Edible Halophytes and Halo-Tolerant Species in Apulia Region (Southeastern Italy): Biogeography, Traditional Food Use and Potential Sustainable Crops

The Mediterranean basin is rich in wild edible species which have been used for food and me-dicinal purposes by humans throughout the centuries. Many of these species can be found near coastal areas and usually grow under saline conditions, while others can adapt in various harsh conditionsincluding high salinity. Many of these species have a long history of gatheringfrom the wild as a source of food.The aim of this contribution is an overview on the most important halophyte species (Salicornia sp. pl.,Arthrocaulonmacrostachyum(Moric.) Piirainen&G.Kadereit, Soda inermisFourr., Cakilemaritima Scop.,Crithmummaritimum L., Reichardiapicroides (L.) Roth., Silene vul-garis (Moench) Garcke subsp. tenoreana (Colla) Soldano& F. Conti, Allium commutatumGuss., Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) Arcang.,Capparis spinosa L.) that traditionally have been gathered by rural communities in southern Italy, with special interest on their ecology and distribution, traditional uses, medicinal properties, marketing and early attempts of cultivation. It is worth noting that these species have an attractive new cash crop for marsh marginal lands.