Suaeda californica | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Suaeda |
Species: | S. californica
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Binomial name | |
Suaeda californica | |
Synonyms | |
Suaeda americana |
Suaeda californica is a rare species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name California seablite. [2] It is now endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from a few occurrences in the marshes around Morro Bay, historical populations around San Francisco Bay have been extirpated. [1]
Suaeda californica is a mound-shaped shrub up to 80 centimeters tall with hairless or slightly hairy succulent green or red-tinged herbage. The woody stems have many branches which are covered with the knoblike bases of old leaves. Between these grow the new leaves, which are lance-shaped and up to 3.5 centimeters long. The flowers occur between the leaves, all along the stems. Each cluster has 1 to 5 flowers and is accompanied by a leaflike bract. The calyx is a cone of fleshy, rounded sepals, and there are no petals. The fruit is an utricle that grows within the calyx.
This rare plant, Suaeda californica, grows in a restricted area within the intertidal zone of salt marshes. [3] It is threatened by anything that alters the hydrology of the area, such as changes in sedimentation, including dredging, erosion, and recreation. [1] It requires a porous substrate high in nitrogen, which may come from decaying plant matter and bird droppings. [4] Invasive plant species such as introduced ice plant threaten remaining occurrences and reintroductions. [4]
It once occurred around the San Francisco Bay, but any populations there are now extirpated. [1] It probably once grew along the Petaluma River north of the bay, as remains of the species have been found in adobe bricks there. [5] By 1991 the total remaining number of individuals was estimated to be below 500, and the plant was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1994. [1] [3] Some carefully tended populations have been planted as reintroductions at locations around the San Francisco Bay. [4] [6]