Salicornia bigelovii
| Salicornia bigelovii | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Salicornia bigelovii (common name: dwarf glasswort)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise sow in spring.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The plants native habitat will give some idea of its cultivation needs.
Recent research has shown this plant to have excellent potential as a commercial crop in arid and desert regions near the sea. It needs irrigation, which can sustainably be provided by using sea water.
Range: Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas.
Habitat: Salt marshes[1][2], often colonising new areas of mud flats through its prolific seed production[3].
Edibility: Young leaves and stems - cooked or pickled[4][5][6].
The raw seed is inedible due to the presence of saponins, though these remain in the seed-meal when the oil is extracted[3].
The seed contains about 30% of an edible oil and 35% protein[3]. The oil is highly polyunsaturated and similar to safflower oil (Carthamnus tinctorius) in fatty-acid composition[3]. It has a pleasant nut-like flavour and a texture similar to olive oil[3].
Usage: The seed contains about 30% oil[3].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seed contains saponins[3]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully
Links
References
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Scientific American August 1998. Scientific American Inc, 1998.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.