Suaeda moquinii (Torrey) E. Greene
Bush seepweed
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Habit: Shrub 2 to 15 dm., usually with slender, spreading branches; glabrous or hairy, glaucous.
Distribution: Alkaline and saline places in the interior deserts of California to western Canada, Texas and Mexico.
Seed unit: Utricle; free seed.
Seed: Free seed 0.5 to 1 mm., biconvex, shiny and black. Nearly circular except for a slightly hooked projection and notch on the margin. Often enclosed in a persistent calyx.
Embryo: Spirally coiled embryo with a thin, firm, semi-transparent endosperm on each side.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU #38 – Intact utricle with or without perianth, whether or not a seed is present. Piece of broken utricle larger than one-half the original size, unless no seed is present. Seed with or without seed coat.
Lab notes: Calyx may persist, covering the seed. Seed is often brittle and empty. Samples often contain many empty floral parts, which can be easily confused with pure seed units.
Average pure seed units per gram: 2,069 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 11 samples received for testing from 1999 to 2003).
Range of percent pure seed: 6% to 63%
Range of percent inert: 36% to 92%
Description of inert: Plant material, broken seed, dead insects.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 515.
Martin, A.C. and W.D. Barkley. 1961. p. 152.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 383.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
