samphire (redirected from Rock samphire)

sam·phire  (smfr)

n.

1. See glasswort.

2. An Old World coastal plant (Crithmum maritimum) having fleshy compound leaves and small white flowers grouped in compound umbels.

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[Alteration of French herbe de Saint Pierre, from Saint Pierre, Saint Peter.]

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samphire [ˈsæmˌfaɪə]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called rock samphire an umbelliferous plant, Crithmum maritimum, of Eurasian coasts, having fleshy divided leaves and clusters of small greenish-white flowers

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants)

golden samphire a Eurasian coastal plant, Inula crithmoides, with fleshy leaves and yellow flower heads: family Asteraceae (composites)

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) another name for glasswort [1]

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several other plants of coastal areas

[C16 sampiere, from French herbe de Saint Pierre Saint Peter's herb; perhaps influenced by camphire camphor]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

samphire - fleshy maritime plant having fleshy stems with rudimentary scalelike leaves and small spikes of minute flowers; formerly used in making glass Salicornia europaea, glasswort genus Salicornia, Salicornia - glassworts herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests