GOOSE-FOOT FAMILY 41S 



1. S. Jierhtfira (]o'n\ted Glasswort, Marsh Samphire). — An erect, 

 herbaceous plant, 4 — S in. liigli, with the joints of the slem 

 thickening upwards, and the branches all ending in tapering spikes 

 oS: flo'd't-rs. — Salt marshes; abundant. Formerly used in the 

 manufacture of glass, and still used as a pickle, under the name 

 of Samphire, in Lincolnshire and on otlier parts of the coast, being 

 generally preferred to the Umbelliferous Crithmiim. — FL August, 

 September. Annual. 



2. S. appri'ssa (Prostrate Glasswort). — A well marked, prostrate 

 form, with its brandies closely adpressed to the soil and spreadmg 

 in a triangular fan-like form, with cylindric inter>wdes and acute 

 spikes. — On the coast of Ivent ; very rare. 



3. 5. radicaiis (footing Glasswort). — Stem woody, prostrate; 

 brciiuhes ascending; inteniodes not thickening upwards; spikes 

 blunt. — Salt marshes on the east and south coasts ; rare. Much 

 more branched and tufted, and browner in colour than ^S. hcyhacea 

 — Fl. August, September. Perennial. 



6. Su.'^D.^ (Sea Elite). — !^^aritime shrubs and herbs with scat- 

 tered, fleshy leaves, semicircular in transverse section ; and small, 

 green, axillary -floit'ers ; periaiilh deeply 5-cleft, often fleshy; stamens 

 5 ; stigmas 2 — 5 : perianth-segments in fruit neither keeled nor 

 winged. (Xante said to be from sucvd, soda, in which the plants 

 abound.) 



1. 5. fruticosa (Shrubby Sea Elite). — A smooth, rather glaucous 

 plant; stem woody, erect, r — 3 feet high, with "ascending /')V7;;ir/iM ; 

 Zgflziftf- seniicylindric, blunt; styles 3. — Sandy and shingly beaches, 

 mostly on the east coast ; rare.— Fl. July — October. Perennial. 



2. S. nio-'t'nia (Annual Sea Elite). — A loVv, straggling plant, 

 smooth, glaucous, and reddish in winter, with slender branches 

 rising 1---2 feet ; acute ':emicylindric, short, fleshy leaves ; flowers 

 I — 5 together; styles 2. — Muddy sea-shores; common. — Fl. July 

 — October. Annual. 



7. S.\LS0L.4 (Saltwort). — Shrubs and herbs with sessile, fleshy, 

 stiff or spinous, awl-shaped leaves; small, axillary, perfect flowers ; 

 perianth deeply 5-cleft; stamens 3 — 5; stigmas 2 — ^y. fruit 

 i-seeded, enclosed by the much enlarged, *5-winged perianth. 

 (Name from the Latin sal, salt, the plants being rich m soda.) 



I. 5. Kali (Prickly Saltwort). — The only British species, a stiff, 

 glaucous, hairy, much branched plant, with striped, angular stem 

 seldom more than a foot high : succulent, awl-shaped leaves, each 

 terminating in a sharp spine ; and solitary axillary flowers. — Sandy 

 sea-shores ; common. — P'l. July, August. Annual. 



