Introduction to Crithmum maritimum (sea fennel)
Crithmum maritimum, commonly known as sea fennel, sea parsley, sea cenotesSafflower, among many other vernacular names, is one of the most unique and versatile coastal plants in existence. Its ability to thrive in saline and dry environments has made it a symbol of sustainability and culinary richness in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. Safflower has been valued throughout the centuries for both its exceptional botanical characteristics and its usefulness in food, health, and the ecological restoration of coastal habitats.
Nomenclature, taxonomy and common names
Scientific name: Crithmum maritimum L.
- Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
- Gender: Crithmum (only species of the genus)
- Popular names: Sea fennel, sea parsley, sea cenoyo, dog's claw, sea crest, fonoll marí (Catalan), rock samphire (English), funcho-do-mar (Portuguese), prixel do mar (Galician), itsas mihilu (Basque), among others.
Etymology: The term Crithmum It derives from the Greek "krithe" (barley), due to the shape of its seeds, while maritime refers to its marine habitat.
Detailed botanical description
El Crithmum maritime is a perennial herbaceous and succulent plant Adapted to life on cliffs, rock crevices, and coastal dunes. It is characterized by:
- Level: Between 15 and 60 cm, generally low and compact, forming dense and branched bushes.
- Stems: Woody base, solid, striated and highly branched stems.
- Sheets: Fleshy, glabrous, glaucous or pale green, with fine divisions and a triangular appearance. They are 2 or 3 times pinnatisect, which gives them a larger surface area for controlled evaporation and resistance to desiccation.
- Flowers: Small, hermaphroditic, whitish or greenish-yellow, clustered in umbels of 6 to 32 rays. They bloom profusely and showily during the warmer months.
- Fruit: Ovoid or oblong, smooth, pentagonal in section, with pronounced ribs. Their weight and size facilitate local dispersal.
- Root: Strong, thick and knobby, adapted to anchor in cracks and poor soils and resist coastal erosion.
The morphology of sea fennel allows it to retain water and nutrients, surviving salinity, winds, and direct sunlight.
Distribution and natural habitat
Distribution area: Crithmum maritimum grows naturally in all the rocky and sandy coasts of the Mediterranean and the European Atlantic, also extending to North Africa, Macaronesia, and the Black Sea. Its presence is common in:
- Crevices and cliff landings, up to 200 meters above sea level
- Coastal dunes, beach edges and areas of saline influence
- Arid, sunny and infertile areas
In the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, it is found along the entire coastline, both on rocky and sandy soils. It is less common in inland areas or areas far from the sea.
Ecology and role in the ecosystem
Savoy cabbage is essential in the stabilization of coastal soils and the conservation of coastal biodiversity:
- Helps to fix the substrate and prevents wind and marine erosion
- It is part of halophytic plant communities characteristic of cliffs and dunes.
- Contributes to plant succession, creating microhabitats for other species
- It provides food and shelter for insects, birds and other coastal organisms.
Ecological indicator: It prefers basic pH soils (5.5 to 8), moderately poor in nutrients, well drained, rich in bases and tolerates high salt concentrations.
Propagation and life cycle
Crithmum maritimum It reproduces mainly by seeds, although it can regrow vigorously from the root after the loss of the aerial part under adverse conditions. Its life cycle includes:
- Flowering: Generally from May to September, depending on the region and weather conditions.
- Fructification: It coincides with the warmest months; the fruits fall close to the mother plant, encouraging local colonization.
- Dispersion: Mostly local and by self-fall of the seeds, although occasionally wind and water can facilitate short-term dispersal.
In winter, especially in cold areas, it may lose its aerial part but sprout again in spring.
Adaptive characteristics and resistance
The main adaptations of samphire to your environment are:
- Salinity tolerance: It supports salt in the soil and in the air, essential for survival in areas exposed to tidal waves and splashes.
- Resistance to drought and high temperatures: Thanks to its fleshy leaves and water storage systems.
- Low demand for nutrients: It thrives in poor, stony, sandy soils with minimal organic matter.
- Wind tolerance: Its low and dense stature allows it to withstand the constant action of the sea wind.
- Tolerates light frosts: Although it prefers mild climates, it can withstand frosts of a certain intensity.
