Atriplex semibaccata, commonly known as Australian saltbush, berry saltbush, or creeping saltbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family

Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to Australia. It is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

herb native to Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, but has been introduced into other states and to overseas countries. It flowers and fruits in spring, and propagates from seed when the fruit splits open. This species of

saltbush Saltbush is a vernacular plant name that most often refers to '' Atriplex'', a genus of about 250 plants distributed worldwide from subtropical to subarctic regions. ''Atriplex'' species are native to Australia, North and South America, and Eurasia. ...

is adapted to inconsistent rainfall, temperature and humidity extremes and to poor soil. It is used for rehabilitation, medicine, as a cover crop and for fodder. Its introduction to other countries has had an environmental and economic impact on them.

Description

''Atriplex semibaccata'' is a

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproo ...

herb, that has prostrated and

decumbent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

characteristics. Native to Australia and widespread in all mainland Australian states, ''A. semibaccata'' thrives in harsh and saline conditions. ''A. semibaccata'' is often mat-forming or semi-erect and can grow 40–80 cm tall, spanning a diameter of 1.5-2m. Its slender branches arise from a woody taproot. Leaves are white scruffy, subsessile (small stalk) and are

spatulate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...

obovate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...

(oblong or elliptic) when the plant is young. Leaves develop a green to grey-green colour, with a length of 5-30mm and a width of 2-9mm, where the base is tapered and tip obtuse. Leaves are thin, oblong-elliptic, obtuse and have short petiolate (1–2 cm). Staminate flowers are tiny, terminal and 1.5mm wide, whereas pistillate flowers cluster distally from leaves. ''A. semibaccata is'' monoecious. Fruiting bracteoles are red or orange when mature, as well as having a convex and rhombic shape (diamond like appearance). Fruits are succulent, united at base, margin toothed, sessile and are a length of 4-6mm.Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., 2016. Creeping saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/183 ''A. semibaccata'' is seed propagated and seeds are dimorphic. Black seeds are 1.5-1.7mm, while brown seeds are 2mm in size. It can be used as fodder and is useful for degraded or salt affected land. Optimal conditions for habitat, include dry/subtropical climate and direct sunlight. ''A. semibaccata'' has an all-year season of interest and a plant hardiness zone of 4. ''A. semibaccata'' requires light hydration in soil that is either

clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4). Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...

, loam,

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...

sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class o ...

or silt as well as a soil pH that is

neutral Neutral or neutrality may refer to: Mathematics and natural science Biology * Neutral organisms, in ecology, those that obey the unified neutral theory of biodiversity Chemistry and physics * Neutralization (chemistry), a chemical reaction in ...

Taxonomy and naming

''Atriplex semibaccata'' was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his ''

Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen'' (Prodromus of the Flora of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land) is a flora of Australia written by botanist Robert Brown and published in 1810. Often referred to as ''Prodromus Flora Novae ...

''. The species is classified in the

family and Chenopodiaceae subfamily, along with other halophytic plants (salt-tolerant) species. ''A. semibaccata'' has several reported varieties such as var. ''melanocarpa'', var. ''biformis,'' var. ''microcarpa'' var. '' gracilis'' and var. ''appendiculata''. These variations include the morphological differences within this species. Australia's native range is centred on bracteoles, which are the succulent fruits of ''A. semibaccata.'' There are two forms of ''A. semibaccata'' in Australia. In

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

and southern arid areas are home to rhomboid and succulent bracteoles, whereas slim dry and deltoid shaped bracteoles are found in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

and

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. ''A. semibaccata'' hybridises with Atriplex spinibractea, where both species subside in New South Wales. This formed the variant, known as A. neurivalvis in northern Queensland, where succulence is not apparent in its bracteoles.

Genetic variability Genetic variability is either the presence of, or the generation of, genetic differences. It is defined as "the formation of individuals differing in genotype, or the presence of genotypically different individuals, in contrast to environmentally i ...

analysis with the use of

molecular marker A molecular marker is a molecule, sampled from some source, that gives information about its source. For example, DNA is a molecular marker that gives information about the organism from which it was taken. For another example, some proteins can be ...

s has investigated ''A. semibaccata'' and other species of the genus ''Atriplex''.

