Botanical art
Common names
Creeping Saltbush
Berry Saltbush
Etymology
Atriplex from the Latin 'atriplexum' meaning an orach, a saltbush; an Ancient Latin name for this plant. Semibaccata from the Latin 'semi' meaning half and 'baccate' meaning berry-like in form, texure or bearing berries, alluding to the round, red berry-like fruit.
Distribution and status
A widespread species found throughout most of South Australia except for the very arid regions, usually on heavy soils, in woodland, saline flats and the edges of salt lakes. Also found in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in other states.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Prostrate or decumbent perennial trailing plant with slender spreading branches. Leaves narrow-elliptic to elliptic to 30mm long, almost glabrous above, scaly beneath. Male and female flowers on the same plant, (monoecious). Flowers axillary, solitary or in small clusters; cream to light green. Flowering all year. Fruits are fruit rhombic to 6mm long, acute, red and succulent when ripe. Seeds are shiny smooth, yellow-brown and dark-brown, circular reniform seed to 2mm diameter. Seed embryo type is peripheral.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and February. Collect fruits that are red, dried and papery. 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 clean 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.