Marsh Samphire
How To ID Me And What I’m Good For?
My ID Features:
In situ.
Easily recognisable.
Close up.
Marsh Samphire
Latin Name - Salicornia spp.
Common Names - Sea Beans, Samphire Greens, Sea Asparagus, Glasswort, Pickleweed, Picklegrass, Marsh Samphire, Saint Peter’s Herb (the patron saint of fishermen), Mermaid’s kiss.
Family - Amaranthaceae.
Season - Early summer.
Edible bits - Stem.
Habitat - Salt Marshes, estuaries and mud flats.
Possible Confusion - Other members of the glasswort (Salicornia) species. There are 7 members of the glasswort family in the UK with numerous hybrids. They are hard to distinguish without prolonged study. But, they are all edible. Marsh samphire is distinguishable from other plants due to its succulent, almost cactus-like appearance (as shown in pictures).
Also possibly Sea Blite [Suaeda maritima], but this is also edible.
Description - A delicious coastal super food that thrives in salt marshes during early summer. It's featured on many menus across the world. Though, most restaurants feature cultivated varieties grown in Israel. It’s best to pick whilst still relatively young as it becomes more tough as the season progresses.
Physical Characteristics - The Salicornia species are small annual herbs, faintly resembling asparagus. They grow in an erect fashion. They have simple or branched hairless succulent stems. Many species are green, but their foliage turns red/yellow in autumn. Older specimens have an obvious protruding wooden stem growing from the base of the plant. They have lobe-like leaves that appear at each of the joints on their stems. They really are unmistakable in their habitat.
Medicinal Qualities - Samphire is rich in vitamins A, C, B2, and D as well as having high levels of Iodine, iron, calcium, magnesium, silica, zinc and manganese. Additionally, samphire is rich in fibre and amino acids.
Harvesting Sustainability - It's very important to cut with scissors above ground level, as the roots are easily pulled out. Ensuring further growth and no damage to the environment.
Never munch on a hunch! Volf takes no responsibility for anything consumed.