Family: Amaranthaceae
Atriplex prostrata
Citation:
Boucher ex DC. in Lam. & DC., Fl. Franc. edn 3, 3:387 (1805).
Synonymy: -A. hastata L. var. salina Wallr. ex Gren. in Gren. & Godron, Fl. Fr. 3:12 (1855).
Common name: Hastate orache, mat saltbush.
Description:
Prostrate to erect annual herb c. 50 cm high, monoecious; branches angular; leaves petiolate, opposite below, alternate above, scurfy to glabrous; lower leaves triangular to hastate, lamina 1.5-5 rarely to 8 cm long, basal lobes (if present) spreading or slightly backwards-pointing, margin entire or sparsely dentate, apex obtuse to acute; upper leaves triangular to narrow-ovate, decreasing in size upwards.
Flowers mixed, clustered, forming paniculate inflorescences.
Fruiting bracteoles sessile, ovate to more often triangular or rhombic, free to the base, 3-6 mm long, entire to dentate, not thickened, smooth or tuberculate on the back, often turning black with age; seed circular; radicle basal, horizontal.
| Atriplex prostrata. Fruit.
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Image source: fig. 151f in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Ross-Craig (1968) Drawings Brit. Pl. 25: pl. 25 as A. hastata.
Distribution:
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Found in wet somewhat saline situations, particularly creek margins and estuaries.
S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Native to Europe.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: all months.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
A polymorphic species not easily distinguishable from some variants of A. patula L. and A. australasica Moq.
Author:
Not yet available
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