GOOSE-FOOT FAMILY 415 



i. S. herbdcea (Jointed Glasswort, Marsh Samphire). — An erect, 

 herbaceous plant, 4 — 8 in. high, with the joints of the stem 

 thickening upwards, and the branches all ending in tapering spikes 

 of flowers. — 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 other parts of the coast, being 

 generally preferred to the Umbelliferous Crithmum. — FL August, 

 September. Annual. 



2. S. appressa (Prostrate Glasswort). — A well-marked, prostrate 

 form, with its branches closely adpressed to the soil and spreading 

 in a triangular fan-like form, with cylindric internodes and acute 

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



3. S. radicans (Rooting Glasswort). — Stem woody, prostrate; 

 branches ascending j internodes 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. herbdcea. 

 — Fl. August, September. Perennial. 



6. Sui^DA (Sea Blite). — Maritime shrubs and herbs with scat- 

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

 green, axillary flowers ; perianth deeply 5-cleft, often fleshy ; stamens 

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

 winged. (Name said to be from suced, soda, in which the plants 

 abound.) 



1. ,S. fruticosa (Shrubby Sea Blite). — A smooth, rather glaucous 

 plant ; stem woody, erect, 1 — 3 feet high, with ascending branches ; 

 leaves semicylindric, blunt ; styles 3. — Sandy and shingly beaches, 

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



2. S. marilima (Annual Sea Blite). — A low, straggling plant, 

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

 rising 1 — 2 feet ; acute, semicylindric, short, fleshy leaves ; flowers 

 1 — 5 together; styles 2. — Muddy sea -shores; common. — Fl. July 

 — October. Annual. 



7. Salsola (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 — 3; fruit 

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

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



1. S. 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. — Fl. July, August. Annual. 



