponded well. Salicornia virginica, the principal marsh dominant and a perennial constitueted over 92% of the seed bank in both sampling periods. ... Most of the diversity of the seed occurred along the bay front and along the channels, This distribution primarily reflected tidal movement but also local seed source. Overall diversity was low as were the densities of seeds although both increased drom October to February samples. Thre seems to be no strong seleciton for a persistent seed bank but instead high germination in early spring corresponding to release from high soil salinities."

HOPKINS D R; PARKER V T A STUDY OF THE SEED BANK OF A SALT MARSH IN NORTHERN SAN-FRANCISCO BAY USA American Journal of Botany 71 (3) : 348-355 1984

8.03

No evidence that the specis is being controlled for.

8.04

Probably yes - creeping stems rooting at nodes.

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3196,3201

8.05

Don’t know.