Crithmum is a monospecific genus of flowering plant in the carrot family, Apiaceae. The sole species, Crithmum maritimum, is commonly known as rock samphire,[1][2] sea fennel[1] or samphire.[1] It is found in parts of the Old World and is edible.
| Samphire | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Apioideae |
| Tribe: | Pyramidoptereae |
| Genus: | Crithmum L. |
| Species: | C. maritimum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Crithmum maritimum | |
Distribution and habitat
editCrithmum is found on coastlines throughout much of Europe (north to the British Isles), Macaronesia, parts of West Asia and North Africa in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
Cultivation
editIn England, rock samphire is cultivated in gardens,[3][4] where it grows readily in a light, rich soil. In the United Kingdom the uprooting of wild plants is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.[5]
Uses
editRock samphire or sea fennel has fleshy, divided aromatic leaves that Culpeper described as having a "pleasant, hot and spicy taste".[6]
The stems, leaves and seed pods may be pickled in hot, salted, spiced vinegar, or the leaves used fresh in salads. Dried and ground sea fennel can also be used as a salt substitute.
Sea fennel pickle in olive oil or vinegar is a traditional food of Italy (Marche region), Croatia (Dalmatia), Greece, and Montenegro (Bay of Kotor). It is known as Paccasassi del Conero and used as an antipasto, to accompany fish and meat dishes and to garnish pizza and sandwiches.
Richard Mabey gives several recipes for rock samphire,[7] although it is possible that at least one of these may refer to marsh samphire or glasswort (Salicornia europaea), a very common confusion.
Nutrition
editSea fennel has nutritional value,[8] and is rich in antioxidants.[9]
In culture
editIn the 17th century, Shakespeare in King Lear referred to the dangerous practice of collecting rock samphire from cliffs.[10] In the 19th century, samphire was being shipped in casks of seawater from the Isle of Wight to market in London at the end of May each year.[11] Rock samphire used to be cried in London streets as "Crest Marine".[4]
The reclaimed piece of land adjoining Dover, called Samphire Hoe, is named after rock samphire. The land was created from spoil from the Channel Tunnel, and rock samphire used to be harvested from the neighbouring cliffs.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Crithmum maritimum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ "Crithmum maritimum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b Phillips, Roger (1983). Wild Food. Pan. ISBN 0-330-28069-4.
- ^ "Protection of wild plants". Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1981. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ Culpeper, Nicholas (1653). The Complete Herbal. London.
- ^ Mabey, Richard (1975). Food For Free. Fontana. ISBN 0-00-613470-X.
- ^ Romojaro A, Botella MÁ, Obón C, Pretel MT (2013). "Nutritional and antioxidant properties of wild edible plants and their use as potential ingredients in the modern diet". Int J Food Sci Nutr. 64 (8): 944–52. doi:10.3109/09637486.2013.821695. PMID 23944868.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Meot-Duros L, Magné C (2009). "Antioxidant activity and phenol content of Crithmum maritimum L. leaves". Plant Physiol Biochem. 47 (1): 37–41. Bibcode:2009PlPB...47...37M. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2008.09.006. PMID 18980846.
- ^ Shakespeare, William (1623). The Tragedy of King Lear. London. Act IV, scene VI, lines 14b-15. "Half-way down, Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!"
- ^ Grigson, Geoffrey (1958). The Englishman's Flora. London: The Readers' Union, Phoenix House.
External links
edit- BBC Gardeners' Question Time – where there is apparently some confusion between the glasswort (marsh samphire, found in Suffolk) and the rock samphire (found in Dorset).
- Biff Vernon discusses the common confusion between marsh samphire and rock samphire, and reproduces a poem on the subject by William Logan.
- Botanical.com
- Antioxidant activity and phenol content of Crithmum maritimum L. leaves
- Nutritional and antioxidant properties of wild edible plants and their use as potential ingredients in the modern diet
