Difference between revisions of "Atriplex"

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{{SPlantbox
 
{{SPlantbox
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|familia=Amaranthaceae
 
|genus=Atriplex
 
|genus=Atriplex
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
 
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
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|image=California Death Valley Ubehebe plant.jpg
 
|image_width=240
 
|image_width=240
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|image_caption=Desert holly, ''Atriplex hymenelytra''
 
}}
 
}}
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'''''Atriplex''''' is a plant [[genus]] of 100-200 species, known by the common names of '''saltbush''' and '''orache''' (or '''orach'''). The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. The genus includes many desert and seashore plants and [[halophyte]]s, as well as plants of moist environments. Saltbushes are extremely tolerant of [[salt]] content in the ground: their name derives from the fact that they retain salt in their leaves, which makes them of great use in areas affected by [[soil salination]]. Many species are edible.  However, the favored species for human consumption is ''A. hortensis''.
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The '''Garden Orache''' (''A. hortensis''), also called '''red orach''', '''mountain spinach''' or '''French spinach''', is an annual [[leaf vegetable]] with a [[salt]]y, [[spinach]]-like taste. The plant grows 1-2 [[metre|m]] (3-6 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) in height and the leaves are used cooked or in [[salad]]s.  It was commonly grown in [[Mediterranean]] regions from early times until [[spinach]] became the more favored leaf vegetable of choice.  The leaves can come in red, white and green varieties.  The green leaves were once used to color [[pasta]] in [[Italy]].  Another common use of orach was to mix with the herb [[sorrel]] to balance out its acid flavor.
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The plant is also used as an [[ornamental plant]] in [[landscape|landscaping]].
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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Atriplex (from a Greek name of orache). Chenopodiaceae. Herbs with inconspicuous flowers, some of which are used for forage under the name of salt- bushes, some for hedges or lawn specimens, and one as a garden vegetable, and many succulent weeds of desert regions.
 
Atriplex (from a Greek name of orache). Chenopodiaceae. Herbs with inconspicuous flowers, some of which are used for forage under the name of salt- bushes, some for hedges or lawn specimens, and one as a garden vegetable, and many succulent weeds of desert regions.
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{{Taxobox
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==Cultivation==
| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Atriplex''
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| image = California Death Valley Ubehebe plant.jpg
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===Propagation===
| image_width = 250px
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| image_caption = [[Desert holly]], ''Atriplex hymenelytra''
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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===Pests and diseases===
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
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==Species==
| familia = [[Amaranthaceae]]
 
| subfamilia = [[Chenopodioideae]]
 
| genus = '''''Atriplex'''''
 
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
| subdivision =  
 
 
About 100-200 species, including:<br/>
 
About 100-200 species, including:<br/>
 
''[[Atriplex alaskensis]]''<br/>
 
''[[Atriplex alaskensis]]''<br/>
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''[[Atriplex sibirica]]''<br/>
 
''[[Atriplex sibirica]]''<br/>
 
''[[Atriplex tatarica]]''
 
''[[Atriplex tatarica]]''
}}
 
  
'''''Atriplex''''' is a plant [[genus]] of 100-200 species, known by the common names of '''saltbush''' and '''orache''' (or '''orach'''). The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. The genus includes many desert and seashore plants and [[halophyte]]s, as well as plants of moist environments. Saltbushes are extremely tolerant of [[salt]] content in the ground: their name derives from the fact that they retain salt in their leaves, which makes them of great use in areas affected by [[soil salination]]. Many species are edible.  However, the favored species for human consumption is ''A. hortensis''.
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==Gallery==
 
 
The '''Garden Orache''' (''A. hortensis''), also called '''red orach''', '''mountain spinach''' or '''French spinach''', is an annual [[leaf vegetable]] with a [[salt]]y, [[spinach]]-like taste. The plant grows 1-2 [[metre|m]] (3-6 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) in height and the leaves are used cooked or in [[salad]]s.  It was commonly grown in [[Mediterranean]] regions from early times until [[spinach]] became the more favored leaf vegetable of choice.  The leaves can come in red, white and green varieties.  The green leaves were once used to color [[pasta]] in [[Italy]].  Another common use of orach was to mix with the herb [[sorrel]] to balance out its acid flavor.
 
 
 
The plant is also used as an [[ornamental plant]] in [[landscape|landscaping]].
 
