Habitat
Type: coastal, verges of salted roads, near salt mines
Distribution: N. and Central Europe, North America
Prefers: salt
Other: locally abundant

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 50cm
Other:

Leaf
Shape: lower: heart
Texture: fleshy
Arrangement: base clump, top clasping stem
Edge: wavy

Flower
Shape: cross
Diameter: up to 10mm
Arrangement: clusters at branch ends
When: April to August
Colour:

Seed
Casing: near-round pods

Inland sources grow mainly along winter-salted roads. Plants should only be collected where traffic levels are very low to avoid pollutants. It is worth checking beyond any hedge banks, where the soil may still be saline enough for the plants to grow, but there the bank protects them from vehicle pollution. Follow the law and the country code when potentially entering on private land.

March to July

Flavour
Rating and Description:
variable, menthol-like, pungent, strong or salty, slightly fleshy

How to Consume
raw

Special preparation
boil in 3-4 changes of water to remove bitterness

Nutrition
Vitamin C

Used as ...
food

Action:
antiscorbutic, aperient, diuretic, stimulant

May treat:
external: ulcers

disinfectant

Drying
Best used fresh for the Vitamin C content, but can be dried to store.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances


• antiscorbutic: prevents scurvy, contains Vitamin C
• aperient: mild laxative
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• stimulant: enlivens physiological functions of the body, without giving a false sense of well-being