Pickleweeds and parasites

The dominant plant in the salt marsh / slough habitats we observed was Salicornia virginica or "pickleweed" - so named because of its pickle-like appearance and salty taste.  Another common name is "glasswort".  This name is related to its use (centuries ago) --> - pickle weed was burned to produce a soda ash used in glass making.  Some other interesting notes about this plant:

• Ashes of pickle weed were utilized in the production of soap by Native Americans
• Tips are harvested and used in salads, steamed to serve as a vegetable, or pickled

And according to Wikipedia:

“The plant is one of the salicornia species being tested as biofuel crop as it is composed of 32% oil and being a halophyte can be irrigated with salt water”, which is much cheaper than freshwater. 

More info about pickleweed is given here on the Aquarium of the Pacific site.

 The other cool thing we observed about pickleweed was its association with the parasitic plant Saltmarsh dodder or "Witch's Hair", Cuscuta salina. 

 It's not silly-string, after all!