364 DICTIONARY OF POPULAH NAMES SALSAFY 



shrub of the Spinach family (Chenopodiaceae). It is an erect, 

 soft-stemmed bush, 2 to 3 feet high, with small soft leaves, and 

 inconspicuous flowers, native of New South Wales, and has been 

 introduced of late years into Hong-Kong and other countries 

 as a cattle-food plant. 



Salsafy {Tragopogon ^porrifolius), a biennial of the Composite 

 family (Oomposita), native of England. It is cultivated in 

 gardens for its long, fleshy, tapering root, which is white. It is 

 of the form of a Carrot, but of smaller size, and it forms an 

 excellent vegetable when properly cooked, for which there are 

 special directions in cookery books. It is considered good in 

 promoting digestion. 



Salt Tree (Halimode/idron argenteicm), a small tree, with 

 abrupt, pinnate, hoary leaves, of the Bean family (Leguminosre), 

 native of Siberia and the Natron Plains in the region of the 

 Caspian. 



Salt Tree, Indian. {See Tamarisk) 



Saltwort, American (Batis maritima), a low, erect, succu- 

 lent plant, with small opposite leaves, and inconspicuous uni- 

 sexual flowers, produced in cone-like spikes. In general habit 

 it is similar to glasswort, with which some botanists consider it 

 to be allied ; others viewing it as the type of a special family 

 (Batide^e). It is a native of salt marshes in the "West India 

 islands and coasts of tropical America. In some countries it is 

 burnt for the carbonate of soda which it contains. In Jamaica 

 it is nsed as a pickle. 



Saltwort, Shrubby {Salsola fruticosa), an erect, branching 

 plant, of the Spinach family (Chenopodiace^e), 2 to 3 feet high, 

 having small semi-cylindrical leaves, not more than half an inch 

 in length. It is common on the shores in warm parts of 

 Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. It is found in this 

 country but rarely, in some parts of the Eastern and Southern 

 shores only. In the Sonth of Europe it is burned for Barilla. 



Samphire (CritJinmm maritiimtm), a perennial of the Carrot 

 family (Umbelliferse), native of the rocky shores of Europe, 

 particularly of the cliffs of Dover. It is a plant about a foot 



