The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Samphire \Sam"phire\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. l'herbe de Saint
   Pierre. See Saint, and Petrel.] (Bot.)
   (a) A fleshy, suffrutescent, umbelliferous European plant
       (Crithmum maritimum). It grows among rocks and on
       cliffs along the seacoast, and is used for pickles.
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             Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!
                                                  --Shak.
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   (b) The species of glasswort (Salicornia herbacea); --
       called in England marsh samphire.
   (c) A seashore shrub (Borrichia arborescens) of the West
       Indies.
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   Golden samphire. See under Golden.
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