Phylogenetic analysis In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

has confirmed a deviation from all other tested species ('' A. halimus, A. amnicola'', '' A. lentiformis'', '' A. canescens,'' ''A. undulata'' and '' A. nummularia''). ''A. semibaccata'' is distinguished as one of two major groups that are least similar to the other species. The common names for ''A. semibaccata'' include the ''Australia saltbush.'' It is also commonly called ''Australian saltweed, creeping

'' and ''berry saltbush''. This is one of many ''Atriplex'' species native to Australia and is referenced widely in North America. The genus name Atriplex has

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

origins from the ‘''atriplexum''’, which has been derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

word ‘''astraphaxes''’, which translates to "''saltbush''" or "''orach''". The species epithet ‘''semibaccata''’ is derived from the Latin word ‘''semi''’ which translates to "half", while ‘''baccata''’ means "bearing berries".

Distribution and habitat

This species of saltbush is

to Australia and is native to Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, but has become naturalised in the Australian Capital Territory, on Norfolk Island and possibly Tasmania. It has also been introduced to North and South America, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Asia, and the Mediterranean region. A. ''semibaccata'' was introduced to different regions worldwide as a

drought A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...

and salt tolerant

fodder crop Fodder (), also called provender (), is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food given to the animals (includi ...

. Similarly, A. ''semibaccata'' was introduced in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

for grazing purposes. Located in heavy

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

that is slightly saline, in woodland that is close to salt lakes, and is usually an

invader ''InVader'' is the fourth album by Finnish glam metal band Reckless Love, released on 4 March 2016 through Spinefarm Records. Track listing All songs written by Olli Herman, Pepe Reckless, and Ikka Wirtanen, unless otherwise noted. Reception Wr ...

of disturbed areas. First reported distribution was in California in 1901 as a

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animal ...

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used ...

in alkaline regions. Seeds were soon after distributed (1916) and by 1940, A. ''semibaccata'' inhabited southern coast regions and irregularly inland. Optimal conditions for

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

, include dry/ subtropical climate and direct sunlight.

Ecology

Reproductive biology

''A. semibaccata'' reproduces by seed propagation. This appears when the fruiting bracteoles split when ripe and dry, exposing an individual seed. The seed is with ascending radicle. ''A. semibaccata'' is self-compatible and wind pollinated''.'' Male flowers occur as small glomerules in distal axils, while female flowers appear in scattered axillary clusters.

Seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

persistence in soil and germination conditions are unknown. ''A. semibaccata'' does not obtain dormancy when

germination rate Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, ...

s are high. In Australia, ''A. semibaccata'' flowers and fruits in spring and summer, however flowering is prolonged in Western Australia. ''A. semibaccata'' in the northern hemisphere (

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

) typically flowers in spring (March–May), summer (June–August) and early

winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultur ...

(December–February).

Physiology and phenology

The development of C₄

photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...

has played a role in the evolutionary success of the Atriplex genus. Various C₄ Chenopodiaceae plants differ from the Kranz anatomy of Atriplex, which includes a layer of bundle sheath cells surrounding the

vascular bundle A vascular bundle is a part of the transport system in vascular plants. The transport itself happens in the stem, which exists in two forms: xylem and phloem. Both these tissues are present in a vascular bundle, which in addition will inc ...

, as well as radially arranged

palisade cell Palisade cells are plant cells located on the leaves, right below the epidermis and cuticle that is the outermost layer of the leaf. In simpler terms, they are known as leaf cells. Palisade means "stake" in latin, they are vertically elongated an ...

s, with little variation in C₄ leaf types. Depending on the immediate environmental conditions, ''A. semibaccata'' demonstrates the ability to adapt. This relates to environmental conditions such as

air temperature Atmospheric temperature is a measure of temperature at different levels of the Earth's atmosphere. It is governed by many factors, including incoming solar radiation, humidity and altitude. When discussing surface air temperature, the annual atm ...

