Citation: S. Jacobs, Telopea 2:453 (1983).

Synonymy: A. leptocarpa F. Muell. forma minor R. Anderson, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. 55:499 (1930); A. leptocarpa F. Muell. var. minor (R. Anderson)J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 299 (1948).

Common name: None

Description:
Spreading annual or short-lived perennial to 30 cm high, monoecious; branches slender; leaves thin, obovate, sinuate-dentate, scaly on both surfaces, apex rounded, base cuneate; lamina 10-20 mm long; petiole slender.

Male flowers in distal axils, perianth glabrescent; female flowers numerous in scattered glomerules.

Fruiting bracteoles when immature oblong and shortly pedicellate, the pedicel eventually becoming spongy; when mature narrow-cylindrical, 3-5 mm long, of 2 distinct portions, the lower third to half a cylindrical firm spongy straw-coloured stipe, the upper portion a somewhat compressed green to straw-coloured thin-walled longitudinally nerved tube, obtuse; seed obovate, radicle lateral and slightly exserted.

	Atriplex sturtii. Fruit
Image source: fig. 151o in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Distribution:  Found in central Australia from south-east N.T. to far north-west N.S.W., principally in white sand.   N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Dec. — April.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Atriplex sturtii appears to grade into A. turbinata and A. leptocarpa.

Taxonomic notes: This species differs from Atriplex leptocarpa in leaf shape and in the morphology of the fruiting bracteoles; in A. sturtii the basal portion is eventually spongy and the tube thin-walled while in A. leptocarpa the basal portion is hard and the tube woody.

Author: Not yet available