EatTheWeeds: Episode 74: Glasswort, Salicornia, Samphire

www.eattheweeds.com/salicornia...
Learn about wild food with Green Deane. In this video we'll take a look at a very common seaside plant, glasswort, salicornia, or samphire, found all around the world, edible raw and cooked.

[@fbt2007]

The magifying glass was a great idea. It really helps with the closeups. Thanks Green Deane!

[@feralkevin]

Wow, I never knew about the glasswort. Awesome! I love the bit about the lichen, too.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Actually I am closing in on 500 plants in excess of 200 genuses. Then again, I've been doing it for over 50 years. As far as survival.... yeah... I can find something to eat anywhere because plants are plants around the world. But I think the quickest to learn and the best survival skill is knowing how to fish. Trot lines and traps can do the work while you collect other food. One little fish a day can make a huge difference in you nutritional profile and your chances for survival.

[@LTPottenger]

What interesting stuff!

[@Snowwarrior]

my fathers a botanist, i still remember going fishing with him and showing me about glass wort, great to nibble on

[@EatTheWeeds]

Sorry about my pronunciation... I said "Thank you Ollie..." He just has to get into as many videos as possible....if not by eye then ear....

[@sherischneider2390]

I've just recently found this plant on our land. I am wondering if anybody makes it into a tincture or do you just eat it fresh? I live in North Dakota and we don't have the option to harvest it all year round. Thanks for the video...wish the audio was a little stronger...I had to listen close in most parts to hear you talking. Thanks again for another great video.

[@miketimms7364]

Hi,,,,Im trying to identify some samphire I think ive found but not sure that it is, maybe part of the family,,,Is it possible to send a photo? Great videos(UK. South coast)

[@stargateproductions]

I'm wondering what those plants behind you in the last few minutes of the video are called and can you eat them?

[@Gwoana]

Hello Green Deane! I tried some glasswort the other day and it was salty, but it also had a very weird aftertaste. It made my tongue dry. I only had a little bit. Is that normal?

[@EatTheWeeds]

The stringy part when encountered is not bad... a similar things happens with sea purslane.

[@ohtaste]

Please tell me abut the Sea Rocket!

[@sk8board44]

I think that I've eaten this already. My mom bought it in the shop though. She said it would be good for vegeterians.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Wow, now that's an advantage...

[@Ramshobraja]

Where can you get this in the US?

[@thanrose]

Oops, my bad. But I'm glad Oliver is still catting about.

[@EatTheWeeds]

There is nothing wrong with the pigweed in question, amaranthus palmeri. It is quite edible. The problem is the weed killer designed to kill it is not killing it, so it is invading soybean and cotton fields. Those commercial crops were genetically designed to be immune to the weed killer so the weed killer would work real well. Along comes the A. palmeri that is just as immune as the genetically modified crops to the weed killer and invades the fields. My view is why not eat the weed?

[@EatTheWeeds]

A subscriber suggested it and I would say who but I can't find the email again. But should I find out who I will certainly mention it.

[@EatTheWeeds]

If I missed a question of yours, my apologies...like your videos, as I do feral kevins above.

[@sazji]

How luck to have glasswort around! You can actually collect it farther down, plunge it into boiling water first, then just pull the flesh off the stringy part. Olive oil, lemon, and a bit of crushed garlic...swoon. :)

[@Stepstosimplicity]

You never replied to my tag? :( Thanks for the video again!! I don't believe I'm familiar with these particular species.

[@EatTheWeeds]

@haramacad New, of that season.

[@chaddysilver]

just picked a load of it to day

[@EatTheWeeds]

Do you mean ....is there Salicornia in California? You could call it Calicornia..... There are several species according to the USDA maps... enjoy the exploration!

[@EatTheWeeds]

Grazing.... on my site I have written about several hundred....

[@EatTheWeeds]

I am a great champion of lichen, 20,000 species only two not edible (one is green yellow the other bright yellow.) Most are at least half anti-biotics and rid of their acid they are some 96% carbs...

[@thanrose]

Is Wally a new cat, or is that Oliver Whitecat?

[@EatTheWeeds]

On my weibsite I say...Almost all of the sea coast of the US, and inland at salty areas.

[@kemsdd]

Hi , do you know how to extract the seeds? I have wild salicornia ( I think is salicornia fructicosa) and I need to grow it from seeds to see if it grows in a specific saline soil that I have . One more question, I tried to transplant the wild salicornia in a pot I don't know if I did it right ): how many times a day should I water it ? I'm from Perú, here not many people know about salicornia so I have no one to ask about care and handling of this plant. Really hope you can help me. Thank you !

[@EatTheWeeds]

There is a shrub behind me and ferns. If you are referring to the ferns, the answer is no. These ferns don't produce fiddleheads,

[@EatTheWeeds]

I'm good but I am not sure I can guess what you are talking about with so little to go on. First, it is not Dill. It does not grow wild here. My first guess, however, is Eupatorium capillifolium... it is not edible. My second guess would be Ptilimnium capillaceum... its not edible either. Send me a picture.

[@daihutton]

It grows here in Wales, my wife collects it during late June before it gets too woody. We always cut it with old fashioned sheep shears to avoid scissor blisters. Salacornia is the first plant that colonises the mud, it's roots help bind the mud and eventually new habitat is created. In fact, it becomes a victim of its own success and the new habitat eventually takes over. Here in the UK It is an annual plant so it dies off in the winter, we blanch and freeze it so we can enjoy it all year round. You can't beat eating it young and raw though.

[@1fanger]

Salicornia means "horn of salt"-

[@gooddaysharma1876]

In which language Salicornia means horn of salt