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