The glasswort (Salicornia Europaea) is a succulent plant of the Amaranthaceae family. The whole plant is between 10 and 35 cm in height. The plant is bright green in spring, but it gets a red hue during the flowering period, between late August and September. The flowers are very small and green with yellow anthers. It grows forming a carpet brightly coloured, which is an important nesting site and shelter for birds.
Similarly to the other species of Salicornia, it has a high salt content, and in the past it was used to be burnt in order to obtain the sodium carbonate, which is used for glassmaking and soap-making.
The savoury branches are rich in minerals and are eaten, when are still green, pickled or like asparagus: boiled or served with butter and vinegar. Cattle seek this kind of Salicornia for its high salt content.