Atriplex hortensis
L. Garden OracheMonoecious annual herb to c. 2 m high. Leaves petiolate, the lower commonly opposite, deltoid to broadly ovate with cordate or hastate bases, 2–12 cm long, 1.5–10 cm wide; upper leaves alternate, usually narrower than lower and with tapered bases, slightly mealy on lower surface. Inflorescence narrowly paniculate with male and female flowers mixed within small clusters; female flowers dimorphic, some lacking bracteoles, the seed horizontal or vertical, partly enclosed within a 5-lobed perianth c. 2 mm diam., others with ovate to round bracteoles, to 12 mm long or more at maturity, papery, prominently net-veined and shortly fused near base. Fruits mainly Aug.–Feb.
Also naturalised WA, Tas. Possibly Eurasian.
Possibly a species of garden origin, arising through horticultural selection of strains from similar species in Asia. In Victoria known from five pre-1951 collections, and most of garden origin. Doubtfully ever naturalised in Victoria. Occasionally cultivated today
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Chenopodiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 129–199. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