These properties make it an ideal plant for coastal gardens and environmental restoration projects.
Main characteristics and properties of Crithmum maritimum
- Ports: Shrubby, compact, up to 60 cm tall and similar in width
- Life cycle: Perennial, sprouting every year
- Sheets: Persistent in mild climates, fleshy and glaucous in color
- Flowering: Showy whitish or yellow umbels, between late spring and summer
- Fruit: Small seeds with pentagonal shapes
- flower colour: White, yellowish or pale green
- Aroma: Fresh, aniseed, with nuances of celery and seaweed
Stands out for its fast growth, ease of implementation and low sensitivity to pests and diseases.
Growing and care requirements
Sea fennel It is a very rustic and low-maintenance plant. Below are the key points for its cultivation:
- Exhibition: Direct sun (does not tolerate shade well)
- Substratum: Well-drained, stony, sandy, or even rocky soils; it also grows in calcareous and siliceous soils
- pH: It prefers basic soils, although it is indifferent if the soil is not extremely acidic.
- Irrigation: Very rare, it tolerates drought perfectly. Waterlogging is its main enemy, so it is best to avoid it.
- Temperature: It tolerates extreme heat well and resists light frosts.
- Fertilization: It does not require fertilizers, it grows in poor soils
- Pruning: It is not essential; you can trim the dry parts or thin them out after flowering if you want to maintain a compact appearance.
They can be grown in coastal gardens, rockeries, large pots, or even low-maintenance gardens away from the sea, as long as drainage and direct sunlight are met.
Multiplication and sowing
- By seed: The most common method is to sow directly in the final location in spring. Pretreatment is not usually required, although a light stratification can increase success. In the Apiaceae family
- Per cutting: Woody stem segments can be taken in early spring.
- Self-seeding: In its natural habitat, seed falling near the parent plant encourages the formation of dense clumps.
It's advisable to choose areas with poor soil and avoid overwatering at all times. If grown in a pot, it must have excellent drainage.
Care against pests and diseases
Crithmum maritimum is a very resistant plant and is rarely attacked by pests or diseases. Its hardiness and environment (with high salt concentrations) deter most pests. It is important to monitor waterlogging, which can cause root rot, and make sure to avoid excess moisture. It does not require specific preventative or phytosanitary treatments.
Collection, conservation and sustainability
La harvesting samphire It must be carried out in a controlled and sustainable manner, especially in wilderness areas:
- Ideal time: During spring and summer, when the shoots are tender and juicy
- Part used: Young leaves and stems, which are the most valued culinary-wise
- Conservation methods:
- Cool: In refrigeration, wrapped in damp paper, it keeps for 2 to 3 days.
- Pickling: In vinegar, salt and water, it can be stored for several months
- Dry: Crushed for use as a condiment
- Sustainable harvesting: It's important to harvest only a portion of the plants to allow for regeneration and avoid damaging the environment. In protected regions, harvesting is regulated.
Nutritional properties and health benefits
Savoy cabbage is a true coastal superfood.. Its main properties include:
- Rich in vitamin C: Essential for the immune system and the prevention of scurvy. For this reason, sailors took it pickled on long voyages.
- Sources of minerals: Iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron
- High in dietary fiber: Promotes digestion and regulates intestinal transit
- Phenolic compounds and antioxidants: Flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action
- Low in calories and fat: Helps maintain a healthy weight
- Essential oils: They provide characteristic aroma and flavor and have medicinal and cosmetic applications.
Its potential benefits include stimulating digestion, cleansing the body, strengthening the immune system, improving liver and kidney function, and combating oxidative stress.
Traditional, medicinal uses and modern applications
Historical and traditional uses
Since ancient times, samphire has aroused interest in cooking and medicine:
- Mediterranean gastronomy: Used fresh or pickled in salads, garnishes and fish dishes.
- Digestive and medicinal properties: Referenced by Dioscorides and Arab and Renaissance physicians for its purifying and diuretic properties. It combats scurvy and improves digestion.
- Home remedies: It has been used to relieve stomach disorders, liver conditions, and as an appetite stimulant.
- Use in natural cosmetics: Sea fennel essential oils are a moisturizing and anti-aging active ingredient in modern cosmetics.
