any plant of the chenopodiaceous genus Salicornia, of salt marshes, having fleshy stems and scalelike leaves: formerly used as a source of soda for glass-making
2. another name for saltwort (sense 1)
glasswort in American English
(ˈglæsˌwɜrt)
noun
any of several fleshy plants (genera Salicornia and Salsola) of the goosefoot family, often found in saline coastal or desert areas: the ash is called barilla and formerly was used in making soap and glass