samphire

samphire - n., any of various plants of the genus Salicornia growing in salt marshes and having fleshy stems and rudimentary, scale-like leaves.


Also called glasswort, because it was used in glass-making. From earlier sampiere, from Middle French (herbe de) Saint Pierre, Saint Peter's (herb). Edgar in Lear IV.iv: "Half way down / Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!"

I love the sound of this one. Samphire.

---L.