Glasswort

These little  plants growing on the local mudflats are called Glasswort Salicornia europaea. In some places it  is also called pickleweed.

Wort is a very old name and has been in use since at least the 9th century. Chaucer uses it in his 14th century Canterbury Tales, in the Clerk's Tale: Whan she homward cam she wolde brynge Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte.

Wort as part of a plant's name often indicates that it was once used in herbalism or for other practical uses. This is certainly the case for glasswort as in the past its ashes were used for making soda-based glass.