Black-seeded Samphire

Other Common Names:

Black-seeded Glasswort, Beadbush

Status:

Native to all mainland states of Australia.

A dense succulent shrub with numerous woody stems and short segmented leafless, branchlets made up of small segments, 1-3 mm long and looking like a row of beads. Can grow up to 1 m tall but is often quite a low-growing plant. Flowers and fruiting bodies are 5 cm succulent spikes at the ends of the branchlets. Flowers in spring to early summer.

Habitat::

Grows on clay loams to heavy clays. Found in coastal areas, drainage lines and around salt lakes. It is sometimes found as short red plants in very saline areas.

Comments:

The species of Tecticornia are difficult to separate, particularly without seed. Black-seeded Samphire is the most common species in Victoria but of the nine that occur, the other most common species are T. halocnemoides (Grey Glasswort), T. indica (Brown-head Glasswort) and T. pruinosa (Bluish Glasswort).