Samphire, Beaded Glasswort, Marsh samphire, Beaded samphire, Ureure, Glasswort, Chicken-claws, Salthorn
Sarcocornia quinqueflora

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A low growing plant. It keeps growing from year to year. It is a leafless plant. It grows 20-50 cm high. The stems are succulent and greenish red. These are clearly divided into segments. These are 2 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They root at the nodes. The flowers are small and yellow. They appear at the joints of the segments near the ends of the stems. The flowers occur in rows of more than 3. The seeds are round with slightly hooked hairs. From the small spikes 5-8 cm high, jointed shoots extend upwards. It has a series of finger joints about 3-4 mm across.

There are about 15 Sarcocornia species. They grow in salty locations. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It occurs in the wetter parts of the salt marshes. It also grows in other wet coastal locations. It grows on coral rocks near the sea. It is salt tolerant. It grows near water in salt marshes and in tide lands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Britain, Europe, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The stems can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be eaten fresh in salads. They can also be pickled. The very young shoots can be boiled then eaten like asparagus. It is often best to change the cooking water.

Edible parts

Stem, shoots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division. They need to be in a salty situation.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arthrocnemum heptiflorum Moss; Salicornia quinqueflora Bunge ex Ung.Sternb.; Salicornia australis Sol. ex F.Muell.; Salicornia australis Sol. ex Benth.; Salicornia quinqueflora Bunge ex Ung.-Sternb.;