glasswort

Glasswort is a common name for several succulent, salt-tolerant flowering plants in the genus Salicornia, commonly called samphire or sea asparagus. These halophytes inhabit salt marshes, mudflats, and estuary shores in temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They grow as low, branching, jointed stems with leaves reduced to tiny scales.

Physiologically adapted to high salinity, glasswort stores water in fleshy stems and can tolerate periodic flooding. Plants are typically perennial or annual and form dense stands along tidal edges, contributing to marsh stability and providing habitat for small invertebrates and birds.

The young shoots are edible and used as a vegetable in several cuisines. They have a crisp, saline flavor and are sold fresh, pickled, or lightly cooked, under care to rinse off excess salt. Common names include samphire, sea beans, and sea asparagus.

Historically, glasswort was burned to produce soda ash (sodium carbonate) for glassmaking and other industries. The ashes yielded alkali compounds, and the practice gave rise to the name glasswort.

Species commonly associated with glasswort include Salicornia europaea (European glasswort), Salicornia virginica (Virginia glasswort), and Salicornia pacifica (Pacific glasswort). The genus is placed in the Amaranthaceae family. Habitat loss and coastal development threaten some populations, making wetland conservation important for biodiversity.