Practical
Plants

Salicornia europaea

Glasswort

an annual member of the Salicornia genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young stems - raw or cooked as a potherb, added to soups etc[8][2][9][12][4]. The plant is at its best for eating in late summer[5]. The stems are very succulent, but have a thin woody core that is easily removed[264, K]. They are best harvested when about 15cm long, the top 10cm being used leaving the bottom 5cm to produce new shoots[5]. They require little cooking, just adding them to a soup for the last few minutes of cooking is sufficient[13]. The plant has a salty flavour[4] and makes a very pleasant raw nibble[K]. The young shoots can be pickled after first boiling them in their own salted water[4]. Seed[1]. Rich in protein[4]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. A high quality, it is similar to safflower oil (Carthamnus tinctoria)[4].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The ashes obtained from burning this plant are rich in potash and are used in making soap or glass[6][10][2][7][11]. The ashes can also be used as a soap.

Product or use
Cleanser
Product or use
Potash

Environment

Range
Coasts of western Europe, including Britain.
Habitat
Coastal sands, mudflats and salt marshes, often near the low tide mark[13][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in situ as soon as ripe in a well-drained outdoor bed[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a rich organic soil with ample nitrogen and regular watering[5]. This species is little, if at all, cultivated and its exact requirements are not clearly understood[5]. It is not known if the plant will require periodic inundation by salty water to grow well[5]. Glasswort is difficult to grow in cultivation[9][5], it can succeed in gardens if sown as soon as the seed is ripe in the autumn in a well-drained soil[9]. A very variable plant both in size and the number of branches produced - a number of subspecies are recognised[5]. The best forms for food production are bushy plants up to 40cm tall with an upright habit that keeps the branches out of the mud[5]. The form sometimes classed as a distinct species (as S. ramosissima Woods.) has this habit and habitat and so is the best form for using in cultivation experiments[5]. When seeking seed for cultivation, try to collect from plants with this habit and also choose plants nearer the high tide mark that therefore receive less inundation[5]. The edible leaves are occasionally sold in local markets[7].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  7. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  9. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

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  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  12. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  13. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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