THE MARSH SAMPHIRE— continued. 
In many plant-associations the absence of extreme conditions is reflected in the 
general aspect of the vegetation. Plants enjoying moderate warmth and moisture at 
one season, while active growth is checked by cold at another, may be crowded 
together in considerable variety ; but will seldom have amongst them either the 
translucent ribbon-like leaf of the submerged aquatic, or the fleshy stems or foliage 
of the xerophyte. With extreme conditions, whether of moisture or of drought, 
vegetation becomes in general less varied : the plants grow more in open order ; and 
each of them, no matter what its affinities may be, will exhibit the marked adaptations 
fitting it to its abnormal surroundings. 
Nowhere is this more strikingly exemplified than in our saltings. Here on wide 
level stretches of mud in estuaries or protected bays, which are only left bare at low 
water of spring-tides, are rooted masses of Grass-wrack ( Zostera marina Linne) and 
nothing else. A little farther inland, where the mud is uncovered at neap-tides, are 
scattered plants of Salicornia herbacea Linne ; or, on Southampton Water and other 
southern shores, the Cord-grasses ( Spartina ). Farther inshore, Salicornia grows in 
closer colonies, though never crowded : patches of Alsine marina Wahlenberg occur, 
especially if there is an admixture of sand, and Sea Arrow-grass ( Triglochin maritimum 
Linne) ; while the banks of the creeks which are cut through the mud are covered 
with Sea Purslane, or Crab-weed, as it is sometimes called, another Chenopodiad 
(Obione portulacoides Moquin), or with the Starwort {Aster Tripolium Linne). Most of 
these plants, representing several different Orders, show the fleshiness that indicates 
water-storage tissue within, the direct result of the scarcity of fresh water and the 
concomitant of diminished transpiration. 
From its growth in the mire Salicornia is sometimes known as Frog-grass ; 
while the name Sea-grape is an apt comparison of the fleshy translucent joints of its 
stem to unripe grapes ; and its Latin name, from sal, salt, and cornu, a horn, and the 
popular names Saltwort and Glasswort refer to the large amount of sodium salts in 
the ash, on account of which it is still employed in glass-making in the Mediterranean. 
The name Marsh Samphire is merely borrowed from the true Samphire ( Crithmum 
maritimum Linne), a dweller on the rocks. On the coast of Lincolnshire Salicornia is 
still pickled under the name of Samphire, and is preferred to Crithmum. 
Until recently Salicornia has been described as leafless, the fleshy casing of its 
internodes (rising in two points as a socket round each node and filled with water- 
storing tissue, which often turns red in autumn) being looked upon as the cortex of 
the stem ; but several careful studies show that this is really a downward sheath-like 
extension of two united leaf-structures. 