, soil moisture, salinity and evaporation. Greater exposure to a saline environment, induces a salt stress response which displays a decrease number of chloroplasts in chlorenchyma and bundle sheath cells, as well as a decreased root diameter, leaf size, leaf stromal conductance and the net leaf photosynthetic rate. Higher saline exposure increases intracellular CO₂ concentration and the number of stomata per unit leaf area. During winter, ''A. semibaccata'' becomes dormant, whereas other ''Atriplex'' species maintain function. Low and inconsistent

rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...

fall, varying temperatures,

humidity Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present. Humidity dep ...

and poor soil are contributing factors that involve ''A. semibaccata'' to adapt.

Cultivation

Environmental requirements

''A. semibaccata'' is native to Australia, however it is not located in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and humid regions such as

Northern Queensland North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland that lies just south of Far North Queensland. Queensland is a massive state, larger than many countries, and its tropical northern part has been ...

. It is a

tolerant species of subtropical arid and

semi-arid A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi- ...

regions. A region with a mean annual rainfall of 250-900mm is optimal for ''A. semibaccata''. It is a low spreading and deep-rooted sub-shrub that does not require much soil moisture. Sun exposed regions are an optimal condition for growth. ''A. semibaccata'' is winter tolerant and can survive a minimum air

temperature Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various Conversion of units of temperature, temp ...

of -5 °C. ''A. semibaccata'' is salt-laden wind tolerant and has been indicated as an environmental advantage against plants that are distributed along coastal regions. Additionally,

saline soil Soil salinity is the salt content in the soil; the process of increasing the salt content is known as salinization. Salts occur naturally within soils and water. Salination can be caused by natural processes such as mineral weathering or by the ...

allows for rapid and more profuse seed germination. This is a competitive advantage, against

native species In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...

worldwide. ''A.'' ''semibaccata'' has a high degree of salt tolerance (9-16 dS/m) and grows in soil that is exposed to light and is acidic. ''A. semibaccata'' grows in various soil types, including clay loams, sandy loams and waterlogged environments.

Movement and dispersal

Natural dispersion of ''A. semibaccata'' are over short distances as seeds are found under remnant and understorey plants. Animal dispersion expands the distance covered of ''A. semibaccata''. The red fruiting bracteoles of ''A. semibaccata'' are succulent and are attractive to herbivore species. Species that eat the fruiting bracteoles are responsible for animal dispersion and spread the seed of A. semibaccata. ''A. semibaccata'' seeds have been found in the

digestive tract The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans and ...

of reptiles,

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s and foxes in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. Accidental introduction of ''A. semibaccata'' is a result of relocating

hay Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticat ...

and other fodder crops. ''A. semibaccata'' was introduced internationally to various countries, to acquire the drought and saline resistant properties that allow for use as a fodder and

ground cover Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows over an area of ground. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought. In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as ...

. ''A. semibaccata'' is intentionally dispersed for its uses.

Uses

Cover crop

In its native range of Australia, ''A. semibaccata'' is used in agroforestry to improve the performance and

profitability In economics, profit is the difference between the revenue that an economic entity has received from its outputs and the total cost of its inputs. It is equal to total revenue minus total cost, including both explicit and implicit costs. It i ...

vineyard A vineyard (; also ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineya ...

s. ''A. semibaccata'' has been introduced to regions with reduced water availability due to drought and increased temperatures, as a sustainable cover crop that deters potential pest species. Native

cover crops such as ''A. semibaccata'' can increase the abundance of symbiotic

invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordate ...

s that can improve

pest control Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest; any animal, plant or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range ...

and limit the need of synthetic pest controls.

Rehabilitation

''A. semibaccata'' has been used for regenerative purposes, where it has been planted to restore mine spoils. ''A. semibaccata'' is adaptive to the saline and drought conditions of

mining waste In mining, tailings are the materials left over after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction (gangue) of an ore. Tailings are different to overburden, which is the waste rock or other material that overli ...

and exhibits germination among these regions. ''A. semibaccata'' has also been used for

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal ...

purposes and as ground cover to control soil and

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...

