CHENOPODIACEAE

GOOSEFOOT FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specified

Annual to tree, sometimes monoecious or dioecious, glandular or with bead-like hairs that collapse with age, becoming scaly or powdery
Stem often fleshy
Leaves generally alternate, entire to lobed; veins generally pinnate
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, catkin-like, or spheric cluster, or flower 1; bracts 0–few
Flower: sepals 1–5, often 0 in pistillate flowers, free or fused, generally persistent in fruit; petals 0; stamens 0–5; ovary generally superior, chamber 1, ovule 1, styles 1–3
Fruit: generally utricle
Seed 1, vertical (fruit compressed side-to-side) or horizontal (fruit compressed top-to-bottom)
Genera in family: 100 genera, 1300 species: worldwide, especially deserts, saline or alkaline soils; some cultivated for food (Beta , beets, chard; Chenopodium , quinoa)
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated in expanded Amaranthaceae

SALICORNIA

PICKLEWEED

Annual to subshrub, glabrous
Stem generally many-branched, jointed; internodes green to glaucous, fleshy
Leaves opposite, sessile, ± decurrent; leaf pairs generally fused at base, clasping or together ring-like
Inflorescence: spike, terminal, cylindric, dense; bracts scale-like; flowers generally 3 per axil, sessile to sunken in axis
Flower: calyx bladder-like, slitted, ± deciduous in fruit; stamens generally 2; stigmas 2–3
Fruit: wall free from seed
Seed vertical
Species in genus: ± 13 species: ± worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: salt horn)
Needs further study.

Native

S. virginica L.

Perennial or subshrub 20–70 cm
Stem: axis generally creeping, rooting at nodes; branches decumbent to erect; internodes 7–30 mm, 2.5–7 mm wide
Inflorescence 15–60 mm, 3–4 mm wide; lower bracts generally obtuse to rounded; flowers ± at same level
Seed 0.5–1 mm, puberulent
Ecology: Salt marshes, alkaline flats
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, South Coast, Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Baja California, e US, Caribbean, Mediterranean
Horticultural information: STBL.