Scientific Name: Salicornia blackiana

Common Name: thickhead glasswort

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Amaranthaceae

Form Description: Undershrub with horizontal, rooting stems and numerous, erect, segmented and fleshy branches which have a blue-green waxy coating.

Height (m): 0.08 – 0.2

Flowers: Flowers do not have petals, but the white styles and stigmas are visible. Flowers are borne in fleshy spikes throughout most of the year.

Fruit: Fruiting perianth spongy. Seed is egg-shaped and somewhat flattened.

Municipality
Central CoastClarenceDerwent ValleyGlamorgan-Spring BayKing Island
Plant Communities
Saltmarsh
Habitat Notes

Grows in saltmarshes with Salicornia quinqueflora, but less abundant, and usually on higher ground.

General Notes

Important food plant for migratory birds. The Tasmanian Sarcocornia species are often parasitised by gall-gnats, which cause segments or short branches to turn bright red.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
SeedCuttingsDivision

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Method

Soaking Soak seed in water for 8-12 hours, changing the water 2-3 times.

Seed Treatment Notes

Soaking seed in water for 8-12 hours, changing water 2-3 times may improve results.

Cutting & Division Information

Growing by division is most reliable but often establishment is slow. Cuttings are slow and not always successful. Cuttings need regular watering, and advanced plants can be watered with diluted seawater.