**Botanical Description and Distribution**:
– Soda inermis is an annual succulent shrub that grows up to 0.7 m tall.
– It has fleshy green leaves with green or red stems and tiny flowers near the stem.
– Native to Eurasia and North Africa, including Italy, Sicily, Spain, France, Portugal, and parts of North and South America.
– Concerns about invasiveness in Californias salt marshes.
**Chemical Properties and Uses**:
– Soda ash, a product of S. soda ashes, is essential for making soda-lime glass and soap.
– Sodium carbonate is the principal active ingredient in soda ash.
– S. soda accumulates sodium ions in saline soils through a molecular transport mechanism.
– Historically, soda ash was derived from various saltwort plants and kelp.
**Cultivation and Culinary Applications**:
– Known as ‘agretti,’ the edible leaves of S. soda are popular in Italy.
– Leaves are harvested small or cropped regularly for new growth.
– Consumed boiled or raw, sometimes confused with the Japanese plant ‘okahijiki.’
– Can be cultivated in saltwater-irrigated land but can also grow without saltwater.
**Phytoremediation Potential**:
– S. soda has been used for phytoremediation, extracting contaminants from soil.
– Shows potential for accumulating contaminants and thriving in saline soils.
– Offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to soil remediation.
– Research continues on its effectiveness in environmental cleanup efforts.
**References and Research**:
– Various sources like Plants of the World Online and Integrated Taxonomic Information System provide information on Soda inermis and Salsola soda.
– Studies by researchers like Glenn, Brown, and Blumwald discuss salt tolerance in plants.
– Research explores the use of Salsola soda in improving crop performance under saline conditions.
– Publications like ‘Economica’ and ‘Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences’ cover topics related to plant sciences.