Glasswort, Marsh Samphire, Sea samphire, Saltwort
Salicornia europaea

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. The stems let light through. It grows 50 cm tall. They are erect but can lie along the ground. The stems are green with a pink colour at flowering time. The leaves are opposite and like scales. The flowers are very small and in groups of three. They are green. They form a spike 10-50 mm long. The fruit are small and like seeds and 1-3 mm across. They are light brown.

Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in alkaline and salty soil, salt-lake shores, and beaches. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Australia, Bahrain, Britain, Canada, Caribbean, Central Asia, China, Egypt, Europe, France, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The roots are pickled and also used raw. The young stems can be eaten as a vegetable and taste like asparagus. They are used raw in salads, cooked as a potherb, pickled, added to soups or used as a garnish. For pickles the shoots are boiled in their own salty water then put into spiced oil or vinegar. The protein rich seeds are eaten. They can be refined for a high quality edible oil.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, seeds, seeds - oil, roots, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Deniz borulcesi, Perce-pierre, Pickle weed, Salicornia, Sea bean, Tungtungmadi, Zeekral

Synonyms

Salicornia annua Sm.; Salicornia herbacea L.; Salicornia stricta Dumort.; and others