Current applications
- Gourmet kitchen: Fully integrated into haute cuisine, especially in fresh salads, pickles, vinaigrettes, and as a condiment for fish and seafood.
- Preserves and pickles: Young leaves and stems are pickled in vinegar and salt, preserving their texture and intense flavor for months.
- Seasoning: When dried, it can be used as a spice in soups, stews, and rice dishes.
- Medicinal applications: Diuretic, digestive, purifying, antiscorbutic, and carminative; although not widely used in modern herbal medicine, its benefits are recognized.
- Cosmetics: Component for creams, oils and tonics due to its regenerative and antioxidant properties.
In the Balearic Islands, it's typical to accompany pamboli or bread with sobrasada and pickled samphire; it's also used to flavor anchovies and other brined fish.
Featured recipes and culinary uses
Sea fennel, due to its salty and aniseed flavor, is very versatile in Mediterranean and Atlantic cuisine:
- Fresh salads: Combined with tomato, onion and olive oil
- Pickles: Leaves and stems in vinegar, water and salt, ready in a few days
- Garnish for fish: Especially appreciated with bluefish and seafood dishes
- Aromatic contribution: As a topping for toast with goat cheese and honey
- Digestive infusions: Using dried or fresh leaves
- Stir-fries and stews: Added at the end of cooking to provide aroma and freshness
Tip: The flavor of samphire is intense, so it's recommended to use small amounts in preparations. When eaten fresh, its notes are reminiscent of celery and fennel, but with a salty and slightly citrusy undertone.
Examples of recipes with samphire
1. Fresh samphire and tomato salad
- 50 g fresh samphire
- 200 g cherry tomatoes
- 1 red onion in julienne
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and black pepper
Wash and chop the tomatoes, mix with the onion and fennel, season and serve cold.
2. Homemade pickled samphire
- 100 g fresh samphire
- 200 ml apple cider vinegar
- 200 ml water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 hoja de laurel
Sterilize a jar, add the washed fennel along with the garlic and bay leaf, add the salt dissolved in boiling water and vinegar, seal, and let it ferment for at least 5 days before consuming.
3. Goat cheese and samphire toast
- Artesian bread
- Goat cheese
- Pickled samphire
- Miel
Toast the bread, top with a slice of cheese and a spoonful of fennel, add a drizzle of honey, and enjoy as a gourmet appetizer.
Comparisons with other similar plants
Although samphire is compared to common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), there are clear differences:
- Texture: The marine one is meatier and juicier, the common one is more fibrous.
- Aromatic profile: Sea fennel has an intense, saline aroma with citrus nuances, different from the sweet, aniseed aroma of common fennel.
- Culinary use: Crithmum maritimum is consumed almost exclusively fresh or pickled, while common fennel can be cooked and is more common in general cooking.
Compared to some edible algae, its use is more limited but appreciated in delicatessen cuisine for its rarity and unique flavor.
Conservation, protection and threats
Although Crithmum maritimum is not considered endangered, its habitat faces threats crescents:
- Coastal urbanization and destruction of natural habitats
- Overharvesting uncontrolled in regions with high demand for gastronomy
- Contamination of beaches and cliffs
In many regions, especially protected areas and reserves, harvesting is regulated or restricted To ensure sustainability, it is essential to promote responsible harvesting and establish conservation measures where human pressure is greatest.
Curiosities and cultural presence
- Mentioned by Shakespeare in "King Lear" as a symbol of resistance and danger, due to the risky collections on cliffs.
- Historically used by sailors to combat scurvy on long voyages.
- Active in natural cosmetics for its anti-aging, moisturizing and skin-regenerating properties.
- Scientific name derived from Greek due to its similarity to barley grains.
Tips for purchasing and growing at home
For those who enjoy gardening and are looking for a hardy, aromatic and unique plant:
- Acquisition: It can be found in specialized nurseries or from legally collected seeds.
- Potted: It is ideal for terraces, as long as the container is large and has excellent drainage.
- In the garden: Perfect for rockeries, coastal borders, xerophytic gardens or low-maintenance sunny corners
Planting samphire at home contributes to local biodiversity, provides a unique culinary resource, and helps preserve a key coastal species.
