1. Fleshy maritime plant having fleshy stems with rudimentary scalelike leaves and small spikes of minute flowers; formerly used in making glass
   "glasswort is now prized as a gourmet ingredient in coastal cuisine";
   - samphire, Salicornia europaea
    
2. Bushy plant of Old World salt marshes and sea beaches having prickly leaves; burned to produce a crude soda ash
   "glasswort was historically important in the production of alkali";
   - saltwort, barilla, kali, kelpwort, Salsola kali, Salsola soda

Derived forms: glassworts

Type of: bush, herb, herbaceous plant, shrub

Part of: genus Salicornia, Salicornia

Encyclopedia: Glasswort