Adelaide

Arkaroola

Ceduna

Coober Pedy

Hawker

Innamincka

Marla

Marree

Mount Gambier

Oodnadatta

Renmark

Wudinna

Keith

Yunta

Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 5

Prior names

Atriplex hastata var. salina

Atriplex hastata

Common names

Hastate Orache

Creeping Saltbush

Etymology

Atriplex from the Latin 'atriplexum' meaning an orache, a saltbush, an Ancient Latin name for this plant. Prostrata from Latin meaning flat on the ground or prostrate, referring to the species' habit.

Distribution and status

Native to Europe, Asia and North America, the species is introduced and found in the southern part of South Australia, growing in wet somewhat saline situations, particularly creek margins and estuaries. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Introduced. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Monoecious, prostrate to erect annual herb to 50 cm high with angular branches. Leaves petiolate, glabrous or commonly mealy beneath; lower leaves opposite, triangular-shaped, to 7 cm long and 6 cm wide, entire or sparsely toothed; upper leaves alternate, triangular to ovate with tapered bases, smaller than lower. Inflorescence an open spikes with male and female flowers mixed within small clusters. This species is similar to the native Atriplex australasica which have lower leaves lanceolate, entire to deeply serrate, if hastate then with forwardly directed basal lobes, compared to this species which have lower leaves triangular or hastate with spreading or slightly backwardly directed basal lobes. Flowering throughout the year. Fruiting bracteoles sessile, ovate, or triangular, to 6 mm long, free virtually to base, somewhat thickened with spongy tissue at least toward base, margins entire or toothed, dorsal surface smooth or with a pair of broad tubercles. Seed embryo type is peripheral.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Collect fruits that are starting to dry or and turn brown. Fruits can be collected directly from the bush or from the ground underneath. Place the fruits in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. No cleaning is required if only the fruits are collected. The seed can be stored in the fruit or can be cleaned further. Rub the fruit gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high.