belong to .S', radicans ; see New But. Guide, vol. ii. p. 597. — In Sussex . Rev. 
G. E. Smith, in N. B. G. — Yorksh. 'l ees mouth : L. E. O. in .1 fag. Nat. Hist. 
v. iii. p. 168. — WALES. Anglesey; Dulas Bay, ,Scc : Rev. H. Davies.— In 
Denbighshire: Mr. Bowman, in N.B.G. — Merionethsh. Barmouth: Mug. 
Nat. Hist. — SCOTLAND. Aberdeensh. On the coast, a little to the south of 
the river Ythan: Dr. Murray, in North. FI. — Bencicksh. Between Goswick 
Links and Fenham ; Holy Island: Dr. Johnston. — Dumbartonsh. On the 
shore at Helensburgh: IIopkirk.— Elginsh. Shore below Brodie; and Lossie 
Mouth : Rev. G. Gordon, in N. B. G. — Fifesh. Inverkeithing Bay : Mr. Neill. 
— Forfarsh. Covering the muddy beach, to a great extent, at Montrose; and 
plentiful about four miles from the town at the head of the basin : Dr. Murray, 
in North. FI. — Haddingtonsh. Aberlady Bay: Dr. Parsons. Morrison’s 
Haven: Dr. Graham. — Kincardinesh. At Brotherton: North. FI. — Naimsh. 
On the Moray coast, east of Nairn Harbour: North. FI.— Rossh. Munlocky 
Bay. North. FI.— IRELAND. Salt-marshes, plentiful : Mr. Mackay. Near 
Coolum, Waterford: Countess of Carrick, 1837. Plentiful at Portmarnock, 
and near Ringsend: Mr. Mackay. 
Annual. — Flowers in August and September. 
Root fibrous, small. Stem from 6 inches to a foot high, upright, 
green, leafless, much branched, jointed; joints somewhat com- 
pressed, a little thickened upwards, very succulent, shrinking 
much when dry, in which state the upper extremity of each joint 
forms a 2-lobed membranous socket or short sheath, which receives 
the base of the joint above it. Branches opposite, tapering at the 
base, and jointed, like the stem. Spikes of flowers dense, lateral 
and terminal, cylindrical, somewhat tapering towards the summit, 
of numerous short joints, each joint crowned with about three 
sessile flowers at each side. Stamen one. Stigmas two or three. 
The whole plant has a saltish taste, and is greedily devoured by 
cattle. The young and tender shoots, steeped in salted vinegar, 
make a pickle very little inferior to Samphire ( Crithmum mariti- 
mum, t. 267), for which it is frequently sold in London, and other 
places. From the ashes of this plant, fossil alkali is obtained, 
which is in great request for making soap and glass ; hence its 
name of Glasswort. It is chiefly made on the coast of the Medi- 
terranean, where it is called Soda. Many other plants are used 
for this purpose, especially some species of Salsola. See Salsola 
Kali, t. 255, of this work. 
Botanists of the highest authority differ in opinion respecting the 
specific distinctions of the British Salicornice. Sir J. E. Smith, in 
his English Flora, makes four species, viz. S. herbacea, procurn- 
bens, radicans, and fruticosa, observing, that possibly the two latter 
may be only varieties of the same species. Dr. Lindley has fol- 
lowed the English Flora, in the first edition of his Synopsis ; but 
in the second edition, this distinguished Botanist has reduced them to 
three species, uniting fruticosa with radicans. Sir W. J. Hooker, 
in his excellent British Flora, has reduced them to only two species, 
comprising S. annua of English Botany, t. 415, and procumbens 
of E. Bot. t. 2475, in herbacea ; and S. fruticosa of E. Bot. t. 2467, 
in radicans of E. Bot. t. 1691. 
The specimen figured in the accompanying plate was from the vicinity of Coolum. 
near Waterford, in Ireland; and was kindly communicated to me by the Wight 
Honourable the Countess of Carrick, August, 1837. 
