Crithmum maritimum
L.
Samphire, Rock Samphire
(c) Leif Fryle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Leif Fryle
(c) Thomas Wrbka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Thomas Wrbka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers, Stems, Seeds, Spice
The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Their flavour is vaguely reminiscent of fennel but more bitter and brackish — one description characterises them as tasting like a mixture of celery and kerosene. They are used as a flavouring in salads and similar dishes. Young leaves gathered in spring, sprinkled with salt and boiled, make a very good pickle. The leaves are rich in vitamin C. The seed pods are also edible and are used to make a warm, aromatic pickle.
Where to Find It
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in sea cliffs in Britain. It occurs on coastal rocks and can be on sand or shingle. It needs well-drained to dry soil in the sun. It needs a warm sheltered position. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Africa, Albania, Australia, Azores, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Central America, China,Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Portugal, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, West Indies, Yugoslavia,
How to Identify
A perennial herb. It grows 15-45 cm high and wide. It is greyish and without hairs. It is branched. It has divided leaves. The lobes are narrow and fleshy and do not have teeth. The base sheaths the stem. The flowers are yellow. They occur in umbels 30-60 mm across. There are 8-36 rays. The fruit is oblong and 5-6 mm long. It is yellowish. It has thick ridges.
Nutrition Score: 24/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 87 | 84 | 20 | 2.2 | — | — | 2.3 | 0.5 |
How to Grow
Prefers a moist light sandy or gravelly soil, doing very well between stones or by a south-east facing wall. Requires a warm dry well-drained sunny position and shade from the midday sun. Requires saline conditions. Plants are best grown in moist salty soil or a very well-drained poor dry soil. When grown away from the coast, this plant requires a warm sheltered position and some protection in cold winters. At one time this plant was sometimes cultivated in the vegetable garden, though it is quite difficult to do this successfully. It is difficult to grow outside its natural habitat. Rock Samphire grows relatively quickly, establishing itself in sandy or rocky coastal environments and spreading over time. Rock Samphire is self-fertile. It is typically harvested in spring and early summer when the young leaves are tender. Rock Samphire generally flowers in summer.
Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in autumn, just barely covering it; germination usually takes 3–6 weeks at 15°C. Although one source notes that seed viability is short and it should be sown as soon as ripe, seed sown in April in a cold frame has also germinated well. When large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and plant out in early summer. The plant can also be propagated by division in spring.
Medicinal Uses
Rock samphire is little used in herbal medicine, though it is a good diuretic with potential as a treatment for obesity. It has a high vitamin C and mineral content and is thought to relieve flatulence and act as a digestive remedy. The young growing tips are carminative, depurative, digestive, and diuretic; they are gathered during active growth in spring and used fresh. The leaves have a reputation for aiding weight loss and are used in treating obesity, kidney complaints, and sluggishness. The essential oil acts as a digestive, with a few drops sprinkled on food.
Other Uses
Rock samphire can be used in coastal erosion control owing to its salt tolerance and ability to stabilise sandy soils, and it can be included in coastal restoration projects. An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen and can attract bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are edible for humans and may be consumed by some wildlife. The plant can provide habitat for invertebrates in coastal environments, and its structure may offer some overwintering sites for beneficial insects. Its strong, salty aroma may also help deter certain pests.
Wikipedia
Source ↗A perennial reaching 0.3 m tall and wide, growing quickly in coastal conditions. Flowers appear June to August with seed ripening August to October. The plant thrives in well-drained, sandy soils with low nutrient content and tolerates very alkaline and saline conditions. It requires full sun and handles maritime exposure well. Hardy to UK zone 6.
Other Information
It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.
Notes
There is only one Crithmum species. It is high in Vitamin C.
Names & Synonyms
Criste marine, Denizmarulu, Fenoll mari, Finucchje ri mare, Kayakorugu, Kirtamo, Matar, Navadni koprc, Sea Fennel, Yedidalga
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