Brown-headed glasswort, Marsh Samphire
Halosarcia indica

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A soft succulent herb. It grows about 40 cm high. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows near the waters edge. It spreads 1-1.5 m wide. The branches lie along the ground and the young branches are slender. It forms loose open mats. The stems have joints. The leaves are reduced to scales. The segments are 1 cm long by 0.6 cm wide and barrel shaped. They are grey or red. The spikes are 2 cm long. The flowers are mainly female. The flowers are in clusters of 3. The fruit are spongy with a horny outer surface.

There are 25 Halosarcia species. Most are in Australia. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow in salty soil. It grows in seasonally waterlogged places. It grows on tidal mud flats. It grows on tropical coasts. It can grow in dry areas. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 100-600 mm per year. It can grow on the land ward side of mangroves that are occasionally flooded. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, India, Indochina, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Pakistan, SE Asia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zambia

How it is used for food

The outer corky layer is removed then the branches are eaten as a cooked vegetable. The plant is sour and eaten raw or cooked. They are also pickled. The young branches in vinegar are used as a vegetable. The leaves and shoots are eaten as greens as a pot herb. They are also pickled. The ash can be used as a salt substitute.

It is a famine food. It is only a minor food.

Edible parts

Branches, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bholado, Ciri-ciri, Jadu palang, Koyaloo, Koyalu, Koyya pippali, Koyya-pippili, Machola, Machul, Machur, Muchul, Oomarie keeray, Queiloo, Pavala poondoo, Samphire, Subhar, Suvar, Umari, Umari keerai

Synonyms

Arthrocnemum brachiata Miq.; Arthrocnemum ciliolatum Bunge; Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd.) Moq.; Arthrocnemum leiostachya (Benth.) Paulsen; Salicornia brachiata Miq..; Salicornia indica Willd.; and others