. ''A. semibaccata'' is an effective

weed control Weed control is a type of pest control, which attempts to stop or reduce growth of weeds, especially noxious weeds, with the aim of reducing their competition with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in n ...

in verges, roundabouts and nature strips. Additional uses of ''A. semibaccata'' includes land reclamation without the need for saline water

irrigation systems Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been develop ...

and restoring bare patches of ground.

Fodder/ Animal feed

''A. semibaccata'' is used as saltland

pasture Pasture (from the Latin ''pastus'', past participle of ''pascere'', "to feed") is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep, or sw ...

and produces fodder for grazing animals when sources of paddock feed are limited. This can improve production from saltland sites, reduce salt movement and stabilise

soil structure Soil structure describes the arrangement or the way of soil in the solid parts of the soil and of the pore space located between them. It is determined by how individual soil granules clump, bind together, and aggregate, resulting in the arrangem ...

. ''A. semibaccata'' is a readily grazed ''Atriplex''

, which provides a more diverse diet and primary fodder/ animal feed. The high salt content in

foliage A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, s ...

reduces the use of ''A. semibaccata'' as a food source if availability of drinking water for

is not adequate. ''A. semibaccata'' is palatable when young, contains a low energy value and is a source of

crude protein Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body. They are one of the building blocks of body tissue and can also serve as a fuel source. As a fuel, proteins provide as much energy density as carbohydrates: 4 kcal (17 kJ) per gram; in cont ...

. Additional

food supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order ...

s and adequate drinking water are necessary for livestock.

Medicinal

''A. semibaccata'' essential oils contain compounds with

antibacterial An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention ...

and antioxidant properties. The essential oils of ''A. semibaccata'' are moderately synergistic with gentamicin, which is an antibiotic that is used to treat several

bacterial infections Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article focuses on the bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Most species of bacteria are harmless and are often beneficial but others can cause infectious diseases. The number of t ...

. ''A. semibaccata'' is suitable for

revegetation Revegetation is the process of replanting and rebuilding the soil of disturbed land. This may be a natural process produced by plant colonization and succession, manmade rewilding projects, accelerated process designed to repair damage to a lan ...

marginal land Marginal land is land that is of little agricultural or developmental value because crops produced from the area would be worth less than any rent paid for access to the area. Although the term ''marginal'' is often used in a subjective sense for l ...

s, with the use of its biomass as an essential oil for the control of microbial infections. Additionally, alcohol extracts from ''A. semibaccata'', such as

scopoletin Scopoletin is a coumarin. It found in the root of plants in the genus ''Scopolia'' such as ''Scopolia carniolica'' and ''Scopolia japonica'', in chicory, in ''Artemisia scoparia'', in the roots and leaves of stinging nettle ('' Urtica dioica''), i ...

coumarin Coumarin () or 2''H''-chromen-2-one is an aromatic organic chemical compound with formula . Its molecule can be described as a benzene molecule with two adjacent hydrogen atoms replaced by a lactone-like chain , forming a second six-membered h ...

, scopolin, umbelliferorne, 7-methoxy coumarin,

phenolic acid Phenolic acids or phenolcarboxylic acids are types of aromatic acid compounds. Included in that class are substances containing a phenolic ring and an organic carboxylic acid function (C6-C1 skeleton). Two important naturally occurring types of ph ...

and P-coumaric acid has antibacterial activity. Isolated compounds from ''A. semibaccata'', such as compounds

tyramine Tyramine ( ) (also spelled tyramin), also known under several other names, is a naturally occurring trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine acts as a catecholamine releasing agent. Notably, it is unable to cross the blood ...

and lignanamide exhibit cytotoxic activity against the proliferation of

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

lymphoblast __NOTOC__ A lymphoblast is a modified naive lymphocyte with altered cell morphology. It occurs when the lymphocyte is activated by an antigen (from antigen-presenting cells) and increased in volume by nucleus and cytoplasm growth as well as new mRN ...

s (CCRF-CEM) cells.

Environmental impact

''A. semibaccata'' is grown and dispersed over short distances. This creates a dense

fire-retardant A fire retardant is a substance that is used to slow down or stop the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. This is commonly accomplished by chemical reactions that reduce the flammability of fuels or delay their combustion. Fire retardants m ...

that displaces native plant species. ''A. semibaccata'' is identified as an invasive species by the

US Fish and Wildlife service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

and is known to affect endangered species such as Panicum niihauense (critically endangered), Verbesina dissita and Sesbania tomentosa.

