Halogeton sativus is one of the plants from which barilla was made. The species was formerly classified as Salsola sativa. Engraving published 1813 (Adolphus Ypey).

See also: Salsola soda, Salsola kali, Halogeton sativus, Glasswort, and Soda ash

Barilla refers to several species of salt-tolerant ("halophyte") plants that, until the 19^th Century, were the primary source of soda ash and hence (we now know) of sodium carbonate. Salsola soda, more commonly known in English as Opposite Leaved Saltwort, Oppositeleaf Russian Thistle or Barilla Plant is a small Salsola kali is a plant species that is commonly known as Prickly Saltwort Russian Thistle, or Prickly Glasswort. Halogeton is a plant genus for which 6 species are presently proposed The common name Glasswort came into use in the 16th Century to describe plants growing in England whose ashes could be used for making soda-based (as opposed to Potash Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. biosalinity|halophile A halophyte is a Plant that naturally grows where it is affected by Salinity in the root area or by salt spray such as in saline semi-deserts Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. The word "barilla" was also used directly to refer to the soda ash obtained from plant sources. ^[1] The word is an anglicization of the Spanish word barrilla for "saltwort" plants (a particular category of halophytes).

A very early reference indicating the value placed upon soda ash in Catalonia has been given by Glick, who notes that "In 1189 the monastery of Poblet granted to the glassblower Guillem the right to gather glasswort in return for tithe and two hundred pounds of sheet glass paid annually (The site of these glassworks, at Narola, was excavated in 1935. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1151, located in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in Catalonia The common name Glasswort came into use in the 16th Century to describe plants growing in England whose ashes could be used for making soda-based (as opposed to Potash ). "^[2] By the 18^th Century, Spain's barilla industry was exporting large quantities of soda ash of exceptional purity; the product was refined from the ashes of barilla plants that were specifically cultivated for this purpose. Presumably the word "barilla" entered English and other languages as a consequence of this export trade. The main Spanish barilla species included (i) Salsola soda (the common English term barilla plant for Salsola soda reflects this usage), (ii) Salsola kali, and (iii) Halogeton sativus (formerly Salsola sativa). Salsola soda, more commonly known in English as Opposite Leaved Saltwort, Oppositeleaf Russian Thistle or Barilla Plant is a small Salsola kali is a plant species that is commonly known as Prickly Saltwort Russian Thistle, or Prickly Glasswort. Halogeton is a plant genus for which 6 species are presently proposed ^[3][4][5] Fairly recently, Pérez^[4] has concluded that the most prominent species was likely Halogeton sativus; earlier authors have tended to favor Salsola soda.

The word "barilla" was also used directly to refer to soda ash from any plant source, including not only the saltworts grown in Spain, but also glassworts, mangroves, and seaweed. The common name Glasswort came into use in the 16th Century to describe plants growing in England whose ashes could be used for making soda-based (as opposed to Potash Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. Kelp are large Seaweeds ( Algae) belonging to the Brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales ^[6] These types of plant-derived soda ash are impure alkali substances that contain widely varying amounts of sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), some additional potassium carbonate (also an alkali), and a predominance of non-alkali impurities. In Chemistry, an alkali (from Arabic: Al-Qaly القلي القالي) is a basic, ionic salt of an Alkali metal Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. Carbonate of potash redirects here For one of potassium carbonate's impure forms see Potash. ^[7] The sodium carbonate, which is water soluble, is "lixiviated" (extracted with water) from the ashes of the burned, dried plants. The resulting solution is boiled dry to obtain the finished barilla. A very similar process is used to obtain potash (mainly potassium carbonate) from the ashes of hardwood trees. Potash (or carbonate of potash) is an impure form of Potassium carbonate ( K 2 CO3) Carbonate of potash redirects here For one of potassium carbonate's impure forms see Potash. The best Spanish barilla—prepared by master barrilleros—contained about 30% Na₂CO₃. In 1877 Kingzett described the importance of the barilla trade to Spain as follows: "So highly was the product valued, and the importance of the trade regarded, that by the laws of Spain the exportation of the seed was an offence was punishable by death. "^[8]

Some authors indicate that "barilla" was a specific plant used for soda ash production; this usage is erroneous, but presumably corresponds to the common usage of "barilla plant" exclusively for Salsola soda. Perhaps this common usage itself reflects an old error in assuming that a single plant species was used by the Spaniards for their industry. In still earlier times, the sources of soda ash and the methods of processing it were secrets that were zealously guarded.

Salsola soda is a plant from which barilla was made, and after which the element sodium was named. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 ©2006 Luigi Rignanese.

References

• Castile soap

External links

• Photograph of Halogeton sativus in bloom, from Flores de Almeria website. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
• Caja, Lidia Sala (2003). Causas lingüísticas en el auge del término sosa y el declive de barrilla en los siglos XVIII y XIX, retrieved December 3, 2006. Discussion of changes in the meaning of the Spanish words barrilla and sosa during the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Barilla species

Salsola kali ©2004 Pablo Alberto Salguero Quiles.

Salsola soda ©2006 Luigi Rignanese.

Halogeton sativus (formerly Salsola sativa); engraving published 1813 (Adolphus Ypey).

Salicornia europaea (formerly Salicornia herbacea) ©2006 Marco Schmidt.