Samphire
Blutaparon vermiculare

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It lies along the ground. It has red creeping stems. It is succulent and forms roots at the nodes. It can grow 1 m long. The branches are often thickened just below the nodes. The leaves are fleshy. The are oblong and 5 cm long. The flowers are white and in spikes at the ends of the plant. There are 2 leafy white bracts.

There are about 10 Philoxerus species near the sea coast.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along the coast. It grows on sandy beachheads and dry mangroves in West Africa. It grows in wet grassland savannah. It can be along river banks and in near small pools.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gambia, Ghana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Pantropical, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Sudan, Togo, USA, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves and stems are fleshy and are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Arroz-de-cacre, Brunde, Enhade, Fuhohol, Hogho, Konyamo sinding, Malu-inretha, Ne diambo, Saltweed, Tanku pitax, Yeggeding diambo

Synonyms

Achyranthes vermicularis Eaton; Achyranthes vermicularis Elliott; Blutaparon breviflorum Rav.; Carazeron vermicularis Raf.; Cruzeta crassifolia Maza; Cruzeta vermicularis (L.) M. Gomez; Gomphrena aggregata Willd.; Gomphrena vermicularis L.; Illecebrum vermiculatum L.; Iresine aggregata (Willd.) Moq.; Iresine crassifolia Moq.; Iresine vermicularis (L.) Moq.; Lithophila vermicularis (L.) Uline; Philoxerus aggregatus Kunth; Philoxerus crassifolius Kunth; Philoxerus vermicularis (L.) P. Beauv.; Philoxerus vermicularis (L.) R. Br.;