Crithmum

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A perennial herbaceous plant of coastal regions with fleshy, aromatic leaves often used in salads and traditional remedies
2. A seaside plant known for its succulent, flavorful foliage, sometimes called sea fennel, valued for culinary and medicinal uses
3. A coastal wild plant featuring thick, aromatic leaves commonly harvested for consumption and natural health applications

Etymology: Ancient Greek writers such as Dioscorides called this coastal plant "krithmon," and the Romans borrowed it as "crithmum." The Greek name is probably related to "krithe," meaning barley, perhaps because of the plant's grain-like seeds, though this link is uncertain. In modern use, "crithmum" survives mainly as the botanical genus name, while the plant is known in English as rock samphire. English "samphire" has a different history. It comes from the French phrase "herbe de Saint-Pierre," meaning "herb of St Peter," which was worn down in Middle English to "sampere" and later "samphire." The plant's English name thus preserves a saint's name, while its scientific name keeps the older Greek word.

Synonyms: sea fennel, rock samphire, samphire