Tecticornia moniliformis

Intricately branched shrub to c. 1 m high. Articles of ultimate branches obovoid, 3–7 mm long, dull grey-green; lobes acute, narrowly keeled, erect or spreading, margins entire. Spikes terminal or vegetative growth continuing, 6–15 mm long, comprising 1–6 (usually 2 or 3) articles similar to vegetative ones; flowers fused to each other in lower part, free from bracts. Fruiting spike persistent, often appearing beaded, with articles pale, broadly obovoid to spherical, 3–6 mm diam., dry and pithy; fruiting perianth membranous, pericarp papery, narrowly ovoid and shortly beaked at apex; style weak, not exserted; seed elliptic or somewhat reniform, c. 1.5 mm long; articles of mature spike eventually disintegrating and falling with fruit enclosed. Flowers recorded Feb.–May.