Thanks, Swapna ji. Anybody on species Id? Some extracts from Wikipedia link on *Salicornia* sp.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia
*Salicornia* is a genus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus> of succulent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent>, halophyte (salt tolerant) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halophyte> plants<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant>that grow in salt marshes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_marsh>, on beaches<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach>, and among mangroves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove>. *Salicornia*species are native to the United States <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States>, Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe>, South Africa and South Asia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia>. Common names for the genus include *glasswort<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasswort> *, *pickleweed <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleweed>*, and *marsh samphire <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samphire>*; these common names are also used for some species not in *Salicornia*.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia#cite_note-0> The *Salicornia* species are small, usually less than 30 cm tall, succulent herbs <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb> with a jointed horizontal main stem and erect lateral branches. The leaves<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf>are small and scale-like and as such the plant may appear leafless. Many species are green, but their foliage turns red in autumn. The hermaphrodite flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> are wind pollinated, and the fruit <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit> is small and succulent and contains a single seed.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia#cite_note-Eflora-1> *Salicornia* species can generally tolerate immersion in salt water. They use the c4 pathway <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C4_carbon_fixation> to take in carbon dioxide from the surrounding atmosphere. *Salicornia europaea* is highly edible, either cooked or raw.[4]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia#cite_note-PFAF-3>In England it is one of several plants known as *samphire* (see also Rock samphire<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_samphire>); the term samphire is believed to be a corruption of the French name, *herbe de Saint-Pierre*, which means "St. Peter's Herb."[5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia#cite_note-4>In the United States the edible species are known as *sea beans*.[6] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia#cite_note-5> Samphire is usually cooked, either steamed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamed>or microwaved <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven>, and then coated in butter or olive oil. Due to its high salt content, it must be cooked without any salt added, in plenty of water. It has a hard stringy core, and after cooking, the edible flesh is pulled off from the core. This flesh, after cooking, resembles seaweed in colour, and the flavour and texture are like young spinach stems or asparagus. Samphire is very often used as a suitably maritime accompaniment to fish or seafood<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafood> . 2009/3/19 Swapna Prabhu <[email protected]> > Hello Gargji, > > It looks like Salicornia sp. > > -swapna > > On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 8:12 AM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Seen in the mangroves in the dry tracts of islands. >> -- >> With regards, >> J.M.Garg >> "We often ignore the beauty around us" >> Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 >> For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group >> (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en >> >> >> >> >> > > > -- > Dr. Swapna Prabhu > Systematic Botanist/ Taxonomist > Bombay Natural History Society > Hornbil House, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg > Dr. Salim Ali Chawk > Mumbai - 400 001. > India. > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
