Atriplex patula
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = UitstaandeMeldeSorinnesDSCN4516.JPG
|status = {{TNCStatus}}
|status_system = TNC
|genus = Atriplex
|species = patula
|authority = L.
}}
Atriplex patula (spear saltbush; common orache; spear orach; spreading orach; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɒ|r|ə|tʃ}}{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Oxford English Dictionary third edition |title=orache |url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/132134 |access-date=7 December 2018| date=June 2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}) is a ruderal, circumboreal species of annual herbaceous plant in the genus Atriplex naturalized in many temperate regions.
Description
Atriplex patula grows to be between {{Convert|50 and 80|cm|abbr=off}} tall.{{Cite journal |last1=Sukhorukov |first1=Alexander |last2=Kushunina |first2=Maria |last3=Verloove |first3=Filip |date=2016-07-14 |title=Notes on Atriplex, Oxybasis and Dysphania (Chenopodiaceae) in West-Central Tropical Africa |url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/botbel/plecevo/2016/00000149/00000002/art00012 |journal=Plant Ecology and Evolution |volume=149 |issue=2 |pages=249–256 |doi=10.5091/plecevo.2016.1181|doi-access=free }} The branches extend outwards from the stem with rhomboid leaves and separated clusters of flowers. The species accumulates salt from the environment in its tissues. Unlike other Atriplex species, it lacks notable salt bladders to excrete salt onto the leaves.{{Cite journal|last1=Mann|first1=Ellen|last2=Rutter|first2=Allison|last3=Zeeb|first3=Barbara|date=October 2020|title=Evaluating the efficacy of Atriplex spp. in the phytoextraction of road salt (NaCl) from contaminated soil|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0269749120310459|journal=Environmental Pollution|language=en|volume=265|issue=Pt B|pages=114963|doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114963|pmid=32806446|s2cid=221162683|url-access=subscription}}
{{gallery|mode=packed
|Atriplex patula (5129939806).jpg|Atriplex patula, female flower with bracteoles and seed
}}
Taxonomy
The species was a member of the family Chenopodiaceae, now part of Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family.
Distribution and habitat
The species has a wide range, including semi-arid deserts and coastal areas in Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa. It commonly grows along roads and waste sites.{{Cite journal |last1=Prokopiev |first1=I. A. |last2=Filippova |first2=F. V. |last3=Shein |first3=A. A. |date=March 2012 |title=Effect of anthropogenic pollution with dust containing heavy metals on seed progeny of spear saltbush |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1134/S1021443712020148 |journal=Russian Journal of Plant Physiology |language=en |volume=59 |issue=2 |pages=212–216 |doi=10.1134/S1021443712020148 |issn=1021-4437 |s2cid=17780607|url-access=subscription }}
Although it is commonly asserted that the species has been naturalized in North America only since the 18th century,{{eFloras|1|242414718|Atriplex patula}}{{PLANTS |symbol=ATPA4 |taxon=USDA PLANTS Profile |access-date=2008-05-20}} seeds ascribed to this species occur on the west coast of North America in buried marsh deposits that predate European contact.Sherrod BL, 2001. Geological Society of America Bulletin 113, 1299-1311.Milker Y, et al., 2016. Quaternary Science Reviews 142, 143-163.
Uses
The young leaves and shoots are edible raw or cooked and suffice as a spinach substitute,{{cite book |last=Mabey |first=Richard |title=Food for Free |publisher=Collins |year=2012 |isbn=978-000-743847-1 |location=London |pages=104 |authorlink=Richard Mabey}} but are bland on their own.{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=The Wildlife Trusts |location=London |pages=54}}
The species has been proven to be effective in lowering salt content in soils when planted in areas with high road salt contamination.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q158212}}
Category:Plants described in 1753
Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Amaranthaceae-stub}}