Salicornia bigelovii
Bigelow's pickleweed
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Salicornia bigelovii (Bigelow's pickleweed) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by internode width > length and sharp-mucronate tips.
Bigelow's pickleweed is a California native annual found in coastal salt marshes of the central and southern California coast, including Morro Bay and surrounding counties, at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from July to November, this succulent plant produces inconspicuous flowers in dense, articulated stems with sharp-tipped segments. Growing 9 to 60 centimeters tall with slender, erect stems that branch above the middle, it forms dense, fleshy clusters characteristic of salt marsh environments. Its leaves are reduced to small, acute segments along the stem, creating a distinctive jointed appearance typical of halophytic plants. The tiny seeds are approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters long, with curved hairs that help with dispersal in the challenging salt marsh habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are internode width > length and sharp-mucronate tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Salt marshes
Elevation: < 20 m
Outside California: to eastern United States, Caribbean, Mexico
Bloom period
Salicornia bigelovii blooms Jul-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Arthroceras: Salicornia is an annual dying back yearly; Arthrocnemum is a woody perennial shrub.; vs Allenrolfea: Salicornia has opposite scale-leaves; Allenrolfea has alternate scale-leaves spiraling around stem.; vs Euphorbia: Salicornia has jointed succulent stems; Euphorbia bleeds white milky sap when broken.; vs Mesembryanthemum: Salicornia has jointed stems with sunken flowers; Mesembryanthemum has obvious daisy-like flowers.; vs Batis: Salicornia has flowers sunken in stem segments; Batis has cone-like flower clusters on stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salicornia bigelovii native to California?
Yes. Salicornia bigelovii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salicornia bigelovii bloom?
Salicornia bigelovii blooms Jul-Nov.
What plant family does Salicornia bigelovii belong to?
Salicornia bigelovii is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Salicornia.
What habitat does Salicornia bigelovii grow in?
Salicornia bigelovii grows in Salt marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.