''Tecticornia'' is a genus of

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', ''Sclerostegia'' and ''Tegicornia'') was incorporated into the genus.

Description

The species of ''Tecticornia'' grow as annual or

perennial herbs A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

s or small

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s. Stems are branched, glabrous and appear jointed. The opposite

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are fleshy, glabrous, connate in the lower part and cup-like or collar-like stem-clasping, with minute (0–3 mm long) two-lobed to triangular leaf blades. The spike-shaped inflorescences consist of opposite

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s, mostly connate and stem-clasping, free in some species. Their blades are cup- or collar-like or deltoid to semi-circular scales. In the axil of each bract, there are three to five (rarely one or seven) flowers, free or sometimes fused to each other, to the bract, and to the inflorescence axis. The flowers are hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual. They consist of a 2-3-lobed perianth of connate tepals, one

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

, and an ovary with two stigmas. In fruit, the perianth remains membranous or becomes crustaceous, spongy, or horny. The fruit wall (pericarp) may be membranous, fleshy, crustaceous, or woody. The seed is disc-shaped or wedge-shaped, its seed coat with smooth or reticulate, tuberculate or longitudinally ribbed surface. The seed contains the curved embryo and copious perisperm (feeding tissue).

Distribution

All species of ''Tecticornia'' are distributed in

. Only one species, '' Tecticornia indica'' (Syn. ''Halosarcia indica'', ''Arthrocnenum indicum'') has a wider range outside this continent along the tropical coasts of the Indian Ocean to eastern and western tropical Africa.

Systematics

The first publication of ''Tecticornia'' was made in 1880 by Joseph Dalton Hooker. The type species of this genus is ''Tecticornia cinerea'' (F. Muell.) Baill, which is a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

of '' Tecticornia australasica''. ''Tecticornia'' used to be a small genus with just three species, until in 2007, the genera ''Halosarcia'', ''Pachycornia'', ''Sclerostegia'' and ''Tegicornia'' were included. Phylogenetical research of the subfamily Salicornioideae revealed that the ''Tecticornia/Halosarcia/Pachycornia/Sclerostegia/Tegicornia'' lineage is a sister group of '' Sarcocornia/ Salicornia''. In 2016, ''Tecticornia'' comprises about 44 species, eleven species were described recently. (distributions as given by ''Australian Plant Census'' (2008). *'' Tecticornia annelida'' K.A.Sheph. & M. Lyons - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia arborea ''Tecticornia arborea'', the bulli bulli, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, native to Western Australia. A short-lived perennial with a pyramidal growth form reaching tall, it is usually found growing in freshwater cla ...

'' Paul G.Wilson (Bulli Bulli) - in Western Australia. *'' Tecticornia arbuscula'' (R.Br.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, (Shrubby Glasswort) - widely distributed in Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania). *''

Tecticornia auriculata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *'' Tecticornia australasica'' (Moq.) Paul G.Wilson - in Northern Territory, Queensland. *''

Tecticornia bibenda ''Tecticornia bibenda'' is a species of plant in the subfamily Salicornioideae of the family Amaranthaceae from Western Australia. Its segmented stem gives it an appearance similar to the Michelin Man Bibendum (), commonly referred to in Eng ...

'' K.A.Sheph. & S.J.van Leeuwen - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia bulbosa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & PaulG.Wilson, (Large-articled Samphire) - Inland growing plant found in Western Australia and listed as being

vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

to extinction. *''Tecticornia calyptrata'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - a divaricately branched shrub ranging to 1 metre in height. Found across Western Australia in both sandy and clay soils,

salt lake A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts (typically sodium chloride) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per litre). ...

s, and

saline Saline may refer to: * Saline (medicine), a liquid with salt content to match the human body * Saline water, non-medicinal salt water * Saline, a historical term (especially US) for a salt works or saltern Places * Saline, Calvados, a commune in ...

claypans. *''

Tecticornia chartacea ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia cupuliformis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in South Australia, Queensland *''

Tecticornia cymbiformis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia disarticulata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania. *''

Tecticornia doleiformis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia entrichoma ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia fimbriata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia flabelliformis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, (Bead Samphire or Bead Glasswort) - a woody, perennial, salt-tolerant plant growing up to 20 centimetres high in saltmarshes associated with salt lakes and saline flats and usually in monospecific patches. It is a deciduous shrub with fleshy branches, flowering and fruiting from January to May. ''T. flabelliformis'' is found in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia with most of the population in South Australia. It is nationally listed as being vulnerable to extinction, with state by state listings as ''vulnerable'' in South Australia, ''threatened'' in Victoria and ''poorly known'' in Western Australia. (Eyelash Samphire) *''

Tecticornia fontinalis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in South Australia. * ''

Tecticornia globulifera ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *'' Tecticornia halocnemoides'' (Nees) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, (Shrubby Samphire or Grey Glasswort) - widely distributed in Australia (Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria). * ''

Tecticornia indefessa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *'' Tecticornia indica'' (Willd.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - has several subspecies. Widely distributed in Australia (WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic) and along tropical coasts of Indian Ocean from Southeast asia to South Asia,

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

, Madagascar, southeastern Africa, and Atlantic coast of Senegal. *''

Tecticornia laevigata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia lepidosperma ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, South Australia. *''

Tecticornia leptoclada ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia loriae ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent plant, succulent, halophyte, salt tolerant plants largely endemic (ecology), endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with thre ...

'' K.A.Sheph. & M. Lyons - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia lylei ''Tecticornia lylei'', commonly known as wiry glasswort, is a small shrub with in the family Chenopodiaceae. It occurs in saline clay soils on the beds of and around the perimeter of salt lakes. The erect shrub can grow up to 1 m in height and ...

'' (Ewart & Jean White) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales?, Victoria *''

Tecticornia medullosa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales. *''

Tecticornia medusa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia mellaria ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia moniliformis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Victoria. *''

Tecticornia nitida ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in South Australia, Victoria *''

Tecticornia papillata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia peltata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent plant, succulent, halophyte, salt tolerant plants largely endemic (ecology), endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with thre ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia. *'' Tecticornia pergranulata'' (J.M.Black) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, (Samphire, Blackseed Glasswort or Blackseed Samphire) - found inland across much of Australia and, less often, in coastal saline areas. *''

Tecticornia pluriflora ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G. Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in South Australia, New South Wales *''

Tecticornia pruinosa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paulsen) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria. *''

Tecticornia pterygosperma ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (J.M.Black) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria *''

Tecticornia sparagosa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' K.A.Sheph. & M. Lyons - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia syncarpa ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria. *''

Tecticornia tenuis ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Benth.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria. *''

Tecticornia triandra ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (F.Muell.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria. *''

Tecticornia undulata ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia. *''

Tecticornia uniflora ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', '' ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, (Mat Samphire) -

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

, with only one flower at each bract, - in Western Australia. *''

Tecticornia verrucosa ''Tecticornia verrrucosa'' is a species of plant that is succulent and halophyte (salt tolerant). This plant was a member of the Chenopodiaceae, which are now included in family Amaranthaceae. ''T. verrucosa'' was first described in 1972 by ...

'' Paul G.Wilson - in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia.

Uses

Young twigs of '' Tecticornia indica'' can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In Madagascar, they are pickled in vinegar and used as a spice.

References

APC - Australian Plant Census (2008)
''Tecticornia''
CHAH. Joseph Dalton Hooker (1880). "Genera Plantarum ad exemplaria imprimis in herbariis Kewensibus", 3(1), p. 65
first description of Tecticornia
/ref> . ''Halosarcia indica'' at PROTA4U

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2710245 Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae genera Caryophyllales of Australia Halophytes