  
''Atriplex'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species - see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Atriplex]].
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<gallery perrow=5>
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
==External links and References==
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==References==
*Davidson, Alan. Oxford Companion to Food (1999). &quot;Orach&quot;, p. 556. ISBN 0-19-211579-0
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<references/>
* [http://www.csiro.au/proprietaryDocuments/Saltbush_vitamin.pdf CSIRO Information Sheet: Saltbush lifts sheep meat vitamin content]: Meat from sheep which have grazed on saltbush has surprisingly high levels of [[vitamin E]], is leaner and more hydrated than regular [[lamb]] and has consumer appeal equal to grain-fed lamb. The vitamin E levels could have animal health benefits while extending the shelf-life and maintaining the fresh red colour of saltbush lamb.
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
* [http://cotton.pi.csiro.au/weeds.htm?page=Annual%20saltbush Images of ''A. muelleri'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
* [http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/40/paper/AR04031.htm Summary of CSIRO Scientific Article]: Examines the nutritive value and preference by sheep of two native Australian saltbush species, River Saltbush (''A. amnicola'') and Old Man Saltbush (''A. nummularia'').
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
* [http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/aglands/sand/Resources/Herbarium/Aspin.pdf Image of Spiny Fruited Saltbush (''A. spinibractea'')]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
* [http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/desertecology/saltbush.htm Images of two saltbush varieties from North A
 
merica], Four Wing Saltbush (''A. canescens'') and Desert Saltbush (''A. polycarpa'')
 
* [http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Chenopodiaceae/Atriplex.html A list of several varieties of Atriplex] (some links have pictures)
 
  
{{wikispecies|Atriplex}}
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
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{{stub}}
[[Category:Amaranthaceae]]
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__NOTOC__
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
 
[[Category:Flora of the Lower Colorado River Valley]]
 
[[Category:Halophytes and salt tolerant plants]]
 

Latest revision as of 03:56, 29 January 2010


Desert holly, Atriplex hymenelytra


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Amaranthaceae >

Atriplex >


If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!


Atriplex is a plant genus of 100-200 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache (or orach). The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. The genus includes many desert and seashore plants and halophytes, as well as plants of moist environments. Saltbushes are extremely tolerant of salt content in the ground: their name derives from the fact that they retain salt in their leaves, which makes them of great use in areas affected by soil salination. Many species are edible. However, the favored species for human consumption is A. hortensis.

The Garden Orache (A. hortensis), also called red orach, mountain spinach or French spinach, is an annual leaf vegetable with a salty, spinach-like taste. The plant grows 1-2 m (3-6 ft) in height and the leaves are used cooked or in salads. It was commonly grown in Mediterranean regions from early times until spinach became the more favored leaf vegetable of choice. The leaves can come in red, white and green varieties. The green leaves were once used to color pasta in Italy. Another common use of orach was to mix with the herb sorrel to balance out its acid flavor.

The plant is also used as an ornamental plant in landscaping.


Read about Atriplex in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Atriplex (from a Greek name of orache). Chenopodiaceae. Herbs with inconspicuous flowers, some of which are used for forage under the name of salt- bushes, some for hedges or lawn specimens, and one as a garden vegetable, and many succulent weeds of desert regions.

Flowers dioecious or monoecious, in spicate or paniculate clusters, sometimes bunched in the axils: Lvs. usually alternate or some opposite: fr. half or wholly inclosed by the persistent bractlets.—About 125 widely distributed species, often weeds. A. patula, in many forms, is a common weedy plant throughout the country.

Atriplex hortensis is a garden vegetable used like spinach; for culture, see Orach. A. leptocarpa, A. semibaccata and others have been introduced as supplementary forage plants for arid regions. A. Breweri is a popular low hedge plant in southern California.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

About 100-200 species, including:
Atriplex alaskensis
Atriplex amnicola
Atriplex californica
Atriplex calotheca
Atriplex canescens
Atriplex confertifolia
Atriplex coronata
Atriplex glabriuscula
Atriplex halimus
Atriplex heterosperma
Atriplex hortensis
Atriplex hymenelytra
Atriplex laciniata
Atriplex lentiformis
Atriplex littoralis
Atriplex longipes
Atriplex nitens
Atriplex nummularia
Atriplex nuttallii
Atriplex oblongifolia
Atriplex patula
Atriplex polycarpa
Atriplex praecox
Atriplex prostrata
Atriplex rosea
Atriplex sibirica
Atriplex tatarica

Gallery

References

External links