SALICORNIA, JOINTED GLASS-WORT, or Salicornia: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to
the monandria class of plants; and in the natural meth-
od ranking under the 12th order, Heloraceae. The
calyx is ventricose, or a little swelling out and entire;
there are no petals, and but one seed. There are four
species, of which the most remarkable are, 1. The frut-
iculosus, with obtuse points, grows plentifully in most of
the salt marshes which are overflowed by the tides in
many parts of England. It is an annual plant, with
thick, succulent, jointed stalks, which trail upon the
ground. The flowers are produced at the ends of the
joints toward the extremity of the branches, which are
small, and scarce discernible by the naked eye. 2. The
perennis, with a shrubby branching stalk, grows natu-
rally in Sheppey island. This hath a shrubby branch-
ing stalk about six inches long; the points of the arti-
culations are acute; the stalks branch from the bot-
tom, and form a kind of pyramid. They are peren-
nial, and produce their flowers in the same manner as
the former.
The inhabitants near the sea-coasts where these plants
grow, cut them up toward the latter end of summer,
when they are fully grown; and, after having dried
them in the sun, they burn them for their ashes, which
are used in making of glass and soap. These herbs
are by the country people called kelp, and promiscuously
gathered for use. See the article SALSOLA; also
Dyeing of Leather, p. 750, note A.