They are called halophytes, and are those plants that enjoy the high salinity of soils, brackish waters and sodium chloride concentrations of more than 1%. A lethal environment for other species, which instead makes these salt plants thrive. The best known is the saltwort, which betrays its character right from its name.

Then there are sea fennel, inula, sea purslane, maritime chard - the ancestor of cultivated chard - star grass, agretti or monk's beard: true halophytes or plants that simply proliferate in saline soils, albeit with varying degrees of salt tolerance. Some are well known, others less so, but no less interesting.