Family Index

Scientific Name

Sarcocornia blackiana

Family Name

CHENOPODIACEAE

Common Name

Thickhead Glasswort

Status

Height

8-20cm

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

Form

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

Municipalities

Central Coast; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; King Island

Communities

Habitat Notes

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

Site Tolerance

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

General Notes

Propagate by seed, cuttings or division. Division is more reliable but often establishment is slow. Cuttings need regular watering, and advanced plants can be watered with diluted seawater. Important food plant for migratory birds. The Tasmanian Sarcocornia species are often parasitised by gall-gnats, which cause segments or short branches to become grow and turn bright red. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Egg-shaped and somewhat flattened.

Seed Treatment Method

Soaking

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

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

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

slow to take root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Yes

Cutting Notes

Cuttings are slow and not always successful.