Atriplex turbinata
(R.H.Anderson) AellenDecumbent annual or short-lived perennial, to c. 50 cm high, monoecious. Leaves sessile to petiolate, narrow-elliptic to obovate, 10–15 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, entire or with 1 or 2 prominent teeth, mealy grey-green on both surfaces. Male flowers in small axillary clusters, female flowers clustered in lower axils. Fruiting bracteoles ± fused to the apex, cylindric at base, flattened and wider above, gradually widening towards the 3-lobed apex, flattened portion not becoming dilated, 3–6 mm long, 2.5–4 mm wide overall, occasionally with pointed tubercles near base.
MuF. Also NT, SA, Qld, NSW. In Victoria apparently restricted to the Murray River floodplain near Winlaton.
The typical form of this species is apparently restricted to South Australia (Wilson 1984). In other States the plants appear to intergrade with several other species e.g. Atriplex angulata, A. crassipes J.Black, A. sturtii S.Jacobs and A. intermedia R.Anderson. Plants presumed to be A. turbinata in Victoria possibly represent hybrids involving A. leptocarpa. These plants are distinguished by their narrow-triangular fruiting bracteoles that are cylindric in the lower third. They grow in close proximity with, and appear somewhat intermediate between A. leptocarpa (with cylindrical fruiting bracteoles), and A. eardleyae and A. pseudocampanulata (with broad-triangular fruiting bracteoles).
Wilson, P.G. (1984). Chenopodiaceae. In: George, A.S., Flora of Australia, Phytolaccaceae to Chenopodiaceae, pp. 81–330. Bureau of Fauna and Flora, Canberra.
