162 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



wort, Saltwort, or Marsh Samphire (Salicornea 

 herbacea). It is a small herb, about a foot high, 

 the stem is erect, herbaceous, fleshy, cylindrical, 

 and divided into joints, the leaves are like scales, 

 which proceed from the joints, at which point also 

 three minute flowers on the two opposite sides of 

 the stem are produced. This plant makes a good 

 pickle. It is also eaten by cattle. There are two 

 other species of saltwort found in the same loca- 

 lities. 



The Water-Parsnep (Sium verticillatum) also 

 occupies the salt marsh. This plant has leaflets 

 in whorls, that is to say, growing in a circle around 

 the stem and of a hair-like form. It produces 

 numerous white flowers on terminal umbels, or 

 flower-stalks arising from a common centre. 



The slender hare's-ear (Bupleurwm tenuissi- 

 mum), a plant from three to twelve inches high, 

 with lance-shaped leaves, and yellowish flowers, 

 few in number and, like the last, in umbels ; 

 the Sea Sulphur-wort or Hog's-fennel (Peuceda- 

 num officinale), has a stem about three feet in 

 height, leaves deeply divided, and bears yellow 

 flowers; the Mud-rush (Juncus caenosus)-, the 

 smooth Sea-heath, with its flesh-coloured flowers ; 

 the parsley Water-Drop wort, (GEnanthe, pimpi- 

 nelloides), bearing flesh-coloured flowers; the 

 Least Lettuce (Lactuca saligna), with pale yellow 

 flowers ; the Star-wort (Aster tripolium), with its 

 large purple flowers with yellow disks ; all belong 

 to the salt marsh. To these we may add the 

 Bartsia (B. viscosa), with its yellow corolla 



