Glasswort

For the Australian species also referred to as glassworts, see Halosarcia

The glassworts comprise the genus Salicornia of succulent, salt tolerant plants that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. Glasswort species are native to the United States and Europe.

Salicornia virginica

The glassworts are small, usually less that 30 cm tall, succulent herbs with a jointed horizontal main stem and erect lateral branches. The leaves are small and scale-like and as such the plant may appear leafless. Many species of glasswort are green, but their foliage turns red in autumn. The hemaphrodite flowers are wind pollinated, and the fruit is small and succulent and contains a single seed.

Glasswort can tolerate immersion in salt water. Glasswort is edible cooked (very nice steamed in a microwave steamer, and then coated in butter) or raw. After cooking, it resembles seaweed in color, and the flavor and texture are like young spinach stems, but not at all stringy or tough. Burnt glasswort was used as a source of soda for glassmaking.

Salicornia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Coleophora case-bearers C. atriplicis and C. salicorniae (the latter feeds exclusively on Salicornia spp).

Species

Some common species include:

American, Virgina or Woody Glasswort, Salicornia virginica
Common Glasswort, Salicornia europea
Slender Glasswort, Salicornia maritima
Dwarf Glasswort, Salicornia bigelovii
Perennial Glasswort, Salicornia perennis
Purple Glasswort, Salicornia ramosissima

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