Mr. Dickson, on the Marsh Samphire 65 



THE MARSH SAMPHIRE. 



Notes communicated by Wm. Dickson, F.A.S., and read to 

 the Club at Alnmouth, on 2ith September, 1857. 



The Herbaceous Marsh Samphire {Salicornia herbacea) 

 grows at Alninouth on the Salt Marsh Lands, on both sides 

 of the river Aln, in great abundance. Specimens were pro- 

 duced to-day to the Club, in their natural state and as a 

 pickle at dinner. It is useful for this purpose when in a 

 green state, being fleshy, salt, and a good sponge for vinegar. 

 It is in other respects tasteless and has tough fibres running 

 through the middle of it. It grows between high and low 

 water mark, and must be covered with salt water at each 

 tide. It will not grow in pure sand, but requires marl or 

 clay to be mixed with the sand. It is like a tree in miniature, 

 with stem and branches, and is generally about six or eight 

 inches high, seldom more. When ripe it turns yellow and is 

 then unfit to use as a pickle. 



This plant differs entirely from the sea or rock Samphire 

 {Crithmum 7naritimum), which does not grow in the water, 

 but in rocky places, has a warm aromatic flavour, is without 

 the stringy fibres existing in the centre of the Salicornia, 

 and besides, it grows to the height of two feet. 



Both plants take their name from the French- Herbe de St. 

 Pierre, and the Salicornia from its taste and form, Sal salt, 

 and Cornu, a horn, the latter arising from the appearance of 

 its branches. 



The real Samphire {Crithmum) is common on the coast of 

 the English Channel, but none grows within the district 

 which our Club is confined to. It is now, as it was in old 

 times, found on the cliffs of Dover, and in the most high 

 and inaccessible places. The locality there is thus immortal- 

 ized by Shakspeare, in his tragedy of King Lear : Edgar, 

 in addressing the blind Earl of Gloster, says : 



" Come on, Sir, here's the place ; stand still ; how fearful. 

 And dizzy 'tis, to cast ones eyes so low ! — 

 The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air 

 Shew scarce so big as beetles : Half-way down. 

 Hangs one, that gathers Samphire ; 



—(Act 4, Scene 6.) 



The difference between the two kinds of Samphire is not 

 generally known, except to botanists. Wallis, author of the 

 E 