Scaevola coriacea ''Scaevola coriacea'', the dwarf naupaka, is one of the ten Scaevolas (flowering plants in the ''Goodenia'' family, Goodeniaceae), that are endemic to Hawaii. It was first described in 1842 by Thomas Nuttall, and its specific epithet, ''coriac ...

and Sesbania tomentosa are native and endangered grass species of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. Scaevola coriacea is found in three naturally occurring populations and Sesbania tomentosa is located on the island of Molokai. In California, USA , ''A. semibaccata'' competes with native plants such as Verbesina dissita for space, shade, water and light. ''A. semibaccata'' creates an ecological shift that is caused by competition for resources, shading, ecosystem change and habitat alteration. ''A. semibaccata'' enhances

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

through

biological control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

Agroecosystem Agroecosystems are the ecosystems supporting the food production systems in our farms and gardens. As the name implies, at the core of an agroecosystem lies the human activity of agriculture. As such they are the basic unit of study in Agroecology ...

s that involve ''A. semibaccata'' increase the abundance of

s that assist in

as well as an increased range of

predators Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

and parasitoids. ''A. semibaccata'' acts as a cover crop that provides shelter for various invertebrates, this increases biodiversity and bioactivity. This provides the environment for natural breakdown of

organic material Organic matter, organic material, or natural organic matter refers to the large source of carbon-based compounds found within natural and engineered, terrestrial, and aquatic environments. It is matter composed of organic compounds that have c ...

, aeration and

nutrient cycling A nutrient cycle (or ecological recycling) is the movement and exchange of inorganic and organic matter back into the production of matter. Energy flow is a unidirectional and noncyclic pathway, whereas the movement of mineral nutrients is cycli ...

that keeps ''A. semibaccata'' and surrounding vegetation healthy. Additionally, this abundant soil diversity supports pest predators that prevent harmful organisms from over populating. This prevents the destruction of crops. ''A. semibaccata'' improves the quality and structure of soil, suppresses

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

s and contributes to pest management. File:Starr 031007-2051 Atriplex semibaccata.jpg, Invasive growth in

Kahoolawe Kahoolawe (Hawaiian: ), anglicized as Kahoolawe (), is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lānaʻi, and it is long by wide, with a total l ...

File:Atriplex semibaccata by Scott Zona - 003.jpg, Invasive growth in the Canary Islands,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

File:Starr 081230-0706 Atriplex semibaccata.jpg, Invasive growth of in

Economic impact

The economic impact of ''A. semibaccata'' is positive in regions where it is not invasive. Benefits that have a positive economic effect include its value in rehabilitation,

medicinal Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...

properties as well as food and cover cropper. The negative economic impact is generated by its invasiveness that endangers

, causes a change in ecological and alters the surrounding

. This requires physical and chemical control processes that can be laborious and require economic expenditure. Control chemicals for ''A. semibaccata'' involve herbicides, such as

dicamba Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) is a broad-spectrum herbicide first registered in 1967. Brand names for formulations of this herbicide include Dianat, Banvel, Diablo, Oracle and Vanquish. This chemical compound is a chlorinated de ...

, dicamba/MCPA amine, 2,4-D and

picloram Picloram is a systemic herbicide used for general woody plant control. It also controls a wide range of broad-leaved weeds, but most grasses are resistant.

/ 2,4-D. To physically remove ''A. semibaccata'', hand pulling is an effective method due to its small size. To physically control ''A. semibaccata'', it must be uprooted prior to seed production. Site revision is required to remove plants arising from residual seed pools.

References

External links

FAO:''Atriplex semibaccata''USDA Plants Profile: ''Atriplex semibaccata'' NSW Flora Online: ''Atriplex semibaccata''Online Field Guide to Common Saltmarsh Plants of Queensland
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4817608 semibaccata Caryophyllales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of South Australia Flora of Victoria (Australia) Eudicots of Western Australia Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) Forages Edible fruits