''Atriplex patula'' (spear saltbush; common orache; spear orach; spreading orach; ) is a ruderal, circumboreal species of annual herbaceous plant in the genus ''

Atriplex ''Atriplex'' () is a plant genus of about 250 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache (; also spelled orach). It belongs to the subfamily Chenopodioideae of the family Amaranthaceae ''s.l.''. The genus is quite variable and w ...

'' naturalized in many temperate regions.

Description

''Atriplex patula'' grows to be between tall. The branches extend outwards from the stem with rhomboid leaves and separated clusters of flowers. The species accumulates salt from the environment in its tissues. Unlike other ''

'' species, it lacks notable salt bladders to excrete salt onto the leaves.

Taxonomy

The species was a member of the family Chenopodiaceae, now part of Amaranthaceae, the

amaranth ''Amaranthus'' is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals, and ornamental plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely pack ...

family.

Distribution and habitat

The species has a wide range, including semi-arid deserts and coastal areas in Asia,

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, Europe, and Africa. It commonly grows along roads and waste sites. Although it is commonly asserted that the species has been naturalized in North America only since the 18th century, seeds ascribed to this species occur on the west coast of North America in buried marsh deposits that predate European contact.

Uses

The young leaves and shoots are edible raw or cooked and suffice as a spinach substitute. The species has been proven to be effective in lowering salt content in soils when planted in areas with high road salt contamination.

References

patula Flora of Asia Flora of Europe Salt marsh plants Flora of New Jersey Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Amaranthaceae-stub