jspruill's Identifications

Seen along the Bobby Wilkins trail- waterfront trail. The Albemarle Sound on the left, these views on your right, through the swamp. Not sure if this is labeled correctly … there was another that looks similar.

Phylum: Angiosperms (Magnoliophyta)
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Morphological Characteristics:
Pickleweed characterized by its succulent, jointed stems, scale-like leaves, and specialized salt-secreting glands, adaptations that help it thrive in saline environments such as salt marshes and tidal flats.

Ecological/Functional Fun Fact:
Pickleweed plays a crucial role in salt marsh ecosystems by promoting soil stabilization, preventing erosion, and providing habitat for various invertebrates and shorebirds, illustrating its ecological importance in coastal environments.